Common Immigration Mistakes And How To Avoid Them

In this article, you can discover…

• How to avoid making common immigration mistakes.
• What to do to ensure your forms are completed correctly.
• How to avoid scams, fraud, and common pitfalls.

What Are The Most Common Mistakes People Tend To Make When Immigrating To The US Through California?

Two of the most common mistakes you can make are trying to handle the paperwork yourself or else going to a lawyer who is not qualified to handle immigration law. Immigration cases are hugely important, and even seemingly simple cases require guidance, oversight, and a keen grasp of immigration law.

Many general practice lawyers will gladly take your paperwork for review, but they’ll be just guessing at what the law says, and that’s a very easy way to have your immigration case mishandled. 

Similarly, people who prepare taxes or fill out ordinary forms for a fee are not immigration attorneys, and should not be handling your case. An unlicensed practitioner filing your paperwork can lead to expensive and damaging outcomes; the best thing you can do for yourself is to hire the right attorney from the beginning. 

How Can I Ensure I Complete My Immigration Forms Correctly?

An immigration attorney can be extremely helpful here. At my law office, my legal assistants do a draft of the form based on the information you’ve given us. I then review the form thoroughly to make sure that information is accurate, and that any answers given on the form won’t harm your case. 

Immigration forms are incredibly complex, at least 10 pages long if not more. They also ask very complicated questions about your life, personal history, and past encounters you’ve had with police in your home country and the United States. Answering these questions in the wrong way could complicate or severely damage your case.

If you would get help from a professional, or at least from software, to do taxes, you should definitely get help from a lawyer to handle immigration paperwork. Immigration paperwork is infinitely more complicated, and it pays to have a knowledgeable attorney look over everything. 

What Should I Do If I Realize I Have Made A Mistake On My Immigration Application?

Talk to an experienced immigration attorney immediately. This will help you get a sense of how big the mistake was and can help correct this error. A small mistake like spelling your name incorrectly can be easily fixed, but failing to mention an arrest or writing the wrong date in places could have more severe consequences. 

You may not think a trip back to visit family in 2010 for a week is significant enough to mention, but you’d be surprised how much the US government knows about you. Make sure your paperwork is accurate to the smallest detail, and get the help of a lawyer to ensure things are filled out correctly. 

Attorney Eloy Aguirre is a dedicated, skilled immigration attorney serving California. For nearly 10 years, he’s helped clients just like you avoid common mistakes during immigration, taken second looks at difficult cases, and fought for their legal rights.

Have questions about immigration law, or need help with a complex case?
Reach out to The Law Office of Eloy Aguirre at (626) 900-1714 for an initial consultation today!

How Can I Avoid Scams And Fraudulent Immigration Services In California?

Unfortunately, immigration scams are still very common. I always tell people if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. A lot of people have told me “This person guarantees an outcome within six months”! 

But just guaranteeing an outcome should raise red flags; even in simple cases you can’t guarantee an outcome and you definitely can’t guarantee the government is going to act by a certain period.

If a service or a lawyer guarantees outcomes, stay away. Be aware, also, of government announcements of future programs or processes; an announcement is not the same thing as that process being ready or something you can apply for right now. Some predatory businesses will promise that forms are ready and that upcoming programs can be acted on immediately; always check with a seasoned and respected lawyer to determine what is possible.

What Are The Benefits Of Working With A Lawyer In Spite Of The Additional Expense?

While attorney’s fees can be expensive, the efficiency and skill with which a knowledgeable firm can handle your case is worthwhile. We handle dozens of adjustment of status cases every year, so we’re used to the process and can handle things right the first time. 

Navigating immigration law on your own can be impossible, overwhelming, and indescribably risky. It’s repetitive, many forms look the same, and mistakes are easy to make. If you make a mistake and submit that form, it’ll be rejected, and you’ll have to begin the lengthy process again. 

Every delay costs you more time and money. However, with an experienced lawyer, that mistake is far less likely to happen. We also have software to make the job easier and to ensure accuracy.

The entire process winds up being much easier for you as a client, giving you more confidence that your case will be prepared correctly.

Can You Describe A Difficult Case Where You Were Able To Get Good Results For A Client?

I can recall one case where a lawyer had told a couple that while the husband qualified for the green card, his wife did not. They were told that because they had gotten married in the United States after a certain date, she was ineligible under new laws. 

As it happened, this couple had been married twice, once in Mexico and once in the United States, not realizing the original Mexican marriage was legally binding in America. I was able to help this woman get her green card by showing the USCIS her original Mexican marriage certificate, which grandfathered her and allowed her to apply successfully. 

This nuance had been missed by the other lawyer, who hadn’t realized the distinction, but in the end, she obtained her permanent residence status, too.

It was a very long process, but the final reward and relief for her were considerable. 

How Does It Feel To Help Clients In Such Difficult Circumstances?

It’s always very rewarding and I feel happy. I felt incredibly glad for her because I know how long she had been waiting for her green card. She had been here in the US for at least 20 years and hearing the previous attorney say that she was ineligible was a huge disappointment for her.

To be able to come in and be the hero and say, “No, I think you actually are able to get your green card, you are able to obtain legal status” was a huge victory for her and was personally very rewarding for me.

The best part is just being able to call clients and let them know that their case has been approved. We tend to get approvals and responses faster than the clients, and no matter how many times it happens, it’s always just incredibly meaningful and rewarding to be able to give that news.

For more information on Common Immigration Mistakes And How To Avoid Them, an initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (626) 900-1714 today.