Immigration Lawyers in New York City

An immigration lawyer in New York City works for one of the most diverse populations in the world. Family green cards, H-1B and L-1 work visas, O-1 visas for artists and researchers, naturalization, asylum and removal defense all fill the daily calendar. Employers in finance, tech, fashion and healthcare also need help with sponsorship and compliance.

Applications go to US Citizenship and Immigration Services, which runs a field office in Manhattan. Removal cases are heard by the immigration courts of the Executive Office for Immigration Review, several of which sit at 26 Federal Plaza and other Manhattan locations, with appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals. Immigration law is federal, but every attorney must be licensed by a state bar. You can check a New York license through the Attorney Search of the New York State Unified Court System. Be wary of notarios or consultants offering legal advice, since only attorneys and accredited representatives may do so.

Most immigration attorneys in New York City charge flat fees for standard filings such as a marriage green card or a citizenship application. Court cases and complex appeals are often billed by the hour or in stages. Government filing fees are extra. Nonprofit legal services help some clients at low or no cost. Before hiring an immigration lawyer in New York City, ask what the flat fee covers, who will attend interviews and hearings and which languages the office speaks. Many firms work in Spanish, Mandarin, Russian, Bengali and Haitian Creole. Compare the firms below and contact them directly.