How much does an immigration lawyer cost?
How much does an immigration lawyer cost?
$150 – $300 Per Hour
Immigration lawyer cost
An immigration lawyer charges between $150 and $300 per hour, with a typical 30-min consultation fee of $75 to $150. Legal assistance when filing basic immigration forms costs $250 to $800, while green card assistance runs from $800 to $5,000, plus the USCIS fees of $460 to $700.
| Item | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 30-min consultation | $75 – $150 |
| Hourly rate | $150 – $300 |
| Form filing assistance | $250 – $800 |
| Green Card assistance | $800 – $5,000 |
| USCIS fees | $460 – $700 |
Obtaining your legal immigration status is complicated and often overwhelming. This guide will tell you everything you need to know when hiring legal assistance for the immigration process.
How much do immigration lawyers charge? {#how}
In most cases, an immigration attorney will charge an hourly rate of $150 to $300 per hour. However, some lawyers charge a set fee for the entire process instead. For basic immigration form filing, expect to pay around $250 to $1,200 in fees.
Immigration attorney fees depend on the services and time commitment required, the attorney's experience level, and your location.
Immigration lawyer prices
For a typical application for employment authorization or work visa, immigration lawyers charge $250 to $500 for legal assistance. For a US citizenship or naturalization application, expect to pay around $500 to $1,200, while fees for filing an asylum application range from $1,000 to $3,000.
The table below shows the average attorney fees for various services:
| Immigration Type | Lawyer Fees |
|---|---|
| Application for Employment Authorization | $250 – $500 |
| Citizenship / Naturalization Application | $500 – $1,200 |
| Family-Based Green Card Petition | $800 – $1,500 |
| Employment-Based Green Card Petitions | $1,500 – $5,000 |
| Asylum Application | $1,000 – $3,000 |
| Adjustment of Status Application | $600 – $1,200 |
| Deportation Defense | $2,000 – $10,000 |
Many scenarios may require an immigration lawyer, and each case is unique. The fees depend on the complexity of the service. If you're applying for a family visa, the steps involved are more straightforward in comparison to a deportation case, which would require more time.
Immigration lawyer cost per hour
An immigration lawyer charges $150 to $300+ per hour on average. In some cases, immigration lawyers will provide free consultations. However, most often, you can expect to pay an additional $50 to $100 for the first meeting.
Average immigration attorney fees
The average immigration attorney fees are $600 to $1,400 but prices can range from $370 and $12,000 depending on the nature of your case. Also, there are often additional USCIS Fees of $460 to $700+.
When immigrating and applying for US Citizenship, there are many different forms, requirements, and procedures to go through based on your specific case. Let's go over each type in detail with their associated fees.
US work visa cost
When applying for an H-1B Working Visa in the USA, you will likely spend $1,195 to $1,495 on attorney fees and between $460 and $2,460 on USCIS filing fees. This process typically takes 15 to 150 days.
| Visa Type | Processing Time | Attorney Fee | USCIS / State Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| H-1B Visa | 15 – 150 days | $1,195 – $1,495 | $460 – $2,460 |
| H-4 Visa | 15 – 150 days | $200 – $400 | $370 |
| H-1B1 Visa (Singapore or Chilean Citizens) |
5 – 120 days | $995 | $460 and ACWIA fee |
| J-1 Visa Waiver | 3 – 6 months | $995 | $120 for DS-3035 |
| L-1 Visa | 15 – 150 days | $2,500 | $460 |
| E-3 Visa | 1 – 60 days | $500 | $0 – $460 |
| TN Visa | 1 – 60 days | $500 | $0 – $460 |
Cost of visitor visa to USA {#visitor}
If you plan on visiting the USA and need a temporary B-1 Visa, attorney fees are typically around $400, and your filing takes 5 business days to process. When renewing, extending, or changing a B-1 or B-2 Visa, attorney fees are about $400, USCIS fees are $370, and processing time takes 60 to 90 days.
| Visa Type | Processing Time | Attorney Fee | USCIS Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| B-1 Business Visa | 5 days | $400 | -- |
| B-1 / B-2 Visa Renewal / Extension or Change of Status |
60 – 90 days | $400 | $370 |
Spouse & fiancé visa cost {#spouse}
Attorney fees are about $725 for filing a K-1 Visa Petition for the fiancé of a U.S. Citizen, with the USCIS fees costing $535. Typical processing time is 7 to 10 months.
Attorney fees for filing a CR-1 Petition for the Spouse of a U.S. Citizen or Green Card holder are the same, but the typical processing time is 10 to 14 months.
| Visa Type | Processing Time | Attorney Fee | USCIS Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| K-1 Visa Petition – For the Fiance of a U.S. Citizen | 7 – 10 months | $795 | $535 |
| CR-1 Petition – For the Spouse of a U.S. Citizen / Green Card Holder | 10 – 14 months | $795 | $535 |
Green Card lawyer fees
Green Card lawyer fees range from $795 to $2,900 depending on your situation. Green Card lawyer fees for a sibling or parent of a U.S. Citizen is around $795. An employee sponsored labor certification costs $2,000 in attorney fees, $700 in USCIS filing fees, and takes 2 to 3 years to process.
| Green Card Type | Processing Time | Attorney Fee | USCIS Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sibling of a U.S. Citizen | -- | $795 | -- |
| Parent of a U.S. Citizen | -- | $795 | -- |
| Employer-Sponsored Labor Certification with PERM | 2 – 3 years | $2,000 | $700 |
| Multinational Executives and Managers & L-1A Visa Holders | 4 – 8 months | $2,500 | $700 |
| Physical Therapists | 12 months | $1,400 | $700 |
| Registered Nurses | 12 months | $1,400 | $700 |
| Outstanding Researchers / Professors | 4 – 8 months | $1,500 | $700 |
| Adjustment of Status – I-140 Based | 6 months | $825 | $1,225 |
| AC-21 Portability for Pending I-485 Petitions | Immediate | $395 | None |
| National Interest Waiver | 4 – 8 months | $2,900 | $700 |
| Extraordinary Ability (EB-1) | 4 – 8 months | $2,900 | $700 |
Green Cardlawyer fees & US citizenship lawyer fees {#us}
US citizenship lawyer fees are $500 on average to fill out the application for naturalization and $725 for the USCIS fees. Processing time usually takes 6 to 9 months to complete this task.
| Type | Processing Time | Attorney Fee | USCIS Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| N-400 Application for Naturalization | 6 – 9 months | $500 | $725 |
Immigration attorney cost factors
Factors that impact the cost of an immigration lawyer include:
Your specific case – Do you require their guidance for filing forms correctly and efficiently? Also, will you request their assistance in court in regards to deportation or criminal charges? The scope of work involved will dictate the rate they charge.
The lawyer's level of experience – Although there are many competent immigration lawyers with less experience than veteran immigration lawyers, it's vital that you seek someone with a good reputation in terms of the clients they have represented in the past. Most often, as with any professional service, the more experienced they are, the higher the rate.
Where they are located – An experienced immigration lawyer may cost more in Manhattan compared to a small town in Texas. Depending on the state, additional fees may also apply.
The type of support you require – As stated above, the details of your case matter. Are you seeking citizenship for your elderly parents? Would you only like to obtain a work visa? There are many variables to consider which you can review during your consultation. An immigration lawyer will offer their opinion based on their experience, helping you determine whether or not your case will likely be successful and in turn, worth the rate provided.
Why hire an immigration lawyer? {#why}
You can complete the immigration process without legal representation, but the process is complicated and there are many laws and regulations involved. Although hiring a lawyer adds additional fees, taking the right legal steps can save you time and money in the long-run. More importantly, this beneficial support can ensure that everything is done correctly, helping you avoid visa denials in the future.
If it's possible that you will be deported or separated from loved ones, it's important to consider if the additional savings are worth that risk.
Using our proprietary cost database, in-depth research, and collaboration with industry experts, we deliver accurate, up-to-date pricing and insights you can trust, every time.