How much does an immigration lawyer cost?
How much does an immigration lawyer cost?
$150 – $600 average cost per hour
$1,000 – $15,000 average flat fee cost
Average immigration lawyer fees
Hiring an immigration lawyer costs $150 to $600 per hour or anywhere from $1,000 to $15,000 total, depending on the service. Immigration lawyers help people gain U.S. citizenship, a visa, or a green card. Immigration attorney fees vary depending on your location and the attorney's experience level.
| Fee type | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Hourly rate | $150 – $600 per hour |
| Flat fee | $1,000 – $15,000 |
Hourly rate
Many immigration lawyers charge a flat rate for their services, but others choose to use hourly fees of $150 to $600 per hour instead, particularly in these cases:
The timeline of your case is hard to predict.
You have a tight timeline or need to apply for asylum by a certain date.
You've been divorced or are in the middle of a divorce.
You've already completed a lot of paperwork yourself or have a very basic case.
Flat fee
Immigration lawyers charge a flat fee of $1,000 to $15,000 for specific services. Costs for complex green card and deportation cases are highest, while simple naturalization and work visa petitions cost less. You may also pay more if you've committed a serious crime or are in the process of getting divorced.
What does an immigration lawyer do?
An immigration lawyer provides legal advice and represents clients who need help with the following immigration-related matters:
Obtaining a visa or green card
Getting citizenship
Avoiding deportation
Applying for asylum
Helping family members immigrate
Transferring employees or hiring non-citizens
In addition to filing paperwork, your lawyer can also help by filing appeals, researching statutes, gathering evidence, and preparing you for hearings or interviews.
Immigration lawyer cost by service
The amount you pay an immigration lawyer will depend on your end goal. If you're working towards becoming a U.S. citizen, the process is often long and expensive. Getting a work visa is a less permanent solution but costs less.
| Service | Average cost* |
|---|---|
| Citizenship | $1,500 – $7,500 |
| Green card | $2,500 – $10,000 |
| Travel or work visa | $1,000 – $7,000 |
| Removal / deportation | $1,500 – $15,000 |
*Including court filing fees
Citizenship
Applying for citizenship (N-600) or naturalization (N-400) costs $1,500 to $7,500, including all court filing fees. N-600 citizenship is available for people with one or more parents who are citizens or being adopted by citizens.
Naturalization is the path towards citizenship for adult applicants who were born outside of the United States. Both options will make the applicant a permanent resident and citizen. During the process, an immigration lawyer will help you by:
Preparing & filing your petition
Handling all USCIS communication
Helping prepare you for the naturalization test, if applicable
Attending your naturalization interview, if applicable
Green card
An immigration lawyer charges $2,500 to $10,000 to help you get a green card. There are different types of green cards with different lengths, but they all allow you to stay in the U.S. without being a citizen. People with green cards can work, own property, and even join the military.
Getting a green card can take anywhere from 12 to 24 months, and in most cases, you can't leave the country until you're approved or get an "advance parole" travel visa.
Travel or work visa
Lawyers charge $1,000 to $7,000 to help you obtain a travel or work visa. These visas are temporary and have set expiration dates. You can also file a petition to receive a fiancé visa if you're planning to marry a U.S. citizen and obtain a green card soon.
Removal / deportation
Help with a removal or deportation case costs $1,500 to $15,000, depending on how straightforward or complex the case is. The lawyer will likely help prepare for a hearing, negotiate with the government lawyer, and appear with you in court.
Online services like Boundless or CitizenPath allow immigrants to file their paperwork without a lawyer. This can save money but may not be a viable option for complicated cases.
Other fees
If you need à la carte services or just need help with a renewal, you can expect to pay the following fees for legal aid:
Green card petition for a relative: $1,000 to $4,500
Adjustment of status application: $2,000 to $5,000
Citizenship application: $500 to $2,500
Green card renewal: $300 to $700
Asylum application:$1,000 to $7,000Immigration attorney cost factors {#factors}
The following factors affect the cost of hiring an immigration lawyer:
Location: Lawyers in areas with higher cost of living, like California or New York, usually have higher rates.
Experience: Expert attorneys usually charge more, especially when they have a stellar reputation and a high success rate.
Complexity: A basic application for citizenship or a visa with no issues or overstays takes less time and costs less. People facing deportation or with complex family circumstances may end up paying more.
Consultation: Some lawyers offer free consultations, while others charge $100 to $400 for about one hour of their time, which they put towards their total fee if you choose to hire them.
Immigration attorney FAQs
Can an immigration lawyer speed up the process?
Yes, an immigration lawyer can help shorten your timeline by making sure the paperwork is done correctly, requesting expedited processing if you qualify, and addressing or avoiding potential roadblocks ahead of time.
What do I look for when choosing an immigration lawyer?
You should look for an immigration attorney with several years of experience and credentials. You should also look for:
Someone who makes you feel comfortable and explains things in a way you understand
Someone who speaks your language if you're not fluent in English
A lawyer who is transparent about their fee structure
Can an immigration lawyer help you get a U.S. visa?
Yes, an immigration lawyer can help you get a visa. They'll file your application for you, attend any interviews, and respond to requests for additional information if necessary. A lawyer can also help you extend or change your visa.
Why would I hire an immigration lawyer?
People hire immigration lawyers for a variety of reasons, including:
They've overstayed a visa or entered the country without inspection.
They're facing deportation.
They've committed a criminal offense.
They're a foreign diplomat or naturalization applicant.
What if I can't afford an immigration lawyer?
If an immigration lawyer's fees are beyond your ability to pay, you have a few options:
Ask the lawyer to split the work with you by completing basic tasks or paperwork yourself.
Look for a nonprofit organization, like the ACLU or the Immigrant Defense Project, that helps people with immigration cases.
Look for lawyers offering pro-bono, or free, legal services. You can find them through local law schools or bar associations.
Check out local immigration clinics or community organizations.
Getting estimates from immigration lawyers
Follow these important steps when looking for an immigration attorney near you:
Explore reviews of attorneys on Lawful and Google.
Make sure they have experience working on immigration cases.
Pick a lawyer with a transparent fee structure.
Choose a law firm that's located close to you if possible.
Ask for a contract in writing before you start.
Questions to ask an immigration lawyer
When looking for legal representation, ask the following questions:
How long have you been practicing immigration law?
When did you pass the bar exam?
How much do you charge per hour?
Do you charge a flat rate for this kind of case?
Will any other lawyers or paralegals be helping with my case?
Do you offer free consultations? If not, how much do you charge?
Do you have enough time to take on my case at this time?
How long should my case take?
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.