Immigration Lawyer — Family, Asylum, Green Cards & Citizenship

Quick Answer: What does an immigration lawyer do?

An immigration lawyer prepares and files immigration petitions and applications, represents clients at USCIS interviews, embassy/consular interviews, and immigration court hearings, and handles appeals when cases are denied. Common matters include family-based green cards, fiancé and marriage visas, asylum, citizenship/naturalization, deportation defense, work visas, waivers, and bond hearings for detained noncitizens. Modern Law Group has handled more than 10,000 family-based approvals since 2009.

Why People Hire an Immigration Lawyer

Most immigration cases look simple on the USCIS website. They are not. Filing the wrong form, missing a deadline, or signing the wrong sworn statement can stall a case for years, trigger a Request for Evidence, or — in deportation cases — get someone removed from the United States. An experienced immigration attorney knows what USCIS, the consulates, ICE, and the immigration courts actually look for in 2026, what the current processing times really are (versus the published numbers), and how to build a record that survives scrutiny.

At Modern Law Group, our practice is 100% U.S. immigration law. We do not handle family law, criminal defense, or business litigation. That focus is why we have been able to file more than 10,000 successful family-based cases since 2009, and why our team handles cases in English, Russian, Spanish, Tajik, Vietnamese, and Kyrgyz.

What an Immigration Lawyer Handles

The right strategy depends on facts the client often does not know are important: how the marriage was documented, whether there was any prior visa fraud, what the I-94 says, whether the criminal record includes a "crime involving moral turpitude," whether anyone in the family qualifies for derivative relief. A free consultation with an immigration lawyer is the fastest way to find out which of these matter for your case.

Meet Our Immigration Attorneys

Six U.S. immigration attorneys, six languages, one focus: U.S. immigration law.

Practice Areas

Browse our immigration practice areas. Each page covers process, timeline, evidence requirements, and common pitfalls.

How an Immigration Case Actually Works

Step 1 — The Free Consultation

You will speak with an immigration attorney for 20 to 45 minutes. We will ask about your immigration history, prior filings, criminal record, family situation, and what you are trying to accomplish. We will tell you which forms apply, what current processing times look like, what evidence you need, and what the realistic odds are. There is no pressure to retain.

Step 2 — Document Collection

If you decide to retain us, we send a tailored document checklist for your specific case. For family-based cases, this typically includes proof of citizenship or LPR status, proof of the qualifying relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificates), tax returns, financial support documentation, and identity documents. For asylum and deportation cases, we collect country-condition evidence, declarations, and supporting witness statements.

Step 3 — Drafting and Filing

We draft your forms, prepare a cover brief, organize your evidence in a tabbed exhibit binder (or its USCIS electronic equivalent), and file with the correct service center, lockbox, embassy, or court. We pay attention to filing fees, signature blocks, biometrics requirements, and translation certifications — every one of which can trigger a rejection if missed.

Step 4 — Government Processing

USCIS, the National Visa Center, the State Department, ICE, or EOIR review the case. Depending on case type this takes from 30 days (premium processing) to 8 to 18 months (most standard cases) to multiple years (preference categories). We monitor the case, respond to any Requests for Evidence, update you when notices arrive, and prepare you for the interview or hearing.

Step 5 — Interview, Hearing, or Decision

For green cards, we attend the USCIS interview with you. For removal cases, we appear at every master calendar and individual hearing. For asylum, we prepare you for the asylum interview and accompany you. After the decision, we handle approvals, RFEs, denials, and appeals.

Fees and Payment

Most immigration cases are flat fee, not hourly, so you know up front what the case costs. Family-based petitions, naturalization, and fiancé visas are flat-fee scopes. Asylum and deportation defense are scoped to the case and typically structured in payment plans. Government filing fees are separate from attorney fees.

We do not quote exact fees over the phone because the right number depends on the specific facts — prior filings, criminal history, derivatives, whether premium processing applies. We discuss fee ranges during the free consultation and offer payment plans for most matters.

Languages We Practice In

• English — all attorneys
• Russian — Vilena Ramini, Max Fuchs, Igor Harris, Khamroz Boev
• Spanish — Yesenia Tovar
• Tajik — Khamroz Boev
• Vietnamese — staff support
• Kyrgyz — staff support

Where We Practice

Modern Law Group is a national U.S. immigration firm. Our offices are in San Diego (HQ), Brooklyn, Fort Worth, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Miami, and Tijuana. We serve clients in all 50 states for USCIS matters and represent clients in immigration courts where our attorneys are admitted to practice. Federal immigration law is the same nationwide; we routinely take on cases from cities where we do not have a physical office.

City pages

Frequently Asked Questions