Hiring an attorney for your immigration case is ALWAYS a good idea. But, if you’re resistant to the idea and want to handle things yourself, okay. That said, if your situation has any of these 3 issues, I really REALLY suggest that you at least consult an attorney before doing anything yourself:

1. You have a criminal record. Maybe you think it’s for a small crime, or maybe you think it has been expunged and dealt with. But, here’s the thing, that doesn’t necessarily matter for Even if you’ve “paid your dues” or it happened a long time ago or it has since been expunged, it still is something you’re required to list in your paperwork and it is still something that can come up and bite you from behind. I’ve even seen a naturalization case denied because the applicant couldn’t find proof that he paid off a speeding ticket. That man hired an attorney and it got taken care of, but what a headache!
2. You accumulated unlawful presence in the United States. Whether you entered the US illegally and stayed for a length of time, or maybe you entered the US legally and then overstayed, this can be a biggie. US immigration law imposes penalties and bars to admission if you have unlawful presence. BUT, there may be an available waiver for you, you may fall into an exception, or maybe what you think is unlawful presence really isn’t (or, to the contrary, what you think is NOT unlawful presence maybe IS). Point being, talk with a knowledgeable attorney about your situation before you file anything with
3. You violated the terms of your visa. For example, maybe you were in the US as a tourist and to help supplement the costs of a trip to Disney World, you took a side job for a few weeks. Well, working on a tourist visa is a violation of the terms of your visa and can result in your visa getting revoked, removal proceedings being initiated against you, or a denial of future If you aren’t sure whether or not you violated the terms of your visa, an immigration attorney can fill you in. Better yet, find out what you are and aren’t allowed to do on your visa BEFORE you do it!

Last Updated: 4.15.2023 (*Note that immigration rules, regulations, and practices change frequently. Make sure to check for updated information since the posting of this article.)