A Seattle Immigration Lawyer vs. DIY Immigration Forms

When you wish to obtain a visa or are trying to become a U.S. resident or citizen, there are many forms that need to be filled out. The best way to learn what forms you need and to complete those forms correctly is with the help of a Seattle immigration lawyer.

DIY Forms vs. a Seattle Immigration Lawyer

If you are considering immigrating to the United States on a long-term, temporary or permanent basis, you may wonder whether you really need a Seattle immigration lawyer to help you with the immigration process. The answer, in many cases, is that you do need an attorney if you want the process to go smoothly and be done correctly.

There are a myriad of complex legal requirements associated with what type of visa or other immigration documents you should apply for, and a Seattle immigration lawyer will help with these documents. Of course, you may also see advertisements on the Internet to get immigration forms or to have all of the immigration forms you need sent to you.

Getting DIY immigration forms instead of getting help from a Seattle immigration lawyer is typically a terrible idea. First, many of those selling forms are selling things that are actually available for free. The people who are selling these forms are not a Seattle immigration lawyer, don’t have legal experience and are often operating a scam business. You may not get the complete forms and even if you do, you will not have help in completing them.

Submitting incorrect forms or not completely filling out the forms that you submit can create significant delays. It can also result in your application being denied. Taking a chance on getting the wrong forms from a dishonest online company or trying to handle the forms on your own without the help of a Seattle immigration lawyer is simply not worth the risk of something going wrong with your immigration.

Instead of wasting your money and time on DIY forms, get the immigration process started right immediately with the help of a Seattle immigration lawyer. A trained and experienced Seattle immigration lawyer has extensive knowledge of all immigration requirements and will provide invaluable legal advice to make the process of immigrating easier.

Does a First Time Buyer Need a Real Estate Attorney Seattle?

When you are buying your first home, you likely have a lot of questions about what is involved in the process and about what you will need to do. In the vast majority of cases, the best way to get some of your key questions answered is by a real estate attorney Seattle. Many first time buyers question whether they really need a real estate attorney Seattle for a first purchase or for a smaller purchase, especially if they already have a real estate agent. The answer, in most cases, is that even a first-time buyer of a residential property can generally benefit from the advice of a real estate attorney Seattle.

The role of a real estate attorney Seattle is different from that of a real estate agent and only your real estate attorney Seattle is equipped to give you legal advice on the purchase you are entering into. Your real estate attorney Seattle will help you in handling issues related to title insurance on the home, and will provide you with advice on financing and on the mortgage agreement that you are entering into. A real estate attorney Seattle is also going to be the best person to give you advice on whether your contract for sale- your purchase and sale agreement– is truly protective of your legal interests.

Many first time buyers don’t have the experience needed to watch out for their own legal rights when the buy a house. They may sign the offer and the purchase and sale agreement without checking for the proper contingencies and without making sure the agreement is fair and advantageous. A real estate agent typically only uses standard form contracts and won’t be able to give a first-time buyer the essential help with these issues, but a real estate attorney Seattle can and will give legal advice that will help buyers to make an informed choice.

Avoiding Immigration Scams with an Immigration Lawyer Seattle WA

Many people are very eager to come to the United States. Unfortunately, sometimes unscrupulous individuals take advantage of that eagerness and try to institute scams on people who are desperate to come to the U.S. Avoiding these scams can sometimes be tricky when they seem legitimate, but getting help from an immigration lawyer Seattle WA is typically one of the best ways to make sure you are pursuing only legitimate immigration options and not being taken by scam artists.

Avoiding Scams with an Immigration Lawyer Seattle WA

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)  has a page on their website warning potential immigrants about the scams that exist and about the unauthorized practitioners who try to rip people off.   Their site also provides information on common scams including the “Notario Publico” scam.  While in Latin America, notary publics are powerful attorneys, in the United States, a notary is not an immigration lawyer Seattle WA and is not permitted by law to provide you with any services related to immigration.

Another common scam that USCIS warns of are businesses that guarantee benefits including visas, green cards or employment authorization. They may also claim that they can file forms faster with USCIS than you can. The reality is that n o one can guarantee anything unless you meet the requirements for the visa or employment authorization- in which case you don’t need help from these individuals. Further, there are few or no exceptions to USCIS processing times and scammers are not going to be able to help you get your forms processed any faster. You should avoid these businesses and instead get help completing immigration forms from an immigration lawyer Seattle WA.

Unlike scammers who take your money, an immigration lawyer Seattle WA is legally authorized to provide immigration services. An immigration lawyer Seattle WA has gone to school, taken the bar exam and been sworn in as an attorney, so his credentials have been checked and verified. An immigration lawyer Seattle WA is also held to a code of ethics in his profession that mandates honesty and putting the client first.

All of these are important reasons why you should always get help from an immigration lawyer Seattle WA for any immigration matters.