Whether you are using an immigration attorney or green card lawyer for your immigration case, you need to be prepared. Most immigration attorneys will tell you that the immigration process is a difficult one, which is why it is highly recommended by the department of U.S. Immigration to seek advice from a professional rather than attempt your own green card case without a green card lawyer. Even if you are using an immigration lawyer, make sure you follow a few of these quick tips to avoid trouble with your immigration case.

Be Prepared for Delays

If you are already in the United States and your work visa is about to expire, you need to keep in mind that the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services is constantly bombarded with new and renewal applications. You can avoid any delay by hiring an immigration attorney who can file your paperwork early, which means your application will most likely be approved before the renewal date comes and goes.

Consider Applying for Citizenship

Any green card attorney will tell you that once you have a green card, you might as well file for United States citizenship. If it is legally possibly for you, contact an immigration attorney as soon as possible to start the filing process. That way you will not have to worry about last minute filings, especially if your green card is about to expire.

Understand the Summary Removal

You may have a green card, but if you do not have the backing of a green card attorney, you could face a summary removal down the road. When you arrive from overseas to the United States, you still have to speak to a border official to get entrance into the country. Since border officials have a lot of power, they can deny your entry to the United States, even if you have legal authorization to enter.

Make Copies and Track Your Paperwork

When you file forms or send paperwork to the USCIS, you need to make copies of the originals, file them, and track where your paperwork goes in the USCIS offices. Make sure that your forms are received, and if  they are not, resend the forms. Immigration attorneys can handle tracking and filing all paperwork required for your immigration case, but when working alone you will have to take the extra steps and precautions to ensure your paperwork is received on time.

Research Thoroughly

There are a lot of laws surrounding the topic of immigration. If you are working without the assistance of an immigration lawyer, you need to be aware of these laws and how they can affect you. Specific situations can call for different measures, which means you need to make sure that you stay up-to-date and follow the progress of your case to ensure a special exception does not keep you from gaining citizenship to the country.