Immigrating to the United States is not always easy. Sometimes you need expert legal help. What exactly does an immigration lawyer help with? He or she will be your legal voice, protecting your rights, and help reach your immigration goals. Though not all immigration lawyers are equally effective, a good one can explain what issues might arise in your getting a green card, how you can be a naturalized U.S. citizen, and also explain complex laws you simply cannot understand. Before you get help from a lawyer, you may wonder when you truly need one.

You Always Need an Immigration Lawyer
In almost every situation, you need an experienced immigration lawyer. If you are unsure of the green card process, if you have questions on naturalization, and in a variety of other situation, you should hire an immigration lawyer. In other words, if you want to successfully immigrate, get your green card, earn citizenship, and sponsor a family member, you need a good lawyer.

You Are Struggling to Get a Green Card
There are many cases where you have trouble getting a green card in the first place. You might have never applied for a green card before, making legal help crucial. There might also be some issues with your history – perhaps you have a criminal record or broke immigration laws. These situations can be resolved. If you do not know what is on your record, save yourself some time and hire an experienced lawyer.

Broken Laws and Deportation
If you have any kind of criminal history, you need to consult with an experienced immigration lawyer. Why? You might be denied entry, losing the opportunity to live in the United States. On the other hand, if you broke some U.S. laws, you might face deportation. If you are unsure of what is happening, and need legal help, you should consult with a lawyer.

You Are Trying to Sponsor Another Immigrant
If you are trying to sponsor another family members – perhaps a spouse or a sibling – save yourself some time and get an experienced lawyer to help you. There are so many opportunities for immigrants in the U.S. that it’s more than worth it. Best of all, if you sponsor immediate family or a spouse, the process is much faster.

You Don’t Understand Naturalization
The goal of most immigrants is to become naturalized U.S. citizens. Why? You can vote, work all jobs, raise a family here, be eligible for many benefits, enjoy many freedoms, and much more. However, there are some naturalization laws in place. If you are unsure of how to get the process started, working with an immigration lawyer is invaluable.

The advantages of living, working, and raising a family in the United States are many. However, that does not mean it’s easy to immigrate here. If you hire the right lawyer, and if he or she ensures you follow all laws and guidelines, you have a very good chance of getting a green card. The odds are much better if you have family already here, especially immediate family.

This guide will explain: what getting a green card means, how long it takes to get a green card, how long citizenship takes, what laws you need to follow, and how an immigration lawyer can help.

What is a green card?
First, you might wonder what a green card is in the first place. Quite simply, it’s a document allowing you to live and work in the United States. You are considered a permanent resident of the United States, you can live and work here, and you can then apply for citizenship.

In order to get a green card, you need to be sponsored by a family member or employer.

How long will it take to get a green card?
This depends on who is sponsoring you and their current position in the U.S. The time table is shortest if you are sponsored by an immediate family member. For example, if your mother lives in the U.S. and has a green card, she can sponsor you for one as well. Since she is immediate family, the process often only takes a matter of months.

If on the other hand you have no immediate family – immediate family being parents, spouses, brothers and sisters, or children – you have to wait for an Immigrant Visa to open up. The best way to do this is to be sponsored by family, but if you have no family and have to wait for a visa, the process can take years.

How long for citizenship?
After you’ve had your green card for five years, you can apply for citizenship. You can also become a citizen if you’re spouse is a citizen. You must be able to prove a knowledge of U.S. history and law, be able to read and write in English, and be willing to follow the laws and Constitution.

What laws must you follow?
There are some who try to cheat the system. For example, sometimes marriages occur between citizens and immigrants in order for the immigrant to get a green card (and having no relationship). This is illegal and because it’s somewhat common you must be able to show proof.

Also, if you have a green card, you can be deported for breaking U.S. laws. This is quite common in misdemeanor and felony cases where jail time is part of the punishment. Your legal right to live in the U.S. is threatened if you break major criminal laws.

What can an immigration lawyer do?
The immigration process can sometimes be quite confusing, and that’s why hiring an experienced immigration lawyer is smart. He or she can ensure you fill out all documentation correctly, that you are ready for any questions to be asked, that you follow the laws, and that this process takes as little time as possible. Whether your goal is a green card or naturalization, an immigration lawyer is invaluable.