An immigration specialist can file documents at immigration offices and courts on behalf of clients.
An immigration attorney, paralegal, and enforcement agent are all types of immigration experts. Each role has specific roles in the immigration process. Immigration experts are expected to be knowledgeable about the immigration laws of their regions. An immigration specialist works with government agencies, immigrants, and court systems, and often speaks multiple languages to communicate with a variety of clients.
Immigration experts may keep an eye on a couple suspected of marrying for the sole purpose of obtaining a green card.
Immigration attorneys help immigrants with all aspects of immigration law. Immigrants who are being deported, seeking work visas, or seeking citizenship can use the services of an immigration attorney to navigate the process. Immigration attorneys maintain knowledge of current immigration laws in their regions and advise clients on how best to achieve desired goals. An immigration attorney appears in court with the client on all legal matters. They also file documents at immigration offices and courts on behalf of clients.
Immigrants who are being deported, seeking work visas, or seeking citizenship can use the services of an immigration attorney to navigate the process.
Paralegals cannot act as attorneys, but they can advise immigrants on how to complete paperwork, help them move through the process, and provide assistance to the immigrant regarding most immigration matters. A paralegal is specifically trained in law, but has not completed a law degree or taken the regional bar exam. Paralegals often work under the supervision of an attorney, but their fees are often cheaper than those of an attorney. However, some regions do not have paralegals.
Immigration specialists can help immigrants find employment.
An immigration agent is another type of immigration specialist. Typical duties of an immigration agent include investigating alien status, maintaining immigrant case files, and assisting the court system in court proceedings against illegal immigrants. As an immigration specialist, a compliance officer is also used to guard national borders and proactively work to eliminate the threat of terrorism.
Some regions have immigration specialists called immigration assistants. These assistants are not attorneys or have specific legal training and therefore cannot provide legal advice. However, they can guide immigrants through the necessary paperwork for visas, green cards, or other needs. Requirements vary by region regarding immigration assistants. For example, in some regions, the contract signed between the immigration specialist and the immigrant must be presented both in the mother tongue of the immigrant and in the language of the new region, so that both parties clearly understand everything it contains.
In order to protect immigrants, some regions require all immigration experts to register with their government offices. This helps reduce the number of unskilled residents who prey on immigrants seeking assistance in their new regions. Jurisdiction-specific requirements and information on how to register with a government office can usually be found on government websites.