Below are some the frequently asked questions and their responses. Please feel free to contact us for information by calling us at the office at 509.525.2034.
Is there a consultation fee?
There is a $100.00 initial consultation fee due at the appointment time. You are under no obligation to continue your case with our office. However, if you do, the consultation fee will be credited to the total cost of your case.
What should I bring to the consultation?
In order to use your time effectively, we will need to review any documents you have such as:
- Any previous Immigration paperwork
- Proof of your entry into the U.S., if you have one. At minimum, the entry date or month and year will be needed.
- Your passport, I.D.
- Your birth and Marriage Certificates
- Any other documents you believe might be helpful
I don’t speak English, are there interpreters available?
All of our employees except Wendy speak Spanish as well as English. We are also open to you bringing your own interpreter if you would feel more comfortable or speak another language.
Are payment plans available?
If you needed medical treatment that would change your life, you would want to pay a physician who had the experience and expertise to care for you. Similarly, you do not want to take a chance on your life here in America or that of your family member. Immigration cases are time-consuming and require specialized knowledge. For this reason, legal representation is expensive. If needed, we will work with you to establish payment plans so that payment is possible for your family.
Are you willing to talk at community events or hold community presentations?
We are passionate about educating the Walla Walla Community on Immigration issues. We are available for employee training or more general group presentations at no cost. You are welcome to call or email anytime to schedule a presentation.
What happens to people who entered the U.S. without documents or stayed beyond their visas?
While most undocumented people must wait for Immigration Reform, there are people who may be eligible for Immigration Relief and do not know it. These may include victims of domestic violence and other violent crimes, spouses of U.S. Citizens, abandoned children, and others. You can trust the attorneys at Hernandez Immigration Law to provide confidential, accurate information as you plan for your future.
I am hearing that any contact with Immigration is so unsafe that there is nothing I can do to get legal papers without risking deportation. Why would I talk to an Immigration Attorney?
Actually, talking to an immigration attorney is more important now than it has ever been before. Some processes have not changed because they are established by Congress rather than the President and should be pursued quickly. Others may be more risky now and should only be considered after getting old immigration records and carefully assessing the risks. Talking to an immigration attorney helps you make informed decisions for your family’s future.
What do I do if my address changes while I’m waiting for a case?
If you have any application pending, it is best not to move as USCIS does not always make sure you will get your mail at the new address. If you absolutely must, let our office know immediately so that we can notify USCIS. It is also important to notify the Post Office and to check your case processing frequently so that if a document is mailed to you, you can watch the mail or notify someone at your previous address to save it for you if it goes there by mistake.
My case is taking forever. What is wrong? Is it my attorney?
Our office strives to get applications in the mail the day they are finished. Sometimes, our clients think they are waiting for us when we are actually still waiting for a document from them. If you think there is a delay on our end, please call or email your case manager to inquire. Once applications are mailed, however, the government is in control and it is very difficult to predict their timing. Sometimes a case seems to be delayed for no reason by USCIS. Others may process quite quickly. In general, since 2017, all USCIS processes have slowed down considerably, doubling and tripling the time required prior to 2017. If you follow the instructions in the questions below, you can check your case status and processing time to know if an inquiry of USCIS would be helpful. Notify our case manager if you are concerned.
What is going to happen with DACA?
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is an Executive Action signed into law by President Obama. Although President Trump has tried to end it, only the Supreme Court can decide whether that is going to happen. In the meantime, we advise our clients to file renewal applications at least 3 months, or up to 1 year, before expiration. We are all hoping for a more permanent “Dream Act” that will lead to permanent residence, but it has not happened yet.
I have a pending application and need to call USCIS, how do I prepare to do that?
Dial 1-800-375-5283 and have this information ready: applicants’ full name, “alien” registration number (A#), application receipts numbers, receipt dates, and information you provided on form.
How do I know what is happening with my USCIS application?
- Go to USCIS.gov. Click on “Check your Case Status” on the homepage. Type in your 13 digit receipt number with the first three letters (for DACA begins with IOE followed by 10 numbers),
Check the case status of any receipts that you have.
If this message appears, “On (your receipt date), we scheduled you for a biometrics (fingerprints) appointment and mailed you an appointment notice for (your receipt #). Please follow the instructions in the notice…” This means your application is still processing.
*Between the time, you have been scheduled and completed your biometrics (fingerprints) to the time the decision is made, there are no online updates, so the message above will be displayed until a decision is made.
Is there a way of knowing what applications USCIS is processing?
You can check on what applications the Service Centers processing applications are on. The processing times are updated once a month around mid-month. By checking this you can confirm whether your application is “outside of normal processing time.”
For example, an application is at the Nebraska Service Center (NSC) and the receipt notice says application was received on May 10th, but the NSC is currently on June 4th forms. The application is “outside of normal processing time;” meaning you can call USCIS (1-800-375-5283) and ask what’s going on and they will help you submit a “outside of processing time” inquiry. It usually takes 15 days or so to get a response from USCIS.
Is there a way of knowing what applications USCIS is processing?
You can check on what applications the Service Centers processing applications are on. The processing times are updated once a month around mid-month. By checking this you can confirm whether your application is “outside of normal processing time.”
For example, an application is at the Nebraska Service Center (NSC) and the receipt notice says application was received on May 10th, but the NSC is currently on June 4th forms. The application is “outside of normal processing time;” meaning you can call USCIS (1-800-375-5283) and ask what’s going on and they will help you submit a “outside of processing time” inquiry. Usually takes 15 days or so to get a response from USCIS.
To Check Service Center Processing Times:
- Scroll down on the ‘Check your Case Status’ page on the USCIS website and click on “USCIS Processing Times Information” and click on “Visit Page” button
- Scroll down, select the Service Center your application is at. The first receipt notice you received through the mail lets you know which one (can be located at the bottom left corner of receipt)
- Click “Service Center Processing Dates” button
- Scroll down and look for I-821D, Consideration for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, and there you’ll find the application dates USCIS is currently processing.
What causes a delay on processing times?
Certain factors like travel, even with advanced parole, or criminal history can delay the application processing time, as well as changing your mailing address after submitting your application.