When looking at the cost involved with the immigration process, there are three categories of fees:

Application fees The federal government charges a fee for most applications. Fees are generally between $500 to $1225 per application form. Some people may need to file more than one application form. You may be eligible for a fee waiver if you meet certain income requirements or receive public benefits. The application fees will be the same whether you hire an attorney or not.

Legal fees The cost to hire an attorney will depend on may factors including the attorney’s experience, the complexity of your case and the amount of work needed. Kowski Law Office charges a flat fee, which covers the attorney’s time spent working on your case. During the consultation, the attorney will determine the legal fee. You will not have legal fees if you decide to represent yourself.

Miscellaneous fees Miscellaneous fees are paid to someone other than the federal government or an attorney. Depending on your case, you may need certified birth and marriage certificates and English translations. If you have a criminal record, you need certified police and court records. Some applications require a medical exam. You will have travel costs if you don’t live near a USCIS office or if you are applying for a visa and need to travel to the U.S. You will have these costs whether you hire an attorney or not.

The best way to find out how much the process will cost you is to talk with an experienced immigration attorney.

The immigration process is a large investment in time and money. It is understandable to be concerned.

Kowski Law Office offers payment plans for legal fees to make the process more affordable. For most cases, payments can be spread out over 18 months or longer. Another option is to apply for a personal loan or use a credit card.

Depending on your financial situation, you may qualify for a pro bono (free) attorney through legal aid or an immigration non-profit. In Minnesota, you may contact Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, Advocates for Human Rights, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid or Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services.

Finally, you may choose to represent yourself. If you choose to represent yourself, consider scheduling a consultation to make sure you are eligible for what you want to apply for. The small investment up front can save you significant time and money, and possibly reduce the chances of complications to your situation in the future.

You can represent yourself; however, there are many reasons to hire an attorney. Here are five:

1. An experienced immigration attorney will give you personalized advice based on your situation and goals. Google and immigration message boards are not a substitute for the knowledge and experience of an attorney who has handled hundreds of cases.

2. Some types of cases are too complex to handle on your own. If you need a waiver, are applying for asylum or if you have criminal issues, your case may be too complex to handle on your own. In these situations, hiring an attorney will give you a better chance of having your application approved.

3. An experienced immigration attorney will advocate for you throughout the process. We understand the law and can advocate for you from start to finish.

4. You may save time and money by hiring an attorney from the start. Applying for immigration benefits is more than filling out forms. An experienced immigration attorney will help you avoid expensive mistakes like applying for something you are not eligible for, failing to submit the proper evidence with the application or failing to take the right steps at the right time.

5. An experienced immigration attorney will give you peace of mind knowing your case is being handled correctly the first time. Navigating immigration law can be stressful and confusing. An immigration attorney is trained to notice important details and spot potential issues so they are addressed properly.

The first step is to schedule a consultation. During the consultation, I will learn more about you and your goals. With that information, I will explain your options and the process and answer your questions. We will also talk about the fees involved.

If you decide to hire me after the consultation, I will email a representation agreement for you to sign and a link to make your first payment. Once you sign and make the payment, I will begin working on your case.

A representation agreement is a contract that describes expectations and responsibilities for working together. It includes a description of the work I will do for you, the cost and payment terms.

After you sign the representation agreement and make your initial payment, I will email you with a list of documents needed for your case. You can upload the documents to a secure website or mail or drop them off at the office. I will also email you a link where you can provide the information I need for your application forms.

Once I have all of your documents and information, I will prepare your application forms and mail them to you to sign. We can meet by phone or zoom to review the forms together.

When you return the signed forms, I will prepare your application package and mail it to the government.

Throughout the process, I encourage clients to email or call whenever they have a question, concern or their personal circumstances have changed. There is no extra cost to talk to me. I want you to understand and feel comfortable with what is happening.

While we are waiting for your interview or a decision on your case, I send monthly email updates so you know the status of your case and the average processing time.

While your case is pending, I do a lot behind the scenes to make sure your case goes as smoothly as possible. Some of those things are:

• Staying up to date on the law, policies and procedures so that I can advocate for you or adjust, as needed.

• Monitoring expiration dates for employment authorization so that we can renew on time.

• Watching for new trends that may affect your application.

The attorney, Jennifer Kowski-Dahlberg, handles all of the work on every case. Aside from a receptionist service to answer phones and schedule appointments, Jennifer does not have any employees.

The processing time varies greatly depending on what you are applying for, where your application goes and whether you need an interview. Due to COVID, processing times have become significantly longer ever before. As an example, cases that used to take 6 months are now taking 18-24 months or longer.

When we meet for the consultation, I can give you an estimate of how long it will take for your case.

You can email, call or text me. I respond within 24 hours, except for weekends and when I am on vacation. You can also schedule a phone or video appointment.

It depends on what you are applying for and your personal circumstances. When you hire me, I will send you a complete list of the documents I need for your case.

You do not need to come to my office. Everything can be handled remotely, by email, phone, mail and electronically uploading documents.

I can represent clients in their U.S. immigration matters regardless of where they live in the world. I have clients who I have never met in person before because they don’t live in the Twin Cities.

You may pay the legal fees online with a credit card, debit card or check. You can also set up automatic payments.

For the application fees to the federal government, you may pay with a check, cashier’s check or money order. You can pay some fees with a credit card.