Successfully immigrating to the United States for professional reasons primarily involves having a good understanding of the types of visas and their necessary conditions. Besides being a complex process, this marks a life-changing decision, and obtaining the renowned Green Card requires professionalism; in other words, there is no room for amateurism or errors, as the consequences can be disastrous and costly. Once the decision to live in the U.S. is made, it is essential to be familiar with immigration rules and laws. Nowadays, there are many options for obtaining information, such as consulting a paralegal, an accountant, or even immigrant service agencies. However, none of these, by law, can provide legal advice.
The problem is that many people, out of naivety, fall victim to scams with potentially serious consequences. Some pay for services that will never be performed, while others may compromise themselves with immigration authorities due to incorrect or fraudulent documents.
“According to Dr. Ingrid Domingues McConville, there is a significant number of people who seek her to ‘fix’ what went wrong because there are families already established in the United States with structured work and school, and when their visa is denied, they find themselves in a difficult situation.” Besides falling into illegality, immigration may initiate a deportation process. Additionally, there are those who pay, wait for results, and after months of waiting, discover that their case was never filed. Even worse and harder to resolve are those who arrive with a deportation order.
We are in an era where all information posted on the web, social media, or application groups must be scrutinized, as there are many exploiting the ignorance of others and making them believe in miraculous falsehoods.
Therefore, the best course of action is always to seek a competent, experienced, and attentive professional. A professional visa requires much knowledge and strategy. A good immigration lawyer is one who can identify your goals, show real options, provide legal advice on strategies, and ultimately inspire confidence. The true lawyer will ‘fight’ for their client until they achieve the objectives, through laws, ethics, and hard work. Dr. Ingrid Domingues McConville concludes, “Beware of fake lawyers, opportunists, and those taking advantage of the moment. Here’s a tip: Fraudsters make many promises that sound too good, claim to have a special relationship with the government, and promise benefits quickly.”
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- Ingrid Domingues-McConville founded DM VISA LAW – Domingues McConville, P.A. in 1995. She has been a member of the Florida Bar since 1995 and a member of the United States District Court, Southern District of Florida. Ingrid earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, and her law degree from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in Cleveland, Ohio. With over 27 years of experience in immigration law, Ingrid has represented clients throughout the United States and the world, both in business and family immigration matters. She has helped companies and individuals obtain visas and permanent residence in the United States. Ingrid plays a significant leadership role in the Brazilian community in South Florida and across the United States, providing much-needed legal guidance and advice.