Reasonable Attorney's Fees for an Adjustment of Status Case ($3,000-$5,000 +/-)

There is a wide range of attorney's fees for representing Clients in an adjustment of status process. Here's a guide for reasonable attorney's fees for different kinds of adjustment of status cases, which DO NOT INCLUDE government filings fees, medical exams or other third party expenses such as translations, passport photographs etc.

MARITAL BASED ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS

For the Austin area, adjustment of status cases for marital based cases should typically be between $3,000 to $5,000. These cases will generally require filing for the following processes:

• I-130, Visa Petition;

• I-485, Adjustment of Status; and,

• I-864/A, Sponsor/Co-Sponsor/Household Member.

Optional Benefits that may be filed concurrently are:

• I-765, Work permit (optional); and/or,

• I-131, Advance Parole/Travel Permit (optional).

Attorneys often times charge an additional fee to accompany Clients to an in-person interview at the local USCIS field office, which for most Clients in and around the Austin area will be held at the San Antonio Field office located at 20760 North US HWY 281, San Antonio, Texas 78258.

OTHER ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS CASES (245(i), PIP, Parole etc.)

There are many other ways someone might be eligible to apply for adjustment of status such as through a 245(i) grandfathering petition, parole in place, TPS Parole, DACA Parole, Humanitarian Parole etc.

These cases could be more or less complex than the typical marital based adjustment of status case, thus, reasonable attorney's fees for these types of cases should be about $3,000 to $5,000.

U VISA, VAWA, SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE (SIJ), CUBAN ADJUSTMENT ACT (CAA) ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS

Since these types of adjustment of status cases have fewer parties involved and do not have as many processes involved like the marital based adjustment of status, these cases should typically be between $2,000 to $3,000, and only require filing the I-485. Like all adjustment of status processes, adjustment of status applicants may also apply for an I-765 work permit at the same time. These cases are usually not scheduled for interviews at a local USCIS field office.

CRIMINAL, DEPORTATION, WAIVERS AND HUMANITARIAN REINSTATEMENT

Keep in mind that any case in which there may be added complexity due to criminal arrests or convictions, immigration detentions, immigration violations such as fraud, alien smuggling etc., will likely result in substantially more case work or even the filing of an I-601, I-212 or other waivers.

These kind of considerations will need to be addressed on a case by case basis, but a reasonable estimate for additional work would be about an additional $2,000 to $5,000 or more in addition to the $2,000 to $5,000 mentioned above, for a total reasonable estimate of $5,000 to $10,000 or more.

ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS WITH PENDING DEPORTATION/REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS

Anyone who is eligible to apply for adjustment of status and has a pending deportation or removal case should expect to pay between $5,000 to $10,000 or more in reasonable attorney's fees.

NEED A SECOND OPINION ON YOUR LEGAL SERVICES FEE QUOTE?

If you have received a legal services fee quote from an attorney for an adjustment of status case that exceeds these amounts, feel free to contact our office at 512-443-4788 for another opinion about the reasonable costs of your case.