Immigration lawyer: visas, green cards, citizenship
Work visas, investor visas, green cards, citizenship and deportation defense for employees, investors and families.
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What we handle
U.S. immigration for employees, executives and investors, and personal cases for individuals and families: visas, green cards, citizenship, asylum and removal defense.
- Work visasTemporary work status: H-1B, L-1, O-1 and TN.
- Investor visasE-2, E-1 and EB-5 for people who invest in or trade through a U.S. business.
- Green cardsPermanent residence through family, achievement or an employer.
- CitizenshipU.S. citizenship after five years as a permanent resident, or three if married to a citizen.
- Deportation defenseAsylum, ICE detention and bond, and removal orders.
- Delayed USCIS case (mandamus)Mandamus and APA delay lawsuits for stalled USCIS cases: the $405 fee, the steps and the risks.
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Guides
Green cards
- State Department Immigrant Visa Pause: Who Is Affected
- Bona Fide Marriage: Writing a Support Letter for Friends
- Green Card for the Spouse of a Green Card Holder: Steps
- Green Card for the Spouse of a U.S. Citizen: Steps
- EB-1A Final Merits Ruling: Mukherji v. Miller (Nebraska)
- Employment green cards: EB-1, EB-2 NIW and PERM compared (2026)
Deportation defense
- Form I-589: how to apply for asylum in the U.S. (2026)
- Asylum evidence and support letters: what to gather and how to write them
- Divorcing Before Your Asylum-Based Green Card Is Approved
- Affirmative Asylum Interview: Frequently Asked Questions
- I-730 Asylee Relative Petition During Removal Proceedings
- In absentia removal orders: what they mean and how to reopen one
- BIA Appeal Deadline: 30 Days After 2026 Rule Was Vacated
More guides
Which visa fits your employee or your investment?
Eleven U.S. visa and green-card paths, narrowed by a few questions about your employee or your investment.
Find the right route
Nora Busra Turan
Partner · Attorney
Beyza Candelen
Attorney
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Immigration: questions people ask
How much does an immigration lawyer cost?
Immigration lawyer cost depends on the case, so Merit Law LLP in Houston quotes attorney fees after a first conversation. Government fees are separate: Form I-130 costs $625 online or $675 on paper, and Form I-485 costs $1,440 on paper, as of October 2026. An attorney reviews which fees apply.
Do I need an immigration lawyer?
You do not have to hire an immigration lawyer to file most forms with USCIS. A lawyer matters most where a missed deadline cannot be fixed, such as the 30-day deadline to appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals. Merit Law LLP attorneys review your facts first; it depends on the case.
What is the difference between a visa and a green card?
A visa or work status is temporary and tied to one purpose, such as an H-1B job that lasts up to 6 years in total, while a green card is permanent residence (see green cards). Which one fits depends on your goals, and an attorney at Merit Law LLP reviews both.
How can I immigrate to the US legally?
Most people immigrate to the U.S. legally through a family or employer petition, an investment, or humanitarian protection such as asylum. Each route has its own form and wait: Form I-130 costs $625 online and EB-5 needs $800,000 or $1,050,000 (October 2026). Merit Law LLP reviews which route fits; see green cards.
Sources and review date
Reviewed October 2026
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Talk to the firm
Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., office local time. We reply in English, Turkish and Chinese.