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How Much Should I Budget for Immigration Lawyer Fees?

By Michael Niren February 3, 2015 (Updated May 10, 2022) 3 min. read
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Do you have your heart set on immigrating, but aren’t sure how much to budget for immigration lawyer fees for Canada or the US? For immigration programs such as Express Entry or Green Cards, hiring an immigration lawyer isn’t absolutely essential, but it can be beneficial if you’re unsure of how to proceed or want to increase your chances of success.

To help you get a better idea of how to budget, and to stop you from overpaying for immigration services, we’ve put together the following guide.

How Do Canada Immigration Lawyer Fees Work?

Canada Immigration lawyers usually work on a flat or fixed-fee basis, however, some also work on hourly rates. If you’re being charged a flat fee, you basically enter into an agreement to pay a fixed amount of money for an attorney to represent you regarding a particular immigration issue. This could be anything from gaining a petition for an H-1B visa or to help with a labor certification application. The main advantage of a fixed fee is that you’re fully aware of your legal fees from the outset.

What Factors Can Affect Your Immigration Fee?

Immigration lawyer fees can fluctuate widely. Experience is a big factor, for instance, you’ll probably pay more for an attorney with 20 years of experience under his belt compared to a rookie fresh from law school.

What’s the Difference Between Fees and Costs?

A fee is the amount you pay for legal services while costs cover things such as filing fees that are often charged by the US Immigration Service, as well as long-distance charges, photocopying, express mail etc.

Average Immigration Lawyer Fees

US or Canadian Immigration Lawyers have several costs and fees associated with their service including consultations, hourly rate, government fees, etc. Below are the average costs for immigration services:

ItemsAverage Costs
30 Minute Consultation$75 – $300 USD
Lawyer’s Hourly Rate$150 – $350 USD
Form Filing Assistance$250 – $2000 USD
Permanent Residency Assistance$1000 – $7500 USD
USCIS or IRCC Fees$400 – $800 USD

How Much Does an Immigration Lawyer Cost?

Before you hire an immigration lawyer, you will have a 30-minute consultation with an immigration professional. During this consultation, you will receive an estimate on the services you are hiring the immigration lawyer for. The estimated cost ranges from the difficulty level of your case, the time it will take, how many forms/documents are needed, and government fees.

Do not forget to get an estimate for your services during the immigration consultation!

Will an Immigration Lawyer Near Me Be Less Expensive?

The cost of hiring an immigration lawyer for their services usually is not based on how close they are to you. Sure, it could save you time if you plan on seeing the lawyer in person, but most legal service prices are based on which type of service you are receiving and also the lawyer’s experience in that field.

The size of the lawyer’s practice and their location (for example, the country or city the lawyer is based in) can also play a factor in the cost of the immigration services.

Choosing the Right Immigration Lawyer for You

It’s a good idea to meet with at least two or three immigration lawyers so you can get a better idea of the types of fees and costs you can reasonably expect to pay. If you notice a large jump between the different fees quoted, be wary and carry out background checks before settling on an immigration lawyer. In the end, your immigration lawyer fees will largely depend on your personal circumstances.

Are You in Need of an Immigration Lawyer?

The immigration application process can be very difficult. These days, the rules and regulations make it increasingly difficult to qualify for a visa. Therefore, if you’re interested in immigrating to a different country, it is essential that your application is handled properly from start to finish. If you want to increase your chances of getting a visa, you should hire an experienced immigration lawyer. 

Contact VisaPlace today. All of our cases are handled by competent and experienced immigration professionals who are affiliated with VisaPlace. These professionals consist of lawyers, licensed paralegals, and consultants who work for VisaPlace Legal, an award-winning immigration firm that adheres to the highest standards of client service.

Ready for the next step? Book your 1 on 1 consultation now or call us at 1-888-317-5770.

Have a Question related to your Immigration Needs?

Fill out the FREE Immigration Assessment form and get a response within 24 hours to see if you’re eligible.

The assessment form should take approximately 5-7 minutes to complete. We will get back to you within one business day to let you know if we are able to help.

Pherry AshMalt Avatar

Pherry AshMalt

I won’t go into detail for privacy, but I was in a very bad situation where almost no lawyer would work with me or even provide me with legal counsel on my case. I was terrified of being removed from the country, but with the help of the professionals at VisaPlace, they were able to help me and I was allowed to stay. The relief I feel is immense. Thank you to the amazing team.

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Walter J.

I was frustrated after talking to several different immigration firms. Many just didn’t seem honest or upfront. However, a friend recommended VisaPlace to me, and I am glad they did. I worked with a lady and she was very knowledgeable and explained the process to me. She was so essential for the immigration process. I would definitely go back to her if i needed any further support.

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Marco Tame

I’d like to be clear that I’m somewhat of a skeptic, especially when it comes to investing time and money into a new venture. I’m originally from the UK but I made the decision to migrate to Canada after meeting my girlfriend online six months ago. I know the process is going to take time, but I wanted legal counsel to make sure I approach the process in the most efficient way possible – I HATE wasting time. My consultation over the phone was informative and eased some of my initial concerns about potential hiccups. The lawyer I worked with was good about getting back to me, although occasionally she couldn’t be reached due to being in court – that was fine, she typically followed up relatively quickly. I’m now well within the process of immigrating and I have appreciated having the legal support.

Michael Her Avatar

Michael Her

It was pretty easy to make an appointment with visaplace. I have seen some people complain about the pricing, which is odd because in comparison to other firms, their rates are relatively fair. They were also honest and upfront with the complexities of my case and gave me the option to decide whether or not I wanted to move forward. I did end up moving forward and things have been going according to what we discussed. I am relieved to know there are honest professionals out there who won’t over-promise you things they can’t deliver.

Morgan Whitaker Avatar

Morgan Whitaker

I had a bad experience with a previous firm so I was hesitant to reach out to another to get my wife into the country. But, I needed guidance. After a consultation with VisaPlace, I was put at ease. The process was smooth and they were usually quick to respond. If they couldn’t respond to me that day, they always followed up with me, which I appreciate.

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Joan Whittington

UPDATE: I am choosing to update and not remove my original post so others will see that they do seem to care about the success of their clients cases.
After posting my initial review I was contacted by a senior consultant that took ownership of the lack of progress on my case on their end. I am updating because they are trying to make a difference and I have now been assigned a team that contacted me in one business day and gave me all of the paperwork I need to get started on for processing. At this point I am very satisfied and am hopeful my case gets resolved in a timely fashion and in a professional manner.

Initial Post: I had an appointment 2+ weeks ago and spoke with someone that was supposed to send a follow up email but have yet to hear back from her. She wanted to get my credit card info for payment but I had to wait for it to clear another payment. They are very irresponsible and not professional. Would not recommend.

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Gregory Larocque

I had a fantastic experience with Brenda! I was very anxious about my status for an upcoming trip to the U.S and Brenda managed to really ease my nerves. She gave exceptional customer service and she made my day. I truly had an incredible experience. I would recommend Brenda to anyone and everyone!