How We Work

Get Started

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    Consultations

    Are you ready to Get Started on your journey to:

    • Hire and sponsor top global talent, start or invest in a business? or to
    • Immigrate, legalize your status, or become a US citizen? or to
    • Sponsor a family member?

    Your journey starts with an initial paid consultation with us to learn more about you, your needs, and to see if we are a good fit for each other. Start by calling (206) 282-2279 or emailing bonnie@bswasserlaw.com to book your first meeting now. Appointments are required. Most consultations are virtual, which enables us to reach more people out of the area. If you have other needs, please call or email to discuss.

    BENEFITS of an initial consultation:

    • Determine what kind of case you have, your priorities, and unique needs;
    • Determine whether we can help you;
    • We get to know each other so that we both feel comfortable working together as a partnership to solve your legal issues;
    • We custom tailor a solution for you, discuss alternatives, and backup plans. If nothing can be done for you, we will be honest with you. We will encourage you to check back later when your facts or the law may have changed. Or we may need to refer you to a different specialist.
    • We answer your questions and discuss your concerns. Prepare a list of all your questions!
    • Once we know more about you and your case facts, we will develop a solution for you at which time we will provide fee and cost estimate quotes, payment options, office policies, a list of initial documents we will need to start your case, how long we expect the process to take, and any potential issues or problems. We will discuss the best way to work together on your journey toward achieving your goals.
    • Some situations or issues may require follow up research or ongoing consulting until we develop an appropriate solution.

    WHO should book a consultation appointment? People who:

    • Are serious about and ready to solve their immigration or citizenship goals.
    • Believe it’s best to work with an experienced professional who works in this field every day.
    • Are looking for exceptional service, expertise, creative solutions, advocacy, reassurance, and as little stress as possible.
    • Want to understand what can be done for them, how and when, so they are not left in the dark not knowing what their attorney is doing for them.
    • Are interested in working with this firm and would like to get to know us better.

    HOW does the consultation work?

    Once you book your appointment, you will receive an intake questionnaire to complete and send it ahead of your appointment date. You will receive instructions for pre-payment of the initial investment in solving your issue. A checklist of what to bring and our consultation policies will also be sent to you.

    The consultation is an informational meeting not intended to establish an attorney-client relationship. Although we will keep your information confidential, to establish an attorney-client relationship, you will need to sign a contract for specific legal services and pay a deposit toward total estimated fees. Of course, if you think you may be ready the day of the consultation to hire us, let us know in advance so that we can book a longer appointment for you. We will tell you what else to bring so that we can complete the sign-up process and collect what we need to get started on your case that very day. If you do sign a contract and pay a deposit the day of your consultation, we will credit your account with the consultation fee previously paid. All consultation fees must be pre-paid at least 24 hours prior to your appointment.

    Consultations usually last an hour to an hour and a half depending upon the facts and issues. Some cases may take longer or require follow up.

    If you prefer a cheaper half-hour consultation, please mention that when you call. Those appointments cover your general questions about procedures, timing or other issues but are not full evaluations of your situation, nor do they include a complete plan or strategy for your situation.

    For prospective EMPLOYERS, INVESTORS, OR ENTREPRENEURS:

    We will need more information about your company, the proposed job duties, and other specific company information. We have other questionnaires for employers, investors, and entrepreneurs. We will provide an initial half-hour free consultation with you directly concerning your hiring plans, long and short-term visa needs, and initial evaluation of candidates.  We like to learn more about your company, industry, your overall plans for future hires (numbers, position types, non-immigrant and permanent residence sponsorship policies), and your other immigration related service needs, such as workplace compliance matters. Please note that for most employer sponsored visas and green cards, we need your active participation, and in some categories, the employer must pay all or some of the legal fees and costs (e.g., government filing fees, advertising). We also offer retainer options (to reserve x number of attorney hours a month to be on call to answer questions during recruitment or analyze selection of prospective candidates or other questions).

    Still NOT SURE if a consultation is right for you?

    We will be glad to speak to you for 5-10 minutes on the phone without charge, or you can email us to determine if your matter is something we can or would like to handle. We will let you know if you need a full paid consultation or we will try to refer you to the right person if it’s something we don’t handle. Let us know what your case is about/service(s) needed. During this brief exchange, feel free to ask about our qualifications, services, and availability.

    How to establish an attorney-client relationship is explained here.

    WHO is NOT ready for a consultation:

    • Shoppers looking for the lowest price. We are not the firm for you. Immigration status or citizenship are not products. They are valuable life changing events. We want to work with people who value investing in their future goals in order to work, be with family, develop their career aspirations, build a business, pursue other activities, who are looking for safety and security, and/or want to legalize their status.
    • People who are not ready to find a solution for their legal problems. We need you to be ready to be an active partner in your own future, as we will need you to participate in your case.
    • Do-it-yourselfers (DIY) who plan to prepare and file their own cases.  However, we do offer limited or “unbundled” services in some situations provided you make an appointment for a full paid consultation.  You will need to sign a limited services agreement. We will discuss the specific service you need at the consultation.  For liability reasons, we do not offer forms review only and then you go on your way. See our tip sheet for DIY.
    • People interested in investing or working in the USA but do not yet have job offers, a business, or career in mind. Although we are happy to meet with you to answer your questions about requirements, these types of meetings are more productive when you have a more solid opportunity to discuss. (An example would be someone interested in buying or investing in a business would be more ready for a consultation when a specific businesses has been identified, a business plan prepared, and funds are available to invest.)