Best Immigration Lawyers Seattle, WA Of 2024
Seattle has a reputation for being one of the rainiest and most overcast cities in the country. However, it is also one of the biggest cities in the U.S. close to a border, making it a popular destination for immigrants. If you or a loved one needs help immigrating to the U.S., this list of the best Seattle immigration lawyers will get you started.
Why you can trust Forbes Advisor Legal
Our legal editors are committed to bringing you unbiased ratings and information. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate legal products and attorneys in markets around the country, so all are measured equally. Our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our legal ranking methodology for the ratings below.
The state of Washington is adjacent to Canada and one of the closest states to Russia, parts of Japan and other countries in eastern Asia. This makes it one of the hubs for immigration to the U.S., both documented and undocumented.
Unsurprisingly, Washington has very robust laws around immigration and immigrants’ rights. A Seattle immigration attorney best understands these laws and can help people with immigration issues navigate the federal and state immigration laws.
State laws primarily deal with what additional rights immigrants may take advantage of. Washington immigrant laws give rights to undocumented immigrants that they are unlikely to receive in other states.
Federal laws set the policies for immigrating to the United States and who may apply for certain types of immigration. Under federal immigration laws, the Department of Homeland Security recognizes six classifications of immigrants:
All immigrants, documented or not, have access to public benefits in Washington. The list of benefits that undocumented immigrants can access is more restricted than what documented immigrants can access. Undocumented immigrants can access all of the following:
An experienced Seattle immigration attorney can help immigrants determine what benefits they can use based on their documentation status.
Washington state is considered a sanctuary state. This means that local authorities are prohibited from complying with voluntary immigration holds, sharing nonpublic personal data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), asking about peoples’ immigration status or depriving people of public benefits based on their immigration status.
Additionally, with some exceptions, employers in Washington are not required to use the E-Verify system to determine the immigration status of an employee before hiring them. The most notable exceptions are in Pierce County, Woodland County and Whatcom County. Local laws in the first two areas require some contractors to use E-Verify. In Whatcom County, all employers must use this system.
Immigration filing is a federal process. It involves a lot of steps that can take months or even years to resolve. If the applicant makes any mistakes, they will likely be denied and may even become ineligible to file for immigration in the future. Seattle immigration attorneys understand this process and can protect their clients from making mistakes. Typically, the filing process involves the following steps.