Decoder · illustrativeUSCIS
Petition for Alien Relative
General information only, not legal advice. Every case is different, and timelines vary. A lawyer must read your actual notice before you act on it.
Immigration law · Chicago
What did you receive?
Bring us the letter you're not sure about. Pick or type the form number and we'll show, in plain words, what it usually means and what usually comes next. Then a lawyer reads your actual notice.
Common forms and notices
Demo note: headings change language; the full decoder text stays in English in this demo.
4
Languages spoken in our office: English, Spanish, Polish, Arabic.
24/7
Detention and Notice to Appear line. A person answers.
1d
Reply to every inquiry within one business day (sample target).
0
Promises about outcomes. Nobody honest can make one.
We speak EnglishHablamos españolMówimy po polskuنتحدث العربيةWe speak EnglishHablamos españolMówimy po polskuنتحدث العربية
02 Notice index8 entries · general information
Every notice, in plain words.
Most letters come from one of three places: USCIS, which decides applications; the immigration court (EOIR); or ICE, which handles enforcement. Knowing who sent it is the first clue. Tap any row to decode it.
03 PracticePractice limited to federal immigration law
Six kinds of case. One kind of law.
Family petitions
Spouses, parents, children and siblings of U.S. citizens and permanent residents, from the first petition to the consulate or the interview.
Often: I-130 · I-130A · I-864Green cards in the U.S.
Adjustment of status, with work and travel permission filed alongside, and preparation for the interview.
Often: I-485 · I-765 · I-131Removal defense
Representation in immigration court after a Notice to Appear: hearings, bond, and applications for relief where the law allows them.
Often: I-862 · EOIR-28 · EOIR-33Citizenship
Naturalization applications, eligibility checks before you file, and practice for the civics and English parts of the interview.
Often: N-400 · N-600Work visas
Employer-sponsored visas and work permits for individuals and small businesses in Chicagoland.
Often: I-129 · I-140 · I-765Humanitarian protection
Asylum, U and T visas, VAWA and similar protections. Some of these have filing deadlines, so early advice matters.
Often: I-589 · I-918 · I-3603.7 After you get in touchSample timings
Four steps, written down before we start.
You will always know who is working on your case, what it costs, and what the next notice in the post is likely to be.
1
Conflict check
A short call to take names and the type of matter, so we can confirm we're free to help. No confidential details yet.
About 5 minutes2
Consultation
A lawyer reads your notices, asks about your history and explains the options that may apply. In your language.
45–60 minutes3
Plan and fee in writing
An engagement letter with the scope of work, the flat fee, government fees listed separately, and a payment plan if you need one.
Within 2 business days4
Filing and every notice explained
We prepare and file. Each notice that arrives gets a plain-words explanation from your lawyer, not just a forwarded PDF.
For the life of the case04 FeesAll figures are samples
Fees, in writing, before anything is filed.
Our fee and the government's filing fee are two different things. We quote ours as a flat fee and list the government's separately, because it is set by the agency and changes.
ConsultationOne lawyer, up to 60 minutes$150 SampleNo government fee
Included
- Review of the notices you bring
- Options that may apply, explained
- Written summary of next steps
Credited
- Full fee credited if you hire us within 30 days
Not included
- Preparing or filing any form
Family petitionI-130 with supporting documents$1,500–$2,500 Sample+ USCIS filing fee, paid separately
Included
- Evidence checklist and review
- Preparing and filing the petition
- Responding to notices you receive
What changes the fee
- Prior marriages or past filings
- Translations needed
- A Request for Evidence (quoted first)
Not included
- Government filing fees
- The later green card stage
Green card in the U.S.I-485 with work and travel permission$3,500–$5,500 Sample+ USCIS filing fees, paid separately
Included
- Eligibility review before filing
- Full application package
- Interview preparation and attendance
What changes the fee
- Past immigration or criminal history
- Waivers that may be needed
- Number of family members included
Not included
- Government filing and biometrics fees
- Medical exam by a civil surgeon
RFE responseOne Request for Evidence$750–$2,000 SampleUsually no government fee
Included
- Reading the request line by line
- Gathering and organizing evidence
- A cover letter tying it together
What changes the fee
- How much is being asked for
- Whether expert letters are needed
Not included
- Third-party document costs
Removal defenseImmigration court, per stageFrom $2,500 SampleCourt and application fees vary
Included
- Entering our appearance with the court
- Preparation for and attendance at each hearing in the stage quoted
What changes the fee
- Detention and bond hearings
- The relief applied for
- Number of hearings
Not included
- Bond amounts set by the government
- Appeals (quoted separately)
CitizenshipN-400 naturalization$1,200–$1,800 Sample+ USCIS filing fee, paid separately
Included
- Eligibility check, including travel history
- Application and filing
- Interview practice
What changes the fee
- Past arrests or tax issues
- Fee waiver requests
Not included
- Government filing fee
Sample figures for this demo only. A real fee is set in a written engagement letter after a consultation. Government fees change; check the current amount on the agency's own website or ask us. Payment plans available on flat-fee matters.
05 LawyersBar numbers are samples
Three lawyers. Four languages.
Every lawyer's admission is listed on their card, so you can check it with the state's attorney registration agency before you hire anyone, us included.
Renata Wójcik-Hale
Founding attorney
- Admitted
- Illinois · ARDC no. 6300000 Sample
- Practice
- Limited to federal immigration law
- Speaks
- English, Polish, Spanish
Karim Haddad
Attorney, removal defense
- Admitted
- Illinois · ARDC no. 6311111 Sample
- Practice
- Limited to federal immigration law
- Speaks
- English, Arabic, French
Inés Calderón
Attorney, family and citizenship
- Admitted
- Illinois · ARDC no. 6322222 Sample
- Practice
- Limited to federal immigration law
- Speaks
- English, Spanish
5.1 Plain promisesWhat you can hold us to
We promise how we work. Never how it ends.
We will
- Tell you every deadline we know of, in writing, the day we learn it.
- Quote our fee before any work, and list government fees separately.
- Reply within one business day, in your language.
- Answer the detention line at any hour.
We won't
- Promise an approval, a bond amount or a timeline.
- Quote "approval rates". Every case is different.
- Call ourselves specialists. Illinois doesn't certify one, so we say what we do: immigration law only.
- Charge for a callback or a conflict check.
06 ContactTwo short steps
Start with names, not your story.
24/7 detention line
(312) 555-0147Office
(312) 555-0118 · Mon–Fri, 9am–6pm
Saturday mornings by appointment
Address
220 W. Tallow Street, Suite 400
Chicago, IL 60607 Sample
Getting here
Two blocks from the train. Step-free entrance and elevator.