Are you facing an immigration issue in Athens, Greece? Do you need a skilled and experienced lawyer to assist you with your visa, residency, citizenship, asylum, or deportation matter? If so, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of finding and hiring the best Athens immigration lawyers for your needs, and explain why having competent legal representation can make a big difference in the outcome of your case.
Why You Need an Athens Immigration Lawyer
Immigration law is complex, constantly changing, and can be difficult to navigate without proper guidance. Even seemingly simple immigration matters can involve intricate rules, procedures, paperwork, and deadlines that can trip up unwary applicants. Moreover, immigration cases often have high stakes, such as the right to live, work, study, or reunite with family members in Greece, or the risk of being deported to a country where your safety or freedom may be at risk.
Therefore, it’s crucial to have an Athens immigration lawyer who understands the legal system, knows how to advocate for your rights and interests, and can help you achieve your immigration goals as efficiently and effectively as possible.
How to Find the Best Athens Immigration Lawyers
To find the best Athens immigration lawyers for your case, you can follow these steps:
Define your immigration needs
Before you start searching for lawyers, you should clarify what type of immigration issue you have, what outcome you want to achieve, and what your budget is. For example, do you need a lawyer to help you apply for a work permit, a student visa, a family reunion visa, or an asylum claim? Do you want to appeal a denial or revocation of a visa or a residence permit? Do you need to defend against a deportation order? Once you know your needs, you can better assess the lawyers’ expertise and experience in the relevant areas of immigration law.
Check the lawyers’ qualifications
To practice immigration law in Greece, a lawyer must be a member of the Athens Bar Association and have a valid license to practice law. You can check the Athens Bar Association’s website for a list of registered lawyers and their contact information. You can also verify the lawyer’s credentials, education, and disciplinary record by checking the Bar’s database or asking for references.
Evaluate the lawyers’ experience
The more experience a lawyer has in handling immigration cases similar to yours, the better chances you have of a successful outcome. You can ask the lawyers about their track record, success rate, and testimonials from previous clients. You can also check online reviews, ratings, and rankings from independent sources, such as Google, Yelp, Avvo, or Super Lawyers.
Compare the lawyers’ fees
Immigration lawyers in Athens usually charge by the hour, or offer a flat fee or a contingency fee, depending on the complexity and risk of the case. You should ask the lawyers for a detailed fee agreement that outlines the scope of the services, the billing method, and the expenses involved. You should also compare the fees of several lawyers to ensure that you get a fair and competitive rate.
Schedule a consultation
Before you hire a lawyer, you should schedule a consultation to discuss your case, ask questions, and assess the lawyer’s communication skills, responsiveness, and personality. Many immigration lawyers offer a free or low-cost initial consultation, either in person, by phone, or online. During the consultation, you should provide as much information as possible about your immigration history, your goals, and your concerns, and listen to the lawyer’s advice and recommendations.
