Immigration Opinion Checklist
In order to properly evaluate your client's case, an immigration attorney
will need information on the client's family, immigration status, and criminal
background.
The following checklist can be used to help gather information to pass
on to an immigration attorney.
Basic Information
- 1. Name and all aliases.
- 2. Date and Place of Birth (City and Country).
- 3. Native Language and level of English Fluency.
Immigration History
- 4. Summary of immigration history (including first/last entry to the
United States, any prior INS arrests/deportations).
- 5. Copy of the following documents, if your client has them:
- a. Passport (all pages).
- b. "green card" (front and back) (this card proves that an
alien is a lawful permanent resident).
- c. I-94 arrival card (front and back) (placed in the passport at the time of arrival).
- d. any "other" immigration documents.
- 6. Information on family, especially if any of the following exist:
spouse, parents, or children who were born in the United States or possess
a green card (include ages and birth places) and copies of their immigration
related documents.
- 7. Any immigration documents filed for the client by family members
and/or employers and US CIS receipts and notices.
- 8. If your client has a green card, when/how did he or she get it?
(Note: This information appears in different places, depending on when
the green card was issued. Some cards have the code "ADJ DATE,"
others merely have it reverse-date format. For example: 980114 (an important
date under recent legislation).
- 9. If your client has/had been a nonimmigrant (such as student, tourist,
etc.), include a brief overview of what your client has been doing to comply
with the specific requirements of that visa. List periods and any violations of
status or overstays. Also, copy the I-94 card and
I-20 (if a student).
Criminal History
- 10. Of what crime(s), including statutory citations, is the client accused
(include copies of all
charging documents and police reports)?
- 11. What are the possible crimes (including violations) you are considering
pleading for your client?
- 12. What are the sentencing possibilities for each crime you are considering
a plea to? Include information on statutory maximum sentence possible and
years probable (including estimates of years of actual incarceration and
year of suspension/probation).
- 13. If the client has already been convicted, or has prior convictions,
provide charging documents, police reports, and relevant orders/judgment/sentence.
If not listed on the documents, also provide information on whether this
crime is classified as a violation and/or infraction and/or misdemeanor
and/or felony, including statutory maximum and actual sentences imposed.
- 14. Have any of the crimes (including the current crimes) been committed
against a spouse, live-in partner, or person with whom the client shares
a child in common or has the client ever been found to have violated a
restraining order?
- 15. Irrespective of prior convictions, has the client ever admitted
having committed a crime (or the essential elements of a crime) to a government
employee, or under oath to anyone?
- 16. Has the client ever had any other problems or encounters with the
law?
- 17 Is the client being detained and is there a US CIS hold?
Conclusion
18. List any specific questions you wish answered. Be sure to include
information on the scheduled hearing dates any deadline you may have for
plea negotiations.
Please mail this list, along with your documents and consultation
fee to:
Capriotti & Associates International Law
P.O. Box 2792
Portland, OR 97208-2792
Copyright © 1998-2007 F.J. Capriotti III. All
rights reserved.