Answers to the most common immigration questions: consultation process, processing times, legal fees, bilingual services, and remote representation.
Below are the questions we hear most often from prospective clients. Each answer links to a full, detailed explanation — current USCIS timelines, fee structures, how we handle out-of-state clients, and everything else you need to know before scheduling a consultation with attorney Ekaterina Fitenko.
No. U.S. immigration law is federal, meaning the same USCIS rules apply in all 50 states and abroad. We represent clients nationwide and internationally through secure video consultations, encrypted document portals, and electronic signatures. Read the full answer →
Your first meeting is a confidential 20-minute strategy session with Attorney Fitenko personally. We walk through your complete case, identify red flags that could cause problems later, and build a concrete roadmap of pathways, timelines, and next steps — bilingual in English and Russian. Read the full answer →
Yes — full bilingual representation at every stage, not just a welcoming first call. From document review and USCIS form explanations to interview preparation and ongoing case updates, Russian is available throughout. Read the full answer →
Timelines vary dramatically by visa type and country of birth. E-2 investor visas: 3-8 months. H-1B: 6-9 months (or ~15 days with premium processing). Family green cards: 10-24 months typical. N-400 naturalization: 8-14 months. See country-specific retrogression factors. Read the full answer →
Most immigration services are handled on a transparent flat-fee basis with the full cost disclosed upfront. Attorney fees are separate from USCIS government filing fees, and we clearly itemize both. Payment plans are available. Read the full answer →
Attorney fees for a marriage-based green card in Florida typically range from $2,500 to $4,500 in flat fees, depending on case complexity. Fitenko Law charges a flat fee that covers the I-130 petition (sponsor's relative petition), I-485 adjustment of status application, biometrics, work and travel authorization (I-765/I-131), affidavit of support (I-864), and USCIS interview preparation. Separately, USCIS government filing fees are currently around $3,005 for a combined I-130/I-485 with biometrics. Cases with complicating factors — prior visa overstays, criminal history, prior denials, foreign divorces, or overseas spouses requiring consular processing — may carry higher attorney fees. We disclose the full flat fee in writing during your initial consultation, with no hidden charges. See our family-based immigration services page for full scope.
H-1B visa lawyer fees in Florida typically range from $2,000 to $3,500 for the initial H-1B cap petition, with the employer customarily paying the attorney fee under USCIS regulations. USCIS government filing fees are paid by the employer and include the I-129 base fee ($780), ACWIA training fee ($750-$1,500 depending on employer size), Fraud Prevention fee ($500), and Asylum Program fee ($600). Premium processing (15-day decision) costs an additional $2,805. Beyond the cap petition, H-1B transfers, extensions, amendments, and Requests for Evidence (RFEs) each have their own flat-fee structure. Bilingual representation is available for Russian-speaking employees navigating the H-1B process.
E-2 Treaty Investor Visa attorney fees in South Florida typically range from $5,500 to $9,500, reflecting the case's complexity. Higher-end cases involve business plan vetting, complex source-of-funds documentation across multiple jurisdictions, escrow structuring, multi-entity corporate structures, and family dependents. Government fees are nominal: a $315 DS-160 fee per applicant at the U.S. Consulate, plus a reciprocity fee based on nationality (varies, e.g., $4,440 for Mexican nationals, $0 for many European nationals). Renewals every two years carry significantly lower attorney fees ($2,500-$4,000) since the business is already established. Read our complete E-2 visa guide.
When searching for a Russian-speaking immigration lawyer near Miami, Aventura, Sunny Isles, or Hallandale Beach, evaluate three criteria. First, look for genuine fluency — not a paralegal or interpreter. The attorney handling your case should personally speak Russian. Second, verify Florida Bar membership and a clean disciplinary record. Third, ask about direct attorney access — many firms route Russian-speaking clients through bilingual paralegals while substantive legal work is done by English-speaking attorneys, which creates risk of miscommunication on complex cases. Fitenko Law's founding attorney Ekaterina Fitenko is fluent in Russian and personally handles every stage of every case — from initial consultation through USCIS interview.
The best immigration consultation in Miami is one that gives you a clear, honest assessment of your case — not a sales pitch. During a Fitenko Law initial consultation (20 minutes, $200, credited toward your legal fee if you retain the firm), Attorney Fitenko personally reviews your full immigration history, identifies red flags that could surface during USCIS processing, evaluates each realistic visa or green card pathway, provides realistic timeline estimates, and quotes a transparent flat fee for the engagement. You leave the conversation with a written summary and a strategic roadmap — even if you choose not to retain the firm. Avoid attorneys who guarantee outcomes, demand large up-front retainers before assessing your case, or use high-pressure closing tactics during the consultation.
You need an O-1 visa lawyer when you are an individual of extraordinary ability or achievement in sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics seeking U.S. work authorization. The O-1 visa requires documentation of "extraordinary ability" through national or international acclaim — awards, published material, original contributions, high salary, judging the work of others, and similar evidence. The O-1B visa applies to extraordinary achievement in motion picture or television. O-1 cases are evidence-intensive: Fitenko Law builds petitions with curated exhibits, expert advisory opinions from relevant peer groups, and a strategic narrative tying your record to the regulatory criteria. Read our complete O-1 visa guide for criteria and evidence strategies.
A family-based green card lawyer in South Florida handles the full I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) and I-485 (Adjustment of Status) process for spouses, children, parents, and siblings of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. Fitenko Law's flat fee for family-based green cards includes initial eligibility assessment, full I-130 petition preparation, I-485 adjustment application (if filing inside the U.S.), I-765 work authorization, I-131 advance parole travel document, I-864 Affidavit of Support, biometrics scheduling, USCIS interview preparation and rehearsal, and full attorney representation at the green card interview. Same-week consultations are usually available for time-sensitive cases. See full family immigration services.
For an EB-2 National Interest Waiver consultation, bring (digitally or printed): your CV/resume with full work and education history, a list of your major projects or research areas, all published works or patents, expert advisory letters you have already collected (if any), professional memberships, awards and recognition documentation, and any citation metrics or evidence of professional impact. The EB-2 NIW requires a three-prong showing under the Dhanasar precedent: substantial merit and national importance of your proposed endeavor, that you are well-positioned to advance it, and that on balance it would benefit the U.S. to waive the labor certification. Fitenko Law's consultation includes a candid assessment of your eligibility under Dhanasar before any engagement letter is signed.
You can file Form N-400 for U.S. citizenship 90 days before your fifth anniversary as a lawful permanent resident (or third anniversary if you obtained your green card through marriage to a U.S. citizen and remain married). A citizenship lawyer in Florida helps assess naturalization eligibility (continuous residence, physical presence, good moral character, English and civics knowledge requirements), reviews any potentially disqualifying factors (extended trips abroad, arrests, tax issues, prior immigration violations), prepares the N-400 application, and provides interview preparation including civics test rehearsal in English. We strongly recommend a pre-filing consultation for anyone with international travel patterns, criminal history of any kind, or prior immigration complications.
Every immigration case is unique. If your specific situation is not fully covered above, schedule a confidential consultation and we will give you a direct, honest assessment of your options — in English or Russian.
Contact Russian-speaking immigration attorney Ekaterina Fitenko. Consultations available in English and Russian.
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