INITIAL CONSULTATION FAQ (Please read before requesting a consultation)
HOW CAN I SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT?
Please contact our office at (843) 471-0529 to complete a phone intake with a staff member. The purpose of the intake is to determine whether we may be able to assist you with your case. You can also provide your phone number using the contact form on this website, and we will reach out to you to discuss your case. If we determine we are unable to assist you, we will attempt to provide you with contact information for another attorney who may be able to address your needs.
DO YOU ACCEPT WALK-IN APPOINTMENTS?
We do not take walk-in appointments or questions; you must schedule an appointment ahead of time in order to speak with Stephanie about your matter.
HOW CAN I GET A FEE QUOTE?
We cannot quote fees for a potential case over the phone. Because there are many details that can impact your eligibility for a benefit or the case strategy, you must meet with Stephanie to discuss your case before we provide a fee quote. She will provide you with a fee quote and explain the basis for the fee during the initial consultation.
DO YOU CONDUCT CONSULTATIONS BY PHONE?
For most cases, we offer in-person and virtual appointments for the initial consultation. The exception is for consultations on marriage-based adjustments of status, which must typically be conducted in person at the office. All appointments are conducted on Eastern Standard Time.
IS THERE A CONSULTATION FEE?
We allocate one hour for the initial consultation, and charge a fee of $155. The consultation fee must be paid regardless of whether we take your case.
HOW CAN I PAY THE CONSULTATION FEE?
The consultation fee must be paid online with a debit or credit card at the time the appointment is booked.
WHAT IF I NEED TO CANCEL OR RESCHEDULE MY APPOINTMENT?
If you need to cancel or reschedule, please contact our office as soon as you know, but at least 24 hours prior to your scheduled appointment. We have a wait list for consultations and would like to offer your appointment time to someone else if you are unable to attend. If you need to timely reschedule, we will move your appointment to our next available date that works for you.
Within 24 hours of the appointment, you cannot cancel or reschedule your appointment online. Please call our office to let us know you are unable to attend. In such cases, the consultation fee is generally nonrefundable, although we will process a refund in the event of extraordinary circumstances.
WHEN SHOULD I LOG IN FOR MY VIRTUAL APPOINTMENT?
Your consultation time begins promptly at the hour for which you are scheduled. Because we have other appointments scheduled before and after yours, it is important that you arrive to your appointment on time.
Please do not arrive to the office more than five minutes early. We have limited waiting room space and Stephanie will not be able to see you before your appointment. For 2:00 appointments: please be aware that the office is usually closed for lunch from 1-2 p.m. As a result, no one will be at the office to let you in or answer a phone call before 2:00. Please do not arrive early.
If you are more than 15 minutes late for your appointment, you must reschedule for another day. We have other meetings and obligations which are arranged around your appointment, and will be unable to accommodate you if you are extremely tardy. If you are running late for your appointment, please call the office as early as possible to let us know.
WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING TO MY APPOINTMENT?
Please bring paperwork from any prior immigration case you may have had. If you have been a crime victim, please bring a copy of the incident report relating to your case.
CAN I BRING SOMEONE ELSE WITH ME TO MY APPOINTMENT?
If you have a marriage-based case, it is best that both spouses attend the initial consultation. If you are seeking adjustment of status through marriage, both spouses must attend and your initial consultation must be in person.
Due to confidentiality concerns and limited space in the office, we ask that you please not bring more than one other person with you to your appointment. Stephanie can comfortably seat only two persons at a time in her office. Additional persons will be asked to wait in the lobby.
We are a family-friendly office and welcome your children if you need to bring them, but we encourage you to arrange for childcare on the day of your appointment if possible. Sitting for an hour is often difficult for small children, and not having children present maximizes the use of your time in the consultation. Our staff cannot supervise your children while you are meeting with Stephanie.
