Within the first few days in office, President Biden has proposed a new legislative bill, known as the US Citizenship Act of 2021, which would create a path to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants in the United States.
One lawyer who practices in immigration law, specifically business immigration law, is the 2021 “Lawyer of the Year” for Immigration Law in Atlanta. Kevin Miner, in his involvement with the American Immigration Lawyers Association, has been working on efforts to help other immigration attorneys approach challenging legal issues.
According to Miner, business immigration law is one of the few business-focused areas that provides lawyers with the opportunity to help real people who are making a major life change.
“It is always rewarding to speak with people coming to the U.S. for their jobs and explain the process to them, answer their questions, and put them at ease,” he said. “I think people sometimes don’t recognize just what a tremendous life change it is to relocate yourself and your entire family to a new country - and being able to provide some comfort to them about this huge change is very satisfying.”
But there are times where challenges arise for immigration attorneys, due to circumstances that are out of their hands. Miner explains that in the last few years, processing delays by the government have become more common and increasingly longer.
“For renewal of a work authorization card, for instance, you cannot file your application more than six months before your current card expires, but it takes the government eight or more months to process the renewal,” Miner said. “This causes tremendous stress and puts people in a position where they lose work authorization and have to stop working even though they did everything they were supposed to do. This is unfair, disappointing, and we have very little ability to fix these kinds of problems for our clients.”
Even with immigration laws changing almost every day, Miner says to be an effective immigration lawyer, one must understand new regulations, policy memos, and adjudication trends that often change how best to approach a case.
“I try to stay updated on all changes and give a lot of thought to how those will affect my clients,” he said. “That kind of approach can mean the difference between a case getting approved or denied.”
Kevin Miner - Atlanta 2021 Lawyer of the Year
Immigration Law Atlanta, Georgia
Trending Articles
The 2024 Best Lawyers in Spain™
by Best Lawyers
Best Lawyers is honored to announce the 16th edition of The Best Lawyers in Spain™ and the third edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Spain™ for 2024.
Presenting The Best Lawyers in Australia™ 2025
by Best Lawyers
Best Lawyers is proud to present The Best Lawyers in Australia for 2025, marking the 17th consecutive year of Best Lawyers awards in Australia.
Best Lawyers Expands Chilean 2024 Awards
by Best Lawyers
Best Lawyers is pleased to announce the 14th edition of The Best Lawyers in Chile™ and the inaugural edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Chile™, honoring the top lawyers and firms conferred on by their Chilean peers.
Best Lawyers Expands 2024 Brazilian Awards
by Best Lawyers
Best Lawyers is honored to announce the 14th edition of The Best Lawyers in Brazil™ and the first edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Brazil™.
Announcing The Best Lawyers in South Africa™ 2024
by Best Lawyers
Best Lawyers is excited to announce the landmark 15th edition of The Best Lawyers in South Africa™ for 2024, including the exclusive "Law Firm of the Year" awards.
The Best Lawyers in Mexico Celebrates a Milestone Year
by Best Lawyers
Best Lawyers is excited to announce the 15th edition of The Best Lawyers in Mexico™ and the second edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Mexico™ for 2024.
How Palworld Is Testing the Limits of Nintendo’s Legal Power
by Gregory Sirico
Many are calling the new game Palworld “Pokémon GO with guns,” noting the games striking similarities. Experts speculate how Nintendo could take legal action.
The Best Lawyers in Portugal™ 2024
by Best Lawyers
The 2024 awards for Portugal include the 14th edition of The Best Lawyers in Portugal™ and 2nd edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Portugal™.
The Best Lawyers in Peru™ 2024
by Best Lawyers
Best Lawyers is excited to announce the landmark 10th edition of The Best Lawyers in Peru, the prestigious award recognizing the country's lop legal talent.
How To Find A Pro Bono Lawyer
by Best Lawyers
Best Lawyers dives into the vital role pro bono lawyers play in ensuring access to justice for all and the transformative impact they have on communities.
Presenting the 2024 Best Lawyers Family Law Legal Guide
by Best Lawyers
The 2024 Best Lawyers Family Law Legal Guide is now live and includes recognitions for all Best Lawyers family law awards. Read below and explore the legal guide.
The Best Lawyers in Colombia™ 2024
by Best Lawyers
Best Lawyers is honored to announce the 14th edition of The Best Lawyers in Colombia™ for 2024, which honors Colombia's most esteemed lawyers and law firms.
Announcing the 2024 Best Lawyers in Puerto Rico™
by Best Lawyers
Best Lawyers is proud to announce the 11th edition of The Best Lawyers in Puerto Rico™, honoring the top lawyers and firms across the country for 2024.
Announcing The Best Lawyers in Japan™ 2025
by Best Lawyers
For a milestone 15th edition, Best Lawyers is proud to announce The Best Lawyers in Japan.
