Legal Service Fees
At Lighthouse Immigrant Advocates, we believe that high-quality immigration legal services should be affordable for every family.
Lighthouse provides its services to anyone regardless of income. Those living under 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) receive our lowest rate (base rate), and those living above 200% FPG are charged according to a sliding fee scale. Our service fees for one process never exceed $2,000. FPG levels and LIA Service Fees can be found here.
Your first appointment with us will cost $60.
This is the price for a consultation with one of our licensed immigration attorneys or legal representatives. After the first consultation, you will be expected to pay fees based on 1) the type of service you are pursuing and 2) your household income. We accept cash, credit/debit card, or check.
A retainer agreement must be signed and a $200 retainer fee must be paid in order for us to be your legal representative. Service and government fees are due at the time of finalizing applications or petitions for submission to USCIS.
In addition to our office fees, Government Fees may be required depending on the case and process. Fee waivers may be available.
LIA will waive the consultation fee for people living in homeless or domestic violence shelters at the time of service.
Payment Plans
LIA offers payment plans. Please be aware that payment plans are not available for our Renewal Clinic and that payment plans only apply to legal service fees, not government fees. Please contact our office for more details at admin@lia-michigan.org or (616) 298-8984.
Cancellations
If you are unable to make your appointment or you are not prepared, call and cancel with at least 24-hour notice. Missing two or more appointments without calling in advance WILL result in the termination of your case.
Our office requires a minimum of 24-hour notice to reschedule or to refund the consultation fee.
This is a non-refundable fee if you decide not to retain our services or if you do not show up for your appointment.
This policy is strictly enforced.
Policies
2023 Service Guide
These prices are not exact and do not include government fees. LIA will require proof of income at your consultation to determine the exact price of the service. To find out which government fees may apply to your case, click here.
Depending on the availability of funding, client fees for some services may be covered by the Victim Advocacy Program or NALC funding.
Determine your household FPL percentage and corresponding LIA Service Fees using these charts:
| LIA Service | 200% FPL | 300% FPL | 400% FPL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intake Consultation Fee | $50 | $50 | $50 |
| I-129F Fiance Petition | $500 | $1,000 | |
| I-130 Family Petition* | $450 | $900 | |
| I-730 Refugee Family Petition | $200 | $200 | $200 |
| Consular Processing* | $715 | $1,430 | |
| I-212 Reapply for Admission after Removal | $880 | $1,760 | |
| I-601 Waiver on Grounds of Inadmissability | $880 | $1,760 | |
| I-601a Stateside Waiver | $880 | $1,760 | |
| I-912 Fee Waiver | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| I-589 Asylum (Defensive) | $2,825 | $2,825 | $2,825 |
| I-589 Asylum (Affirmative) | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| I-821 Temporary Protected Status (Initial) | $450 | $900 | |
| Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (Affirmative) | $880 | $880 | $880 |
| Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (Defensive) | $1,800 | $1,800 | $1,800 |
| T-Visa (Not available currently at LIA) | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| U-Visa | $880 | $880 | $880 |
| U-Certificate | $200 | $200 | $200 |
| VAWA | $880 | $880 | $880 |
| I-751 with extreme cruelty waiver | $450 | $900 | |
| I-90 Renew/Replace Green Card | $300 | $300 | $300 |
| N-565 Replacing Natz/Citz Certificate | $300 | $300 | $300 |
| I-751 Removal of Condition* | $450 | $900 | |
| I-765 Renew/Replace Work Permit | $300 | $300 | $300 |
| DACA Renewal | $300 | $300 | $300 |
| I-821D DACA Intial (Not available currently at LIA) | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| I-821 Temporary Protected Status - Renewal | $300 | $300 | $300 |
| I-131 Travel Permit (all varieties) | $300 | $300 | $300 |
| Refugee Adjustment of Status | $250 | $250 | $250 |
| Cuban Adjustment of Status* | $450 | $900 | |
| One-Step Adjustment of Status* | $715 | $1,430 | |
| 245(i)* | $715 | $1,430 | |
| Stand Alone I-485 / All other Adjustment of Status* | $450 | $900 | |
| FOIA (per request) | $55 | $55 | $55 |
| Unanticipated RFE | $250 | $250 | $250 |
| I-539 Application to Extend/Change | $300 | $600 | |
| I-824 Action on Approved Case | $300 | $300 | $300 |
| Brief Service (per hour) | $55 | $55 | $55 |
| English/Spanish Translations (per page) | $25 | $25 | $25 |
| Notary Service | $15 | $15 | $15 |
| Passport Photos (set of two) | $10 | $10 | $10 |
| Court Appearance to Detroit or Chicago | $300 | $300 | $300 |
| N-600 Certificate of Citizenship | $450 | ||
| N-400 Naturalization | $450 | ||
| N-565 Replace Certificate of Citizenship | $300 | ||
| Passport Application | $100 | ||
| Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) | $450 |
*Derivatives of these applications will need to pay 50% of main party application fee