Immigration law for families, investors, and survivors.

Showing all 25 questions.

• Does Sweta Patel offer consultations in Gujarati or Hindi?

  Yes. Sweta is fluent in English, Gujarati, and Hindi, and her team handles intake in Bengali and Tamil. Initial consultations happen in your preferred language, and document review, USCIS interview preparation, and case strategy continue in that same language throughout your representation. Pick your language when you submit a consult request, no translator needed, no awkward third-party calls.

• Does the firm serve clients outside Georgia and Tennessee?

  Yes. Immigration is a federal practice, so Sweta Patel represents clients in all 50 U.S. states regardless of where you live. Most case work (intake, document collection, USCIS filings, and interview preparation) happens by video, and the firm appears in person at USCIS field offices and immigration courts nationwide when a case requires it.

• How much does an initial consultation cost?

  Consultations are $150 per hour by phone or Zoom and $200 per hour in-person at the Decatur or Nashville office. Phone and Zoom are the firm's preference because they keep scheduling easy for clients across all 50 states. After you submit the consult-request form, a member of the team calls you back to confirm timing, mode (phone, Zoom, or in-person), and to take payment for the booked time. You are under no obligation to retain the firm beyond the consultation itself.

• Can Indian nationals get an E-2 investor visa?

  India is not currently an E-2 treaty country, so an Indian passport alone does not qualify. The most common pathway for Indian-origin investors is to obtain citizenship in an E-2 treaty country first, Grenada and several Caribbean nations offer Citizenship-by-Investment programs that have produced reliable E-2 approvals. The firm regularly counsels Indian-origin clients through this two-step sequence from start to finish.

• How much do I need to invest for an E-2 visa in 2026?

  There is no fixed minimum, but USCIS requires the investment be "substantial" relative to the cost of the business. Successful E-2 filings typically involve $100,000 to $200,000 for service businesses and $200,000 or more for franchises. The investment must be active and at risk. Passive investments and idle funds do not qualify. The firm reviews source-of-funds documentation before filing to spot weak cases early.

• How long does an E-2 visa application take?

  E-2 visa processing varies by route. Stateside change-of-status filings with USCIS typically take 4 to 7 months, or 15 calendar days with premium processing ($2,805 USCIS fee). Consular processing at U.S. embassies abroad, common for Indian-origin clients filing on a Caribbean passport, takes 4 to 14 weeks depending on the post. The firm calendars every milestone and prepares clients for the visa interview before it happens.

• How many questions are on the new N-400 civics test?

  The new N-400 civics test, effective October 2025, has 128 possible questions, up from 100 under the previous version. During the citizenship interview, a USCIS officer asks up to 20 randomly selected questions, and you must answer 12 correctly to pass. The 50/20 and 55/15 exemptions still apply for older applicants who have been lawful permanent residents for many years.

• How long does N-400 processing take in 2026?

  N-400 processing times in 2026 vary by USCIS field office. Atlanta cases typically run 8 to 14 months from filing to oath ceremony; Memphis runs slightly longer. The total includes biometrics (4-6 weeks after filing), the interview and civics test, and the oath. The firm tracks your case at every step and prepares you for the interview and civics test.

• Can I take the U.S. citizenship test in a language other than English?

  Yes, under two exemptions. The 50/20 exemption lets you take the test in your native language if you are 50 or older and have been a lawful permanent resident for 20 or more years. The 55/15 exemption applies if you are 55 or older with 15 years as a green card holder. Sweta has guided many older applicants through both pathways in Gujarati and Hindi.

• What should I do if a family member is detained by ICE?

  Call an immigration attorney within the first 24 hours, every hour matters. Find out which detention facility your family member is in (the ICE Online Detainee Locator at locator.ice.gov is the fastest tool) and request their A-number. Do not have your family member sign anything from ICE without legal counsel. The firm responds to detention cases the same day, in English, Gujarati, or Hindi.

• What is cancellation of removal and who qualifies?

  Cancellation of removal, under INA §240A, is a defense in immigration court that allows a non-citizen to keep their immigration status despite being placed in removal proceedings. For lawful permanent residents, you must have held your green card for 5 years and lived in the U.S. continuously for 7 years. For non-LPRs, the requirement is 10 years of continuous physical presence plus "exceptional and extremely unusual hardship" to a qualifying U.S. citizen relative. How those 10 years are counted matters: under the stop-time rule, the clock stops when a Notice to Appear (NTA) is served or when certain crimes are committed, so the real cutoff date needs careful review.

• Can the firm represent me in Atlanta or Memphis immigration court?

  Yes. Immigration courts are federal (EOIR), so the firm defends removal cases nationwide. Sweta and the firm's removal defense team appear most often in the Atlanta Immigration Court (401 W Peachtree St NW) and the Memphis Immigration Court, and handle bond hearings, master calendar hearings, individual merits hearings, and appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals.

• How long does a marriage-based green card take in 2026?

  For a U.S. citizen sponsoring a foreign-national spouse already inside the U.S., the typical timeline is 12 to 18 months from filing the I-130 and I-485 to receiving the green card. For consular processing, when the spouse is abroad, expect 14 to 24 months. Recent USCIS policy changes in 2026 are shifting more cases to consular processing; the firm assesses which route is faster for your case.

• Can I stay in the U.S. while my green card application is pending?

  For most adjustment of status filings under Form I-485, yes, you remain in lawful status while USCIS processes your application, and you can apply for work authorization (EAD) and travel permission (Advance Parole) at the same time. However, a May 2026 USCIS policy shift now requires more applicants to leave the U.S. and complete consular processing. The firm evaluates your eligibility before you file.

• What documents do I need to sponsor my spouse for a green card?

  The core documents are your marriage certificate, proof of your U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residence, your tax returns and proof of income for the affidavit of support (Form I-864), and evidence that your marriage is bona fide, joint bank accounts, joint leases, photos together, communications, and a shared life. The firm provides a tailored document checklist after the initial consultation.

• What is the EB-1A "extraordinary ability" visa?

  The EB-1A is an employment-based green card category for individuals at the very top of their field, such as researchers, founders, artists, executives, and athletes, who can document sustained national or international acclaim. Unlike most employment-based green cards, EB-1A does not require an employer sponsor or labor certification. You self-petition with evidence satisfying at least 3 of 10 USCIS-defined criteria. The firm builds EB-1A portfolios for clients in tech, healthcare, academia, and the arts.

• What is the difference between EB-1A and O-1?

  EB-1A is a green card (permanent residence) for individuals of extraordinary ability. O-1 is a temporary work visa for the same standard of ability, initially valid up to 3 years, renewable in 1-year increments. Many clients use O-1 as a bridge to EB-1A: build the evidence portfolio while on O-1 status, then file EB-1A when the case is strong. The criteria overlap significantly but the burden of proof for EB-1A is higher.

• What is a U visa and who qualifies?

  The U visa is for non-citizens who are victims of certain serious crimes (domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, kidnapping, felonious assault, and others) who have cooperated with law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of the crime. You apply on Form I-918, and qualifying requires a signed Supplement B certification from a law enforcement agency confirming your helpfulness. The U visa leads to a green card after three years of status.

• Can I file for VAWA self-petition if I am undocumented?

  Yes. The Violence Against Women Act self-petition, filed on Form I-360, is specifically designed to allow abused spouses, children, and parents of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents to file for their own immigration status without the abuser's knowledge or involvement, regardless of their current immigration status. Confidentiality protections under 8 USC 1367 prevent USCIS from notifying the abuser. The firm handles these cases with strict discretion.

• Does the firm handle survivor cases confidentially?

  Yes. Cases involving the U visa, T visa, and VAWA self-petition are protected by federal confidentiality rules at 8 USC 1367. USCIS and the firm cannot disclose your information to the abuser or trafficker, and the firm treats every survivor case with the additional care it deserves. Initial consultations happen on encrypted video or by phone, and intake documents never leave the firm without your written consent.

• Does the firm offer flat-fee pricing?

  Yes. The Law Office of Sweta Patel quotes a flat fee for every matter, so you know the total cost before engaging. After your initial consultation, you receive a written engagement letter that itemizes attorney fees, USCIS filing fees, and any third-party costs, no hourly billing on the case work and no hidden line items. Complex litigation or federal appeals are scoped and quoted up front.

• How quickly can I schedule a consultation?

  Consultations are scheduled Wednesdays and Thursdays. Submit the consult-request form any day and the team calls you back within one business day to confirm a slot. For urgent matters such as detention, a served NTA, or removal in process, the firm prioritizes same-day or next-day calls when available. Pick your case type and preferred language on the form so the right person calls you back prepared.

• Why work with a boutique immigration firm instead of a large one?

  At a boutique firm, the attorney who sets your strategy is the one who executes it. Sweta makes every legal decision on a case and reviews every filing before it leaves the office, while trained staff keep documents and forms moving day to day. Boutiques can offer language continuity, faster response times, and direct accountability. Large firms have broader resources but often dilute the client experience.

• Does Sweta personally handle my case, or does a paralegal?

  Sweta does the legal work on every case: the strategy, the legal questions, and a personal review of each filing before it is submitted. Like any law firm, the office has trained staff who collect documents, fill out forms, and answer routine questions during preparation, and you will often work with them in that phase. That division is deliberate. It keeps Sweta focused on the work only an attorney can do, and it keeps your case moving every day.

• What makes Sweta Patel's firm different from other Atlanta immigration lawyers?

  The firm differs from other Atlanta immigration lawyers in three ways. First, the firm is fully multilingual, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Bengali, and Tamil, with native intake, not telephonic translation. Second, the practice is deliberately boutique, the firm prepares the work and Sweta personally reviews every matter before it is filed. Third, the firm operates in all 50 states, with offices in Decatur GA and Nashville TN. Most competitors offer one or two of these. None offer all three.