Your Future Has No Boundaries Your Future Has No
Boundaries

Symphorien-Saavedra Law offers experienced and dedicated legal immigration services. Immigration law is not just one of our practice areas, it is our sole and passionate focus. With over 25 years of combined experience devoted to immigration law, we are  well-equipped to help you succeed. We handle small cases, big cases, in-between cases and have the flexibility to adjust our services in order to meet your needs. We love our work and our track record shows it. Call us to see how we can help!

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Immigration Lawyer Orlando

Individualized Attention

Strategic
Solutions

Expert Guidance
And Experience

Licensed And
Board Certified

Immigration Law Firm in Orlando

 

 

Our Commitment to Excellence
Has Been Recognized

US Immigration Attorney Frank Symphorien-Saavedra, founder and partner of Symphorien-Saavedra Law is certified as an expert in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Florida bar. This the highest valuation of competency and experience an attorney can obtain. Frank Symphorien-Saavedra is also a proud immigrant and American.

Who We Are and What We Do

Symphorien-Saavedra Law, P.A., is a diverse team of immigrants and Americans who are dedicated to helping immigrants, small businesses and investors thrive. We help immigrants write a new chapter in their life story within the United States full of possibilities, promise and in fulfillment of hopes we have experienced ourselves as immigrants and Americans. We help small businesses prosper by acquiring foreign, specialized talents and capital that drive economic growth and create opportunities for others. We do our work diligently and with devotion because we know there are no boundaries to what immigrants can do for the future and greatness of our country.

Work and Investment Visas

Family Immigration

Citizenship and Nationality

Humanitarian Visas, Asylum
and Deportation Defense

Federal Court Litigation

Francisco Symphorien - Orlando Immigration Lawyer

Francisco
Symphorien-Saavedra

Attorney "Frank" Symphorien-Saavedra is board certified in Immigration and Nationality Law, the highest evaluation of competency and experience an attorney can obtain, and a distinction limited to less than seven percent of all Florida lawyers. Mr. Symphorien-Saavedra is AV rated "Preeminent" by Martindale-Hubbell and by Super Lawyers magazine. He serves as the Vice-Chair of the Florida Bar Immigration and Nationality Law Certification Committee for the 2021-2022 term. His unique practice focuses on removal defense, federal court litigation and extraordinary-ability visas or national interest waivers. Note-worthy points in Frank's practice include the following:

  • 13 Years practicing immigration and nationality law exclusively
  • Board certified as an expert attorney in immigration law since 2014
  • The only Venezuelan native to hold this title within the State of Florida
  • Vice-Chair of the Florida Bar, Board Certification Committee (2021-2022)
  • Former summer clerk for the Orlando Immigration Court
  • Graduate of Florida State University College of Law
Awards and Recognition
Top Orlando Immigration Lawyer Award
AVVO Award for Excelent Reviews
Frank Symphorien's AVVO Client's Choice Award 2013
Immigration Attorney Frank Symphorien from Orlando Named Top Contributor 2014
Attorney Francisco Symphorien-Saavedra Named Super Lawyer
Attorney Symphorien-Saavedra is Certified as an Expert in Immigration Law by the Florida Bar
Immigration Lawyer Francisco Symphrorien is AV Rated by Martindale Hubbell
Attorney Symphorien-Saavedra Named Among the Top 40 Attorneys Under 40
Frank Symphorien Named Among the Top 100 Lawyers
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Frequently Asked Questions About U.S. Imigration Law

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Contrary to what most attorneys will tell you, not everyone needs an immigration attorney to file their immigration case. Some people are successful in filing their case without an attorney when they devote substantial time to review the instruction, research every form that may be applicable, and think critically through the detailed questions presented.

However, you should strongly consider hiring an immigration attorney in any of the following circumstances:

  1. You do not have time to closely review the extensive instructions provided for each specific form that you are filing.
  2. You do not want to risk losing filings fees. More frequently, U.S. Immigration authorities have been more inclined to deny cases that were not "approvable" when filed and keep your filing fees.
  3. You cannot afford delays. In recent years, U.S. Immigration authorities have seen unprecedented delays in issuing immigration decisions. In such instance, what might, otherwise, be a small inadvertent mistake could cost years of delays if your case is denied and you must begin your case all over from scratch.
  4. You are immigrating with children who may reach adulthood and "age-out" of eligibility.
  5. You have been arrested, accused of fraud, or have committed any immigration violations.
  6. You entered the United States with a visitor, student visa or other non-immigrant visa with the intent to remain in the United States.
  7. You have been referred to secondary inspection frequently while entering the United States or have been questioned by other law enforcement entities.

In general, an immigration attorney who is licensed in any of the 50 states is eligible to practice before all United States immigration agencies. The attorney needs not have any specialized immigration training, experience, or certifications. He must simply show his license from any of the 50 states and enter an appearance before the relevant agency.

Given these scant requirements from government agencies, you should first consider what makes someone an immigration attorney? Should you hire someone who calls themselves an immigration lawyer after handling 3 cases pro bono? Should you hire someone who claims to be an immigration attorney but also practices in a myriad of different areas of law?

There are a few critical questions you should ask and research independently when someone presents themselves as an immigration attorney, as follows:

  • How many immigration cases have they handled?
  • Are they certified by the Board of Legal Specialization in their respective state to call themselves as an expert in the field?
  • Are they considered authorities in the field of immigration by other lawyers, as supported by expert writings, or speaking engagements before other lawyers?
  • Are they members of the American Immigration Lawyers Association?
  • Are they AV rated by Martindale Hubbell in the field of immigration law?
  • Are they rated by SuperLawyers magazine in the field of immigration law?

Even once you determine that a particular attorney is in fact an immigration lawyer, you should also consider whether your case will be decided at a national service center that provides no local access to applicants or practitioners or whether your case will be decided at a local immigration court or field office where the attorney may regularly interact with the decision makers in similar cases. While reputable attorneys will never promise special treatment for their clients, there are significant benefits to hiring a lawyer who is familiar with local practices and procedures that can vary widely throughout the country. There are only a handful of nationally recognized lawyers who can overcome these home field advantages in extremely unique circumstances.

While immigration lawyers generally provide services to help clients complete forms, as a matter of convenience, filling out immigration forms is not the principal purpose or role of an attorney. Form filing is generally an administrative task completed by legal assistants. Here are some of the important tasks completed by an immigration lawyer when representing clients:

  • Verify that the immigration forms completed meet the legal requirements for whatever you’re seeking. For example, when you complete an application for a foreign worker or an asylum application, the forms you complete are merely a mechanism for requesting a work visa or asylum, but the forms do not contain all the legal requirements. An immigration attorney will review and be familiar with the actual law that governs your forms and ensure that you qualify for what you are seeking from the outset to avoid any loss of time or expense from the outset.
  • Verify and stay abreast of the current processes to ensuring that your form is accepted by the relevant government entity for processing.
  • Track and identify current trends in the government’s consideration of various immigration benefits, including cases like yours.
  • Anticipate and spot complexities and legal issues that could derail the government’s consideration of your case.
  • Devise strategies for resolving any problems that arise during the government’s consideration of your case.
  • Research, analyze and review your prepared forms to ensure compliance with legal requirements and processes.
  • Appear in court, at U.S. immigration interviews, hearings, or inspections to ensure you are treated fairly and that the government official considering your case understands the relevant law.
  • Take remedial measures, as needed, when the government commits legal errors in considering your case.
  • Educate low level government officials on the proper interpretation of statutes, regulations, government manuals, or procedures.

No. Notaries are legally barred from providing any of the services mentioned above, except to help you complete forms, which an attorney’s legal assistant will help you do as well. More importantly, notaries, even if trained as lawyers abroad, lack the training within the unique U.S. legal system to carry out the steps mentioned above.

The American immigration system is based upon old English common law concepts and varies greatly from Latin American and European legal systems that were founded upon civil codes. There is a wide gulf between these legal systems, particularly in terms of cultural and language norms—which are unstated cornerstones of all legal systems—that are essential to an attorney’s success in speaking, writing, or reading to advocate on your behalf.

In common parlance, hiring a notary to complete the work of a lawyer would be like hiring an electrician (or foreign architect) to design a house and do the work of a U.S. architect or engineer. The electrician may very well be familiar with the construction process and could do a fine job of building your home, but if your home is built defectively and collapses or violates local building codes, you will bear the brunt of the responsibility for hiring an unqualified practitioner.

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Orlando Immigration Lawyer - Frank Symphorien-Saavedra

Symphorien-Saavedra Law, P.A. is a diverse team of immigrants who are dedicated to helping immigrants, small businesses, and investors.

(*) This information is provided for general purposes and is not a substitute for individualized advice. You should schedule a consultation to discuss your particular situation.