Our Athens Office

Our Athens office, where you can meet with an immigration lawyer in Athens, GA, is at 182 Ben Burton Circle, Athens, GA 30622. We see people from Athens and nearby counties who need help with an immigration case or a criminal charge, without the drive to Gainesville.

How do I get there?

Address: 182 Ben Burton Circle, Athens, GA 30622

Phone: 678-865-4444 (the same number for both offices)

How do I schedule an appointment?

To schedule, call 678-865-4444 or fill out the contact form on this page. When you call, say you’d prefer the Athens office.

If it’s closer for you, you can also visit our Gainesville office at 311 Green Street, Suite 402, Gainesville, GA 30501.

What kinds of cases does our immigration lawyer in Athens handle?

Our immigration lawyer in Athens handles immigration and criminal defense.

In immigration, that includes family petitions, green cards, adjustment of status, consular processing, waivers, defense in immigration court, asylum, citizenship, U visas and VAWA. In criminal defense, it includes cases such as driving without a license, DUI, domestic violence and traffic offenses. A criminal charge can affect your immigration situation, so we look at both together.

What should I bring to my consultation?

The more papers you bring, the more specific our answer can be. If you’re not sure whether something matters, bring it.

• Your passport and any other ID
• Documents from your entry into the United States (visa, Form I-94, entry permit), if you have them
• Every letter you’ve received from USCIS, including receipts and denials
• Any notice from immigration court or from ICE
• Papers from any arrests, citations or criminal cases, even old or closed ones
• Birth and marriage certificates for you and for the family members who are part of your case
• If a relative is petitioning for you, proof of their U.S. citizenship or permanent residence

Which immigration court handles cases for people who live in Athens, GA?

The court handling your case is the one listed on your “Notice to Appear,” meaning the document the government uses to start a deportation case, or on your most recent hearing notice. Georgia has three immigration courts:

• Atlanta – W. Peachtree Street: 401 W. Peachtree Street, Suite 2600, Atlanta, GA 30308
• Atlanta – Ted Turner Drive: 180 Ted Turner Drive SW, Suite 241, Atlanta, GA 30303
• Stewart: in Lumpkin, Georgia

To check your next hearing date and which court has your case, you can call the immigration court’s automated line at 1-800-898-7180 or look up your case online with your “A-number,” meaning the 8- or 9-digit alien registration number printed on your immigration papers. Check it often. Dates sometimes change, and missing a hearing can lead to a deportation order.

If that has already happened, it is serious, but it is not the end of the road. You can ask the court to reopen the case if you didn’t receive the notice, if you were in custody, or if you missed it because of “exceptional circumstances,” meaning something serious beyond your control, such as a serious illness or the death of a close family member. In that last situation, the request has to be filed within 180 days of the order, so don’t wait to get advice.

Where will my USCIS appointments be?

USCIS mails you a notice with the date, time and exact address of each appointment, whether it’s for fingerprints (“biometrics,” meaning your fingerprints, photo and signature) or for an interview. Always go to the address on your notice, even if someone you know went to a different office.

If you move, update your address with USCIS within 10 days of moving. If USCIS sends a letter to an old address and you never get it, you could miss an appointment or a deadline.

Official resources

• USCIS field offices (USCIS)
• Executive Office for Immigration Review (U.S. Department of Justice)

Help close to home

You don’t have to figure this out alone. Schedule a consultation at our Athens office, or in Gainesville if that works better, and we’ll go over your options together.