Atlanta Immigration Lawyer: Trusted Legal Representation

An Experienced Immigration Attorney Atlanta Can Rely On

Building a life in the United States takes courage. For many families and individuals in the Atlanta area, it also takes navigating one of the most complicated legal systems in the world, without always speaking the language, knowing the process, or understanding what comes next.

At Sessoms Law Group, LLC, we work with immigrants and foreign nationals throughout Georgia who are facing exactly that challenge. Our team brings bilingual capability, genuine cultural understanding, and serious legal knowledge to every case we handle. Whether you are starting the immigration process for the first time, dealing with a visa issue, or facing removal proceedings, we are ready to stand with you.

We represent clients across the full range of immigration matters, from family petitions and green card applications to deportation defense before the Atlanta Immigration Court.

Contact our experienced Atlanta immigration lawyer at 678-853-7402 today.

The Atlanta Immigration Landscape

Atlanta is home to one of the fastest-growing immigrant communities in the Southeast. The metro area draws foreign nationals from Central America, Latin America, Asia, and beyond, all seeking employment, family unity, and stability in the United States.

Atlanta operates two immigration courts administered by the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR): one located at 180 Ted Turner Drive SW and another at the Peachtree Summit Federal Building, 401 W. Peachtree Street NW. Both courts handle removal proceedings and immigration hearings for people across Georgia and parts of the Southeast. Cases move fast, deadlines are strict, and missing a single scheduled hearing can result in a removal order entered in your absence.

Having an immigration attorney by your side before you walk into that building is not optional — it is often the difference between a prepared case and a preventable loss.

Immigration Legal Services We Provide

Our firm handles a wide range of immigration cases for clients throughout Georgia. Below is an overview of the areas where we represent clients.

Family Based Immigration

Family reunification is among the most common reasons people seek immigration legal services. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents can petition for certain family members to receive green cards through family based immigration. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens — including spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents — receive priority processing and are not subject to annual visa caps. Other family relationships fall into preference categories with limited annual visa numbers and longer wait times.

We help clients prepare and file family based petitions, respond to requests for evidence, and manage the full process from start to finish, including coordination with the National Visa Center and consular processing abroad when needed.

Adjustment of Status

If you are already in the United States on a nonimmigrant visa and qualify for a green card, you may be able to adjust your status without leaving the country. The adjustment of status process involves filing Form I-485 with USCIS, attending a biometrics appointment, and completing an interview. Eligibility depends on your visa category, how you entered the country, and whether any grounds of inadmissibility apply.

We guide clients through every stage of this process, including addressing complications that arise when a prior immigration violation or criminal matter is part of the picture.

Deportation Defense

Receiving a Notice to Appear is frightening. It means the federal government has initiated removal proceedings against you, and your right to remain in the United States is at stake.

Our attorneys represent clients in deportation and removal defense before the Atlanta Immigration Court. Depending on the circumstances, relief options may include cancellation of removal, asylum, adjustment of status, voluntary departure, or other remedies. We review the facts of each case carefully before recommending a strategy, because the right approach varies significantly from one situation to the next.

Citizenship and Naturalization

The path to citizenship through naturalization requires meeting residency requirements, demonstrating continuous physical presence in the United States, passing English and civics tests, and passing a background check. Most applicants must have held lawful permanent residency for at least five years prior to filing. Applicants who are married to and living with a U.S. citizen may qualify after three years. USCIS reviews the full record of each applicant, including any prior criminal history, travel outside the country, and tax compliance.

We prepare naturalization applications, help clients get ready for the interview, and address any complications that come up during the process.

Fiancé (K-1) Visa

A U.S. citizen who wants to bring a foreign national fiancé to the United States may petition for a K-1 visa. If approved, the foreign national must enter the country and marry the petitioner within 90 days. After the marriage, the new spouse may apply to adjust status to lawful permanent resident. The process involves separate filings with USCIS and the U.S. Department of State, along with consular processing at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad.

We assist with both the petition and the adjustment of status process following the marriage.

E-1 and E-2 Investor Visas

Foreign nationals from treaty countries may qualify for E-1 or E-2 visa status through treaty trader or treaty investor categories. The E-2 visa requires a qualifying investment in a U.S. business that is substantial relative to the total cost of the enterprise. These visas do not lead directly to a green card, but they can provide long-term lawful status while business operations continue.

We assist business owners and investors with both initial applications and renewals.

TN and L-1 Visas

Canadian and Mexican professionals may qualify for TN visa status under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) if they work in one of the designated professional occupations listed in the agreement. The L-1 visa allows multinational companies to transfer qualifying employees to a U.S. office. We help professionals and employers navigate both categories, including documentation requirements and employer petitions.

U Visa and T Visa

Victims of certain serious crimes who have suffered substantial physical or mental abuse and have been helpful — or are likely to be helpful — to law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity may qualify for a U visa. Survivors of a severe form of human trafficking who meet the statutory requirements may qualify for a T visa, which provides protection from deportation and a pathway toward lawful permanent residency.

These cases are sensitive. We handle them with the discretion and care they require.

Vacating Criminal Convictions for Immigrants

A criminal conviction can carry serious immigration consequences, including rendering a person deportable or inadmissible. In some cases, Georgia courts allow post-conviction relief that can vacate or modify a conviction. Vacating a conviction may remove or reduce the immigration consequences tied to that record. Our team handles these cases at the intersection of criminal and immigration law, an area that requires careful handling by attorneys who understand both systems.

Consular Processing and Waivers

When a visa applicant is outside the United States, the application is processed through a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. Consular processing involves coordination between USCIS and the U.S. Department of State. Some applicants require waivers of inadmissibility before a visa can be issued. We prepare waiver applications and work with clients through the full consular process.

Dual Citizenship

The United States does not formally recognize dual citizenship, but it does not prohibit it in most circumstances. Whether an applicant can maintain citizenship in another country while naturalizing as a U.S. citizen depends largely on the laws of that other country. We advise clients on dual citizenship questions and help them understand the implications for their specific situation.

What Are My Options for Becoming a Lawful Permanent Resident?

To become a Lawful Permanent Resident of the United States, you need to obtain a green card. Several paths are available depending on your circumstances:

• Family based immigration: A U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident family member sponsors you through a family petition.
• Employment based immigration: An employer sponsors you for permanent residency under one of the employment-based visa preference categories.
• Humanitarian relief: Victims of crime, human trafficking, or persecution may qualify through a U visa, T visa, or asylum grant.
• Investment: Foreign nationals who make a qualifying investment in a U.S. business under the EB-5 program may be eligible for lawful permanent residency.
• Diversity Visa Lottery: The U.S. Department of State issues a limited number of diversity visas each year to nationals of countries with historically low immigration rates to the United States.

The right path depends on your current immigration status, your family situation, your country of origin, and your goals. We review each client’s circumstances carefully before recommending a course of action.

Rights and Responsibilities as a Green Card Holder

Once you achieve lawful permanent resident status, you receive significant protections and privileges under U.S. law.

Your rights include freedom of speech and religion, equal protection under the law, the right to work in any lawful occupation anywhere in the country, and the ability to travel internationally. You may also petition for certain foreign-born family members to receive green cards of their own, though visa availability for some preference categories involves a waiting period.

You may not vote in U.S. federal elections as a green card holder.

Your responsibilities include complying with all federal, state, and local laws; filing U.S. tax returns and reporting worldwide income; and registering with the Selective Service if you are a male between the ages of 18 and 25. You must also maintain your intention to reside permanently in the United States. Extended absences from the country can put your permanent resident status at risk.

Why Representation Before the Atlanta Immigration Court Matters

The Atlanta Immigration Court handles removal cases and hearings for individuals across Georgia and parts of the Southeast. The process typically begins with a master calendar hearing, where the judge reviews the charges and schedules the case, then moves to a merits hearing where evidence, witnesses, and legal arguments are presented.

Court deadlines are strict, appeals must be filed quickly, and mistakes can seriously harm a case. The immigration court does not provide legal representation — you must retain your own attorney or seek legal aid on your own. Walking into removal proceedings without counsel places you at a significant disadvantage.

Our attorneys appear before the Atlanta Immigration Court on behalf of clients facing removal, seeking bond hearings, and pursuing relief from deportation. We know how these proceedings operate, and we prepare every case with that knowledge in mind.

Call Sessoms Law Group Today

If you are dealing with an immigration matter in Atlanta or anywhere in Georgia, do not wait. Immigration deadlines are firm, and delays in filing or responding to government agencies can close off options that would otherwise be available to you.

Call Sessoms Law Group, LLC at 678-853-7402 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a consultation. Our bilingual team is ready to hear your situation and help you understand your options.