How much should a lawyer cost to file for a green card through marriage?

How much should a lawyer cost to file all the paper work for a green card through marriage? Also, how long does it take from applying till the foreign spouse has a work authorization and visa?

Two to three thousand dollars if there are no complications. I strongly recommend you get a lawyer. Several forms have to be filled which you can find at the USCIS website. You need financial documents which establishes that you are in in a position to support your spouse. Marriage certificate and other supporting documents that establish the marriage is legitimate. Your passport or other documents establishing you are a citizen. One mistake and it can make things very expensive and turn the whole situation into a nightmare.

Technically, there are no waiting periods for a spouse of an American citizen, but it it can take a few months to a year to get the spouse to the U.S. depending upon which country the spouse is coming from. This is because of the spouse's background investigation and the interview process. A work authorization permit does not take long at all, a few weeks only.

If the spouse is going to come on a K-1 visa (fiancee visa) the process is faster, the fiancee has 90 days to get married to you. If marriage does not take place within this time period the fiancee is out of status and must leave.

There are other steps that would have to be taken before the spouse gets a green card, so get a lawyer and if you cannot afford to hire one how do you plan to show you can support the spouse. You have to be earning a certain income. I think it is above the 120% of the poverty level. The USCIS website has that information too. Good luck

Sometimes using an attorney is good, they make sure all the paperwork is filed correctly. On the other hand there is a lot of attorneys out there that don't do a great job. I am here on a visa, and I have a great immigration attorney when i need him- I've never met the guy, I have spoken to him once on the phone, he was very quick to answer my emails... and he did a great job for me! I would highly recommend him. His name is Ted Huang, his website is myvisa.com check him out.

I say forget the lawyer and do it yourself. Do you really want to risk bringing a third party into this, which means one more person to go through, which also means slowing things down? I wouldn't. I think communication between you and USCIS shoudl be enough. I've heard it doesn't take a genius to fill out the paperwork.