Facing an immigration decision in Minneapolis? Get it right the first time.
Green cards, work visas, citizenship, asylum, and deportation defense all run on strict federal rules where one mistake can cost years. These Minneapolis immigration firms include nationally ranked practices and attorneys recognized by Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers, and most offer a consultation to map out your options.
Immigration is federal law, so a Minneapolis case may run through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, a consulate abroad, or the Fort Snelling immigration court for removal cases. Whether you need a family green card, an employment visa, naturalization, asylum, or a defense against deportation, the process is paperwork-heavy and unforgiving of errors. The firms below range from a Tier 1 nationally ranked practice to boutiques focused on asylum and removal defense, and each has verifiable peer recognition.
How we picked these firms: We reviewed peer rankings and directories (Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, Avvo, Justia, Expertise.com, FindLaw), client-review patterns, board certifications, and bar recognition. Only firms confirmed across at least two independent sources made the list. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
Practice focus: Family, removal defense, asylum, business immigration
A full-service Minneapolis immigration firm guiding families, individuals, and businesses through complex cases. Founder David Wilson has been recognized by Best Lawyers and named a Super Lawyer for several years. Handles family, employment, asylum, and removal-defense matters, with multilingual capacity for the metro's diverse communities.
Practice focus: Business & employment immigration, global mobility
Ranked Tier 1 for immigration in Minneapolis, the firm is led by Scott Borene, who has practiced immigration law since 1979 and is widely recognized in the field. A go-to for employment-based visas, executives, and global-mobility matters for companies and professionals.
Practice focus: Business immigration, employment visas, compliance
A large Minneapolis-based firm with a Tier 1–ranked immigration group serving employers with work visas, permanent residence, and compliance. A strong choice for companies and professionals who want a full-service firm behind an employment-based case.
Practice focus: Business & family immigration, visas
Steven Thal has practiced immigration and nationality law since 1982, making his one of the most experienced immigration practices in the metro. Handles business and family immigration and visa matters with deep, long-standing expertise.
Practice focus: Family immigration, asylum, naturalization, removal defense
Brian Aust has practiced immigration law for more than 25 years, and Malinda Schmiechen has devoted over two decades to serving immigrants. The firm handles family-based cases, asylum, naturalization, and removal defense, with client reviews praising thoroughness and attention to detail.
Practice focus: Removal defense, family, humanitarian, naturalization
A Minneapolis firm devoted solely to immigration, led by Susan Koberstein, who brings over 18 years of experience. Handles removal defense, family-based applications, humanitarian relief, naturalization, and citizenship. A focused option for clients who want an immigration-only practice.
Practice focus: Asylum, removal defense, family immigration
Founding partner Graham Ojala-Barbour is an immigration attorney experienced in defending clients from deportation and winning asylum claims. A boutique well suited to humanitarian and removal-defense matters for metro clients.
Practice focus: Family visas, green cards, naturalization
A Minneapolis immigration practice representing clients in family-based visas, green-card applications, naturalization petitions, and supervision orders. A personal, focused option for family immigration and citizenship cases.
Practice focus: Asylum, citizenship, appeals
Located on Nicollet Avenue South in Minneapolis, the firm includes attorney Susanne Gad, recognized for her track record on asylum status, paths to citizenship, and appealing cases lost by other counsel. A strong option for difficult asylum and appellate matters.
Practice focus: Visas, labor certification, asylum, adjustment of status
Serves the Minneapolis metro across deportation and removal, temporary visas, labor certification, citizenship petitions, adjustment of status, and asylum. A broad immigration practice for clients who want one firm across multiple case types.
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Immigration lawyers almost always charge a flat fee per service. In the Twin Cities, a citizenship/naturalization application commonly runs about $1,000 to $2,500 in attorney fees; a family-based green card often $2,000 to $5,000; and an employment-based or business case more. Removal-defense and asylum representation is typically billed in stages and can run several thousand dollars or more depending on complexity. Government filing fees are separate and paid to USCIS. Many firms offer a paid initial consultation that they credit toward the case if you hire them.
Immigration timelines are driven by federal processing, not your lawyer. Naturalization currently often takes several months to about a year from filing to oath. Family green cards range from under a year to several years depending on the category and country. Asylum and removal-defense cases before the Fort Snelling immigration court can take years given the backlog. A good lawyer gives you a realistic range and keeps your case moving while you wait.
Cases are federal, heard at Fort Snelling. Removal (deportation) cases for the region are heard at the immigration court at Fort Snelling. Application cases go to USCIS service centers or the local field office. Minneapolis lawyers practice in this federal system, not state court.
Minnesota has large immigrant communities. The Twin Cities are home to sizable Somali, Hmong, Latino, and East African communities, and several firms here offer multilingual staff and experience with country-specific issues such as asylum and refugee adjustment.
Deadlines are unforgiving. Immigration benefits hinge on exact filing windows and eligibility rules. A missed deadline or a wrong form can mean a denial or a removal order. This is an area where experienced counsel genuinely changes outcomes.
Policy shifts change strategy. Federal immigration policy and processing priorities change between administrations. Firms that practice in this area full time track those shifts and adjust strategy, which matters more in immigration than in most fields.
Most firms on this list offer a free or low-cost first meeting. Use it — and talk to at least two before you commit. The right fit depends on your facts, your budget, and how the attorney communicates. A few questions cut through the marketing fast.
Most firms here are competent and ethical. A few are not. The patterns worth walking away from:
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can promise a specific result. If a firm guarantees a win, a dismissal, or an approval, leave.
The disappearing partner. You meet a senior attorney at intake, then never speak to them again. Ask in writing who your day-to-day lawyer will be.
Pressure to sign immediately. Reputable firms give you the agreement in writing and time to read it. High-pressure intake is a sign of a volume mill.
Vague fee terms. "Don't worry about cost" is a warning sign. Every legitimate firm gives you a written engagement letter spelling out the fee and what triggers extra charges.
Most charge flat fees per service: roughly $1,000 to $2,500 for naturalization, $2,000 to $5,000 for a family green card, and more for employment or removal cases. Government filing fees paid to USCIS are separate.
Not legally, but the forms are detailed and errors cause denials or delays. A lawyer is especially worthwhile for anything with complications — prior denials, criminal history, deadlines, or removal risk.
Removal cases for the region are heard at the immigration court at Fort Snelling. These are federal proceedings, and having experienced removal-defense counsel can significantly affect the outcome.
Currently often several months to about a year from filing to the oath ceremony, though times vary with USCIS workloads. Family and employment categories can take longer depending on the visa type and country.
Possibly. Options can include motions to reopen, appeals, or other relief depending on the facts and timing. Talk to a removal-defense attorney quickly, because deadlines are short and strict.
Several Minneapolis immigration firms have multilingual staff reflecting the Twin Cities' large Somali, Hmong, Latino, and East African communities. Ask each firm which languages they support.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews, call two or three firms, and ask each one how many cases like yours they have handled in the last three years. The answer tells you most of what you need to know. — The LawFirmSquare team