Honolulu · HI · Vetted Directory

Top Immigration Lawyers in Honolulu

Hawaii’s immigration practice is shaped by its geography and its large Filipino, Pacific Islander, Japanese, and Micronesian communities. Honolulu has its own USCIS field office and its own EOIR immigration court, a real advantage, since clients across the islands do not have to travel to the mainland for hearings. Below: vetted Honolulu immigration firms handling family petitions, naturalization, work visas, asylum, and removal defense.

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Honolulu Field Office
Honolulu
EOIR Court
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Updated April 30, 2026

When you need a Honolulu immigration lawyer

Immigration filings are deadline-driven and one-shot. Hire counsel before filing, not after a denial, any time:

  • You are filing a family-based green card (I-130 / I-485) and either spouse has a prior immigration issue, arrest, or overstay.
  • You want to naturalize (N-400) and have any criminal record, even old or dismissed.
  • You were the victim of a qualifying crime in Hawaii and may be eligible for a U visa or VAWA self-petition.
  • You are in or facing removal proceedings at the Honolulu Immigration Court.
  • You received a Notice to Appear from ICE.
  • You are a COFA migrant (from the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, or Palau) with questions about status, work authorization, or benefits.
  • You are an employer needing H-1B, L-1, O-1, or PERM-based sponsorship, common in Hawaii’s tourism, healthcare, and university sectors.

Because Honolulu has its own immigration court, island residents are spared the mainland travel that complicates cases in many states. Lawyers who appear at the Honolulu court regularly know its judges and local DHS counsel.

What this typically costs in Honolulu

Most Honolulu immigration firms charge flat fees by case type:

$1,500-$3,500
N-400 naturalization
$3,500-$8,000
Family green card
$4,500-$10,000
U visa / VAWA
$6,500-$15,000+
Removal / asylum

Add USCIS filing fees (currently about $760 for N-400 and $1,440 for I-485 with biometrics, verify on uscis.gov). Hawaii’s higher cost of living can push fees toward the upper end of these ranges. Several firms offer payment plans, and non-profits such as the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii handle qualifying low-income cases.

How long a Honolulu immigration case takes

Timelines depend on case type and current USCIS or EOIR backlog:

  • Naturalization (N-400): roughly 8-14 months through the Honolulu field office.
  • Family green card (concurrent I-130/I-485): 12-24 months for spouses of U.S. citizens.
  • U visa: 5-7 years due to the annual cap (work authorization may come earlier on a bona fide determination).
  • Affirmative asylum: 24-60+ months to interview.
  • Removal proceedings (Honolulu court): 18-36 months for non-detained cases.

Backlogs change. A good lawyer quotes a realistic range from current USCIS and EOIR data, not old figures. For a national overview, see our immigration guide, or browse all Honolulu lawyers.

Honolulu firms that handle immigration

1

Hirota & Associates, LLLC

HonoluluSmallFamily and employment green cards, naturalization, removal defense, business immigration

Why they made the list: Maile Hirota has been named Best Lawyers' Immigration Lawyer of the Year in Honolulu multiple times, and the firm has been ranked in the First Tier of US News 'Best Law Firms' in Hawaii immigration law every year since 2016.

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2

Law Office of Gary G. Singh

HonoluluSmallVisas, adjustment of status, bond, exclusion and removal defense

Why they made the list: A high-volume Honolulu immigration practice; Gary Singh sits on the Hawaii Federal Criminal Justice Act panel and is fluent in English, Japanese, Malay, and Punjabi.

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3

Alan W.C. Ma, Attorney at Law

HonoluluSoloBusiness and investment immigration, family petitions, naturalization

Why they made the list: A former adjunct professor at the University of Hawaii law school and past chair of the AILA Hawaii chapter, with a focus on inbound investment and business immigration.

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4

Migration Counsel

HonoluluSmallGreen cards, employment visas, naturalization, removal defense

Why they made the list: A Honolulu immigration firm whose attorneys report more than 20 years of combined experience across the full range of immigration matters.

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5

Aloha Immigration (Clare Hanusz)

HonoluluSoloFamily immigration, humanitarian relief, naturalization, removal defense

Why they made the list: Clare Hanusz is a long-practicing Honolulu immigration attorney known for family-based and humanitarian cases, including work with vulnerable populations.

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See the full ranked write-up in our Top 10 immigration lawyers in Honolulu guide. Firm details are gathered from public sources; ratings not shown are not yet aggregated.

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Immigration in Honolulu — FAQ

How much does an immigration lawyer cost in Honolulu?
Most Honolulu firms charge flat fees: N-400 naturalization $1,500-$3,500; family green card (I-130/I-485) $3,500-$8,000; U visa or VAWA $4,500-$10,000; removal defense or asylum $6,500-$15,000+. Add USCIS filing fees (about $760 for N-400, $1,440 for I-485 with biometrics, verify on uscis.gov). Non-profits like Legal Aid Society of Hawaii serve qualifying clients.
Is immigration law different in Hawaii?
The law itself is federal and the same everywhere. What differs is local processing: Honolulu has its own USCIS field office and its own immigration court, so island residents handle interviews and hearings locally rather than traveling to the mainland. Hawaii also has a large COFA-migrant population with unique status rules.
Where is the immigration court in Honolulu?
The Honolulu Immigration Court (EOIR) hears removal cases for Hawaii and serves the Pacific. Having a local court means neighbor-island residents do not have to fly to the mainland for hearings, though they may still travel to Oahu. Detained cases move faster than non-detained.
Do I need a lawyer for naturalization?
For a clean N-400 with no criminal record and continuous residence, some people file on their own. But if you have any arrest, long trips abroad, tax issues, or selective-service questions, have a lawyer review it first. A denial is expensive and can expose other problems, so a one-time review is cheap insurance.
What is COFA status and can a lawyer help?
COFA (Compacts of Free Association) lets citizens of the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau live and work in the U.S. without a visa, but the rules around work authorization, benefits, and adjusting to permanent residence are confusing. A Honolulu immigration lawyer can explain your options and help you pursue a green card if you are eligible.
Can I become a citizen if I have a criminal record?
It depends on the offense and timing. USCIS reviews good moral character for the past five years (three if married to a citizen), and some convictions are permanent bars. Never file an N-400 with any record without an immigration lawyer’s review, since a denial can lead to a referral to ICE.

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