San Antonio immigration guide
What San Antonio families, workers and employers should understand before calling an immigration lawyer, followed by the top 4 best immigration firms that take San Antonio cases.
Published
What should I do first if I need an immigration lawyer in San Antonio?
Find the deadline on your notice, gather every document the government has sent you, and confirm the lawyer handles your exact type of case. Removal hearings for many San Antonio cases are held at the San Antonio Immigration Court at 800 Dolorosa Street, and green card and citizenship interviews go to the USCIS field office named on your appointment notice. A first consultation should tell you whether the firm takes your matter, how its fee works and which government filing fees you will pay separately.
A military spouse near Joint Base San Antonio applying for a green card and a family member detained after a traffic stop on Loop 410 both need an immigration lawyer, but not the same kind of help. One has a USCIS interview to prepare for; the other may have days, not months, to request a bond hearing.
This guide covers the matters San Antonio immigration firms handle, the difference between the city and the suburbs that surround it, the filing windows that decide many cases, and how to prepare for a first consultation. The four-firm shortlist follows those priorities.
Immigration matters San Antonio firms commonly handle
Match the firm to the matter. Each note below is a planning note for readers, not a statement about the services of any particular firm.
Family-based green cards and removing conditions
Marriage and parent or child petitions include spouses of service members stationed at Joint Base San Antonio. If your green card came through a marriage of less than two years, it is conditional and must be renewed with a separate filing. Ask whether the firm prepares you for the interview as well as the forms.
Removal defense and detention
A Notice to Appear starts a case in immigration court. If a relative is held in ICE custody, ask how quickly the firm can request a bond hearing, whether it appears at the San Antonio Immigration Court, and how it handles hearings by video from a detention center.
Citizenship and naturalization
Many San Antonio residents qualify after three or five years as a permanent resident. An old arrest, a long trip abroad or unpaid taxes can complicate an application, so ask the firm to review your history before you file.
Employer and work visas
Construction, agriculture and hospitality employers in Bexar County use seasonal H-2A and H-2B workers, and the Medical Center and military contractors hire on H-1B and other professional visas. Ask whether the firm represents employers, workers or both.
Asylum and humanitarian relief
Asylum, U visas for crime victims, VAWA self-petitions and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status each have their own proof requirements. Ask how many of these cases the firm files each year and who prepares the declaration with you.
San Antonio, Bexar County and the cities inside it are different places
Several communities that look like San Antonio neighborhoods are separate incorporated cities. For a federal immigration case that rarely changes the court, but it matters for local police contact, city services and any state criminal case that affects your immigration status.
Neighborhoods inside the City of San Antonio
Downtown, Southtown and King William, Tobin Hill, Monte Vista, the Medical Center and Stone Oak are all inside the city. A firm with an office in one serves the others without needing a separate location.
Separate cities within Bexar County
Alamo Heights, Olmos Park, Terrell Hills, Castle Hills, Balcones Heights, Leon Valley, Shavano Park, Helotes, Converse and Universal City have their own city governments and police departments. An arrest by one of those departments is still a Bexar County criminal case.
Neighboring counties
New Braunfels is in Comal County, Seguin in Guadalupe County and Boerne in Kendall County. A criminal charge filed there goes to that county’s court, and your immigration lawyer may need to coordinate with a criminal defense lawyer who practices there.
The filing windows that decide many San Antonio immigration cases
These are federal rules, so they apply the same way in San Antonio as anywhere else in the country. Have an attorney confirm how each one applies to your facts.
Removing conditions: the 90 days before your card expires
A two-year conditional green card based on marriage must be renewed by filing to remove conditions during the 90 days before the card expires. Filing late without a good reason can end permanent resident status.
Asylum: one year from arrival
An asylum application generally must be filed within one year of your last arrival in the United States. Narrow exceptions exist for changed or extraordinary circumstances, and a lawyer should review them before the year runs out.
Appeals: 30 days from the judge’s decision
An appeal of an immigration judge’s decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals must be received within 30 days of the decision. Missing that date usually makes the decision final.
Prepare for the first consultation
Bring what the firm needs to see your whole history, not only the latest letter.
- Every notice you have received. USCIS receipts, interview notices, requests for evidence and any Notice to Appear, with the envelopes.
- Your passport and entry records. Include old passports, visas and your I-94 record if you have one.
- Any arrest or court records. Even a dismissed case or a ticket can matter, so bring the final paperwork from each one.
- Marriage, birth and divorce certificates. Bring certified copies and translations for anything not in English.
- Questions about fees. Ask for the attorney fee in writing and a list of the government filing fees you will pay separately.
Do not sign immigration forms you do not understand, and do not pay a notario or form preparer for legal advice. In Texas a notary public is not a lawyer.
Official San Antonio and federal immigration resources
A short list of official sources beats a long list of summaries. Search each name below to reach the official page.
- Immigration court: The San Antonio Immigration Court is at 800 Dolorosa Street, Suite 300. Check a hearing date through the Justice Department’s EOIR automated case line at 800-898-7180.
- USCIS: The USCIS San Antonio Field Office handles interviews by appointment only. Go only to the office, date and time printed on your notice.
- Licensing: Check any lawyer’s license and public discipline on the State Bar of Texas website before you sign.
- Low-cost help: The Justice Department keeps a roster of recognized nonprofit organizations and accredited representatives in San Antonio who can give legal help at low or no cost.
Top 4 best immigration firms serving San Antonio
Peek Law Group, Law Office of J. Joseph Cohen, PLLC, Castro Law, PLLC and GreenCardGuys Law Group PC are the top 4 best firms to consider for a San Antonio immigration matter. This editorial shortlist considers a published immigration practice, how each firm serves San Antonio clients and what each says about language and fees. The order is for presentation and does not represent an independently measured ranking.
Peek Law Group: immigration and criminal defense under one roof
Peek Law Group states it has represented Texans since 1996 and runs a San Antonio office on the north side of Loop 410. The firm is led by Jeff Peek, whom it describes as board certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Its San Antonio immigration page lists family-based petitions, green cards, citizenship, asylum, deportation defense, waivers and employment visas.
The firm also has a criminal defense practice, which matters for San Antonio clients whose immigration case is tied to an arrest. Its staff works in English and Spanish, and the firm states that payment plans are available.
- San Antonio office: 84 NE Interstate 410 Loop, Floor 2, Suite 2153, San Antonio, TX 78216
- Phone: (210) 202-1986
- Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Languages: English and Spanish
- Fees: The firm states payment plans are available; it lists an initial consultation but does not publish its fee.
Ask for the consultation fee before you book, and get the full fee agreement in writing, including which government filing fees are not covered.
Profile details are attributed to the firm’s website. Confirm current terms directly. The order of firms is for presentation and is not an independent ranking.
Law Office of J. Joseph Cohen, PLLC: removal defense and asylum north of downtown
Law Office of J. Joseph Cohen, PLLC practices from East Locust Street, just north of downtown San Antonio. Its site lists deportation and removal defense, asylum, family and employment visas and green cards, and states that J. Joseph Cohen is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and serves as a court-appointed attorney in criminal cases involving immigrants.
Attorney Carlos Castañeda is Of Counsel to the firm, and the site states that the office speaks Spanish.
- Office: 206 E Locust St, San Antonio, TX 78212
- Published focus: Removal defense, asylum, family and employment visas, green cards
- Before hiring: Ask which attorney will appear at your hearing and how the fee is structured for court cases.
Source: the firm’s website. Services are firm-reported; confirm current scope directly.
Castro Law, PLLC: detention cases and seasonal worker visas
Castro Law, PLLC is the practice of attorney Juan R. Castro, who the firm states has more than a decade of immigration experience. Its site lists citizenship, green cards, deportation defense, DACA, ICE bonds and appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals, along with H-2A and H-2B temporary worker visas for employers.
The office on West Bitters Road is bilingual, and the firm states it can work with clients on payments for some services.
- Office: 1202 W Bitters Rd, Building 1, Suite 1204, San Antonio, TX 78216
- Published focus: Deportation defense, ICE bonds, BIA appeals, citizenship, H-2A and H-2B visas
- Before hiring: Ask which services qualify for a payment arrangement and how quickly the firm can request a bond hearing.
Source: the firm’s website. Services are firm-reported; confirm current scope directly.
GreenCardGuys Law Group PC: remote service from a Houston office
GreenCardGuys Law Group PC serves San Antonio clients from its office in Houston. Its San Antonio page lists family and employment green cards, investor visas, naturalization, waivers, deportation defense and mandamus lawsuits for delayed USCIS decisions, and states that clients receive a copy of their file from day one.
The firm states it offers free 15-minute consultations by phone or video, and it publishes its San Antonio page in Spanish as well as English.
- Office: 7211 Regency Square Blvd, Suite 220, Houston, TX 77036
- Published focus: Family and employment green cards, investor visas, mandamus lawsuits, waivers
- Before hiring: Ask how in-person interviews and hearings in San Antonio are covered and who travels for them.
Source: the firm’s website. Services are firm-reported; confirm current scope directly.
How were these top 4 firms selected?
This shortlist uses three observable criteria: a published immigration practice, a stated way of serving San Antonio clients and published information about language and fees. It does not score case outcomes or compare every immigration firm in the city.
Questions to ask before hiring any immigration firm
- Is the fee flat or hourly, and what stages of the case does it cover?
- Which government filing fees will I pay on top of the attorney fee?
- Which attorney will handle my case and appear with me at interviews or hearings?
- How will you tell me about deadlines, and how quickly do you return calls?
Check any attorney’s license and public discipline history on the State Bar of Texas website before signing.
Questions about hiring an immigration attorney in San Antonio
Who are the top immigration lawyers in San Antonio?
Local Counsel’s top 4 picks for the best immigration lawyers serving San Antonio are Peek Law Group, Law Office of J. Joseph Cohen, PLLC, Castro Law, PLLC and GreenCardGuys Law Group PC. The list is an editorial shortlist, not a scored ranking.
Where is the immigration court in San Antonio?
The San Antonio Immigration Court is at 800 Dolorosa Street, Suite 300. Your Notice to Appear names the court for your case, and you can check your next hearing at 800-898-7180.
How long do I have to file for asylum?
In most cases an asylum application must be filed within one year of your last arrival in the United States. Limited exceptions exist, so speak with a lawyer well before the year ends.
Are government filing fees included in a lawyer’s fee?
Usually not. USCIS filing fees are paid to the government and are separate from the attorney fee, so ask for both amounts in writing.
Where is Peek Law Group’s San Antonio office?
Peek Law Group lists its San Antonio office at 84 NE Interstate 410 Loop, Floor 2, Suite 2153, San Antonio, TX 78216. The phone number is (210) 202-1986.
Does Peek Law Group work in Spanish?
Yes. Peek Law Group states that it offers its legal services in English and Spanish and that payment plans are available.
How can I check that an immigration lawyer is licensed?
Search the lawyer’s name on the State Bar of Texas website, which shows license status and public discipline. Out-of-state lawyers can also practice federal immigration law, so check their home state bar too.
Can a notario help with my immigration case?
No. In Texas a notary public is not a lawyer and cannot give immigration legal advice. Use a licensed attorney or an accredited representative at a recognized nonprofit.
Does the order of this list mean one firm is better?
No. The order reflects the editorial arrangement of this page, not an independent score.
A working checklist before your first call
Use these steps to compare San Antonio firms on the same terms.
- Find the deadline. Write down the date on your notice and count the days left.
- Gather every document. Bring all government notices, passports and any court records.
- Confirm the case type. Make sure the firm handles your exact kind of matter.
- Get both fees in writing. Ask for the attorney fee and the government filing fees separately.
- Check the license. Look up the handling attorney on the State Bar of Texas website.
- Agree on communication. Ask who your contact is and how you will hear about deadlines.
The right firm depends on your status, your history and how soon your next deadline falls.
General information, not legal advice. Confirm current deadlines and requirements with a licensed immigration attorney.