Immigration Attorneys in San Mateo, CA

San Mateo residents working through H-1B issues, green cards, or citizenship deserve clear guidance. An immigration attorney licensed in California and serving the city will review your case for free.

Free to use — fees quoted upfront, before you commit
Matched with a California attorney in 24 hours
30,000+ plaintiffs served nationwide

Free San Mateo immigration case review

A California attorney will take a look. Or call 1-833-WELEGAL.

By submitting, you agree that DearLegal and the attorneys or law firms we connect you with may contact you by phone and email about your inquiry, including by automated technology.

DearLegal is not a law firm and will not provide legal advice. DearLegal connects users to licensed attorneys.

How we match your San Mateo immigration case

When you submit a San Mateo immigration matter, we route it through a national network of independent partner firms and put it in front of the one that fits best — based on the kind of case it is, what it is likely to involve, where it has to be handled, and who has capacity to take it on now.

Case type

A immigration matter needs someone who handles immigration work day to day, not a generalist. Practice area is the first filter.

Size and complexity

Some firms are built for catastrophic injury and multi-party litigation; others resolve straightforward claims quickly. We weigh what your matter is likely to involve against how each firm actually works.

Federal jurisdiction

This is federal law, so an attorney does not need to be licensed in California to represent you — but they do need to know how your local office and courts handle these cases.

Capacity and fit

Availability, conflicts of interest and language all matter. If the best-fit firm cannot take your case, we route it to the next one that can — or tell you plainly when no one in the network is the right answer.

Every partner reviews your case for free. Injury and workers’ compensation matters are handled on contingency — no fee unless you win. Other matters are quoted upfront, before you commit to anything.

Start my free case review How DearLegal works

DearLegal provides marketing and matching services and is not a law firm, and is not a State Bar-certified lawyer referral service. Submitting a case does not create an attorney-client relationship. Matches depend on case type, jurisdiction and firm availability.

Immigration cases in San Mateo

More about legal help in San Mateo →

San Mateo has long-established immigrant communities and a workforce spread across Peninsula healthcare, hospitality, construction, and tech employers, so visa, green card, and naturalization questions are common here. Immigration is entirely federal: petitions and applications go to USCIS, and removal cases are heard by federal immigration courts rather than San Mateo County Superior Court or any other state court. Your local address matters mainly for which federal office and court handle your file, not for which state's law applies. DearLegal matches you with a California-licensed attorney who handles immigration cases in San Mateo, with a free review.

Immigration matters are federal, so San Mateo County Superior Court has no role in visas, green cards, or removal.
Applications and petitions are decided by USCIS, with removal defense handled in federal immigration court.
Bay Area employers in healthcare, hospitality, construction, and tech frequently raise work-visa and sponsorship questions.

California immigration rules at a glance

San Mateo cases run under California law. The full walkthrough — timeline, when to call, case types, and what a recovery can include — is on the California page.

Read the full California immigration guide →

Federal Immigration Authority: INA
Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. § 1101 et seq. — federal law governs all visas, green cards, asylum, and removal.
Local Immigration Courts (EOIR): Los Angeles
Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, San Diego, Imperial, Otay Mesa (detained), and Adelanto (detained) Immigration Courts. California has more EOIR venues than any state.
Local USCIS Field Offices: USCIS field
USCIS field offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, San Diego, San Jose, Santa Ana, Fresno, and other cities. The largest USCIS footprint in the country.
Driver’s License Policy: AB 60
California AB 60 (Veh. Code § 12801.9) issues driver’s licenses without regard to lawful status. SB 54 (California Values Act) limits ICE cooperation.
In-State Tuition Policy: AB 540
California AB 540 (Educ. Code § 68130.5) and the California Dream Act (AB 130/131) provide in-state tuition and state financial aid to undocumented students.
Typical attorney fee: Flat fee
Flat Fee per Petition

Exhibit D

How much do San Mateo immigration attorneys cost?

Typical fee schedule

California · Immigration

Fee modelFlat Fee per Petition

Family green card$3,000–$7,000

Naturalization$1,800–$3,500

Asylum$5,000–$10,000

Detained removal defense$8,000–$20,000+

EB-1A/EB-2 NIW$5,000–$12,000

I-601A waiver$3,000–$6,000

Case reviewFree

Illustrative only. Your fee terms are set in a written agreement with your attorney and may include costs and expenses regardless of outcome.

Immigration matters in California are usually a flat fee per filing — quoted before you commit, not billed by the hour.

Immigration cases are flat-fee, never contingency. USCIS filing fees, biometrics, and translation costs are separate. Reputable attorneys provide written engagement letters.

A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.

Start my free case reviewTakes about two minutes. No obligation.

Exhibit F

San Mateo immigration questions, answered

Still unsure? Tell us what happened and a California attorney will review it for free.

Start free review

No. Immigration is governed entirely by federal law, so applications go to USCIS and removal proceedings are heard in federal immigration court. County courts in San Mateo have no authority over visas, green cards, or deportation. An immigration attorney can explain which federal office or court is handling your matter.

It can. Certain criminal outcomes carry federal immigration consequences, and family court findings can matter for petitions based on marriage or children. The two systems are separate but they interact. Have an immigration attorney review any pending state case alongside your immigration file.

Federal immigration deadlines vary by the type of notice or decision, and some are quite short, with serious consequences for missing them. Do not rely on general timelines you find online. Bring the notice to an immigration attorney right away so the exact deadline can be confirmed.

Family-based, employment-based (the Silicon Valley/biotech engine — EB-1A, EB-2 NIW, EB-3, EB-5), humanitarian (asylum, U/T/VAWA), and the diversity visa lottery. California also drives the largest H-1B and L-1 pipelines in the country. Many California families use consular processing combined with an I-601A waiver.

After 5 years as an LPR (3 if married to a USC), file N-400, attend biometrics, and interview at a California USCIS Field Office. English/civics testing applies. Common pitfalls include unresolved tax issues, prior misdemeanors, and lengthy absences abroad.