Contract Services & Special Appearances for Other Attorneys

On May 18, 2026, USCIS ended telephonic attorney appearances at most field office interviews and at affirmative asylum interviews. Attorneys outside the San Francisco Bay Area who previously covered these matters by phone now need an in-person attorney of record.

I cover Bay Area asylum offices, USCIS field offices, and immigration court appearances for out-of-area attorneys. I have 15+ years of immigration-exclusive experience, am admitted to practice before the Board of Immigration Appeals and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and work in English, Spanish, and Russian.

Need in-person coverage in San Francisco, Concord, or the Bay Area? Email contact@aimimmigration.com or call (415) 212-9009 for rates and availability.

Services I Provide to Other Attorneys

Special Appearances — In Person

  • Affirmative asylum interviews at the San Francisco and Oaklan Asylum Offices

  • USCIS adjustment of status, naturalization, and marriage interviews at the San Francisco and other Bay Area field offices

  • Master Calendar and Individual Merits hearings at 630 Sansome San Francisco Immigration Court and Concord Immigration Court (and other immigration courts where you arrange travel coverage)

  • Bond hearings for non-detained respondents

  • Asylum Office and Immigration Courts in-person filings

Drafting and Research

  • Briefs and motions before USCIS, EOIR, the Board of Immigration Appeals, and the Ninth Circuit

  • Country conditions research and supporting evidence packages

  • Waivers of inadmissibility (I-601, I-601A, I-212, 212(h))

  • Motions to reopen and reconsider

  • BIA appellate briefs and Ninth Circuit petitions for review

  • Asylum applications and supporting declarations

Consultation and Co-Counsel

  • Case strategy consultations on complex matters

  • Co-counsel arrangements on Ninth Circuit cases

  • Russian- or Spanish-language client communication when the case attorney does not speak the client's language

Why Refer Coverage to This Office

Immigration is the only thing I practice. I am not a generalist taking immigration work on the side. Every appearance is in front of an adjudicator I have appeared before many times.

15+ years exclusively in immigration. Including affirmative asylum, defensive asylum, removal defense before EOIR, the BIA, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Multilingual. I communicate with your client in English, Spanish, or Russian. No interpreter delays. No information lost between languages.

Bay Area location. My office is at 500 Sutter Street in downtown San Francisco — walking distance to the San Francisco USCIS Field Office and convenient to Concord Immigration Court and other Bay Area adjudicators.

Independent professional reputation. From 2017 to 2024, I served as immigration attorney advisor to the Consulate General of Guatemala in San Francisco — a role given only to attorneys the consulate independently vetted.

Clear, flat-fee pricing. Per-appearance and per-project flat fees. No hourly surprises. Quotes returned within one business day.

Confidentiality and professional courtesy. I do not solicit your client. The client remains yours; I appear on your authorization.

How Engagement Works

  1. Email or call with the case name, A-number, hearing or interview date, type of proceeding, and a short summary.

  2. I confirm conflicts and availability within one business day and send a written flat-fee quote.

  3. Engagement letter and G-28 (or limited-scope appearance form, depending on the matter) are exchanged.

  4. I prepare from the case file you provide, conduct any pre-interview/pre-hearing prep with the client by phone or video, and appear on the date.

  5. Post-appearance memo delivered within 48 hours summarizing what happened, what was filed or argued, and recommended next steps.

Geographic Coverage

Primary in-person coverage:

  • San Francisco USCIS Field Office (444 Washington Street, San Francisco)

  • San Francisco and Oakland Asylum Offices

  • 630 Sansome San Francisco Immigration Court and Concord Immigration Court

  • Other Bay Area USCIS field offices on a case-by-case basis

I also handle remote-friendly tasks (briefs, motions, waivers, BIA appeals, Ninth Circuit petitions) for attorneys anywhere in the United States.

Fees

Per-appearance flat fees vary by proceeding type, preparation time required, and location. Most special appearances quote at a single flat fee covering pre-appearance review of the file, pre-interview client preparation, the appearance itself, and a post-appearance memo. Brief and motion work is quoted as a project flat fee.

For a quote on a specific matter, email contact@aimimmigration.com with the case details listed in "How Engagement Works" above. Quotes are returned within one business day.

Frequently Asked Questions — For Attorneys

Will you appear as the attorney of record or as a limited-scope appearance?

Either, depending on what your bar rules permit and how you have engaged the client. For most special appearances I file a G-28 noting limited representation for the specific interview or hearing, then withdraw after the appearance. For brief writing, I am not on the record at all.

Do you take cases away from referring attorneys?

No. I do not solicit your client. The attorney-client relationship remains with your office. I appear on your authorization and report back to you.

Can you handle in-person interviews in languages other than English?

Yes. I conduct client preparation and attend interviews fluent in English, Spanish, and Russian. For Ukrainian-speaking clients I can typically conduct preparation in Russian if the client is comfortable, or coordinate an interpreter if not. For other languages, I will arrange a USCIS-acceptable interpreter.

How quickly can you cover an urgent interview?

Same-week coverage is sometimes possible for special appearances if my calendar allows. Email or call as soon as you know the date. I confirm availability within one business day.

Do you take cases involving detained clients?

No. I do not currently appear in detained removal proceedings. For drafting and briefing work in detained cases, I can sometimes assist remotely — ask.

What is your conflict check process?

I run a conflict check against current and former clients within one business day of receiving the prospective case caption and parties. No engagement is confirmed before conflicts clear.

Contact

Anna Ignatenko McLean, Esq.

AIM Immigration Law Firm

500 Sutter Street, Suite 823, San Francisco, CA 94102

Email: contact@aimimmigration.com

Phone: (415) 212-9009

Languages: English, Spanish, Russian