The 5 Best Immigration Lawyers in NYC (2026)

Updated October 2026 · 5 picks

The best immigration lawyers in NYC in 2026 include Fragomen, the world's largest immigration firm, for corporate visas; Wildes & Weinberg and Barst & Mukamal, two of the oldest immigration practices in the country; and Cyrus D. Mehta & Partners for complex green card and litigation cases. Each firm's specialty is noted below.

1. Fragomen — Manhattan (headquarters), Manhattan

The world's largest immigration law firm — the default for companies moving people to New York.

Specialty Corporate and employment-based immigration worldwideBest for Employers and the employees they sponsor

Fragomen was founded in New York and has grown into the largest immigration-focused firm in the world, with offices across dozens of countries. Its core business is corporate immigration: work visas, intra-company transfers, employment-based green cards and global mobility programs for employers.

If your employer is sponsoring your move, there is a good chance Fragomen is already handling it. It also advises individuals, but its scale is built around corporate clients.

Good to know: If you are being relocated by a large company, ask HR which firm they use — it is often Fragomen, and your case may already be open.

Website

2. Wildes & Weinberg — Midtown East (Madison Avenue), Manhattan

A storied New York practice — the firm of Leon Wildes, John Lennon's immigration lawyer.

Specialty O-1 and business visas, EB-5, family immigration, asylumBest for Individuals, artists, investors, families and businesses

Wildes & Weinberg grew out of Leon Wildes's New York immigration practice, founded more than 65 years ago. Leon Wildes, who died in 2024, famously represented John Lennon in his deportation fight in the 1970s and wrote the book on the case. His son Michael Wildes is the managing partner.

The firm handles O-1 visas for artists and people of extraordinary ability, business and investor visas including EB-5, family immigration, asylum and consular work. Besides Madison Avenue, it has offices in Englewood, New Jersey, and Aventura, Florida, plus appointment-only offices in Los Angeles and Tel Aviv.

Good to know: Strong on O-1 visas for performers, creatives and entrepreneurs — and it has a Tel Aviv office for Israeli clients.

515 Madison Ave, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10022

Google Maps Website

3. Barst & Mukamal — Midtown (Fifth Avenue), Manhattan

Founded in 1930 — it describes itself as the oldest US firm practising only immigration law.

Specialty Visas, green cards, PERM labor certification, arts and entertainment, EB-5Best for Businesses, artists and individuals

Barst & Mukamal — formerly Barst Mukamal & Kleiner — was founded in 1930 and says it is the oldest law firm in the United States focused exclusively on immigration. Its practice covers visa options, permanent residence, PERM labor certification, I-9 compliance, responses to USCIS requests for evidence and EB-5 investor cases.

It also has a dedicated arts and entertainment practice, which is valuable in New York for performers, musicians and touring productions. Its office is on Fifth Avenue at 45th Street.

Good to know: If you have received a Request for Evidence on a pending case, it lists RFE responses as a specific service.

551 Fifth Ave, Suite 1100, New York, NY 10176

Google Maps Website

4. Cyrus D. Mehta & Partners — Financial District (Battery Park), Manhattan

A highly regarded boutique for complex employment cases, litigation and removal defense.

Specialty Business immigration, labor certification, removal defense, federal litigation, citizenshipBest for Companies and individuals with complex cases

Cyrus D. Mehta & Partners is a downtown boutique with more than 30 years in immigration law, and its founding partner is one of the most cited voices in the field — the firm's blog is widely read by other immigration lawyers. The practice covers business immigration and labor certification, waivers, removal defense, federal court litigation, citizenship and asylum.

It is a firm to call when a case is not routine: a complicated priority-date question, a waiver, or a dispute that may end up in federal court. It is listed in Chambers and Who's Who Legal.

Good to know: Read the firm's blog before your consultation — it often covers exactly the edge case you are worried about.

1 Battery Park Plaza, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10004

Google Maps Website

5. Klasko Immigration Law Partners — Manhattan office, Manhattan

A national immigration boutique known for EB-5 investor and employment cases, with a New York office.

Specialty EB-5 investor visas, employment-based immigration, litigationBest for Investors, employers and individuals

Klasko Immigration Law Partners is a Philadelphia-founded immigration boutique with an office in New York, and it is one of the best-known firms nationally for EB-5 investor immigration as well as employment-based visas and green cards and immigration litigation.

For anyone considering a green card through investment, it is one of the firms that regularly appears in industry rankings and conference programs.

Good to know: For EB-5, ask the firm to explain its role separately from the regional center's — independent legal advice matters in investor cases.

Website

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an immigration lawyer?

Not for every filing, but mistakes in US immigration cases can be costly and slow to fix. A lawyer is strongly advisable for employment-based green cards, investor visas, O-1 visas, anything involving a prior denial, overstay or criminal record, and any case in immigration court.

How do I check that an immigration lawyer is legitimate?

Confirm the attorney is admitted to practice and in good standing — New York attorneys can be looked up on the New York State Unified Court System's attorney search. Be wary of 'notarios' or consultants who are not lawyers; they cannot legally give immigration legal advice in the US.

What does an immigration lawyer cost in New York?

Many immigration firms charge flat fees per filing, which vary widely by case type and complexity, plus government filing fees paid to USCIS or the Department of State. Removal defense and litigation are usually billed differently. Ask for a written fee agreement that separates legal fees from government fees.

What is an O-1 visa?

The O-1 is a US work visa for people with extraordinary ability or achievement in the sciences, arts, education, business, athletics, film or television. It has no annual cap, which makes it popular with artists, founders and researchers who don't fit the H-1B lottery, but it requires strong documentary evidence.