For local questions about a Philadelphia immigration lawyer, first look at which side of the Delaware River you live on: the Philadelphia metro area spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, and across one river, the USCIS office is different.
To be clear about our firm first: Lu Xin Law Offices has offices in Flushing, New York and West New York, New Jersey, and we have no office in Philadelphia. The term "Philadelphia immigration lawyer" in this article is simply a search term readers commonly use and does not mean that our attorney holds a Pennsylvania license. Immigration cases are governed by federal law and you can consult remotely; any arrangement for a court appearance or accompanying you to an interview is subject to the applicable rules. Our responsible attorney, Michael R. Curran, is licensed in New York and New Jersey and does not hold a Pennsylvania license. The information below is current as of November 6, 2026.
Three States, Three Routes
- Philadelphia and eastern and central Pennsylvania: These belong to the Philadelphia office, at 30 North 41st Street. The coverage area is very large, from Montgomery, Bucks, Chester and Delaware counties to Lancaster and Harrisburg, and State College, where the state university is located.
- Delaware: All three counties belong to the Philadelphia office. Residents of Wilmington and Newark (Delaware) also come here.
- South Jersey: Cherry Hill and other places belong to the Mount Laurel office in New Jersey, at 530 Fellowship Road. Once you cross the bridge, you are in a different USCIS system.
- Western Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh belongs to the Pittsburgh office; Erie, Warren and McKean counties belong to the Buffalo office in New York State.
So moving from Philadelphia to Cherry Hill is just crossing a bridge, but to USCIS it means a different state and a different office. If you plan to naturalize, count the three-month residence requirement. For the requirements, see Naturalization N-400 Process.
Within USCIS, the Philadelphia office is part of the Cleveland district. This affects only internal administration, and applicants follow their notices.
The Court: One That Closes Early
The Philadelphia Immigration Court is in the Robert N.C. Nix Sr. Federal Building, 900 Market Street, Room 504. Both its open hours and window filing hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., about an hour and a half earlier than New York and Boston. If you rush over in the afternoon to file materials, you may find the door closed.
The appeals path from Pennsylvania is the Board of Immigration Appeals and then the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit; New Jersey and Delaware are in the same circuit.
Asylum Cases Go to New Jersey
Asylum cases from the eastern and central Pennsylvania counties and Delaware are all handled by the Newark Asylum Office, at 100 Mulberry Street. Asylum interviews for Philadelphia residents require crossing state lines, so plan your transportation before the interview. USCIS notes that this office no longer provides in-person information services.
Chinese community
The Census Bureau's 2020-2024 estimates put the Chinese-descent population of the City of Philadelphia (not including Taiwanese descent) at about 42,000, about 2.7% of the city. Chinatown is in the center of the city, and the city government and local community organizations have prepared a dedicated community plan.
Philadelphia has several universities and large medical centers. Based on that makeup (an inference, not a statistic), the issues more likely to come up include student and researcher status, J-1 status for medical residents, family immigration and naturalization.
How We Can Work Together
Document review, forms and responses to requests for evidence suit remote handling. Beginning May 18, 2026, USCIS interviews require attorneys to appear in person, with a few exceptions. Philadelphia is not too far from New York, but whether to attend and how it is billed should be written into the scope of the engagement in advance. Pennsylvania court matters require a Pennsylvania lawyer.
Contact us
Consultations in Chinese: 347-618-3386. For our services, see Immigration Legal Services.
FAQ
Does a case in Cherry Hill belong to the Philadelphia office?
No. South Jersey areas such as Cherry Hill belong to the Mount Laurel office in New Jersey, at 530 Fellowship Road.
Where are asylum interviews for Philadelphia residents?
Asylum cases from the eastern and central Pennsylvania counties and Delaware are handled by the Newark Asylum Office. The interview requires crossing state lines, so plan your transportation ahead of time.
Does your firm have an office in Philadelphia?
No. Lu Xin Law Offices is located in Flushing, New York, and our responsible attorney does not hold a Pennsylvania license. You can consult remotely; arrangements for court appearances or accompanying you to an interview are subject to the applicable rules.
Sources: uscis.gov, uscis.gov, justice.gov, uscis.gov, phila.gov, censusreporter.org, law.cornell.edu, uscis.gov. The information above is current as of November 6, 2026. Immigration rules and fees may change, so check the latest official requirements before you file.
Attorney Advertising. This article is general information and is not legal advice on any particular case. Eligibility, procedures and outcomes depend on the facts of each case, the applicable law and the decision of the government agency.