Elena Harper, Immigration Attorney, San Diego CA

IMMIGRATION LAW · SAN DIEGO, CA

Navigating immigration, together.

Family-based immigration, work visas, green cards, and naturalization. Fifteen years of experience, hundreds of approved cases, and a practice built on personal attention.

CA Bar #278459·AILA Member·UCLA Law·15 Years

"Every immigration journey is different. Yours deserves a lawyer who listens before advising."

PRACTICE AREAS

How we can help

Family-Based Immigration

Green cards for spouses, parents, children, and other family members. Including K-1 fiancé visas, adjustment of status, and consular processing.

Employment Visas

H-1B, L-1, O-1, and E-2 visas for professionals, executives, and extraordinary-ability applicants. We work with employers and employees alike.

Green Cards

Permanent residency through family, employment, investment (EB-5), and special categories. We guide you from petition to approval.

Naturalization

Guiding lawful permanent residents through the citizenship process. N-400 preparation, interview coaching, and representation on complex cases.

Deportation Defense

Representation in removal proceedings, asylum applications, and cancellation of removal. Immigration court is not a place to go alone.

Elena Harper, Immigration Attorney
CA Bar #278459AILA MemberUCLA Law '0915 Years

ABOUT ELENA

15 years focused on one area of law.

I chose immigration law for the same reason I stayed in it: the stakes are real. When a case goes well, a family stays together. When it goes wrong, the consequences can be permanent.

I graduated from UCLA School of Law in 2009 and went straight into immigration practice. I've been a member of AILA — the American Immigration Lawyers Association — since 2011. I've seen a lot of changes in immigration law over 15 years, and through all of them, my approach has stayed the same: understand your client's situation completely before recommending a path forward.

My office is in downtown San Diego. I offer virtual consultations for clients throughout California and, for federal immigration matters, beyond. I speak English and Spanish fluently.

I believe in transparency — about timelines, about costs, about probability of success. I'll tell you what I think your chances are, even when the answer isn't what you hoped to hear.

HOW WE WORK TOGETHER

A clear path forward.

01

Consultation

Free 20-minute call to assess your situation, or a 1-hour paid consultation ($150, credited toward your case if retained) for complex matters.

02

Strategy

After we understand your situation, we'll give you a clear written plan: the path forward, the timeline, the fees, and our honest assessment of your case.

03

Representation

We handle all filings, all deadlines, and all government communication. You'll be updated at every major milestone.

04

Follow-through

We stay with your case until it's resolved — however long that takes. Immigration timelines are unpredictable, and we won't abandon you mid-process.

FEES

Transparent pricing.

We believe you should know what immigration costs before you're committed. These are flat legal fees — USCIS/government filing fees are additional.

Naturalization (N-400)

Citizenship application for permanent residents

$1,800

Marriage Green Card (within US)

Adjustment of status for spouses of US citizens

$3,500

K-1 Fiancé Visa

Petition for fiancé to enter the US

$2,800

H-1B Petition

Specialty occupation work visa

$3,500

Consultation (1 hour)

Credited toward case if retained

$150

Free 20-min Call

Assessment — no obligation

$0

Payment plans available for most matters.

We'll discuss at consultation.

* Government filing fees (USCIS fees, biometrics, etc.) are separate from legal fees and vary by case type.

CLIENT STORIES

From our clients

Elena helped my husband and me complete the marriage green card process after a previous attorney had mishandled our case. She was clear, patient, and always responsive. We received our approval in 11 months.

Ana M. · Marriage Green Card

I was terrified to start the naturalization process — I'd been putting it off for years because it felt overwhelming. Elena made it manageable. She explained every step and I passed my interview the first time.

David K. · Naturalization

My company needed an H-1B for a key hire. Elena walked us through the process, filed on time, and was proactive about every requirement. We got the approval. We won't use anyone else.

Michelle T., COO · H-1B Petition

Elena took our deportation case after another lawyer told us there was nothing to do. She found grounds for cancellation of removal we didn't know existed. My family is still together because of her.

Roberto & Maria L. · Removal Defense

CREDENTIALS & MEMBERSHIPS

Qualifications that matter.

California State Bar

Admitted 2010, Bar #278459

AILA Member

American Immigration Lawyers Association, member since 2011

UCLA School of Law

JD, 2009

Super Lawyers Rising Stars

Named 2019, 2021, 2022 (Immigration)

San Diego County Bar Association

Immigration Law Section

Bilingual

Speaks English & Spanish fluently — Spanish-language consultations available

COMMON QUESTIONS

What clients ask.

GET IN TOUCH

Let's talk about your case.

The initial consultation is free — 20 minutes by phone or video. All communications are confidential and protected by attorney-client privilege.

All consultations are strictly confidential, protected by attorney-client privilege. Your information will never be shared with government agencies.