I have lived the immigration process and not many lawyers can say that. My first exposure to the complexities of US immigration law occurred when I was empoyed by the United Nations High Commission of Refugees in a refugee camp in Thailand. In the mid 90's the immigration laws changed drastically, penalyzing families in the camp who had already been approved to live in the US for engaging in certain, how can i say, illicit behaviors.  Admissions were enough to disqualify families from being allowed to enter the US. This struck me as unfair and very unAmerican. It was during this period of time that i wanted to help those who were stuck in the immigration web. 

My further contact with immigration law occurred some years later, again before i was an attorney when i petitioned for my wife for her residency in the United States.