AI for Immigration Paralegals: Ally or Competition?

This article was originally published in the last 2025 edition of Immigration Lawyer's Toolbox Magazine.

How AI is redefining support roles in the age of automation

When you're drowning in a 200-page immigration policy update that dropped yesterday, clients calling about their case status, and four I-130 petitions due by end of day, turning to AI to maximize productivity might seem like a dream come true.

Or it can feel a bit like training your replacement.

In the age of AI-everything, paralegals’ daily admin tasks are increasingly outsourced to large language models (LLMs). Tools like ChatGPT and Harvey can easily summarize memos, generate checklists, and even draft forms. It’s a boon for productivity—and everybody’s doing it—but is AI pushing paralegals out?

Let’s unpack how artificial intelligence is reshaping the modern paralegal’s role and why the human element is more essential than ever.

Humans & AI in immigration law

Depending on who you ask, AI is either an existential threat or the world’s most efficient assistant. For immigration lawyers, the truth is nuanced but generally optimistic. While AI can help with logistics like meeting notes, basic translations, and research, the client experience still lies in your hands.

After all, immigration law firms aren’t just pushing paper around. Paralegals create an irreplaceable human layer that directly impacts clients’ lives. You’re calming nerves, catching typos, and double-checking A-Numbers. 

Technology can enhance your work. No level of automation can replace it.

Reality check: AI is your assistant, not your boss

Rest assured—your role is safe in the age of AI. Embracing new technology only makes you better at your job and more valuable to your employer. It’s a tool. Just like email, video conferencing, and transcription services.  

And like any tool, it makes mistakes. In immigration law, more than probably any other field except healthcare, accuracy is everything. While AI brings speed and automation, it always requires verification from a human with sound judgment and legal expertise. As you embrace the efficiency of AI, be careful not to rely on it so heavily that you skip essential due diligence.

The AI gateway to higher value work

Immigration law experts like John Khosravi point out that "AI is going to take chunks of what paralegals traditionally used to do." But he doesn’t see that as a threat. Rather, it means liberation from mundane tasks.

In its current state, AI excels at:

• Document Summarization: New rules and interpretations often come in the form of 200-page documents. ChatGPT can quickly scan these documents and highlight the most important sections. And eimmigration has built this capability right into its case management system so you can summarize AAO decisions, case files, and other documents within your standard workflows.
• Template Creation: AI can help you draft initial versions of commonly used documents, client communications, and form letters. You can then store templates in your client management system to streamline communications, condensing what used to take 15 to 20 minutes into two or three minutes instead.
• Quick Translations: While you can't rely on AI for certified translations, it's excellent for initial client communications, preliminary document review, and form preparation. Emerging capabilities like eimmigration’s Translator Workmate allow you to translate USCIS forms into 13 different languages so clients can interact with forms in their language of choice. The system then translates responses back into English, eliminating language barriers that can slow down case preparation.
• Research & Drafting Assistance: AI can also help you quickly identify relevant cases, regulations, or procedural requirements. You should always verify the information independently and use a platform like Visalaw.ai that’s powered by a carefully curated legal database.

Navigating the “ethical minefield” of AI in immigration law

Here's where professional judgment becomes irreplaceable. Ethics is the cornerstone of everything we do in immigration. That extends to AI use.

• Client Confidentiality is Non-Negotiable: Never input client-specific information into open-source AI platforms.
• The Hallucination Problem: AI can provide completely incorrect information with complete confidence. Every AI-generated response needs human verification.
• The Danger of Over-Reliance: If your client is relying on you, and you're relying solely on technology, you've got a problem. Use AI to enhance efficiency but maintain the human oversight that protects clients from errors.

Do's and don'ts of AI for paralegals

If you’re ready to dip your fingertips into the AI waters, here are some basic do’s and don’ts to guide you as you get started.

DO: 

• Use AI for initial research and document drafts
• Implement proper security measures for client data
• Always verify AI-generated information against primary sources
• Continuously update your AI skills and knowledge
• Use AI to create better templates and improve efficiency

DON'T:

• Input confidential client information into unsecured AI platforms
• Submit AI-generated work without a thorough human review
• Rely on AI for legal advice or complex analysis
• Assume AI output is always accurate
• Let AI replace human judgment and empathy

Embrace your competitive advantage

The paralegals who will excel in the AI era are those who embrace the technology while amplifying their human strengths. The rise of AI presents an opportunity to expand your skillset and bring a fresh, tech-savvy perspective to your firm. Your expertise, combined with AI's processing power and efficiency, helps you become more valuable, not less.

Want more guidance on using AI in your work? Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use AI in immigration law.