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Top-Ranked Immigration Lawyers in Florida

Updated Methodology LexRank v1.225 lawyers rankedReviewed by LexRanked editorial team

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked immigration lawyers in Florida are Kari Ann Fonte (LexRank 84.00), Shahzad Ahmed (84.00) and Kashmira I. Bhavsar (84.00).

This ranking lists the top 25 of the 59 immigration lawyers LexRanked tracks across Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. All 25 lawyers in this ranking are Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by The Florida Bar, a credential held by 4.9% of Florida lawyers in any field. They practice in 8 cities, led by Miami.

Lawyers ranked
25
Fully verified
25 of 25

The ranking

Ordered by organic LexRank score; paid placements are labelled and never affect a position. How we rank

  1. No change

    Kari Ann Fonte

    Fonte Friz-Garcia Immigration Firm, P.L. · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 31 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #1?

    Ranks #1 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 26.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  2. No change

    Shahzad Ahmed

    Independent practice · Orlando, FL

    Verified
    • 28 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #2?

    Ranks #2 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 26.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  3. No change

    Kashmira I. Bhavsar

    Independent practice · Orlando, FL

    Verified
    • 29 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #3?

    Ranks #3 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 26.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  4. No change

    Dilipkumar Patel

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 35 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #4?

    Ranks #4 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 26.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  5. No change

    Vitalia Diaz Shafer

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 27 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #5?

    Ranks #5 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 26.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  6. No change

    Barry Todd Lieber

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 34 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #6?

    Ranks #6 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 26.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  7. No change

    Gina Maria Polo

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 26 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #7?

    Ranks #7 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 26.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  8. No change

    Larry Scott Rifkin

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 45 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #8?

    Ranks #8 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 26.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  9. No change

    Scot Andrew Silzer

    Independent practice · Orlando, FL

    Verified
    • 39 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #9?

    Ranks #9 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 26.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  10. No change

    Suzanne Elizabeth Vazquez

    Vazquez & Poudat, PLLC · Orlando, FL

    Verified
    • 28 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #10?

    Ranks #10 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 26.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  11. No change

    Richard Henry Maney

    Maney & Gordon, P.A. · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 51 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #11?

    Ranks #11 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 26.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  12. No change

    Jennifer Gail Stockon

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 26 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #12?

    Ranks #12 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 26.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  13. No change

    Maria Isabel Casablanca

    Kurzban Kurzban Tetzeli & Pratt · Coral Gables, FL

    Verified
    • 37 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #13?

    Ranks #13 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 26.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  14. No change

    John Patrick Pratt

    Kurzban Kurzban Tetzeli & Pratt · Coral Gables, FL

    Verified
    • 28 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #14?

    Ranks #14 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 26.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  15. No change

    Leslie Irene Snyder

    Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL

    Verified
    • 38 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #15?

    Ranks #15 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 26.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  16. No change

    Alex Solomiany

    Independent practice · Aventura, FL

    Verified
    • 31 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #16?

    Ranks #16 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 26.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  17. No change

    Tulio Gerardo Suarez

    Independent practice · Palm Beach Gardens, FL

    Verified
    • 30 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #17?

    Ranks #17 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 26.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  18. No change

    Anis Nouhad Saleh “Anis”

    Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL

    Verified
    • 34 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #18?

    Ranks #18 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 26.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  19. No change

    Barbara Warren Loli

    Independent practice · North Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 45 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #19?

    Ranks #19 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 26.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  20. No change

    Jeffrey Adam Devore “Jeff”

    Independent practice · Palm Beach Gardens, FL

    Verified
    • 36 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #20?

    Ranks #20 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 26.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  21. No change

    Scott Douglas Devore “Scott”

    Independent practice · Palm Beach Gardens, FL

    Verified
    • 30 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #21?

    Ranks #21 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 26.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  22. No change

    Carmen R. Arce

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 24 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #22?

    Ranks #22 with 82.80: strongest in Experience (28.8/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20). 1.20 points behind #21, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 28.8/30 (ranking avg 26.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    1.20 points behind #21 (Scott Douglas Devore “Scott”): Experience −1.2.

  23. No change

    John Gihon

    Independent practice · Altamonte Springs, FL

    Verified
    • 24 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #23?

    Ranks #23 with 82.80: strongest in Experience (28.8/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 28.8/30 (ranking avg 26.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  24. No change

    Jorge Raimundo Lopez

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 40 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #24?

    Ranks #24 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20). 0.20 points behind #23, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 26.5)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    0.20 points behind #23 (John Gihon): Data quality −1.4.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  25. No change

    Carol Ann Bernstein

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 29 years experience
    • Immigration
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #25?

    Ranks #25 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 26.5)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

Data sources behind the scores

Every score on this page is calculated from facts backed by these sources. Each profile shows which source supports which fact and when it was last checked.

  • floridabar.org · Official / regulatory · 21 profile pages253 facts for 21 lawyers

Immigration market in Florida

LexRanked tracks 59 lawyers and 5 law firms in immigration law in Florida. 59 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 30, 2026.

Lawyers
59
Law firms
5
Verified professional data
59 of 59
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
26 years59 lawyers

Calculated by LexRanked from its own records on ; data verified . Ratings and review counts count only when backed by a source; figures from fewer than three profiles are withheld. All lawyers in Florida

What sets these Florida immigration lawyers apart

All 25 lawyers in this ranking are Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by The Florida Bar, which only about one in twenty Florida lawyers achieves in any field. The figures come from each lawyer's Florida Bar profile, checked in November 2026.

Fact about the 25 ranked lawyers Figure
Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law 25 of 25
Years in practice 24 to 51 (median 31)
Languages besides English Spanish (10), Gujarati (2), Portuguese (2), Hebrew (1)
License status with The Florida Bar Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer

Where do Florida's top immigration lawyers practice?

7 of the 25 practice in Miami; the table shows every city.

City Lawyers in this ranking
Miami 7
Coral Gables 4
Orlando 4
Tampa 4
Palm Beach Gardens 3
Altamonte Springs 1
Aventura 1
North Miami 1

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with an office in a Florida city we cover and immigration as a practice area on record. It ranks every immigration lawyer LexRanked tracks in Florida by the same score and shows the top 25. How we rank.

Find a immigration lawyer in your city

A lawyer near you knows the local courts; each city has its own ranking of immigration lawyers.

Florida rules to know

Immigration is federal law, decided by USCIS and the immigration courts, and only lawyers or accredited representatives may give legal advice on it.

Rule What it means
Which law applies Federal immigration law, the same in every state
Who decides U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (applications) and the immigration courts of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (removal cases)
Who may represent you A licensed lawyer or a representative accredited by the Department of Justice (8 C.F.R. § 292.1)
Florida Bar credential Board Certification in Immigration and Nationality Law

Cases are heard in the county where they arise; see which judicial circuit covers each county.

How to choose among these lawyers

Confirm the license, prefer a lawyer who regularly works in your county, ask who will handle your matter, and get the fee terms in writing.

  1. Look up the lawyer in The Florida Bar's directory and check the bar number shown on their LexRanked profile.
  2. Ask how many matters like yours the lawyer has handled in your county recently.
  3. Ask how they charge and what costs are extra, and get the agreement in writing.

Further reading

Sources for the rules above

Frequently asked questions

Can a notary help with my immigration case?

No. Only a licensed lawyer or a Department of Justice accredited representative may give legal advice or represent you in immigration matters.

Do I need a Florida lawyer for immigration?

Immigration law is federal, so a lawyer licensed in any U.S. state can handle it; a Florida Bar board-certified lawyer has met Florida's standards in the field.

What does Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law mean?

It is a credential from The Florida Bar for lawyers with substantial experience in the field who have passed peer review and a written exam. 25 of the 25 lawyers in this ranking hold it; 4.9% of Florida lawyers hold a board certification in any field.

Where are the best immigration lawyers in Florida?

Of the 25 lawyers in this ranking, 7 practice in Miami, 4 practice in Coral Gables, 4 practice in Orlando. Each city also has its own ranking.

Do I need a immigration lawyer in my own city?

Any lawyer licensed by The Florida Bar may practice anywhere in Florida, but a lawyer who regularly appears in your county knows its judges and procedures.

How is this ranking ordered?

By the LexRank score, calculated only from facts with a cited source: experience, practice-area relevance, awards on record such as board certification, professional credentials, data quality and location. Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Payment never changes a position.

Do client reviews affect the LexRank score?

Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Reviews are shown on profiles for information only, and Reputation counts only awards on record, such as board certification. How we rank

Which lawyers are verified?

25 of the 25 ranked lawyers have fully verified profiles: Kari Ann Fonte, Shahzad Ahmed, Kashmira I. Bhavsar, Dilipkumar Patel and Vitalia Diaz Shafer and others.

About this ranking

Last updated
Methodology
LexRank v1.2 - deterministic, reproducible scoring
Editorial review
LexRanked editorial team,
Independence
Positions are never sold. Paid placements, if any, are labelled and do not affect scores.

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