FBI Background Check Timeframe

[Teddy B 17,251]

Sounds like this lawyer has a nice little side business going.

[ExPatty 502]

Thanks to everyone for the responses. I re-read my original post and realized that I made it sound like we found a lawyer in a van down by the river. We didn't. This guy is THE top immigration lawyer in DFW. He came highly recommended by several friends of ours, including my husband's sister, who all used him and he successfully (if not slowly) adjudicated their cases.

So I guess I just wondered if the time line was out of whack, wrong, or maybe he's super busy and his internal office processing times are that long? I'm not sure. I guess I need to call him tomorrow and see what the deal is.

Also, I plan to do my own immigration legal work from this point on (unless the background check comes back unfavorable, in which case we may need the help)...just want to get the background check that I paid for.

Sounds like he knows what he's doing and by that I mean:

1) Knows immigration law

2) Knows how to suck money out of people.

You can get a background check run yourself for cheaper and much quicker, though I've never googled it. the only reason to do a background check is if you know your history is checkered and you ultimately want to see what's in it.

When I applied for our green cards our total attorney fees for two people were about $2k or so. It was a single-practice lady who worked in a hole in a wall office. She was exceptional, though. Really knew her stuff, diligent, and reliable. I was also quoted at least $5k by another attorney in the area to do the very same thing. You simply don't always get what you pay for.

[kzielu 1,144]

Thanks to everyone for the responses. I re-read my original post and realized that I made it sound like we found a lawyer in a van down by the river. We didn't. This guy is THE top immigration lawyer in DFW. He came highly recommended by several friends of ours, including my husband's sister, who all used him and he successfully (if not slowly) adjudicated their cases.

So I guess I just wondered if the time line was out of whack, wrong, or maybe he's super busy and his internal office processing times are that long? I'm not sure. I guess I need to call him tomorrow and see what the deal is.

Also, I plan to do my own immigration legal work from this point on (unless the background check comes back unfavorable, in which case we may need the help)...just want to get the background check that I paid for.

He obviously isn't a top immigration lawyer - there's no reason for him to fingerprint anybody and send anything to FBI. USCIS will do that themselves and it typically take way shorter time than one quoted. He is just purely scamming you by doing step that isn't necessary at all.

[Teddy B 17,251]

He obviously isn't a top immigration lawyer - there's no reason for him to fingerprint anybody and send anything to FBI. USCIS will do that themselves and it typically take way shorter time than one quoted. He is just purely scamming you by doing step that isn't necessary at all.

And I wonder what he is doing with the fingerprints and other info gathered for the background check. This could be part of an identity theft ring as well.

[Cathi 5,609]

Who told you he was a "top immigration lawyer"? Why would you pay a lawyer to do an FBI background check when the government does their own checks when you file for AOS? You were scammed. BIG time. Just think about it....nothing about your question is accurate

[Frewchen 8]

Move on, and get away from this "lawyer".

[Ms Hogan 295]

Thanks to everyone for the responses. I re-read my original post and realized that I made it sound like we found a lawyer in a van down by the river. We didn't. This guy is THE top immigration lawyer in DFW. He came highly recommended by several friends of ours, including my husband's sister, who all used him and he successfully (if not slowly) adjudicated their cases.

So I guess I just wondered if the time line was out of whack, wrong, or maybe he's super busy and his internal office processing times are that long? I'm not sure. I guess I need to call him tomorrow and see what the deal is.

Also, I plan to do my own immigration legal work from this point on (unless the background check comes back unfavorable, in which case we may need the help)...just want to get the background check that I paid for.

Everyone is talking about how you've been ripped off which I agree with BUT I'm more interested in your comment about if something comes back unfavorable. Are you anticipating such a problem with your husband's background check?

Edited February 26, 2015 by Ms Hogan

[sexymackeral 14]

Thanks to everyone for the responses. I re-read my original post and realized that I made it sound like we found a lawyer in a van down by the river. We didn't. This guy is THE top immigration lawyer in DFW. He came highly recommended by several friends of ours, including my husband's sister, who all used him and he successfully (if not slowly) adjudicated their cases.

So I guess I just wondered if the time line was out of whack, wrong, or maybe he's super busy and his internal office processing times are that long? I'm not sure. I guess I need to call him tomorrow and see what the deal is.

Also, I plan to do my own immigration legal work from this point on (unless the background check comes back unfavorable, in which case we may need the help)...just want to get the background check that I paid for.

The information he gave you was false. There is no background check that is done BEFORE you apply for AOS. That is something that USCIS does and is covered by your filing fee. I would question whether that lawyer is really THE top immigration lawyer in DFW.

You can and should report him to the Texas Bar Association.

[CaseyLE82 3]

To everyone who says I was scammed, I don't believe that is the case, however you all seem to be very convinced. This lawyer has been in practice in Dallas since 1982 with very few complaints registered against him. This is what happened (without putting too much out there): I went to this lawyer because I was married in July. When my husband came to the US in 2007 he came illegally and was caught once before re-entering. The lawyer told me that if he has an FBI record there will be SERIOUS issues like a possible 10 year ban to our petition. I did not want to spend the money to file the petition without first knowing if we were going to encounter that issue, because my own independent research showed that in some cases those sorts of things are not still on file with the FBI. The lawyer informed me that we could do the background check pre-emptively before spending a lot of time and heartache on a petition that would eventually be denied and therefore also potentially getting my husband deported for 10 years. So, we opted for the pre-emptive background check in an abundance of caution.

The lawyer DID advise me that it was possible to file the petition and continually delay it if there were a problem until immigration reform occurred or something changed. At that time, and at this time for that matter, I did not/do not want to risk it.

I realize that there are probably many opinions against my husband for his actions, but he was 17 at the time and most of his family was already here. Please keep your unhelpful comments to a minimum if possible, you're just going to hurt my feelings for no reason.

[belinda63 2,981]

It would be better to do a Freedom of Information Act request to CBP to see what they have on record. USCIS will check not only FBI records but their own internal records. If there is documentation that he was already removed previously and returned illegally prior to his ban being finished he no has a life-time ban with no hope for a waiver for 10 years. That 10 years doesn't start until he leaves the US.

[Ms Hogan 295]

I don't think anyone will make negative comments about the actions of a 17 year old HOWEVER, if you want useful advice from knowledgeable members it is important to share as much information as you can at the beginning of your new thread rather than waiting until you're two pages in. You didn't include key pieces to your question so everyone is responding based solely on what you asked. Your initial post was lacking all these details and only asking if the length of time for a background check was accurate. Your information is coming from a lawyer who charged you a lot of money. You are posting on a site dedicated to supporting people who are doing this on their own and not usually with the help of lawyers. Keep all of this in mind while reading the responses you get. Most of us are going to tell you that your lawyer did something that is not necessary and that they he charged you too much money for it.

Most people won't read all the responses and therefore will miss the additional information you've added so expect to get more of the same responses.

Your situation is not as clear-cut as the original post. Good luck with the next steps. Hopefully nothing comes back from the FBI check that will make your process more difficult than it already is.

[Cathi 5,609]

To everyone who says I was scammed, I don't believe that is the case, however you all seem to be very convinced. This lawyer has been in practice in Dallas since 1982 with very few complaints registered against him. This is what happened (without putting too much out there): I went to this lawyer because I was married in July. When my husband came to the US in 2007 he came illegally and was caught once before re-entering. The lawyer told me that if he has an FBI record there will be SERIOUS issues like a possible 10 year ban to our petition. I did not want to spend the money to file the petition without first knowing if we were going to encounter that issue, because my own independent research showed that in some cases those sorts of things are not still on file with the FBI. The lawyer informed me that we could do the background check pre-emptively before spending a lot of time and heartache on a petition that would eventually be denied and therefore also potentially getting my husband deported for 10 years. So, we opted for the pre-emptive background check in an abundance of caution.

The lawyer DID advise me that it was possible to file the petition and continually delay it if there were a problem until immigration reform occurred or something changed. At that time, and at this time for that matter, I did not/do not want to risk it.

I realize that there are probably many opinions against my husband for his actions, but he was 17 at the time and most of his family was already here. Please keep your unhelpful comments to a minimum if possible, you're just going to hurt my feelings for no reason.

you are still defending a lawyer who charged you for an unneeded background check. I'm out