Affordable Immigration Attorney Option

[soul_encounter 0]

For all those that opt for going alone without an attorney due to cost, please read, there is an affordable alternative. I stumbled across this knowledge by accident, I had been doing unrelated business with a place called "Catholic Charities" Department of Migration and Refugee Services. So when we decided to go the K-1 route, I called up my associates there, just to ask for advice or a good lawyer recommendation. It turns out, they had 4 immigration attorneys on staff. Catholic Charities is a nationwide nonprofit organization that assists immigrants and refugees, but their legal department is not solely for the immigrants or refugees they personally bring here. They do take walk-ins and general public requests for assistance. As for qualifications, they petition and move more immigrants to this country in a year, than any other single organization, or legal firm, nationwide. There are local Catholic Charity Branches across the US.

So please, if you feel you need legal assistance, but can't afford it, contact these guys. You can have them do just one part of your journey or all of it. Hope this helps some.

AR-11: Change of Address (Application for Benefit Pending) $5.00

Infopass Appointments $5.00

Photographs $10.00

Consultation $35.00

DS-156: Application for Non Immigrant Visa $80.00

DS-230: Application for Immigrant Visa $100.00

G-639: Freedom of Information Act Request $80.00

I-90: Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card $80.00

I-102 Application for Replacement I-94 $80.00

I-129 Petition for Non-Immigrant Worker $200.00

I-12F: Petition for Alien Fiance (K1 or K3) $250.00

I-130: Petition for Alien Relative (spouse/other) $250.00

I-131: Application for Travel Document $100.00

I-134: Affidavit of Support $100.00

I-212: Application to Re-Apply after Deportation $100.00

I-360: Petition for Special Immigrant $300.00

I-485: Application to Adjust Status (refugee/other) $100.00

I-539: Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status $150.00

I-601/I-602: Application for Waiver of Ground of Excludibility $100.00

I-730: Petition for Refugee Relative $75.00

I-751: Petition to Remove the Condition on Permanent Residence $200.00

I-765: Application for Employment Authorization $80.00

I-821: Application for Temporary Protected Status $80.00

I-864: Affidavit of Support (with/without co-sponsor or household member) $150.00

N-400: Application for Naturalization $250.00

N-600: Application for Certificate of Citizenship $125.00

*Fees for all other services including I-290B, I-589, EOIR 42B, N-336, Responses to Requests For Evidence, & in-person representations before the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Executive Office for Immigration Review to be decided on a case by case basis.

Fees are due at time of service

Fees do not include USCIS charges

No one will be denied service due to inability to pay

[Cristy 4]

I am not really sure how this is a savings? All those costs are in addition to the cost you would pay doing it on your own. Seems really unnecessary.

[Larry and Maria 0]

I know of two other options, one of which I've used, that charge a flat fee of $500. The one I used gives on-going consultation included in the one-time fee during the visa process.

[Cristy 4]

I-12F: Petition for Alien Fiance (K1 or K3) $250.00

K3 is not a fiance visa. I would be worried to pay someone who lists this in fees.

[soul_encounter 0]

I am not really sure how this is a savings? All those costs are in addition to the cost you would pay doing it on your own. Seems really unnecessary.

If you are a person with a cut and dry case, totally confident about doing it on your own and never wished you could afford an attorney, then this option is obviously not for you. But I have read too many stories in here of persons who go it alone, unsure of the process, make mistakes (some easy to fix some not), and all because they didn't have $2000.00 or more for an attorney. This is an affordable option for those who "WANT" legal assistance on all or one part of the process.

I know of two other options, one of which I've used, that charge a flat fee of $500. The one I used gives on-going consultation included in the one-time fee during the visa process.

I don't know if it's "standard" or not, but i paid the fee for the filing of the petion and have met with her several times since, at no additional costs and call her at least once a week. I assume, at least in my experience, that the fee for the filing of the petion considers ongoing consulting. That list is just a basic guideline for fees, everything is on a case by case basis and too, this is Not a profit making agency out to gouge people. If you notice the end notes, if you don't have the fees at all, they won't turn you away.

[kitkat1 5]

K3 is also called I-129 - non-immigrant for a spouse. They just made a small typo by including the F

Anyway, I've read several posts of people who have used them for consultation and assistance - if you don't feel confident to do it alone or maybe just don't have the time or attention to detail that's necessary, it sounds like a great idea.

[Movin on New Life 3]

K3 is also called I-129 - non-immigrant for a spouse. They just made a small typo by including the F

Anyway, I've read several posts of people who have used them for consultation and assistance - if you don't feel confident to do it alone or maybe just don't have the time or attention to detail that's necessary, it sounds like a great idea.

Thank you Soul Encounter for the helpful information

[Movin on New Life 3]

For all those that opt for going alone without an attorney due to cost, please read, there is an affordable alternative. I stumbled across this knowledge by accident, I had been doing unrelated business with a place called "Catholic Charities" Department of Migration and Refugee Services. So when we decided to go the K-1 route, I called up my associates there, just to ask for advice or a good lawyer recommendation. It turns out, they had 4 immigration attorneys on staff. Catholic Charities is a nationwide nonprofit organization that assists immigrants and refugees, but their legal department is not solely for the immigrants or refugees they personally bring here. They do take walk-ins and general public requests for assistance. As for qualifications, they petition and move more immigrants to this country in a year, than any other single organization, or legal firm, nationwide. There are local Catholic Charity Branches across the US.

So please, if you feel you need legal assistance, but can't afford it, contact these guys. You can have them do just one part of your journey or all of it. Hope this helps some.

AR-11: Change of Address (Application for Benefit Pending) $5.00

Infopass Appointments $5.00

Photographs $10.00

Consultation $35.00

DS-156: Application for Non Immigrant Visa $80.00

DS-230: Application for Immigrant Visa $100.00

G-639: Freedom of Information Act Request $80.00

I-90: Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card $80.00

I-102 Application for Replacement I-94 $80.00

I-129 Petition for Non-Immigrant Worker $200.00

I-12F: Petition for Alien Fiance (K1 or K3) $250.00

I-130: Petition for Alien Relative (spouse/other) $250.00

I-131: Application for Travel Document $100.00

I-134: Affidavit of Support $100.00

I-212: Application to Re-Apply after Deportation $100.00

I-360: Petition for Special Immigrant $300.00

I-485: Application to Adjust Status (refugee/other) $100.00

I-539: Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status $150.00

I-601/I-602: Application for Waiver of Ground of Excludibility $100.00

I-730: Petition for Refugee Relative $75.00

I-751: Petition to Remove the Condition on Permanent Residence $200.00

I-765: Application for Employment Authorization $80.00

I-821: Application for Temporary Protected Status $80.00

I-864: Affidavit of Support (with/without co-sponsor or household member) $150.00

N-400: Application for Naturalization $250.00

N-600: Application for Certificate of Citizenship $125.00

*Fees for all other services including I-290B, I-589, EOIR 42B, N-336, Responses to Requests For Evidence, & in-person representations before the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Executive Office for Immigration Review to be decided on a case by case basis.

Fees are due at time of service

Fees do not include USCIS charges

No one will be denied service due to inability to pay

do you have a telephone number or email address to contact them?

[soul_encounter 0]

do you have a telephone number or email address to contact them?

You are welcome and I hope it helps, as I said I just happenned to meet this agency through my work and have made friends with several members of their amazing staff. Most of these people were once immigrants themselves and have a compassion for the process. Let's see, you are in New York, not sure if these are the closest ones to you, but it's a start

http://www.catholiccharitiesny.org/index.c...0%26%20Refugees

Buffalo:

http://www.ccwny.org/

Other New York offices

http://www.catholiccharitiesinfo.org/states/NY.htm

[gugu24 0]

Soul encounter, you are absolutley right. We were a perfect example of needing an attorney. We married, filed an I-130 alone. A problem arose with a previous divorce and we were denied after 1 1/2 years. so we had to hire a divorce lawyer to fix the problem from before, costing us $4,000 and hire another lawyer(immigration) after to ensure our next filing would go smoothly with no more problems. this costing another $3,000. I am aware of Catholic Charities,however I was not aware that they also assisted with immigration services. I'm not sure if I could have personally used this service due to the fact I moved to another country to be with my fiance while we handled all this. I am still a resident and citizen of my country and will be returning as soon as our fiance case is all set,God willing. So even though I may or may not have been able to use this service, your information could prove to be very benificial for others out there that may face unexpected problems. I hope others heed your advice.

[rebeccajo 14]

I know members of this board who have successfully used this service!

And yes, Catholic Charities is indeed NOT FOR PROFIT.

They offer unbelieveable services to the public - and you don't have to be of that faith to utilize them.

[soul_encounter 0]

Soul encounter, you are absolutley right. We were a perfect example of needing an attorney. We married, filed an I-130 alone. A problem arose with a previous divorce and we were denied after 1 1/2 years. so we had to hire a divorce lawyer to fix the problem from before, costing us $4,000 and hire another lawyer(immigration) after to ensure our next filing would go smoothly with no more problems. this costing another $3,000. I am aware of Catholic Charities,however I was not aware that they also assisted with immigration services. I'm not sure if I could have personally used this service due to the fact I moved to another country to be with my fiance while we handled all this. I am still a resident and citizen of my country and will be returning as soon as our fiance case is all set,God willing. So even though I may or may not have been able to use this service, your information could prove to be very benificial for others out there that may face unexpected problems. I hope others heed your advice.

Ohhhh my, I am sorry to hear of your difficulty in this process. I am really just beginning myself, NOA1 of 5/1/06. I planned for everything we could forsee, but it is those stories I read of unforseen, never heard of issues that arise that terrify me. Best of Luck to you, and I am happy you are together through this.

[soul_encounter 0]

I know members of this board who have successfully used this service!

And yes, Catholic Charities is indeed NOT FOR PROFIT.

They offer unbelieveable services to the public - and you don't have to be of that faith to utilize them.

Thank you for pointing that out too, I forgot, even though it is "Catholic" Charities, faith and religious beliefs have absolutely no factor. I am not Catholic, neither is my fiance, and honestly, the majority of the people who work for them are not Catholic either.

The Big thing for me in deciding to use them, is I had seen first hand examples of their work. Back in March, in Andijan, workers there got together for a friendly public protest, it lasted for days, the crowd got large. The Government got tired of it and sent in troops to open fire on the entire crowd... thousands were killed, others fled for their lives and into the border of Turkey. Most of those who survived were young men, with families, who could now never return to their homes, or loved ones. These men had absolutely no documents or papers to proove who they were, having left everything... but Catholic Charities found a way to get our government to let them in. From there, CC sponsors them for 6 months, providing rent, grocery money, clothing, furnishings, english classes and job placement. That is where I came in and met these guys, they contacted my company for assistance with housing. They are all Muslim men, CC provides transportation to and from the local mosque for them. The first 6 have been here just 6 short months, all have jobs, have big dinners together everynight in the apartments I found them side by side, and they also make plates every day and take to 3 elderly single widows in the neighborhood daily. They plant flowers around the building, and keep the place cleaner than any paid landscaper we have ever used. They miss their wives and children terribly, and the way of life they always knew, but are adjusting. I spoke to their caseworker last week, they are trying to file for the wives and children, but sadly, that is a toss up, as they have no documents.

Going through this process with immigration and the seperation I feel from my sweetie, can be nothing compared to what they experience. They inspire me to be strong.

[djcess 0]

Damn! we paid $995 for olvis and that doesn't even include the fees for processing!

[cjpdx2005 0]

Damn! we paid $995 for olvis and that doesn't even include the fees for processing!

While self interest for sure comes into play on my part, the fee's listed there aren't all that far off from what a number of attorney's charge for a full K1. While many atty's are 1500.00+++ there are those out there that range from 400-600/bucks. Just an FYI....also, you do file a I-129"F" as part of the application for a K3 visa. Cheers to all of you and good luck.