Immigration Lawyers

[Thatchi 0]

I never wanted a lawyer since my parents spent around 10,000 and at the end got nothing to show for it

[Yodrak 7]

Lauren and Dave,

I understand what you mean - can't blame used-car salemen or the guy in the beatup old pickup truck who's doing other driveway jobs in the neighborhood, either.

So why did you hire this friend of a friend of an inlaw after finding, by speaking with him during your research, that he was unhelpful and uninformed? Or do you mean that speaking with the people you propose to hire isn't part of the research .....

Yodrak

Can't really blame the client! All lawyers have the gift of the gabb and can talk you out of your money, that's what lawyyers are good at. It's just bad uck that the silver tongued lawyer changed into a "I don't give a damn about your case" lawyer. I researched many lawyers in New York and eventually went with a friend of a friend of the future father-in-law. Despite the research and a good feeeling bout him, he sucked.

When I spoke to him he was unhelpful and uninformed about current issues. We have since gone it alone on the AOS, fingers crossed there.

....

Edited November 17, 2006 by Yodrak

[fozzie 41]

Or find a non-profit organization. Just before I filed my AOS package i stumbled on one arund the corner from where I live. They specialise in immigration, and where very helpful. I prepared the packet and took it in for my free consultation, theyy gave it the once over, answered the remaining questions that I had and I left happy that I had done everything I could. They would have charged about half the rate that an immigration lawyer.

Another option is tofind a community based organisation. A colleague of my wifes used a christian group in new york who helped them file for free. "Its not becaause your christian, its because we are!" was there tag line.

Good luck

[meauxna 15]

Can't really blame the client! All lawyers have the gift of the gabb and can talk you out of your money, that's what lawyyers are good at. It's just bad uck that the silver tongued lawyer changed into a "I don't give a damn about your case" lawyer. I researched many lawyers in New York and eventually went with a friend of a friend of the future father-in-law. Despite the research and a good feeeling bout him, he sucked.

When I spoke to him he was unhelpful and uninformed about current issues. We have since gone it alone on the AOS, fingers crossed there.

Just stick with himuntil you are over here, keep track of your case yourself. After that, stick with Visa Journey (unless you have any circumstances which will complicate your case - if so find another lawyer)!!

Use the wealth of knowledge that is Visa Journey, they helped me, theyv'e helped thousands of others.

Good Luck

I'm having a good laugh, sorry Lauren and Dave! It was the 'gift of gab' and 'silver tongued' that did it....

Caveat Emptor still holds true.

And yes, I've been wronged by professionals.. (damn that accountant I first hired when we got back).

It's still *a* lawyer, and if you have no experience, how do you even know he was qualified to help in the first place? (then again, how does anyone really know?)

VisaJourney is people posting their experiences, so yours count too!

[solarus 0]

save your money, fire the lawyer. VJ is better than any lawyer out there. If you have questions, ask them here. Unless of course you already paid up-front for the whole process.

I would tend to agree. After finding VJ I was, quite often, correcting my lawyer - sinking feeling (Her legal assistant even thought I should get into the immigration business!) . I only hired her because I was travelling all over the world on business when I applied for my K1. A necessary evil I suppose.

[Yodrak 7]

Lauren and Dave,

Yes, these can be good alternatives as well. But the same due diligence is needed on the part of the individual, the same as with a lawyer. Or with VJ!

Yodrak

Or find a non-profit organization. ..... They would have charged about half the rate that an immigration lawyer.

Another option is tofind a community based organisation. .....

meauxna,

Yes indeed. I've had good luck finding competent attornies, but I also had to fire an accountant. I had one who incorrectly treated my wife's foreign-earned income on my tax return and then charged me for doing the 2555 that I filled out and gave to him to show him how to do it right.

Yodrak

.....

Caveat Emptor still holds true.

And yes, I've been wronged by professionals.. (damn that accountant I first hired when we got back).

.....

[fozzie 41]

Lauren and Dave,

I understand what you mean - can't blame used-car salemen or the guy in the beatup old pickup truck who's doing other driveway jobs in the neighborhood, either.

So why did you hire this friend of a friend of an inlaw after finding, by speaking with him during your research, that he was unhelpful and uninformed? Or do you mean that speaking with the people you propose to hire isn't part of the research .....

Yodrak

Can't really blame the client! All lawyers have the gift of the gabb and can talk you out of your money, that's what lawyyers are good at. It's just bad uck that the silver tongued lawyer changed into a "I don't give a damn about your case" lawyer. I researched many lawyers in New York and eventually went with a friend of a friend of the future father-in-law. Despite the research and a good feeeling bout him, he sucked.

When I spoke to him he was unhelpful and uninformed about current issues. We have since gone it alone on the AOS, fingers crossed there.

....

I meant that he sounded great when we spoke to him initially. We researched him and spoke to other lawyers and were satisfied that he was the man for the job.

Unfortunately once he had our money he stopped being friendly or helpful. Then when we had our RFE, It was when they changed some rules in the process and needed to my USC fiance to sign 1 extra form, the lawyer didn't even know what it was about or that this change had taken place midway through our journey. He didn't like being told about it from his client though!

Then I found VJ and learned much more about the immigration process and decided that he was not needed for the next phase. He certainly didn't do $1500 worth of work!

[Yodrak 7]

Lauren and Dave,

Bummer. Glad you've recovered, got rid of the 'bad apple', and are on the right track now.

Yodrak

I meant that he sounded great when we spoke to him initially. We researched him and spoke to other lawyers and were satisfied that he was the man for the job.

Unfortunately once he had our money he stopped being friendly or helpful. Then when we had our RFE, It was when they changed some rules in the process and needed to my USC fiance to sign 1 extra form, the lawyer didn't even know what it was about or that this change had taken place midway through our journey. He didn't like being told about it from his client though!

Then I found VJ and learned much more about the immigration process and decided that he was not needed for the next phase. He certainly didn't do $1500 worth of work!

[meauxna 15]

Then I found VJ and learned much more about the immigration process and decided that he was not needed for the next phase. He certainly didn't do $1500 worth of work!

I think that is what rubs people the wrong way, and the most misleading. Folks say 'oh you can fill in FORMS, why pay someone to do *that*?' That's not *work*.

I can tell you, I invested an incredible amount of time to learn what little I know about immigration. If had not had the time, the interest or the natural inclination and curiosity, $1500 would be a bargain for the knowledge that goes in behind the forms.

And yeah, it's taken me about 4 years to say that.

The accountant example has been used by those better than I before, and it's so accurate. I *can* fill in a tax return, but it's often well worth it for me to pay someone else to do it for me.

Y, I think we've compared notes before on that accountant issue because we had the same experience (grr). So I def. understand where folks are coming from, and their upset, but again, how much time and energy one is willing to put in on their own case determines if the cash for a pro is worth it or not.

As it turns out, I got a crash course in overseas income declaration. Oh well.

[fozzie 41]

Lauren and Dave,

Bummer. Glad you've recovered, got rid of the 'bad apple', and are on the right track now.

Boom Boom

[shoe 0]

Is there anything I can do ?? I mean can I report the bloody lawyer ? To who and how?? Of course I will only do it when my case is thru. Aaaaaaargh !!!!!!!!!!

[AllenK 0]

I was reading this thread because we have just cleared the NOA2, and I am now already researching AOS. I knew I-129F and K-1 are critical, and I saw many of the delays encountered by other members, so I hired a law group in Tampa that specializes in immigration. My experience with them has been OUTSTANDING. They filed the I-129F within 2 days of us fulfilling their info requests. We got no "touches" or RFE's whatsoever for NOA2 approval, and we got the approval in 2 1/2 months. They respond to all my e-mail inquiries within 24 hours, even on weekends! However, this firm is pretty spendy at $3,000 for K-1 alone. Just FWIW.

Now that I have put in my 2 cents for my own positive experience so far, here is my question:

How hard is AOS compared to K-1? Do I need to spend another $3,000?

[xjennyinstereox 0]

$1200 for your lawyer?? Jeez.. my situation isn't the norm and I didn't get a lawyer.. I did tons and tons of research, consulted people on here who were in t he same situation as me but who had already started their AOS journey.. and I made an infopass appointment before even sending the papers out. I had an immigration officer go over all of my paperwork for FREE... who essentially knows more than any lawyer since they review the stuff anyways... and I have a great support system here. So far, so good. One RFE but at least I got it quickly. Your lawyer really should not mess around like that, not giving you your RFE.... hope things get better for you!

[meauxna 15]

Is there anything I can do ?? I mean can I report the bloody lawyer ? To who and how?? Of course I will only do it when my case is thru. Aaaaaaargh !!!!!!!!!!

Have you complained to the firm, or told them what your expectations are?

[Yodrak 7]

shoe,

- The local Better Business Bureau.

- The state Bar Association of which they're a member.

- The AILA, if they're a member.

Be sure that you've upheld your own responsibilities with respect to your case, have reasonable expectations, and have attempted to work things out directly with the attorney and the attorney's firm.

Yodrak

Is there anything I can do ?? I mean can I report the bloody lawyer ? To who and how?? Of course I will only do it when my case is thru. Aaaaaaargh !!!!!!!!!!

meauxna,

Yes I think we have, but I expect there's been a very high audience turnover since the last time.

As Mr.F points out, a lawyer's best cases are those where, when it's all over, the client wonders why they needed to hire them.

Yodrak

Y, I think we've compared notes before on that accountant issue because we had the same experience (grr). So I def. understand where folks are coming from, and their upset, but again, how much time and energy one is willing to put in on their own case determines if the cash for a pro is worth it or not.

....

Edited November 20, 2006 by Yodrak