Any problems with attorneys?

[kari lina 0]

I work full time and am quite busy, so I thought that it would be easier for me if I hired an immigration attorney. I wanted to do everything right the first time taking as little time as possible, so I was willing to pay the rather hefty amount. I contacted an attorney that I had found on the internet, but they never returned my call. So, my father's attorney suggested an immigration attorney that he knows who was supposed to be "one of the best." His fee was even higher than I had expected, but it seemed worth it to me if I got the best possible attention to our case. Well, I'm just not sure that I have. First off, I have learned 1,000 times more about this process from this website than from my attorney. Whenever I ask him questions, he makes everything sound like i'm worrying too much and there was nothing I needed to do but wait. For instance, he told me nothing about needing to get together documents from my banks, etc. for the I134; things that I could be doing ahead of time. Secondly, there were multiple mistakes in the paperwork and we had to get them re-done like 3 times. They even had Germany spelled incorrectly! The way his system worked is that we entered all of the information on a website. I'm very particular so I proofread everything about 10 times. So, it when they were transferring the information to the forms, they did so wrong, in numerous places on the forms. It was quite frustrating because every time they had to make corrections it took a few more days. Also, when I received my first receipt after paying half of the fee, it was a blank letterhead with only my address at the top, like they forgot to actually type the pertinent information that should have been on the receipt.

My father's attorney is great and I am really surprised that he referred me to somebody who isn't also excellent, but it feels like I could have done this much better myself and possibly even in the same amount of time. I've only paid half of the fee, and I have considered letting him know that I no longer need his services and outline the reasons why and then not pay the second half which should be due when my fiance arrives in the US. However, I'm afraid to do that because he is supposed to also take care of the work authorization (the invoice also says travel permission?) once my fiance arrives. I don't want to fire him and then when it comes time to getting those done, I'll realize that I need him.

So, I am looking for advice. Anybody in a similar situation? Should I keep the attorney? Or am I just throwing away thousands of dollars?

[bora bora 1]

I personally think you're throwing money away. I have heard horror stories about lawyers and we did it without - I never even thought of asking for legal help. Unless your case is NOT straight forward (the non-USC has convictions for example) I don't see the need.

VJ is a great site - people are extremely helpful and quick to respond.

A lot of us work full time - and long hours - and we still live and breathe the visa

Good luck with whatever choice you make.

[RIMASH 0]

NEVER EVER hire an attorney. They take your hard earned money and dont really do anything extra for you.

If you just read the instructions posted in this website, and interact with VJ members and ask questions when you have any...............you will be completely FINE.

Believe me, do not waste money.....and then you have to rely on them to mail your applications....and the attorney can take time (as they have other cases they are working on)

So, my advice is that you should only hire an attorney If you think your case needs professional help.

Good Luck!!

[chili74 0]

I had a similar experience as the OP- an immigration lawyer acquaintance did not know as much as the people at VJ. Stcik to VJ and you will be fine! Read www.uscis.gov for all instructions too.

[Together4ever 1]

I wouldn't say "never ever", but I think most visa cases if they are straight forward and you are savvy enough to read up a bit can be done without one. I was adamant about hiring an attorney for our visa case because I wanted it done right and I wanted him here. I simply couldn't scratch together the funds so decided I would just dig in, read up, and go. He's here now, we're married, and we are preparing AOS papers. I didn't need the attorney to accomplish that much. But I do know there are some folks who have extenuating circumstances that could really use the guidance of a knowledgeable attorney if there is something unusual about their case so they can navigate the lesser known facets of this bureaucracy.

[kari lina 0]

NEVER EVER hire an attorney. They take your hard earned money and dont really do anything extra for you.

If you just read the instructions posted in this website, and interact with VJ members and ask questions when you have any...............you will be completely FINE.

Believe me, do not waste money.....and then you have to rely on them to mail your applications....and the attorney can take time (as they have other cases they are working on)

So, my advice is that you should only hire an attorney If you think your case needs professional help.

Good Luck!!

Well, it is sort of too late because I already hired him (I didn't find this website until after I had already submitted my I129F using the attorney, unfortunately). I HAVE already received my NOA2, but I just don't think he added anything worthwhile to the process. In fact I think had I found this website first, and filed all of the paperwork myself, I probably would have had my petition filed a month sooner. I could potentially fire him, and not pay the second half of the fee. I don't think our case is at all abnormal. My fiance and I have known each other for 11 years and neither of us have any kind of criminal record or anything like that. Is it worthless to have the attorney when it comes time to getting the work authorization and adjustment of status and all of that too? That is what has kept me from firing him already, thinking that eventually he'll prove useful.

My other issue with firing him is that he had me sign a document called Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Representative, giving him permission to file everything for me. I don't want to complicate or slow down the process if I do fire him. But I also don't want to pay him more money when I feel like he has done almost nothing.

Sigh...frustrating... Thank you for your replies, btw

[athena_ny 1]

We aren't using an attorney, but Catholic Charities...while generally helpful & good with the paperwork (I have my eagle eye, making sure all t's are crossed and i's are dotted) ... they never answer the phone, and when they do they tell us, oh just come in tomorrow, so and so will be here and of course he isn't there. I also have a major issue because while my husband is from Peru and speaks Spanish and I'm about 80% with my Spanish, the last time we were there the woman there didn't address me once, English, Spanish, or otherwise ... just spoke through my husband then at the end suddenly starts talking to him in English. Still ignoring me. GRRR. I'd rather just do the paperwork myself but he's more comfortable this way...so I'm just making sure I read up on everything and if anything seems wrong, make sure it's done right

I work full time and am quite busy, so I thought that it would be easier for me if I hired an immigration attorney. I wanted to do everything right the first time taking as little time as possible, so I was willing to pay the rather hefty amount. I contacted an attorney that I had found on the internet, but they never returned my call. So, my father's attorney suggested an immigration attorney that he knows who was supposed to be "one of the best." His fee was even higher than I had expected, but it seemed worth it to me if I got the best possible attention to our case. Well, I'm just not sure that I have. First off, I have learned 1,000 times more about this process from this website than from my attorney. Whenever I ask him questions, he makes everything sound like i'm worrying too much and there was nothing I needed to do but wait. For instance, he told me nothing about needing to get together documents from my banks, etc. for the I134; things that I could be doing ahead of time. Secondly, there were multiple mistakes in the paperwork and we had to get them re-done like 3 times. They even had Germany spelled incorrectly! The way his system worked is that we entered all of the information on a website. I'm very particular so I proofread everything about 10 times. So, it when they were transferring the information to the forms, they did so wrong, in numerous places on the forms. It was quite frustrating because every time they had to make corrections it took a few more days. Also, when I received my first receipt after paying half of the fee, it was a blank letterhead with only my address at the top, like they forgot to actually type the pertinent information that should have been on the receipt.

My father's attorney is great and I am really surprised that he referred me to somebody who isn't also excellent, but it feels like I could have done this much better myself and possibly even in the same amount of time. I've only paid half of the fee, and I have considered letting him know that I no longer need his services and outline the reasons why and then not pay the second half which should be due when my fiance arrives in the US. However, I'm afraid to do that because he is supposed to also take care of the work authorization (the invoice also says travel permission?) once my fiance arrives. I don't want to fire him and then when it comes time to getting those done, I'll realize that I need him.

So, I am looking for advice. Anybody in a similar situation? Should I keep the attorney? Or am I just throwing away thousands of dollars?

[DA BOMB 1]

I considered an attorney as well but after reading a few of the posts (one in particular where an interview date is set and the stupid lawyer left the child off the petition) I figured what the heck - I can do this better myself! We even have an IMBRA waiver request and an eventual waiver of ineligibility to deal with...Im certain things will be fine and I will save a ton of money and heartache knowing that Im captain of my own ship! It freaks me out to think of some airheaded paralegal making errors on forms that are so important. My advice - fire the guy - you have MORE than enough reasons based on what you wrote in your post!

[DA BOMB 1]

Oh Kari - MANY people handle the AOS themselves! Just skip on over to the AOS forum and read their posts to familiarize yourself for when the time comes...youll see you wont need your lawyer in that area either.

[Nazuspe 0]

NOOOOO. I just got half my money back from my lawyer today actually. The other half she kept for the services she rendered to me: INCORRECT legal advice, mistakes on forms, asking for things I didn't need to send, not asking for things that I did need to include, not responding to my emails etc... A total waste of money. And since I signed a contract there is probably nothing I can do to get the other half back. Its like returning a TV because when you turn it on all you see is black and white static, and then the store saying well we'll give you back half because it does turn on at least. YEAH BUT IT DOESN'T WORK!

You'll learn 10x more from VJ, you'll be involved in the process, you'll save lots of money, and save time so ultimately you can get your approval faster. Unless there are some issues with overstaying visa, deportation, or some other hairy situation, DONT HIRE A LAWYER! They care about the money, not you or your case.

[kari lina 0]

Oh Kari - MANY people handle the AOS themselves! Just skip on over to the AOS forum and read their posts to familiarize yourself for when the time comes...youll see you wont need your lawyer in that area either.

Thanks And the work authorization and all that is no problem too? I guess I'm just paranoid. But I really DO feel like I've wasted my money. I've decided that I will write him a letter with all of my concerns and ask him to outline exactly what he has done and will do to make it worth my while. If he doesn't give me a good enough answer then he is out.

Thank you again for all of your great replies

[caroledfb 0]

I would not hire a lawyer if my case is simple...

When you start the journey, you need to read, read, read, get overwhelmed by USCIS website pages, try to fill out the forms and go to VJ for advice... It takes work, but once you understand how it works it is getting easier and easier to fill out the forms and know what to do for next steps. The experience of real people from VJ is invaluable, and they do not try to make money from you. A big thank you to you all, luv you!

[kari lina 0]

I would not hire a lawyer if my case is simple...

When you start the journey, you need to read, read, read, get overwhelmed by USCIS website pages, try to fill out the forms and go to VJ for advice... It takes work, but once you understand how it works it is getting easier and easier to fill out the forms and know what to do for next steps. The experience of real people from VJ is invaluable, and they do not try to make money from you. A big thank you to you all, luv you!

Yeah, the people here ARE great. I just wish I would have found this site BEFORE I hired the attorney...but live and learn, right?

Thanks again

[kitkat1 5]

Read this post about an attorney nightmare:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...=52187&st=0

[kari lina 0]

Read this post about an attorney nightmare:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...=52187&st=0

Wow, yeah, that is pretty awful I'm glad that I only paid half. And also that he was smart enough to send it to the right place and I have my NOA2. In the end, I just want my love here with me and I guess no matter what it's worth it, but you would think somebody getting that much money from you would try to do the best possible job that they can. Maybe I just live in a fantasy world, but that is how I work with my clients. I try to go above and beyond their expectations, and it is just sad that these attorneys are charging such high fees and doing so little.