Haven’t received receipt or NOA1 yet

[Dbrennan 121]

Thank you so much everyone for your support and advice. This whole process has been so stressful along with so many other things going on in my life, and makes it so much worse that I don’t have my husband here to comfort me. Hopefully I can figure things out and get things on the right track with the help from all of you ❤️

[carmel34 3,531]

This is such a good example of why hiring an "attorney" is usually not necessary, and can screw things up.  I am so sorry that this happened to you OP, I really feel for you.  I remember the first time I hired an attorney, for a divorce, and I quickly learned that the "attorneys" are only involved in cases when they absolutely have to be.  Most of the work at law firms is done by "paralegals," just a fancy name for a secretary, and many of them are paid low salaries but do most of the work.  The high fees that law firms charge is outrageous when you consider that the work is done by people with a high school diploma who often make mistakes just to fill out forms and do paperwork.  For my divorce, I had to constantly hound the law firm's paralegal assigned to my case to get anything done.  I liked the attorney who owned the firm, but in the end, things took way too long, there were mistakes made, and I ended up doing a lot of the work.  So when I filed an I-130 back in July for my husband, the last thing on my mind was to hire an attorney to do it.  Immigration forms are detailed, but anyone can do it if it is a straightforward case, and it is usually faster to do it yourself, plus you feel more in control, and that helps with peace of mind, and less stress.  We often see cases like this, where someone uses an attorney to file paperwork they could easily do themselves, or uses services like "Rapid Visa."  All these people do is take a lot of your money and then ask you for documents and information that you could just as easily send to USCIS yourself.  I agree with others who have said fire the attorney and save your money,  unless you have a situation with lots of complicated problems, waivers, etc.  Good luck OP.  I hope you get your NOA1 soon.  Mine arrived a week after I filed the I-130.  

Edited December 21, 2018 by carmel34
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[afortunada 182]

19 hours ago, Dbrennan said:

Thank you so much everyone for your support and advice. This whole process has been so stressful along with so many other things going on in my life, and makes it so much worse that I don’t have my husband here to comfort me. Hopefully I can figure things out and get things on the right track with the help from all of you ❤️

Did you end up calling USCIS?

[Dbrennan 121]

6 minutes ago, afortunada said:

Did you end up calling USCIS?

Not yet, planning on doing that this afternoon!

 

Also the firm owner messaged me back and he said he would meet with his team and figure out what’s going on and get back to me today

[Daniela M_______ 409]

14 minutes ago, Dbrennan said:

Not yet, planning on doing that this afternoon!

 

Also the firm owner messaged me back and he said he would meet with his team and figure out what’s going on and get back to me today

I recommend you to try to get your money and file back. Tell them you don't feel confortable using their service anymore and that you would rather to end the service. 

 

The main issue that I have with attorneys and agencies (for everything not only this immigration topic) is that you lose visibility, and you are blind trying to figure out what's next while they only tell you to wait. I don't know about others but I NEED to know what's ahead and when. 

[geowrian 22,335]

VJ uses a lot of shorthand that may not be known outside of the community. While we say NOA1, it is also called the receipt notice, or form I-797-C.

I wouldn't knock the attorney for not knowing the term "NOA1" specifically.

The IO for my wife's AOS interview didn't know what AP meant. She seemed pretty competent overall, and knew "Advance Parole" and what an I-131 was.

 

That said...2 months with no word is very suspect. It's possible he didn't send it or sent it late. It's possible the NOA1 never came. It's possible the NOA1 came and he just didn't notify you.

 

If he cannot provide the receipt number, ask for the tracking number of the package he sent. See if it was sent and when it was sent.

If he refuses or cannot find it, I think you know what to do...

[kris&me 572]

Attorney didn't send you a copy of what he mailed or a copy of return receipt for the application packet?

yes, things slow down around the holidays / that is next week not October

 

As far as dropping him probably he has only agreed to doing the application and not represented u after

so, just make sure the application is sent in from the office 

more than likely they close early today Friday and are not open till Wednesday 

 

Hard enough to wait for immigration to do the work let alone wait for an attorney to do what he/she is paid for

so very sorry 

get on his/her butt Wednesday 

[Dbrennan 121]

I just called uscis, he checked both the name I filed with and with my maiden name and there were no records. He said there is absolutely no reason why it should take double the Normal time, especially if they haven’t received the petition yet. He recommended that I get the exact delivery date and find the delivery method (fedex, us post etc) and a tracking number. I don’t even know what to do right now. Knowing these past two months of “waiting for the NOA1” has been pointless is heartbreaking. I know two months is not a long time, especially compared to other people’s cases who have been waiting for so much longer, but I just feel so frustrated that I trusted someone

[Daniela M_______ 409]

37 minutes ago, Dbrennan said:

I just called uscis, he checked both the name I filed with and with my maiden name and there were no records. He said there is absolutely no reason why it should take double the Normal time, especially if they haven’t received the petition yet. He recommended that I get the exact delivery date and find the delivery method (fedex, us post etc) and a tracking number. I don’t even know what to do right now. Knowing these past two months of “waiting for the NOA1” has been pointless is heartbreaking. I know two months is not a long time, especially compared to other people’s cases who have been waiting for so much longer, but I just feel so frustrated that I trusted someone

2 months is A LOT when you know nothing happened and that you'll probably have to start over.

 

How did you pay the fee? Did you give a check to the lawyer or did you write the check addressed to USCIS? 

Edited December 21, 2018 by Daniela M_______

[Dbrennan 121]

3 hours ago, Daniela M_______ said:

2 months is A LOT when you know nothing happened and that you'll probably have to start over.

 

How did you pay the fee? Did you give a check to the lawyer or did you write the check addressed to USCIS? 

The $535 was paid with a money order addressed to uscis, and then I paid the attorney fees online with a credit card 

[EM_Vandaveer 2,369]

On 12/21/2018 at 6:49 PM, Dbrennan said:

The $535 was paid with a money order addressed to uscis, and then I paid the attorney fees online with a credit card 

Any update? What did your attorney say?