Advantage of having a lawyer present at the AOS interview?

[Visitor User 222]

Hello. What are the advantages of having your lawyer present at the AOS interview?

[Hypnos 6,576]

They can verify that USCIS is correctly following the law and not doing things they are prohibited from doing (though officers have a wide variety of topics they can ask about). 

 

I took a lawyer (different to the lawyer who filed my paperwork) in Dallas for my I-485 interview because they had already made several errors on my case and my first interview, and I wanted to ensure everything was done properly for this second interview. 

 

It was slight overkill, but I felt very good about this particular lawyer's experience and knowledge. I do not regret hiring her services, even if ultimately she did not do much at my interview. I have nothing but good things to say about her, and recommend her to anyone who publicly asks for a reputable immigration attorney in the DFW area. 

[geowrian 22,335]

Main advantages I see:

1) Helps with anxiety/nervousness.

2) They can document the interview in case anything were to come up afterwards.

[Visitor User 222]

1 hour ago, Hypnos said:

They can verify that USCIS is correctly following the law and not doing things they are prohibited from doing (though officers have a wide variety of topics they can ask about). 

 

I took a lawyer (different to the lawyer who filed my paperwork) in Dallas for my I-485 interview because they had already made several errors on my case and my first interview, and I wanted to ensure everything was done properly for this second interview. 

 

It was slight overkill, but I felt very good about this particular lawyer's experience and knowledge. I do not regret hiring her services, even if ultimately she did not do much at my interview. I have nothing but good things to say about her, and recommend her to anyone who publicly asks for a reputable immigration attorney in the DFW area. 

What did she charge to stay with you at the interview?  Can a lawyer communicate with the IO?

Edited January 7, 2019 by Visitor User

[Visitor User 222]

1 hour ago, geowrian said:

Main advantages I see:

1) Helps with anxiety/nervousness.

2) They can document the interview in case anything were to come up afterwards.

Can they talk to the IO?

[geowrian 22,335]

8 minutes ago, Visitor User said:

Can they talk to the IO? 

Sure. Although they aren't likely to ask them anything or allow them to answer questions directed at the applicant.

[Visitor User 222]

16 minutes ago, geowrian said:

Sure. Although they aren't likely to ask them anything or allow them to answer questions directed at the applicant.

What if for example the answer was YES to one of the I-485 questions and the applicant said NO. Can the lawyer interrupt and tell their client to correct the answer?

Edited January 7, 2019 by Visitor User

[Hypnos 6,576]

My second lawyer charged $750 to review my (already submitted) application and attend my interview.

[Visitor User 222]

1 minute ago, Hypnos said:

My second lawyer charged $750 to review my (already submitted) application and attend my interview.

How much was your initial lawyer going to charge just for interview? 

[Hypnos 6,576]

My initial lawyer was in another state and so was a paperwork-only attorney, and charged $2,000 to do that. Probably not the best use of that money, but I was an immigration novice at the time and my case was not precisely straightforward.

Edited January 7, 2019 by Hypnos

[Roel 7,191]

58 minutes ago, Visitor User said:

What if for example the answer was YES to one of the I-485 questions and the applicant said NO. Can the lawyer interrupt and tell their client to correct the answer?

Um... so the applicant doesn't know what he/she wrote on the application? I mean, no disrespect OP, but your posts sounds so fishy. 

 

Immigration interview is not a court session. Most the lawyer can do is to just sit there. They won't answer any questions. 

[Visitor User 222]

1 minute ago, Roel said:

Um... so the applicant doesn't know what he/she wrote on the application? I mean, no disrespect OP, but your posts sounds so fishy. 

 

Immigration interview is not a court session. Most the lawyer can do is to just sit there. They won't answer any questions. 

It was an example.

[Visitor User 222]

7 minutes ago, Hypnos said:

My initial lawyer was in another state and so was a paperwork-only attorney, and charged $2,000 to do that. Probably not the best use of that money, but I was an immigration novice at the time and my case was not precisely straightforward.

I thought all immigration lawyers can attend the interview and not just paper work? 

[Hypnos 6,576]

They can, but she was on the other side of the country so does not attend interviews; at least, not for this distance.

[Mollie09 1,543]

My lawyer attended my AOS interview and the IO asked her a question directly about one of the answers on the form.