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Jmah89

Wife eligible to apply for citizenship - lawyer raised fees $2000!

By Jmah89 in US Citizenship General Discussion

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Jmah89 Newbie

Jmah89   4

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Timeline
Posted

Hello everyone,

 

My wife is now eligible to apply for citizenship after having her green card and living with me in the USA for 5 years. When we first started the immigration process, we went with a laywer because she was here in the USA on a J-1 visa, and the visa said she had a two year residency rule. Turns out, after submitting an advisory opinion to the department of state, it was determined that she actually did not have a 2 year residency rule and she was eligible to adjust her status here in the united States (She was here as an Au-Pair, and received no funding from her government to be here on here J1 visa, hence the rule does not apply. au pair is not even on the exhange vistors skills list).

So we applied for her adjustment of status using the lawyer (fee was 5k!). Thankfully, she was approved fairly quickly. 

Then almost 2 years later, we applied to remove her conditions on her green card (went with the lawyer again and it was 2.5k!)

Now she has had her green card for almost 3 years, living in the USA with me the whole time we have been married (for nearly 4 years!)

We bought a house together over 2 years ago. We have a son who is a year and a half. Joint bank accounts. bought a car together. on each others benefits and life insurance. all that. 

Anyways, at the beginning of the process, i always was told by the lawyer that the legal fee for citizenship would be the cheapest (1.5K) but apparently she raised her prices by 2k! (3.5k total) for the citizenship case because of some presidential proclamation last august about good moral character. 

I know this forum is pro-DIY, but i am wondering what people's recent experiences are? How much are your lawyers, if you have them, charging for citizenships. What would it be like to change lawyers if i did choose to go with a different one, considering the fact i used the same lawyer for the first two cases? 

Thanks in advance! 

 

Boiler Grand Master

Boiler   48,973

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Wales
 Timeline
Posted

I have never come across a Au Pair subject to a 2 Year HRR, and for the life of me can not think of how one would.

 

There is no need to use the same Lawyer. Seems a few reasons not to.

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

Jmah89 Newbie

Jmah89   4

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Timeline
  • Author
Posted
1 minute ago, Boiler said:

I have never come across a Au Pair subject to a 2 Year HRR, and for the life of me can not think of how one would.

 

There is no need to use the same Lawyer. Seems a few reasons not to.

yeah, with regards to that, it was the consulate in my wife's home country who made the mistake. they marked on her visa form that she was required to have the 2 year rule. But the advisory opionion to the department of state determined she was not required to, and her adjustment of status went smoothly. 

If i were to switch lawyers, would the new lawyer need to have access to the first to submissions (484 + 751)? My first lawyer has all the completed packets...i sent her the documents and she was the one whole compiled and sent everything...... 

Boiler Grand Master

Boiler   48,973

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Wales
 Timeline
Posted

As a general comment I think it is a good idea to keep a copy of your paperwork. I suppose from a practical perpespective it matters if you have had prior issues.

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

Jmah89 Newbie

Jmah89   4

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Timeline
  • Author
Posted
11 minutes ago, Boiler said:

As a general comment I think it is a good idea to keep a copy of your paperwork. I suppose from a practical perpespective it matters if you have had prior issues.

Yeah think i'm going to have to request my lawyer to send me a copy of all the cases we have submitted. good idea. 

 

TBoneTX Grand Master

TBoneTX   49,736

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ecuador
 Timeline
Posted

I agree with Lemonslice.  You've paid more than enough already, I think.

06-04-2007 = TSC stamps postal return-receipt for I-129f.

06-11-2007 = NOA1 date (unknown to me).

07-20-2007 = Phoned Immigration Officer; got WAC#; where's NOA1?

09-25-2007 = Touch (first-ever).

09-28-2007 = NOA1, 23 days after their 45-day promise to send it (grrrr).

10-20 & 11-14-2007 = Phoned ImmOffs; "still pending."

12-11-2007 = 180 days; file is "between workstations, may be early Jan."; touches 12/11 & 12/12.

12-18-2007 = Call; file is with Division 9 ofcr. (bckgrnd check); e-prompt to shake it; touch.

12-19-2007 = NOA2 by e-mail & web, dated 12-18-07 (187 days; 201 per VJ); in mail 12/24/07.

01-09-2008 = File from USCIS to NVC, 1-4-08; NVC creates file, 1/15/08; to consulate 1/16/08.

01-23-2008 = Consulate gets file; outdated Packet 4 mailed to fiancee 1/27/08; rec'd 3/3/08.

04-29-2008 = Fiancee's 4-min. consular interview, 8:30 a.m.; much evidence brought but not allowed to be presented (consul: "More proof! Second interview! Bring your fiance!").

05-05-2008 = Infuriating $12 call to non-English-speaking consulate appointment-setter.

05-06-2008 = Better $12 call to English-speaker; "joint" interview date 6/30/08 (my selection).

06-30-2008 = Stokes Interrogations w/Ecuadorian (not USC); "wait 2 weeks; we'll mail her."

07-2008 = Daily calls to DOS: "currently processing"; 8/05 = Phoned consulate, got Section Chief; wrote him.

08-07-08 = E-mail from consulate, promising to issue visa "as soon as we get her passport" (on 8/12, per DHL).

08-27-08 = Phoned consulate (they "couldn't find" our file); visa DHL'd 8/28; in hand 9/1; through POE on 10/9 with NO hassles(!).

appleblossom Mentor

appleblossom   6,020

Posted
Filed: EB-1 Visa Country: United Kingdom
 Timeline
Posted

Why not have a look at the form and see if you think you’d be happy completing it yourself? I’ve not applied for citizenship but from what I’ve read on the forum it’s the easiest part of the whole process, and very few use a lawyer to do it. Unless there’s some complication you’ve not mentioned, I’d save your money and do it yourself (with the excellent help on VJ of course!). 

 
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