Attorney Frustrations...

[daboyz 36]

Man, I wished I had found this website prior to hiring an attorney. I wonder if anyone else has encountered the same frustrations I'm having now...?

When my husband and I decided to hire an attorney to help him emigrate to the US, we thought it was the most intelligent choice. We figured that everything would be submitted correctly, the forms would be perfect, all info would be right and since they do this every day, it would be a relatively simple process. In other words, hire someone else to deal with the headaches...

The problem is, it's the ATTORNEY that has been the headache. Most obvious is the fact that we were, I feel, duped into doing the K-3 rather than just going for the CR-1 - so we have to pay an extra fee once he gets here so that he can change his status to permanent resident.

Additionally, we paid the attorney 5 weeks ago - and provided all documentation that was asked for - every stitch of it...but the case still isn't filed!! I cannot even begin to tell you how pissed I am about this. In my mind, if I had just done this myself, my husband would be here 5 weeks faster...

And every time I send information, it either gets lost, or is otherwise unaccounted for. Three times now, she's asked me to send information I'VE ALREADY SENT!! She had me fill out the G325-A and overnight it to her, but failed to mention that my husband also has to fill one out - something we could have done easily while he was here in the States, but now he has to send it overnight from England!!

And the continuing instances of "oops, I forgot to tell you, I also need (fill in the blank)" - I swear if I get another one of those emails I'm going to pull my hair out. I'm guessing, that because she does this for a living, and actually works for an immigration FIRM that she's done this once or twice before? Why am I being asked for information that I could have sent to her originally 5 weeks ago? Incompetence is the only answer I can come up with.

I understand, it's not HER husband...but really, she's in the business of people's LIVES - and I feel like she's wasted 5 weeks of mine.

As it stands - hubby is sending the G-325A tomorrow morning - after we FINALLY received the firm's FED-EX account number, so that we're not responsible for the $$. Fed-Ex says it will be there by Thursday morning. If it's not filed by Friday, I'm sure I will SCREAM...

Just venting enormous amounts of frustration and anxiety.

Has anyone else had to deal with attorney's who just don't seem to know or care???

Sounds exactly like my attorney. Biggest mistake of my life hiring an attorney.

[imaisha 0]

I can tell you about London specifically. The K-3 will take you 1-2 months LONGER.

London is painfully slow to schedule appointments, they lose packets, ignore e-mails etc.

With the CR-1 all of your papers go to NVC and NVC schedules your appointment. I did all the paperwork for both and my CR-1 beat the K-3 by over a month.

[daboyz 36]

Ugh - help! This is the email I received back from the attorney this morning:

"We can do this too. You, me and Carmen discussed this option originally. Processing times are about 1-2 months apart - if you go with the CR (I130 only), it will take about a month longer for him to get here, but it all depends on the officer and your luck.

You save $ but you will probably not get him here as quickly. However, ge will hav a greencard if you went w/ CR, he will be able to work here immediately upon arrival."

I would rather have him here 1-2 months faster - can anyone tell me - is this true...?

Bullsh1t. Processing times are pretty close nowadays (check the timelines). Go for the CR-1 sister, believe you me.

The 1-2 months faster might be true; but then it's at least 90 days until he can work, etc. AND then you have to pay for Adjustment of Status. Seriously, not worth it chica.

[Beth/ Paris Heart 2]

Ugh - help! This is the email I received back from the attorney this morning:

"We can do this too. You, me and Carmen discussed this option originally. Processing times are about 1-2 months apart - if you go with the CR (I130 only), it will take about a month longer for him to get here, but it all depends on the officer and your luck.

You save $ but you will probably not get him here as quickly. However, ge will hav a greencard if you went w/ CR, he will be able to work here immediately upon arrival."

I would rather have him here 1-2 months faster - can anyone tell me - is this true...?

NO cause if your K3 gets stuck in AP at NVC , and K visas in AP at NVC is not un-common, you could of finished your CR1 with NVC like I did.

My K3 got stuck 37 days at NVC in AP , while stuck in AP for K3 at NVC, I completed my CR1 at NVC in 28 days!!!!!

K3 is not worth it!!!!

[lgg 2]

Christi...

Go CR1, sister... for real. It will be so much more worth it in the end. ALL of these visas entail waiting and such so why sneak another bit and save yourself gobs of money in the meantime? And also give your hubby the ability to work right off the plane?

Seriously... CR1 and fire your lawyer if you can -- we all did the paperwork ourselves and we all got through. This site is amazing and awesome and saved us all thousands of dollars and our sanity.

Good luck!!

LGG

Ugh - help! This is the email I received back from the attorney this morning:

"We can do this too. You, me and Carmen discussed this option originally. Processing times are about 1-2 months apart - if you go with the CR (I130 only), it will take about a month longer for him to get here, but it all depends on the officer and your luck.

You save $ but you will probably not get him here as quickly. However, ge will hav a greencard if you went w/ CR, he will be able to work here immediately upon arrival."

I would rather have him here 1-2 months faster - can anyone tell me - is this true...?

[Chica Yeyé 41]

don't listen to lgg... she's a frog

[Malrothien 6]

don't listen to lgg... she's a frog

But we love her anyway!

[lgg 2]

Awww... you loves me, Len...

you'll realize this one day! Just like the lovely Mal!!!

don't listen to lgg... she's a frog

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Dunno b1tch, you hav edeserted your post.....

Now let's stop hijacking sister Christy's thread

Awww... you loves me, Len...

you'll realize this one day! Just like the lovely Mal!!!

don't listen to lgg... she's a frog

[lgg 2]

FIRE THE LAWYER!!!!

[jkminney 30]

Man, I wished I had found this website prior to hiring an attorney. I wonder if anyone else has encountered the same frustrations I'm having now...?

When my husband and I decided to hire an attorney to help him emigrate to the US, we thought it was the most intelligent choice. We figured that everything would be submitted correctly, the forms would be perfect, all info would be right and since they do this every day, it would be a relatively simple process. In other words, hire someone else to deal with the headaches...

The problem is, it's the ATTORNEY that has been the headache. Most obvious is the fact that we were, I feel, duped into doing the K-3 rather than just going for the CR-1 - so we have to pay an extra fee once he gets here so that he can change his status to permanent resident.

Additionally, we paid the attorney 5 weeks ago - and provided all documentation that was asked for - every stitch of it...but the case still isn't filed!! I cannot even begin to tell you how pissed I am about this. In my mind, if I had just done this myself, my husband would be here 5 weeks faster...

And every time I send information, it either gets lost, or is otherwise unaccounted for. Three times now, she's asked me to send information I'VE ALREADY SENT!! She had me fill out the G325-A and overnight it to her, but failed to mention that my husband also has to fill one out - something we could have done easily while he was here in the States, but now he has to send it overnight from England!!

And the continuing instances of "oops, I forgot to tell you, I also need (fill in the blank)" - I swear if I get another one of those emails I'm going to pull my hair out. I'm guessing, that because she does this for a living, and actually works for an immigration FIRM that she's done this once or twice before? Why am I being asked for information that I could have sent to her originally 5 weeks ago? Incompetence is the only answer I can come up with.

I understand, it's not HER husband...but really, she's in the business of people's LIVES - and I feel like she's wasted 5 weeks of mine.

As it stands - hubby is sending the G-325A tomorrow morning - after we FINALLY received the firm's FED-EX account number, so that we're not responsible for the $$. Fed-Ex says it will be there by Thursday morning. If it's not filed by Friday, I'm sure I will SCREAM...

Just venting enormous amounts of frustration and anxiety.

Has anyone else had to deal with attorney's who just don't seem to know or care???

I'm actually using an attorney as well. I have used this firm in the past for a previous AOS for my ex husband and they were pretty efficient. The only reason I'm using them for the K-1 process is because I was a bit worried that having filed the AOS I would have some sort of red flag. I think the paperwork is easy enough. I'm half tempted to not use them for the AOS when it comes time. I had to fill out all the questions that will be asked on the AOS already for the lawyer so the hard bit, remembering dates, places of employment and whatnot was already done. I hate that I spent the money on something I KNOW I could have done myself. I suppose it's live and learn really.

[raymaga 25]

After hearing so many horror stories, I'm so glad that we decided not to use an attorney.

We actually went for a free 1/2 hr free consultation and then decided we could do the process on our own, with a lot of help from VJ and the Guides and Visa FAQ sections.

Good luck.

[Tygrys 143]

Every fiber in my body is telling me to fire the attorney. Signed a contract though, so don't know how easy it will be. I do have the phone number to the California BAR association complaint line as well as the # for Fee Arbitration - so it may be worth it.

At the very least, I will ask her AGAIN about CR-1. The LAST time I asked her about it, she didn't know what I was talking about, and I had to Google it and explain it to her over the phone. She claims it will take up to a month longer, but from everything I'm hearing here, it won't.

Working really isn't a problem for us, as he is self-employed in the UK, and continues to receive checks even while he's in the US not working.

Geez - how in the H*LL can the attorney NOT know what a CR-1 is...? Geesh...

If your laweyer doesn't know what CR-1 is and has "to google it", she's not worth a penny. Fire her now. I know you already paid her, but cut your loses now - at least you will avoid her incompetence in the future.

[Christi and Ian 24]

I-130 sent today! Finally - some results!!!

Thanks to everyone here for the input...it has helped more than you know!

Hubby wants to continue w/K-3 since it's what we had planned for all along, and honestly, if it gets him here even a day faster, I will be happy. I'm sure you'll all be telling me "I told you so" about 5 months from now...Either way, working doesn't matter for him in our case, since he continues to receive checks (cheques?) from the business he owns in the UK, while he's here and I make enough $$ to support us regardless.

((((*Len*)))) - I love your humor....um...humo(u)r!!!

xxx

[produke 0]

I have a good lawyer who has helped me through a tough journey. Not everyone is the same. May be VJ should have a forum section that is dedicated to writing reviews for lawyers in local regions. I would have been lost without his help. And yea, K3 isnt worth it. We got the K3 interview papers 4 months ago, but lawyer tolf me if I wanted to go K3, I dont have to pay AOS/IV bill, but it would cost me another $1500 to file for status adjustment. Hope stuff goes smooth for you. good luck!