Choice of Agent Form

[Christi and Ian 24]

In anticipation of approval sometime this century, I've been perusing the CR-1 guides to figure out what we need once we get to NVC. In the guides, it states that if I have an attorney, no Choice of Agent form will be sent since our attorney will automatically be deemed our agent.

Since our attorney has given us poor advice up to this point "Go K-3 it's faster", "Ian will be turned away at the border should he try to enter the U.S. while your petition is in process", "Don't get a Congressperson involved, they only handle cases that have been waiting for years", "I know it's been a month since you sent us the information to file, we haven't filed yet because (fill in the blank)." I would like to fire her and we can take care of the rest of the process ourselves.

We have signed a contract with the attorney to pay $500 for each filing of the following:

* I-130 (paid)

* I-129F (paid)

* I-485 (unpaid, since it is not relevant until he is here and we want to adjust his status)

Well, since more likely than not, we will end up going CR-1 rather than K-3, the adjustment of status once he lands will never be relevant, and after speaking to a former immigration attorney at my office, as long as we don't use the immigration firm for any other matter, we don't have to fulfill the terms of the contract with the I-485.

Here are my questions:

Do I need to inform USCIS that we are no longer using an attorney prior to information being sent to NVC?

And/Or

Do we need to inform NVC that we are no longer using an attorney so that my husband will receive the Choice of Agent form?

I loathe to think about how long our attorney's firm will sit on things before bothering to send NVC any information. I just want them out of the picture completely, and as quickly as possible.

Any advice is greatly appreciated! xxx

[Christi and Ian 24]

*bump*

Anyone?

Obviously I can't go to my attorney with this...would probably get incorrect advice, anyway...

[sachinky 465]

Hmm, you can fire your attorney any time you want. Once your case reaches NVC, speak to the operator and ask them to update you as the agent. However, from my understanding, you will receive both AOS/IV bills together and you will be able to pay both bills and send in the packets with the cover letter. This WILL save you about a week.

There's someone who recently did this--I'll see if I can come up with the member's name or you can read through the February 2010 NVC thread and locate him--but they basically got rid of their attorney once they received the NOA2. Even though they tried to appoint themselves agent, it didn't matter really as NVC sent them the emails -- the bills were payable together and they did the NVC processing by themselves, anyway.

I hope your NOA2 comes soon--I know how painful the wait is. Good luck.

[christeen 966]

Yes, I remember you going back and forth about the K3 and using the lawyer... Seems that you are armed with the info you need here at VJ to do it yourself (and faster)! You need to write a letter to your lawyer informing them that you do not intend to use them any longer (of course I would wait until AFTER you get NOA2, but others might disagree)... Then you need to call NVC and once they get your info, you need to inform them that you are no longer using a lawyer and give NVC your e-mail addresses... You might have to send an e-mail to confirm this but the operator can tell you that... From there it is up to you and you will send in the DS3032 apoointing one of you (I would suggest the USC) as the agent... Then just follow the NVC guides here...