lawyer?

[isleta521 5]

In my experience, it is always better to rely on yourself since you may find out that your petition may not be top priority as much as YOU may want it to be when using a lawyer. I could go on and on but the weekend is fastly approaching.

If he does not have a birth certificate then maybe it might make sense for him to get a lawyer there in Nigeria for the sole purpose of obtaining a BC- it may be cheaper and they would know the Nigerian law to have something Validated in leu of a birth certificate maybe. Perhaps not really looking myself, there alternatively may be substitute documents that USCIS could accept that you may find out on your own.

Just my thoughts with my 20/20 hindsight since our lawyer did slow us down including $1600.00 wasted.

Good luck whatever you decide.

[MN&UK 0]

I feel that a Lawyers main use is assuring that you have all your paper work together and filled out correctly before mailing the petition.

I hired a lawyer after getting really bad advice from the USCIS customer "service". I am glad I did.

I paid like $1500 all told, plus she tracks the package and has a right handy Fed Ex account, etc.

Some you can hire for an hour or two to just check your paperwork for you. A nice piece of mind I suppose.

If you are confident in your paper work you can probably save the cash and spend it on a nice trip to see your love instead. If your case gets sticky, then you can hire one.

The cust svs dept should be called, 'what can we do to ensure another US citizen goes to Federal prison service". They must get a comission on each encarceration and each RFE issued due to mistakes on filing.

I am glad I did.

undefined

BY THE WAY, DO NOT EVER TRUST ANYONE FROM USCIS' CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE. I REPEAT, CAN YOU HEAR ME? DO NOT EVER TRUST ANYONE FROM USCIS' CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE. OUTSOURCING GONE AWRY.

Edited August 4, 2006 by MN&UK

[BPM-MVS 0]

My Fiance and I had made the decision that we were competent to thoroughly read and apply for our I-129f with out paying a lawyer. Yes this did mean that we filed a little later to read and read again the instructions and also read the VJ forums. VJ was a great help!!!

To the recent post “Zauberblume” For you to accuse White people as having preference is totally ignorant! No where did I ever see the question on the I-129f as to what color you are! Stop using race as a crutch! I wait just like you and yes I am white!

[zauberblume 0]

LuvLife,

Race is not a crutch. I didn't accuse white people of having a preference. Please go back and read what I said. In straightforward cases, white immigrants from Western countries rarely ever have a problem.

By the way, in the I-129F, you're supposed to attach photos of the petitioner and beneficiary.

It's quite clear that, from experiences posted on this forum as well as other forums, that non-white immigrants have a longer processing time than white immigrants. Of course, it's difficult to determine if that has to do with nationality/country of origin, ethnicity, religion, or socioeconomic status.

Funny how most Muslims are placed on Administrative Review, even when they come from countries like Germany. Compare the number of Muslims on Administrative Review versus non-Muslims. It's quite startling.

Once you wake up to the reality that is American immigration, then perhaps you can do more to help. America discriminates. I never said that that was wrong, in and of itself, in the immigration process. That's another question for another day.

--Z

[Perseverance 1]

I have to agree with what you say 'Z' Most people including my own family gave me xtreme hell because he is Nigerian. Nigerians are famous worldwide for many scams. Just because he is Nigerian does not mean he is that way. Its hard to break the assumptions people have in their heads about what they have come to believe as true. Therefor I too saw potential delays. I have been delayed coming back into the country from Nigeria, becasue they figure, single, white woman traveling alone from "high risk country" (thier words not mine) must be a drug mule. I could not believe. I was detained while they went through all of my belonings, very throughly, the officer looked at every picture in my digital camera. I was asked many questions, over and over and over... I was even asked if I would alow them to xray me. She even went out to see if my mother and my 3 children were really who had come to pick me up from the airport. I cooperated with her but I told her I thought that the whole thing was ludacris.

[KarenCee 3]

I have to agree with what you say 'Z' Most people including my own family gave me xtreme hell because he is Nigerian. Nigerians are famous worldwide for many scams. Just because he is Nigerian does not mean he is that way. Its hard to break the assumptions people have in their heads about what they have come to believe as true. Therefor I too saw potential delays. I have been delayed coming back into the country from Nigeria, becasue they figure, single, white woman traveling alone from "high risk country" (thier words not mine) must be a drug mule. I could not believe. I was detained while they went through all of my belonings, very throughly, the officer looked at every picture in my digital camera. I was asked many questions, over and over and over... I was even asked if I would alow them to xray me. She even went out to see if my mother and my 3 children were really who had come to pick me up from the airport. I cooperated with her but I told her I thought that the whole thing was ludacris.

When I flew home from visiting my fiancé (now my husband) in April, I was subjected to three screenings at the Halifax Int'l Airport, the last of which was a physical patdown where they searched my body, concentrating on my chest area. I am a American, my husband is Canadian. When I asked why I was being searched this way I was told to contact the airline security people in my own country...they weren't under any obligation to tell me anything except that it is their job to do this. They went through my backpack, and that of my daughter's. They didn't, however, touch my daughter since she was only 6 at the time. So you see, it's not just the scenario you describe as being isolated to your situation (American/Nigerian)...and by the way, I found it deplorable that you were subjected to such a degrading experience. It seems that some of us flying home to our own country are subjected to extreme scrutiny these days. I cooperated but I was in tears the whole time the lady touched my body. I felt humiliated as this was done in full view of everyone else going through security in the airport. *sigh*

[Erik 0]

They did the same thing to me in Sao Paulo when I was returning from my month visit. I was waiting to get my ticket, and I was pulled aside, brought into another room and everything I had was searched.

Wasn't a big deal, and in the end was actually joking around with the guy about him wanting to take away my cigarette ligther. I asked him if I could keep it till I boarded because I still had 2 hours to wait for my plane, and I wouldn't make it two hours, then 9 hours on a plane without having a few smokes first. I ended up giving the lighter to a security guy that was outside smoking

[KarenCee 3]

They did the same thing to me in Sao Paulo when I was returning from my month visit. I was waiting to get my ticket, and I was pulled aside, brought into another room and everything I had was searched.

Wasn't a big deal, and in the end was actually joking around with the guy about him wanting to take away my cigarette ligther. I asked him if I could keep it till I boarded because I still had 2 hours to wait for my plane, and I wouldn't make it two hours, then 9 hours on a plane without having a few smokes first. I ended up giving the lighter to a security guy that was outside smoking

I guess I'm just the kind of person that doesn't like my body being touched so thouroughly. To me it was a big deal because there was no reason given, no answers given to my questions, and it was done in front of everyone going through security. I think this kind of thing could be done with a bit more discretion.

Of course, this is just my opinion.

[Perseverance 1]

I understand why they do it, but really they could use more tact. In reality we are treated like criminals, and for what? The officer that did it to me was clearly taking things to far. She asked me more than once about an xray I said I would consent but that is as far as it went. I saw no reason to keep me there for that long when I was more than willing to cooperate with her.

we do still have rights dont we?

[JElsafty 0]

An attorney cannot do anything to speed up the process. If anything, it delays things. I hired an attorney and he has done NOTHING at all. I did the papers, I called to check the status, I am the one that contacted my senators, I found out when the interview was, etc. I really could use that $1000.00 now.

[ursy 0]

Coming from Nigeria I think you are wise to employ a lawyer. Most will tell you not to bother in here but they are from countries that are not generally viewed as high risk. Nigeria is one that is and therefore getting it right first time is always a good idea.

Good Luck

why Is Nigeria a high risk. I did not employ a lawyer and I don't expect any problems because I meet the criteria. I am american, I am single , I make more than the 125% of poverty level and I have the documentation to prove it. I am a responsible tax payer. I also visited twice in the last two years. Along with email and phone calls. I will be protesting seriously !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!