Any Lawyer + NVC experiences?

[I & G 1]

Brian_Toma I totaly agree!!!

[jrmejia 31]

Actually, I contacted an lawyer to help me prepare my K1 package. After she quoted me $1,500, I told myself..hey lazy guys. So i did and saved $1,500.

[CanAmBride 5]

Our lawyer quoted us $2,500 to complete the entire CR-1 process. Once our I-130 was approved, he sent us a bill for $3,000. We disputed the bill because 1) he said it would be $2,500 to complete the ENTIRE process and we were just through the first step and 2) I did ALL of the work pulling together the evidence for the I-130. All he did was organize, photocopy, and mail. We settled the dispute by agreeing to pay $2,500 of that bill and he said that the rest of the process would only be $2-300 more. One week later, we received another bill from him for $500. We hadn't even received our I-864 and DS-230 bills yet!! I FLIPPED OUT!!!

That's when we decided to fire him and not pay him another penny. I completed the entire NVC process by myself with the help from VJ and we flew through.

We're considering filing a malpractice suit against him once my husband receives our CR-1.

Lastly, he wasn't some lawyer we found in the phone book. He works for a very large and well respected firm in our are. His specialty is immigration and international business. His firm was referred to us by my husband's business attorney who does a lot of work with with the firm. We just got passed from a Partner to a lower level associate who was incompetent and it cost us time and money.

Edited July 30, 2010 by CanAmBride

[monsterna 2]

I have no idea why anyone would want a lawyer for things like this unless they've had trouble with foreign authorities in the past (overstaying a visa, deportation, etc.). It's a waste of time and money in an already lengthy and expensive process. Why add the stress? Even if people do have problems unforeseen (denials, needing waivers, etc.), it's absolutely doable without a lawyer. Websites like this are your most valuable resource. Of course if you found this only after hiring a lawyer, I don't know what to suggest. Keeping him/her on throughout obviously costs more money, but as I said, you don't really need it. Unless you've had some problems in the past or some other unique circumstances, I wouldn't assume you would ever need one, either. However, you know your case and yourselves more than any of us could, so it's your judgment call.

On a side note about the whole electronic/snail mail... I have NEVER received any physical mail from the NVC. I'm waiting for case completion at the moment. I wasted time myself by not knowing to call the NVC after my I-130 was approved. I never got a letter from them about my case number or anything. I wasted two months by just thinking they were being slow, when really as soon as my I-130 was approved I had a case number. If you let the NVC be slow, they will, and sometimes (like for me) never send you anything physically in the mail. If time is an issue for you, then I'd seriously consider going sans lawyer, all other things considered. If he doesn't know or isn't willing to learn to expedite the process electronically, get rid of him.

[Carly 0]

Dont see why you cant just call nvc and have them remove your attorney as your point of contact and if you do run into problems you go to your attorney for help. Your saving them the work doing it yourself after all. I wish i had done so our attorney held the NVC process up for 6 weeks complete waste of money and valuable time.