N400 MARCH 2011 FILERS

v333k · July 18, 2011

In immigration related cases, lawyers charge different fees for the stage you are in. For example, AOS is the most crucial stage and they charge probably 3-5k but they overlook the entire process. They will fill out the forms, mail them in, notify you when you have a biometrics, etc... then they will appear to be with you during the interview. As you said, they really don't do much at that point except for sit there and just listen to the interview. They might jump in if there is something wrong with the application or that sort of issue...

Probably, for ROC and N-400, they are much cheaper since the process is easier to complete...

I have a question for all - did any of you use an Immigration Lawyer to get you through the N-400 process? I ask because as I waited before and after my interview (which I passed - without the assistance of a lawyer) I noticed that quite a few of the other applicants had lawyers with them, who seemed to be doing nothing other than making encouraging/inane/obvious comments about the process. I wondered how much these lawyers were charging per hour to accompany people through what is actually a very simple and straightforward process.

Comments anyone?

eskie · July 18, 2011

In immigration related cases, lawyers charge different fees for the stage you are in. For example, AOS is the most crucial stage and they charge probably 3-5k but they overlook the entire process. They will fill out the forms, mail them in, notify you when you have a biometrics, etc... then they will appear to be with you during the interview. As you said, they really don't do much at that point except for sit there and just listen to the interview. They might jump in if there is something wrong with the application or that sort of issue...

Probably, for ROC and N-400, they are much cheaper since the process is easier to complete...

Interesting ... when my husband was going through AOS (from L1-A to Resident Alien, sponsored by his employer) the lawyer (paid for by his company) insisted that he should go through the AOS process in the US, rather that going through the Consular process at the US Embassy in London. His job required a lot of international travel, for which he would have had to have permissions granted every time as he went through AOS in the US. As I was already a Green Card holder (won the visa lottery), had time on my hands, and had gone through the Consular process, which I knew was much shorter and pretty straightforward, I e-mailed the lawyer asking why she was insisting on the much longer AOS process, given the travel hassles. She had no good reason other than he could not be represented by a lawyer in the Consular process! At that point I took over his application and contacted the INS (as was) office on his behalf to confirm that he wanted to go through the Consular process. Result: from application in November 2001 (just after 9/11!) to Green Card took just 10 months. At the time, AOS was taking an average of 2 years (pre 9/11). My husband's colleagues, who stuck with the lawyers' advice, took 2-3 years to get their Green Cards.

So my opinion is that the Immigration Lawyers do not have the applicants' best interests in mind - their goal is to string out the process as long as possible and keep collecting the fees.

That said, the general attitude US-born people is to use lawyers for any non-trivial dealings with bureaucracy!. Money for jam, I call it - any literate person with access to the Internet is perfectly capable of managing their own Immigration case - provided, of course, that they have no prior convictions or complications in status.

My husband got his citizenship last year - without a lawyer. This year I am doing the same - my Oath ceremony is just over a week away.

Marie1123 · July 19, 2011

Finish, done, finito....had my Interview and oath in Newark yesterday, everything went smoothly...took a while waiting but it was well worth it.

eskie · July 19, 2011

Finish, done, finito....had my Interview and oath in Newark yesterday, everything went smoothly...took a while waiting but it was well worth it.

Congratulations!

Marie1123 · July 19, 2011

=======================================

N-400: March 2011 Applicants

=======================================

===============================================

USCIS Dallas/Lewisville, Texas Lockbox

===============================================

Daisy16..........|02/28/11.|.$ order.|03/03/11.|04/12/11.|05/18/11.|06/27/11.|06/27/11.|Newark, NJ.....|

Zippycanuck......|03/01/11.|.$ order.|03/07/11.|04/26/11.|05/04/11.|06/02/11.|06/02/11.|Dallas, TX.....|

AlmaD............|03/14/11.|.$ order.|03/21/11.|04/20/11.|06/10/11.|07/12/11.|07/22/11.|New York, NY...|

jordoc...........|03/15/11.|../../...|03/21/11.|04/14/11.|04/29/11.|06/02/11.|06/15/11.|Charlotte, NC..|

sy_ny............|03/16/11.|03/22/11.|03/25/11.|04/20/11.|04/30/11.|06/02/11.|06/02/11.|Binghamton,NY..|

Msmariemc........|03/16/11.|03/23/11.|03/17/11.|04/15/11.|06/16/11.|07/18/11.|07/18/11.|Newark, NJ.....|early walk in FP done on 4/8/2011

Penguin..........|03/17/11.|03/25/11.|03/21/11.|04/25/11.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Washington, DC.|

Jemmi............|03/17/11.|03/24/11.|03/21/11.|04/25/11.|04/21/11.|05/25/11.|05/25/11.|Baltimore, MD. |early walk in FP done on 4-6-2011

NYC1984..........|03/18/11.|03/23/11.|03/21/11.|04/15/11.|05/26/11.|06/29/11.|07/22/11.|New York, NY...|

daisylynn........|03/18/11.|03/25/11.|03/25/11.|04/21/11.|05/13/11.|06/15/11.|07/03/11.|Durham, NC.....|

Eskie............|03/23/11.|../../...|04/06/11.|05/06/11.|05/20/11.|06/22/11.|07/26/11.|Boston, MA.....|

natashenika......|03/27/11.|03/27/11.|04/06/11.|05/06/11.|05/16/11.|06/16/11.|07/29/11.|Albany, NY.....|early walk in FP done on 4-20-2011

Leafgal..........|03/31/11.|04/07/11.|04/01/11.|05/05/11.|06/27/11.|08/01/11.|--/--/--.|Norfolk, VA....|

======================================

USCIS Phoenix, Arizona Lockbox

======================================

Maureen..........|03/04/11.|03/07/11.|--/--/--.|04/19/11.|--/--/--.|06/23/11.|07/15/11.|Detroit, MI....|

Kwarog...........|03/0?/11.|03/09/11.|03/07/11.|04/08/11.|04/25/11.|05/18/11.|06/30/11.|San Bernardino CA|

Catrocks.........|03/14/11.|03/24/11.|03/18/11.|04/13/11.|04/29/11.|06/03/11.|07/21/11.|Cincinnati, OH.|

WishYouWereHere..|03/19/11.|03/24/11.|03/28/11.|04/29/11.|04/29/11.|05/25/11.|06/30/11.|San Bernardino CA|early walk in FP done on 04/14/11

Patrick808.......|03/22/11.|03/31/11.|04/11/11.|04/20/11.|05/08/11.|06/14/11.|07/05/11.|Honolulu, HI...|

Joytim ..........|03/27/11.|03/30/11.|03/30/11.|04/28/11.|05/06/11.|06/14/11.|--/--/--.|Tucson, Az.....|

Clau.............|03/28/11.|.$ order.|03/31/11.|05/10/11.|06/11/11.|07/13/11.|--/--/--.|Phoenix, AZ....|

w8inglongtime....|03/28/11.|04/01/11.|03/29/11.|05/18/11.|05/20/11.|06/23/11.|07/14/11.|Milwaukee, WI..|early walk in FP done on 5-5-2011

Etripke..........|03/29/11.|04/04/11.|04/01/11.|05/20/11.|06/09/11.|07/11/11.|--/--/--.|Milwaukee, WI..|

========================================================================================

USCIS Lincoln, Nebraska Lockbox (Filing Under 319b, 328, or 329 of the INA)

========================================================================================

Lynnami..........|03/08/11.|03/17/11.|03/25/11.|04/25/11.|05/06/11.|06/02/11.|--/--/--.|Jacksonville,FL|

Please preview post before you Add reply to make sure you have edited correctly :thumbs:

Instructions for adding/updating yourself (or assisting others) to this list:

1. DO NOT DELETE THESE INSTRUCTIONS.

2. Please make sure you are using Rich Text Editor as your message setting.

3. Click "Reply" on the most recent/updated posting version of this list.

4. Remove the "Quote Coding" at the top and bottom of the list.

5. Always use [Courier New] Font and font size [2]

6. Red Font="I'm A United States Citizen"!

**For more detailed instructions with screen-shots "CLICK HERE"**

AlmaD · July 19, 2011

Congratulations!!! :dance:

Finish, done, finito....had my Interview and oath in Newark yesterday, everything went smoothly...took a while waiting but it was well worth it.

Marie1123 · July 21, 2011

Moving along just fine, applied for my new SS card, new drivers' license and applied for my passport yesterday (I did a name change at my Oath). Life is good

catrocks · July 22, 2011

I'm a citizen! I had my oath ceremony today so it's finally over! Well, apart from having to go to the SS office and all the other fun stuff that comes next