Can anybody recommend an immigration attorney in Boston?

[Saroyan 0]

Not sure if this is the right place to post, but I need an immigration attorney in Boston and wondered if any of you have recommendations. I've been a legal nonresident alien since I was a kid but am facing expiration of status next summer; my fiancé and I are looking for someone to guide us through the application for adjustment of status following marriage. We are both professionals (met in college) and, while not well off as such, are willing and able to pay for someone who will make this process as painless as possible. Any suggestions?

[Little_My 464]

If there is nothing fishy about your situation, you won't need a lawyer. The process is pretty straight forward and easy, just takes a lot of reading and careful attention to detail. There are plenty of examples here on VJ of lawyers actually making the process worse and slower than it would have been without the lawyer, and you'll end up paying as much for the lawyer as you pay for all the filing and medical fees, at least.

My opinion is that there is no need to spend a couple of thousand of dollars on the lawyer. You can definitely do it yourselves. Once you are married, you will concurrently file the I-130 petition and the I-485 application, with relevant supporting documentation. You can also apply for the travel permit and EAD, which will allow you to travel outside the US and work here while your GC application is pending.

Start by reading the guides for the forms here on VJ and the instructions of both forms, which you can get from the USCIS web site. Trust me, I am 100% you can do it yourselves, if there's nothing weird about your case or no major red flags to overcome.

Välkommen till Visajourney

Edited April 27, 2011 by Little_My

[lady26 0]

Little_My is right.

I checked two good lawyers around the boston area and they were very good but once I realized my case is pretty straightforward I just read the USCIS website a lot and with the big help of this great website with great and helpful fellas,my husband and I saved money and now I am already half the way.

good luck and welcome to VJ

[snooki703 7]

Some people may not have the budget and/or have plenty of time in their schedule to buckle down, read about AOS, and navigate the application filing process but if you can afford a lawyer and are really busy right now/prefer peace of mind I would def. retain one. Most fees start at $2000 for good, experienced lawyers- which is chomp change considering that in exchange, my husband and I would be able to enjoy our lives together and enjoy all the liberties, opportunities, and free market capitalism of America - THE greatest nation in the world.

Another benefit of hiring a lawyer is that they get copies of all mailings that USCIS sends. So if the biometrics/NOAs/RFEs/interview letter/Approval letter for whatever reason doesn't go to your address (happened to me for RFE), your lawyer gets a copy too as back up.

So sparknotes: dont look at hiring a lawyer as an expense, but a risk mitigator and a back-up plan in case things go haywire.....and they really can.

I used a lawyer based in the DC/VA area but their immigration team is licensed to practice anywhere in the US since immigration is a federal issue. He was AMAZING. Very good service and very responsive. PM me if you want his contact info.

Edited April 30, 2011 by snooki703

[Anh map 2,098]

Save the money and do it yourselves. All it is is making photocopies and completing forms.