a fight with my lawyer

[canada_socks 97]

I new she was an ignorant when she told me that she want to make a copy of some pics and mail it to the USCIS ( i never heard in my life a petioner who copies his pics and send it to the USCIS ( instead of sending original pics)

I sent in copies of all my photos, no originals. I wanted to keep the originals for myself. When I say copies, I mean actual colour photocopies on a plain piece of paper, with a caption underneath stating when the photo was taken, where and who was in the photo as some included family and friends.

If I were looking over your case and saw a huge file...I wouldn't look through the whole thing. Can you image how much slower this process would be if everyone had a huge file like that? Mine was maybe 40 pages! And that was with extra papers that we probably didn't need.

[Therealworld 90]

Advice never use a lawyer. They are just in it for the money!

[TedM 9]

Your lawyer isn't going to have to live with the consequences of what is sent/isn't sent, so go with what you feel is right.

We had an attorney for our I-130 after our K1 was denied. If we listened to the attorney's advice and didn't go with our own instincts, we'd still be waiting for my husband to get here.

Agreed, it is your application, your life, and the lawyer works for you. Do what you are comfortable with.

And I'm sorry you've had to go through such a long process. I'm sure it has been difficult. Try to stay positive.

[Pabe 2]

We sent originally about 10 pictures and about the same amount of chat copies, some receipts and copies of passport stamps. We got a RFE where they wanted more of them and translations, since we had missed few words of foreign language in our chats, and new intent to marry letters. The way I see it, the emphasis on the RFE letter was really with the fact that they wanted to see that we had been in the same at the same time, not so much with the amount of pictures or receipts. Many people also say that too much is not good either. So we sent them another 10 pictures with dates on them, more copies of our passport stamps since we had met again after filing K1, engagement party invitation, credit card receipts showing that we had both been in that place at the same time and boarding passes. I made 2 copies of each pictures so I sent them real pictures but the officer doing our interview said that everything else can be photo copies but the applications and documents that are signed. Our K1 was approved.

Our lawyer also told us to focus on pictures in front of famous places and with our families if possible, and make sure they are auto-dated. He also said it is good to high light important dates or facts in receipts with a color pen, and organize papers so that they are easy to read. I don´t think it´s a deal breaker but if I was an officer, I think I would rather handle folders with less stuff but the facts shown in it so that it is easy to read. But this is just how I see it.

And looking back at the process, I agree with other writers with the fact that the lawyer is really not needed if you just follow the instructions carefully.

Edited May 9, 2012 by Pabe

[unlockingsky 94]

just do what you are comfortable... if you have to send in a bazooka of photos, then do it...

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Tonnage does not equal better. A small selection from the entire length of the relationship is preferable.

If you were a CO would want to look through all of someone else's vacation pictures?

You can certainly send whatever you want. But you'll be wasting postage $$.

And yes, many people copy their photos and send them to USCIS. It is a very common practice and may even be better than originals. What exactly IS an "original" anyway when it comes to photos. Even what you are calling an "original" is a print. You really think it matters what paper the image is printed on? As long as it is legible, you will be fine.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Something to cosider also regarding "better" How many visits did you make during this period? A few photos from EACH visit is better than 500 photos from one. We ended up giving them 4 photos, total, FOUR. Bt it was from four different trips during the 6 month period. Fairly obviously different times of year from the manner of dress, etc. Sending them 875 photos form a 3 day visit only proves you are crazy about taking photos.

I think this is what Anh Map means when he says "tonnage does not mean quality"

While no one has been denied for too much evidence, no one has been approved for 3 tons of stuff about the same thing either. Even in a farily strict consulate, a few photos from each visit should be plenty

[devotional 4]

We are going through the process, with a lawyer. He had us send a couple of photos from each different trip/occasion, stating who the people in the pictures were, date and location. So in total, we've sent maybe 20-30 selected photos documenting our 3 year relationship. I don't think sending in 300 pictures will matter if none of them are documented properly or show the progress of your relationship. Same goes for receipts, chat logs, etc.

I also don't think that ALL lawyers are just out to get your money- a good lawyer will explain everything to you and listen to your concerns. So far- I haven't had any issues with mine and am quite pleased with how quickly and efficiently he has handled our case. With that said- do what you feel is the right thing to do. if you want to send 100 pages of photos and documents, then do that. It may or may not help your case- but at least you'll have done what you think is needed and necessary.

Good Luck!

[fin fin 5]

After waiting for 17 months and service after service, I finally got a RFE with hundreds of requiremnts since that was my only and last chance to get approved, i gathered all the information including over 300 pic from courtship to post marital and put in over 7 folders ( cause I visited my wife seven times in different countries)... my lawyer is down playing every thing and keep telling me to send only selected e-mails, selected photos, selected fedex airway bills and other selected stuff............i keep telling her that we have to send all pics, letters, envelopes with postages, all western union reciepts, but, she keep telling me that she knows every thing about this procedures and ask me not to panic........I new she was an ignorant when she told me that she want to make a copy of some pics and mail it to the USCIS ( i never heard in my life a petioner who copies his pics and send it to the USCIS ( instead of sending original pics)

today, I went to her office and dropped at her office over 22 folders from A to Z and left her a message to mail it with a cover letter. She called me and told me that we dont need to mail all the folders and we have to send just only 10 folders......

My question is do i have to let her do what ever she see is right or take all the folders from her and mail it myself to the USCIS though I paid her a lot of money? I dont know what to do cause it is my final chance to get approved or denied

Need your adivse..................please help

I can dfinitely understand where you are coming from, the samething happened with the lawyer I hired so my petition took longer than usual because he assumed that USCIS did not need certain thing. I would suggest you give them as much evidence as you can since they sent you a RFE, just to be on the safe side.

[fin fin 5]

Advice never use a lawyer. They are just in it for the money!

]

I feel the same way too.

[PMartin37 161]

I agree with LisaMarie... I would rather them get bored than have doubts and risk denial. For your own piece of mind... submit all that you have. That way you won't need to worry that you didn't do ALL that you could do. I didn't actually get a lawyer for my case because I agree with another poster who said that they don't have as much at stake as you do. No lawyer does for that matter- not just immigration lawyers. I would demand to the lawyer that they send all of your info. They are working for YOU...not the other way around.

In short, I would trust my own instincts on this one.

[Darnell 8,478]

In my case, I sent only one photograph and my case approved on time without REF. It is really very easy process, if you are using this forum, you don't need to hire any lawyer even if case is complicated too.

That's a nice case. If you read the OP's posit, though, you'll learn (I pray) that the OP is responding to an RFE. Unlike you, alas.

[Darnell 8,478]

On another web page I go to we had a poster from Vermont Visa Center. He said "just follow the instructions". He also said that those huge files are annoying. Not that they get you rejected but that overkill is unneccesary.

Please understand the OP is replying to an RFE. 17 months from submittal to RFE issuance is not normal, there's a pile of sh|t, a sh|tstorm, in the works.

[Darnell 8,478]

It's a different set o stuff, when replying to an RFE, when the beneficiary is in Morocco AND the casefile has been with USCIS for 17 months . I'm sorry, I don't want to minimalize YOUR effort and YOUR work, but IMO, without fully understanding WHAT the OP is responding to (an RFE with all of the questions) your background with your casefile and your experience with your casefile is not comparable to the OP's casefile. I ask that you not try that comparison, again. It's a totally different set of circumstances, and is not fair to compare, when things are so different.

We are going through the process, with a lawyer. He had us send a couple of photos from each different trip/occasion, stating who the people in the pictures were, date and location. So in total, we've sent maybe 20-30 selected photos documenting our 3 year relationship. I don't think sending in 300 pictures will matter if none of them are documented properly or show the progress of your relationship. Same goes for receipts, chat logs, etc.

I also don't think that ALL lawyers are just out to get your money- a good lawyer will explain everything to you and listen to your concerns. So far- I haven't had any issues with mine and am quite pleased with how quickly and efficiently he has handled our case. With that said- do what you feel is the right thing to do. if you want to send 100 pages of photos and documents, then do that. It may or may not help your case- but at least you'll have done what you think is needed and necessary.

Good Luck!

[Darnell 8,478]

I offer the following bitter gravy to cover up this foul tasting meat:

IF the attorney has ran through 100 cases going to Morocco,

and IF the attorney has successfuly answered over 200 RFEs (regardless of the country)

in the last 12 months

then I suggest you listen, for just a second, to the attorney.

But only for just a second.

Otherwise? Time to steamroll over the attorney, and have her/him/it do things the right way, just this once.

Answer all, pad all, write letters of attestation on every thing in the RFE, with backup and supporting evidence per letter.

After waiting for 17 months and service after service, I finally got a RFE with hundreds of requiremnts since that was my only and last chance to get approved, i gathered all the information including over 300 pic from courtship to post marital and put in over 7 folders ( cause I visited my wife seven times in different countries)... my lawyer is down playing every thing and keep telling me to send only selected e-mails, selected photos, selected fedex airway bills and other selected stuff............i keep telling her that we have to send all pics, letters, envelopes with postages, all western union reciepts, but, she keep telling me that she knows every thing about this procedures and ask me not to panic........I new she was an ignorant when she told me that she want to make a copy of some pics and mail it to the USCIS ( i never heard in my life a petioner who copies his pics and send it to the USCIS ( instead of sending original pics)

today, I went to her office and dropped at her office over 22 folders from A to Z and left her a message to mail it with a cover letter. She called me and told me that we dont need to mail all the folders and we have to send just only 10 folders......

My question is do i have to let her do what ever she see is right or take all the folders from her and mail it myself to the USCIS though I paid her a lot of money? I dont know what to do cause it is my final chance to get approved or denied

Need your adivse..................please help