FOUND OUT BAD NEWS TODAY.....

[Richard-Y-Abigail 18]

Hi, Thank you for telling us about what happened to you. I know that it is a difficult time for you. We wish you the best. The negative thing that I am thinking is that this man took all your information, and at this minute there is another couple using all your paperwork and identification. I am talking about identity theft. Maybe you can find a way to look deeper into this. For sure, if you file again, you will know for sure.

[GlobeHopperMama 95]

Oh, this is "notario fraud" plain and simple. This happens a LOT in immigrant communities in the US. Just a huge scam business.

Not only is this unethical, but it's illegal to accept money for legal services unless a person is a licensed attorney or specially certified to do so, which a "notary public" most definitely isn't. I know you can report this to the Bar Association:

http://www.americanb...ario_fraud.html

and I believe the state bar may also be able to take action against the person to make sure they don't do anything like this to anyone else.

I agree that if yours is a simple normal case, you could do this much more accurately on your own, and you've found that out so hopefully going forward you won't have to waste any more money.

However I disagree with the people equating "agents" with immigration lawyers. Agents and notarios are doing what they do illegally. I will be the first to admit that many, many immigration lawyers are out for the money and often are ill-equipped to handle more than the most straightforward immigration case, but there are plenty of excellent immigration lawyers who care about their clients and work to put their interests first, and I personally know several of these. If you find that any part of the immigration process is over your head, or you run into a snag, there are points where online forums can only do so much and you need the experience and expertise of someone licensed to handle immigration cases who does so on a daily basis. Notarios and agents get business by charging less than what immigration lawyers charge, but by acting illegally, nothing they do is trustworthy, and nothing can take the place of a good, quality lawyer when you have trouble with an immigration case. Anyway, best of luck and hopefully you'll have a smooth, simple process from here!

Edited July 3, 2012 by Carlos and Amy

[GlobeHopperMama 95]

Oh, also this document might have some more resources on filing a complaint and hopefully taking this person out of this "business":

http://www.americanb...uthcheckdam.pdf

Scroll down to the section for Hawaii and there should be some contact info and other resources.

And the middle of this document has some info on the possibility of further legal action against this person (lawsuits and the like):

http://cliniclegal.org/sites/default/files/Immigration_Consultant_Fraud_2010.pdf

Edited July 3, 2012 by Carlos and Amy

[menchandfrank 0]

i feel bad about your story because i know how hard it is to wait and end up knowing that no action has even been done yet and it did not only take you weeks it took you months... you could of had filed it yourself and would have been close to getting your visa now... Hope things would go better now.. God bless your journey

Thank you for your concern and support!

[menchandfrank 0]

This is why I tell people the to do it yourself. The paperwork is pretty staightforward and there are many people that will help with these forms if you need it ... FOR FREE!!!

Yes, I now realize that I could have done it with the help of VJ. I have learned my lesson and from now on will proceed on my own. Thank you for your support.

Sorry to hear your issue. I always have a mantra as "Agent" = "Trouble + Waste of Money" Go with agents (of any kind) only if you ran out all resources and ways to get the job done by yourself.

Yes I have learned my lesson and will proceed to do this on my own with the help of VJ. Thank you for your support.

[X Factor 1,112]

Yes, I now realize that I could have done it with the help of VJ. I have learned my lesson and from now on will proceed on my own. Thank you for your support.

Yes I have learned my lesson and will proceed to do this on my own with the help of VJ. Thank you for your support.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

USCIS specifically warns you against these types of people and their scams. http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.e8b24a3cec33ca34c48bfc10526e0aa0/?vgnextoid=a4653ab7b8f3b210VgnVCM10000025e6a00aRCRD&vgnextchannel=b9563ab7b8f3b210VgnVCM10000025e6a00aRCRD

[dwheels76 5,468]

Thank you for your concern and support!

menchandfrank don't go beatin yourself up or letting others do it. Most of us (if we are honest) were clueless before we came to VJ. You lost some money but that's okay. You will spend more than you lost. Keep your eyes on the goal get your petition together and refile ASAP. You know I have been with you every step of the way (well once you posted and will continue to support you okay. Chin up now lets get to work.

[Kajikit 65]

Unfortunately, there are a LOT of people out there making their living ripping off would-be immigrants. Any reputable agency or lawyer/legal service would have produced results in a few weeks at most. Can you report the guy for fraud? I'm 95% sure he never had any intention of filing anything, he was just after your money.

[menchandfrank 0]

Thank you everyone for your kind words and support. If not for Visa Journey, we would not have met any of you.

UPDATE: I was able to verify through the US Postal Service that the money order that "he" purchased IS authentic. Now the question is..

where is this money order? Enroute to the lockbox along with our petition or still in "his" hands?

We are giving it just a few more days..I will call the USCIS on Friday. If they still have not received my petition,

I will re-file it.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Middle men advertise on VJ, you know.

[katie1990 23]

Hello i dont know if my story will give you any peace of mind but i too hired my lawyer (he is an immigration lawyer i thouroughly checked that) in the beginning of march. I payed him the filing fees 2000 + dollars sinse i had to pay a penalty fee for having entered ilelgaly as a child under 245-i and his first $250 contract payment. Months and months passed with no news or phone calls but i do understand that my father (the US born petitioner) is in prison so there was a struggle into getting all the paperwork signed etc, finding a new cosponsor and so forth, needless to say i too found myself on this website questioning my lawyers integrity. Thank goodness in late may i called him and he informed me he had already sent in my aos packet which i still felt shady about because he didnt let me know and when i asked him if he had a trackig number or anything he said no he sent it by regular standard mail and id have to wait for NOA's .. I was frustrated because i thought he was conning me, like you checked every single day to see if my money orders had been cashed and they hadnt. Until 3 weeks later my money orders were cashed, 2 days later my NOA's arrived ! Wow you wont believe how dumb i felt! But it felt amazing to know i was wrong and my lawyer was just taking his sweet time and was just being inconsiderate in keeping me uninformed lol so i hope this will give you something to think about. Either way i wish you the best of luck !

[rade2rising 205]

well i am not a middle man but i would like to say that not ALL middle men are scam artists. some are legit.

[menchandfrank 0]

Thank you everyone and especially to Visa Journey! I called the USCIS today and was told that they received my petition on July 2nd!

I should be receiving my NOA1 early next week! now on to step 2..upward and onward, staying positive and optimistic!

Have an awesome weekend, my VJ friends!

[X Factor 1,112]

Thank you everyone and especially to Visa Journey! I called the USCIS today and was told that they received my petition on July 2nd!

I should be receiving my NOA1 early next week! now on to step 2..upward and onward, staying positive and optimistic!

Have an awesome weekend, my VJ friends!

Awesome