Lawyers, confusion and arguments.

[shell20 746]

Hi everyone,

This is going from bad to worse. When I first got married I applied for a Social Security number in my married name . We are now trying to do AOS with our lawyers but they are telling us we cant sign the forms in my married name as USCIS wont accept it. My bank account, SS, medical card and everything is in that name. My husband today wrote them a stern email and they came back to me saying his immature, how they are surprised he holds down a job and that they will drop our case if he doesn't apologise. I don't want him to apologise, I want them to drop us and do the forms ourselves, but my husband is asking will that affect our application. Time is running out we only have days to apply, so please, please any help will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[kzielu 1,149]

You need to sign docs with whatever name you're currently using. Your lawyers are complete idiots and are wasting your money. Forms are straightforward and there are thousands of people that did them themselves.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

You also have no deadline. Sooner is better, but not required.

File a complaint to the State Bar Association if you don't like how they are treating you.

Your application should be in your married name and you should sign in your married name.

[sweet cakes 326]

Hi everyone,

This is going from bad to worse. When I first got married I applied for a Social Security number in my married name . We are now trying to do AOS with our lawyers but they are telling us we cant sign the forms in my married name as USCIS wont accept it. My bank account, SS, medical card and everything is in that name. My husband today wrote them a stern email and they came back to me saying his immature, how they are surprised he holds down a job and that they will drop our case if he doesn't apologise. I don't want him to apologise, I want them to drop us and do the forms ourselves, but my husband is asking will that affect our application. Time is running out we only have days to apply, so please, please any help will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Like most folks who changed their last names, I have signed all my AOS forms in my new married name and I did not encounter any issue at all. Either you get a new lawyer (a competent one this time), or proceed on your own. You can check the guides and example forms, and see if you will be confident enough to fill-out the forms.

http://www.visajourney.com/content/guides

http://www.visajourney.com/content/examples

We didn't use a lawyer for my AOS, and I regret the time that we hired one during my I-129f, because they only caused us delays and an RFE.

Edited August 4, 2014 by sweet cakes

[shell20 746]

Like hundreds of others, I have signed all my AOS forms in my new married name and I did not encounter any issue at all. Either you get a new lawyer (a competent one this time), or proceed on your own. You can check the guides and example forms, and see if you will be confident enough to fill-out the forms.

http://www.visajourney.com/content/guides

http://www.visajourney.com/content/examples

We didn't use a lawyer for my AOS, and I regret the time that we hired one during my I-129f, because they only caused us delays and an RFE.

Thanks for your advice. I am SO angry the lawyer got on the phone to me calling my husband immature and saying she doesn't know how he holds down a job I told her I had a social security number and she said K1s were not entitled to one. I want to sack her right now!

You also have no deadline. Sooner is better, but not required.

File a complaint to the State Bar Association if you don't like how they are treating you.

Your application should be in your married name and you should sign in your married name.

Thank you Nich Nick.

I am going to sack our lawyer after calling my husband immature and such. I told her I had my social security number and such and she told me I shouldnt have had it issued. My husband is panicking as he is wondering if this will affect our case dropping our lawyer.

[sweet cakes 326]

Thanks for your advice. I am SO angry the lawyer got on the phone to me calling my husband immature and saying she doesn't know how he holds down a job I told her I had a social security number and she said K1s were not entitled to one. I want to sack her right now!

Well, that right there is another proof of their incompetency and ignorance. If that were me, I would have told her off.

You can definitely drop their services any time you want. They're supposed to help and give you support throughout the process, and not give you a harder time. It's very unfortunate that they take advantage of your innocence in the process. Good thing though you have your SSN, etc in your married name already. Otherwise, they might probably have suggested that you use their services in getting your name legally changed, which would be another BS.

Have you checked the guides yet? It's very straightforward. But if there's anything not clear, there will always be folks here who will be able to help you out.

Edited August 4, 2014 by sweet cakes

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Thank you Nich Nick.

I am going to sack our lawyer after calling my husband immature and such. I told her I had my social security number and such and she told me I shouldnt have had it issued. My husband is panicking as he is wondering if this will affect our case dropping our lawyer.

If AOS hasn't been filed, then there is no case to affect. AOS is like starting over...new case, new people evaluating, new names....

K1 is over and today is a new day.

Edited August 4, 2014 by Nich-Nick

[shell20 746]

Thanks for your advice. I am SO angry the lawyer got on the phone to me calling my husband immature and saying she doesn't know how he holds down a job I told her I had a social security number and she said K1s were not entitled to one. I want to sack her right now!

Thank you Nich Nick.

I am going to sack our lawyer after calling my husband immature and such. I told her I had my social security number and such and she told me I shouldnt have had it issued. My husband is panicking as he is wondering if this will affect our case dropping our lawyer.

Below the email my husband sent to our lawyers. Then their response. Names deleted for confidentiality.

You have no idea the amount of stress and conflict that you have introduced into our lives! We retained your firm on the premise that you could expedite this whole process for us and eliminate a lot of angst that we would have to endure if we tried to complete this process on our own. I assumed that as "professionals" in this field, you would be able to simplify the process for us and be authorities able to correctly advise us and answer any of our questions correctly. Was I ever wrong!

Since receiving your latest message on Friday; I've had the opportunity to contact and consult with the judge who preformed the wedding ceremony, the Orphans Court Clerk who filed our marriage license application, the Social Security Administration, and several other professionals; all of whom indicated that you couldn't be more incorrect in your assertion! What appears on every Marriage Certificate (at least in Pennsylvania) is the names of the applying parties prior to their union. The choosing of a formal "legal name" is not required at the time of marriage. And imagine my surprise when I was informed that once again we have received inaccurate information from the lawyers we have retained!

As such, """""" has applied for and received a Social Security Card and number under her married/legal name """""""""""" She has also opened a bank account in that name. That is the name with which she will be signing and submitting the documents that you have given us for signature.

I really don't know what else to say. We could have had documentation in your hands last week for submission had you not advised us incorrectly.

We have not advised you incorrectly. The federal government (USCIS office specifically) takes a different approach then the state of Pennsylvania. """" and I have been in many USCIS greencard interviews where the Officer will not allow the beneficiary to take a married name because the name which appears on the PA marriage certificate is the old name.

If """"" wants to sign her name """" as such indicated above, go for it. Just realize that the case may be delayed and/or the green card may still be issued as """""""

I would appreciate that you show me, """"" and my staff some respect in the tone and attitude of your email. Your email is extremely rude and inappropriate. We have never disrespected you in such a manner. We need to talk immediately and you need to apologize otherwise our representation of you and """""""" is over with NO REFUND...... I will withdraw from your case with no regrets.....

[shell20 746]

Well, that right there is another proof of their incompetency and ignorance. If that were me, I would have told her off.

You can definitely drop their services any time you want. They're supposed to help and give you support throughout the process, and not give you a harder time. It's very unfortunate that they take advantage of your innocence in the process. Good thing though you have your SSN, etc in your married name already. Otherwise, they might probably have suggested that you use their services in getting your name legally changed, which would be another BS.

Have you checked the guides yet? It's very straightforward. But if there's anything not clear, there will always be folks here who will be able to help you out.

Im sorry I havent yet I am trying to calm down my husband and I am feeling ill, I havent been well for weeks and they are just adding to my stress levels have you read what I posted just a minute ago a copy of my husbands email and their response. They phoned me after sending it, calling my husband immature, saying they didnt know how he held down a job. I said that is personal. I feel SO angry I cant even think straight right now.

[shell20 746]

If AOS hasn't been filed, then there is no case to affect. AOS is like starting over...new case, new people evaluating, new names....

K1 is over and today is a new day.

I didnt want to go with them for AOS as they messed up the K1 giving us wrong advice only got the right advice from here and then questioned them. The thing is here we found out they had tied us into a contract for AOS and now we want to get rid of them but can't get our money back from them.

[Daveykins 17]

Fire your lawyer! Do it yourself. I'm batting 2/2 with doing it myself, never had an RFE from following the VJ guides and searching for any questions I had or asking if I can't find the answer already.

[shell20 746]

You need to sign docs with whatever name you're currently using. Your lawyers are complete idiots and are wasting your money. Forms are straightforward and there are thousands of people that did them themselves.

Thanks for you kind words, not ignoring you but I am feeling dizzy and sick now. They have stressed me out way too much!!

Fire your lawyer! Do it yourself. I'm batting 2/2 with doing it myself, never had an RFE from following the VJ guides and searching for any questions I had or asking if I can't find the answer already.

I am SO going to sack them and report them to the bar.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

I am not sure how they "tied" you to a contract for AOS. Can you explain that?

I find their reply email much more immature and offensive than the one you send to them. A professional is supposed to mollify you, not get into a teenage argument and threaten you.

[Teddy B 17,252]

I am not sure how they "tied" you to a contract for AOS. Can you explain that?

I find their reply email much more immature and offensive than the one you send to them. A professional is supposed to mollify you, not get into a teenage argument and threaten you.

My thoughts as well.

[Merrytooth 5,748]

Thanks for you kind words, not ignoring you but I am feeling dizzy and sick now. They have stressed me out way too much!!

I am SO going to sack them and report them to the bar.

Eat some ice-cream or chocolate to calm your nerves.