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intllovers

Interested in your experience with Immigration Lawyers

By intllovers in General Immigration-Related Discussion

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intllovers Rookie

intllovers   1

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Mexico
 Timeline
Posted

I have been working with my immigration lawyer for almost one year (since the initial consultation). In the very beginning my husband and I were going to do a Fiance Visa. After many months of going through some initial steps with our lawyer (our case is not simple, we require a waiver) our lawyer tells us it may be stronger case if we are married. We had no problem with this as we wanted to get married anyways. The problem is that our lawyer seems to change their mind causing us delays in the process. Our lawyer is one, if not the best, in Chicago. The lawyer also gets paid top dollar. Which I am fine with if they can back up the charges with good honest work. Our lawyer has changed their mind on what to do next several times, each time delaying the process. I (the US Citizen) have researched and educated my self as much as possible on this visa process and I feel if I am not asking questions or requiring information from the lawyer, I do not hear from them. I feel as if I need to stay on their but to get information and answers. Is this normal? What has your experience been with your lawyer? Are they extremely communicative? Do they give a lot of detail on what is happening, what will happen and when? I feel the information I know about this process has come from my own research and that my lawyer is very vague about things. I will be making a large payment to continue service from them soon and am just curious if they are worth it. I have never worked with a lawyer in my life, so not sure if they are law smart but don't necessarily know how to deal with people?

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medicalguy Explorer

medicalguy   11

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Jordan
 Timeline
Posted (edited)

I have hired an immigration lawyer to handle exceptional hardship J1 waiver followed by Adjustment of status. I would say the exceptional hardship J1 waiver is relatively challenging process as it requires building arguments and convincing immigration of the reasons. They were very professional, gave me Plan A and a plan B from the very beginning because the time line of the process is highly variable. They did commit a couple of glaring mistakes in the argument (like mentioning something about us having a child when we didn't), but of course I did review it and removed it before submission. They were clear about what they wanted from the beginning. You can check my timeline below for both the J1 waiver and the adjustment of status and it was a pretty smooth process with no major surprises.

Overall, I do think you have to ask them questions to get answers, but our lawyer usually responded very quickly and was to the point, and specific about the steps we needed to take. I think most importantly, I heard about our lawyer from colleagues who have gone through a similar process / J1 hardship with the same lawyer with success. I think it is important to have the right lawyer for the right case and make sure they have experience in the matter they are dealing with.

Edited by medicalguy

N-400 Naturalization acpplication

 

 

9/9/2018: 90 day window early application opened. (3 year rule)

9/9/2018: N-400 Application submitted ONLINE. Estimated case completion: November 2019 (14 months).

9/10/2018: NOA

9/15/2018:Scheduled for Biometrics appointment. Scheduled for 10/1/2018

10/1/2018: Biometrics completed. 

4/11/2019: Scheduled for Interview.

5/20/2019: Interview day, APPROVED!

5/30/2019: Oath Ceremony. Officially a US citizen! Time to Vote :D

 

AOS / AP / EAD

 

7/22/2015: Mailed I-130, I-485, I-131, I-765

7/28/2015: Received electronic notification that USCIS has received my case and they are forwarding it to national benefits center.

8/1/2015: Received Hard copy of NOA of all 4 forms by mail.

8/6/2015: Received Biometrics appointment in mail, date 8/20

8/20/2015: Biometrics completed.

8/31/2015: Case updated to Interview scheduled for 10/1/2015

9/1/2015: Received interview letter hardcopy by mail

9/28/2015: EAD / AP Card in production

10/1/2015: Interview completed, unfortunately will need further review...

10/3/2015: Recieved EAD / AP combo card in mail

11/16/2015: Completed first Infopass. J1 file still pending from DOS

12/9/2015: I485 / I130 approved. I-485 updated to "New Card is being produced"!!!

12/14/2015: Received I130/I485 approval / Welcome letter

12/15/2015: Received Green Card in mail!!!!

 

J1 Exceptional Hardship Waiver Timeline:

 

12/18/2014: Form DS-3035 was received by the DOS

11/2014-2/2015: We collected letters of support from Family

2/15/2015: Last DS-2019 was received.

2/27/2015: Sent I-612 + Affidavit and supporting documents (This was sent to California Service Center)

3/4/2015: USCIS received I-612 and sent Form I-797C notice of action in mail which I received later on.

4/9/2015: USCIS requested another non-USCIS advisory opinion for Form I-612

4/14/2015: From I-612 and I-613 were received by the DOS

5/6/2015: DOS: Post input: received,

6/27/2015: DOS decision turned to Favorable recommendation, Recommendation sent on 6/26

7/2/2015: USCIS approved I-612 application online

7/9/2015: Received Hard copy approval in mail

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Ryan H Grand Master

Ryan H   3,812

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: China
 Timeline
Posted

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to General Immigration-Related Discussion.

Our journey:

Spoiler

September 2007: Met online via social networking site (MySpace); began exchanging messages.
March 26, 2009: We become a couple!
September 10, 2009: Arrived for first meeting in-person!
June 17, 2010: Arrived for second in-person meeting and start of travel together to other areas of China!
June 21, 2010: Engaged!!!
September 1, 2010: Switched course from K1 to CR-1
December 8, 2010: Wedding date set; it will be on February 18, 2011!
February 9, 2011: Depart for China
February 11, 2011: Registered for marriage in Wuhan, officially married!!!
February 18, 2011: Wedding ceremony in Shiyan!!!
April 22, 2011: Mailed I-130 to Chicago
April 28, 2011: Received NOA1 via text/email, file routed to CSC (priority date April 25th)
April 29, 2011: Updated
May 3, 2011: Received NOA1 hardcopy in mail
July 26, 2011: Received NOA2 via text/email!!!
July 30, 2011: Received NOA2 hardcopy in mail
August 8, 2011: NVC received file
September 1, 2011: NVC case number assigned
September 2, 2011: AOS invoice received, OPTIN email for EP sent
September 7, 2011: Paid AOS bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 9, 2011)
September 8, 2011: OPTIN email accepted, GZO number assigned
September 10, 2011: Emailed AOS package
September 12, 2011: IV bill invoiced
September 13, 2011: Paid IV bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 14, 2011)
September 14, 2011: Emailed IV package
October 3, 2011: Emailed checklist response (checklist generated due to typo on Form DS-230)
October 6, 2011: Case complete at NVC
November 10, 2011: Interview - APPROVED!!!
December 7, 2011: POE - Sea-Tac Airport

September 17, 2013: Mailed I-751 to CSC

September 23, 2013: Received NOA1 in mail (receipt date September 19th)

October 16, 2013: Biometrics Appointment

January 28, 2014: Production of new Green Card ordered

February 3, 2014: New Green Card received; done with USCIS until fall of 2023*

December 18, 2023:  Filed I-90 to renew Green Card

December 21, 2023:  Production of new Green Card ordered - will be seeing USCIS again every 10 years for renewal

 

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TBoneTX Grand Master

TBoneTX   45,328

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ecuador
 Timeline
Posted

I think it is important to have the right lawyer for the right case and make sure they have experience in the matter they are dealing with.

This is the heart of the matter.

06-04-2007 = TSC stamps postal return-receipt for I-129f.

06-11-2007 = NOA1 date (unknown to me).

07-20-2007 = Phoned Immigration Officer; got WAC#; where's NOA1?

09-25-2007 = Touch (first-ever).

09-28-2007 = NOA1, 23 days after their 45-day promise to send it (grrrr).

10-20 & 11-14-2007 = Phoned ImmOffs; "still pending."

12-11-2007 = 180 days; file is "between workstations, may be early Jan."; touches 12/11 & 12/12.

12-18-2007 = Call; file is with Division 9 ofcr. (bckgrnd check); e-prompt to shake it; touch.

12-19-2007 = NOA2 by e-mail & web, dated 12-18-07 (187 days; 201 per VJ); in mail 12/24/07.

01-09-2008 = File from USCIS to NVC, 1-4-08; NVC creates file, 1/15/08; to consulate 1/16/08.

01-23-2008 = Consulate gets file; outdated Packet 4 mailed to fiancee 1/27/08; rec'd 3/3/08.

04-29-2008 = Fiancee's 4-min. consular interview, 8:30 a.m.; much evidence brought but not allowed to be presented (consul: "More proof! Second interview! Bring your fiance!").

05-05-2008 = Infuriating $12 call to non-English-speaking consulate appointment-setter.

05-06-2008 = Better $12 call to English-speaker; "joint" interview date 6/30/08 (my selection).

06-30-2008 = Stokes Interrogations w/Ecuadorian (not USC); "wait 2 weeks; we'll mail her."

07-2008 = Daily calls to DOS: "currently processing"; 8/05 = Phoned consulate, got Section Chief; wrote him.

08-07-08 = E-mail from consulate, promising to issue visa "as soon as we get her passport" (on 8/12, per DHL).

08-27-08 = Phoned consulate (they "couldn't find" our file); visa DHL'd 8/28; in hand 9/1; through POE on 10/9 with NO hassles(!).

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mrskvelasco Collaborator

mrskvelasco   30

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Mexico
 Timeline
Posted

My husband's case required a waiver (two actually) as well, so we used a recommended lawyer from immigrate2us.net.

I'd say our lawyer is communicative and always responds to my calls/emails within a day (if not a few hours), and she made an entire list of what evidence I needed to provide her for the waiver. She tended to overestimate processing times, but probably in an attempt to stop me from freaking out. She also didn't complete our DS260 until I inquired about it, but other other than that, she's been very knowledgeable and knows her stuff about waivers.

Depending on where you are in the process, maybe it wouldn't hurt to consult with other attorneys and see what they can offer you.

11/06: Husband EWI from Mexico
11/08: Started dating

11/11: Husband got deported
1/11/14: Got married
3/13/14-11/2/14: I-130
1/26/15-3/17/15: NVC

5/28/15: INTERVIEW - denied

6/8/15: I-601/I-212 waivers received

11/17/15: I-601/I-212 waivers APPROVED

12/11/15: HUBBY HOME!! :dance:

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