Are lawyers really helpful for GC application

[khushi 0]

hello,

I am just getting ready to apply for my Green card on the basis of beign married to USC.

I was wondering whether the lawyers are really helpful in the process. Is it advisable to spend so much money.

anybody who has had good or bad experience, please share......it will greatly appreciated

thanks

khushi.

[Dr_LHA 3]

Unless you have any "issues", its quite straightforward to do AOS without a lawyer, especially with the help of people on this forum and other sites on the internet.

Lawyers come in handy when your case isn't straightforward.

[lex07 12]

Unless you have any "issues", its quite straightforward to do AOS without a lawyer, especially with the help of people on this forum and other sites on the internet.

Lawyers come in handy when your case isn't straightforward.

I'm also planning to do AOS. I will not be married til late April, but we are now starting to collect the forms, etc. You said that lawyers are handy when the case is not straightforward. I'm not sure what is straightforward and not.

I currently have H1B visa. But after the wedding, I will move to another state to be with my fiance, so I will have to quit from my current job (the sponsor of my H1b visa). I'm loking for jobs right now to transfer my H1B, but it doesn't look too promising If I quit my job that means my H1B is not valid anymore, and that mean I will be out of status, right? Will that be a problem? Do I need a lawyer in my case?

[Dr_LHA 3]

No, out of status will not be a problem. Any time out of status will be forgiven by USCIS when you get your green card. It is not a big enough problem to require a lawyer IMHO.

[khushi 0]

hi again,

thanks everyone for ur responses. I am sure that with the support of this forum, we can definately do it ourselves.

I am starting to fill out I-485....can anybody guide me on special instructions...any experience

thanks

khushi.

[KarenCee 3]

hi again,

thanks everyone for ur responses. I am sure that with the support of this forum, we can definately do it ourselves.

I am starting to fill out I-485....can anybody guide me on special instructions...any experience

thanks

khushi.

The Guides are an excellent resource for this. The form itself has pages of instructions.

[michal63 0]

If you file AOS while your HIB visa is still valid, from the time you file (or rather date of receipt of ) your AOS application, you are in status.

Seems like your HIB will still be valid by the time you file.. even if you are not working on it.

If its run out by the time you file, I would be careful.

[Dr_LHA 3]

H-1B becomes invalid the minute he stops working at the job that is sponsoring him. So he would be out of status in between quitting his job and filing for AOS.

Also if he remains at his job his H-1B remain valid and he remains in H-1B status until one of these things happen:

1. He gets his green card.

2. The H-1B expires before he gets his green card

3. He applies for and uses an EAD.

Filing AOS does not invalidate an H-1B.

Edited March 1, 2007 by dr_lha

[lex07 12]

dr_lha and michal63, thanks for the help.

So if when I apply for the AOS I had already quit my H1B job, what should I write under the immigration status in the forms.."out of status"?

Thanks

ps: I'm a 'she'.

[Dr_LHA 3]

Sorry about getting sexes mixed up!

Anyway, if you quit your H-1B job before filing AOS you will be "out of status", so should write that. As I mentioned before, being out of status cannot be used against you when adjudicating AOS.

[antda 13]

Hi Khushi,

Good luck on your immigration journey! Yes, I think that it is a good idea to hire a lawyer, regardless of the situation, as you never know what might happen during the immigration process. Believe me, with something as important as immigration, hiring a lawyer is a wise investment! As well, if there are any complicated issues, or you make mistakes along the way, then the lawyer can help you out with the legal paperwork to make things easier paper-wise and time-wise. Also, the lawyer might be help you with the interview process, by attending the interview with you if need be.

For me, I did hire a lawyer for my situation, and I know it definately helped. If you need a recommendation for a good immigration lawyer, feel free to PM me and I'll be glad to give you more info about the lawyer we hired.

Hope this helps.

Ant

hello,

I am just getting ready to apply for my Green card on the basis of beign married to USC.

I was wondering whether the lawyers are really helpful in the process. Is it advisable to spend so much money.

anybody who has had good or bad experience, please share......it will greatly appreciated

thanks

khushi.

[Dr_LHA 3]

Good luck on your immigration journey! Yes, I think that it is a good idea to hire a lawyer, regardless of the situation, as you never know what might happen during the immigration process.

Although I agree with you that lawyers are helpful, they're also expensive. I don't think that a lawyer is needed "regardless of the situation". If you're smart enough to read the forms, have an uncomplicated visa history and utilise the internet its perfectly possible to go through this process with no lawyer at all.

hiring a lawyer is a wise investment!

In my case and many others on here who have successfully got Green Cards, the only thing hiring a lawyer would have done is to make me $1500-3000 poorer than I am now. Edited March 3, 2007 by dr_lha