Lawyer does NOT want to frontload?!

[JC&BS 75]

Had a brief consultation with a Ghanaian lawyer here in the US and he is giving me the idea that he wants to send in the bare minimum with the I130. He said "All I need is the marriage certificate" I am freaking out! He wouldn't go into detail past that point (because he hasn't been paid yet) but the vibe I get of "do what USCIS requires and nothing more" made my head spin. (I know that frontloading is to show the CO the evidence not USCIS but still... )

It is the polar opposite of what I've been hearing on VJ and other sites.

 

I have so many chats, skype screenshots, etc available!

 

The family is paying for him but it still makes me uncomfortable. He's been practicing immigration law for over 20 years. Has helped two people I know personally with immigration. (Not k1 or cr1) He is a lawyer to the family and they trust him so they've talked me into becoming a client.

 

Should I trust his process?? 😓

Have you heard of such a process for a Ghanaian spouse being successful?

Edited May 16, 2018 by JC&BS

[geowrian 22,337]

That sounds super risky for somebody interviewing through Ghana. It's certainly not impossible to be approved doing that, but it is not setting you up to present the best case possible in a difficult consulate.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

   Read the Sub Saharan forum http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/89-africa-sub-saharan/  You will find more petitions resemble a small preemie in weight than those that are a marriage certificate and a few passport photos.    What does this person specialize in ?  

[JJAAM 1]

Please kindly front load. You need all the important info to prove you are eligible. Only certificate can't convince the consulate to issue u a visa. Please show proves that you really wanna live your life's together. Do not trust the words of the lawyer. Even though He is a professional. 

[JC&BS 75]

It is risky. I will schedule another consultation to clarify if I understood him correctly. But, if my initial thoughts are right I have to disappoint some people and not go with him. 

 

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

15 hours ago, JC&BS said:

Had a brief consultation with a Ghanaian lawyer here in the US and he is giving me the idea that he wants to send in the bare minimum with the I130. He said "All I need is the marriage certificate" I am freaking out! He wouldn't go into detail past that point (because he hasn't been paid yet) but the vibe I get of "do what USCIS requires and nothing more" made my head spin. (I know that frontloading is to show the CO the evidence not USCIS but still... )

It is the polar opposite of what I've been hearing on VJ and other sites.

 

I have so many chats, skype screenshots, etc available!

 

The family is paying for him but it still makes me uncomfortable. He's been practicing immigration law for over 20 years. Has helped two people I know personally with immigration. (Not k1 or cr1) He is a lawyer to the family and they trust him so they've talked me into becoming a client.

 

Should I trust his process?? 😓

Have you heard of such a process for a Ghanaian spouse being successful?

I am agreeing with everyone else on this as well is that you need to find another lawyer if you go that route. I say this because petitions going through the Ghana embassy are ALREADY hard enough as is with front loading. So if you do basically the bare minimum then it will be even harder on YOU in the long run and possible risk a denial. The lawyer is trying to get by with only doing the bare minimum so that they can collect the money without doing much of anything.

[lori7734 6]

Do it urself u don’t need a lawyer for this

[Ryan H 3,812]

The lawyer works for you, not the other way around.  If they don't want to do what you (or another party) is intending to pay them to do, then it would probably be reasonable and proper to not work with this particular lawyer.

[Ubahsi 43]

The length of time the attorney has been practicing immigration law does not increase your chances of success. What does increase your chances is hardcore qualitative evidence. As you are already probably aware Gh embassy is very tough and they scrutinize more than most. It's too risky not to frontload in my personal opinion. 

 

It's better to err on the  side of caution and be proactive verses reactive. Fontload, frontload, frontload although it's not required I strongly believe it can make your case or break it. 

 

Always go with your instincts, at the end of the day it's your spouse, life, family etc that will be effected should something go wrong not your attorney. 

 

To answer your question- NO you should not trust his process!!! 

 

  

Edited May 17, 2018 by Ubahsi

[pushbrk 12,877]

3 hours ago, Ubahsi said:

The length of time the attorney has been practicing immigration law does not increase your chances of success. What does increase your chances is hardcore qualitative evidence. As you are already probably aware Gh embassy is very tough and they scrutinize more than most. It's too risky not to frontload in my personal opinion. 

 

It's better to err on the  side of caution and be proactive verses reactive. Fontload, frontload, frontload although it's not required I strongly believe it can make your case or break it. 

 

Always go with your instincts, at the end of the day it's your spouse, life, family etc that will be effected should something go wrong not your attorney. 

 

To answer your question- NO you should not trust his process!!! 

 

  

I agree.  Most immigration attorneys do not have much or any experience with family based immigration.  As such, they are relying on a little research and theory rather than actual experience.  Whether you should front load DOES depend on your circumstances though.  If you've spent lots of time actually living together as husband and wife, it really isn't all that necessary.  In a long distance relationship, coming from Ghana, it's critical.

[JC&BS 75]

Yes, I need to go with my instincts. Family based immigration is not the same as other immigration processes. 

 

I've spoken with family and they have decided to support me in whatever decision I make. I will have another obligatory follow up with him to see what he says regarding frontloading. If he still disagrees, I must move on. 

[JC&BS 75]

On 5/16/2018 at 4:42 PM, Ryan H said:

The lawyer works for you, not the other way around.  If they don't want to do what you (or another party) is intending to pay them to do, then it would probably be reasonable and proper to not work with this particular lawyer.

Right! This is a stressful process. He should be trying to meet my needs.

[JackG 10]

While I agree it is likely more complex and risky going through Ghana, my attorneys did not frontload and only sent in the bare minimum, the marriage certificate, my spouse's passport/birth certificate and that was pretty much it. My USCIS I-130 response was 7 months no questions asked, and we are now going through the process for the embassy and they are adding more photos and such now. From what I can tell the lawyers all have separate filing procedures normal folks. It's very possible that they do not expect lawyers to send in more information than what the forms require. Again, my I-130 submission was very basic no other contact with the USCIS.

 

Best of luck!

[JC&BS 75]

3 hours ago, JackG said:

While I agree it is likely more complex and risky going through Ghana, my attorneys did not frontload and only sent in the bare minimum, the marriage certificate, my spouse's passport/birth certificate and that was pretty much it. My USCIS I-130 response was 7 months no questions asked, and we are now going through the process for the embassy and they are adding more photos and such now. From what I can tell the lawyers all have separate filing procedures normal folks. It's very possible that they do not expect lawyers to send in more information than what the forms require. Again, my I-130 submission was very basic no other contact with the USCIS.

 

Best of luck!

I hear ya but am more conceened about what the embassy thinks not USCIS. Hope it all works well for you.

[JackG 10]

43 minutes ago, JC&BS said:

I hear ya but am more conceened about what the embassy thinks not USCIS. Hope it all works well for you.

Absolutely be concerned with that. My lawyer said that USCIS and the NVC/embassy process are 2 completely different things. They get the information from the USCIS and the additional information. The application and packages sent to the NVC have all the photos and other items with it. Apparently, the lawyer does not seem to believe it is necessary to frontload all that information at the USCIS I-130 submission because it has no real consequence to the NVC except that the USCIS has approved you. I can let you know what has happened with us hopefully soon.