Interview not needed?

[mushroomspore 3,044]

17 minutes ago, Cammaray said:

She has been practicing immigration law for over 20 years, I'm having a hard time believing that she would suggest anything that could result in trouble for her as well. She said I probably wouldn't have to attend one, not that I definitely wouldn't. But reading all the comments it seems so bizarre that she would suggest it's not necessary. The information package I was sent from her states that she will assist in preparation for an interview. I appreciate the advice and links sent, and the time taken to help me with my query. 

 

Even still, suggesting that you "probably" won't need to attend an interview is erroneous. You DEFINITELY need to attend an interview. In the US Dept of State link in my previous post, it does not say ANYWHERE that interviews can be waived or that some cases have a possibility of not having an interview.

 

Policies can change really quickly and even lawyers may not be on top of it all. As Scandi said, we regularly see these kinds of stories all the time. Meanwhile, we VJ users are the ones who have ACTUALLY gone through this process and have shared our experiences and information on here. Many of us also have done this by ourselves without lawyers. Unless you have some complex circumstances (criminal history, past immigration petitions, overstay, etc), you really don't need a lawyer.

Edited July 7, 2018 by mushroomspore

[Sunnyland 639]

Again, if you are Canadian and living in Canada, then your spouse visa  interview will be in Canada at the US embassy. And you will have an interview to complete the process.That is how the process goes...For everyone... Your attorney can say the sky is purple but that is not what reality is.

I want to believe your attorney got confused with some other immigration process. Like AOS or ROC. Please come back to update us when you get your visa without attending an interview.  In that case  you got yourself an attorney with super powers. 

[mushroomspore 3,044]

10 hours ago, Cammaray said:

I don't think she was referring to that, I was asking where the medical and interview would take place. SHe told me that the medical can be in either country (if I decide to wait out the process in the US she would give me a list of approved facilities that do the medical) but that nowadays they are getting away from doing the interview with well put together application packages. She didn't mention anything about the 2 year conditional card

Another detail that I just noticed: you cannot wait out the visa process in the US. You can visit but you're absolutely NOT allowed to just stay in the US and wait until you're approved. And your medical needs to be done in Canada.

[Going through 5,671]

38 minutes ago, Cammaray said:

She has been practicing immigration law for over 20 years, I'm having a hard time believing that she would suggest anything that could result in trouble for her as well. She said I probably wouldn't have to attend one, not that I definitely wouldn't. 

She's still incorrect.  You definitely will.

 

(As a side note....we've seen members come on here and report that their immigration lawyer outright suggested they commit visa fraud as an "easier way" to come across.  Length of time practicing means very little when it comes to scruples, sometimes.  Reviews/real testimonials from other clients worth more, as well as verifiable track-record of success)

 

Edited July 7, 2018 by Going through

[Boiler 46,404]

As an aside the interview is normally a couple of question non confrontational and a lot of waiting twiddling your thumbs.

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

51 minutes ago, Cammaray said:

She has been practicing immigration law for over 20 years, I'm having a hard time believing that she would suggest anything that could result in trouble for her as well. She said I probably wouldn't have to attend one, not that I definitely wouldn't. But reading all the comments it seems so bizarre that she would suggest it's not necessary. The information package I was sent from her states that she will assist in preparation for an interview. I appreciate the advice and links sent, and the time taken to help me with my query. 

 

What kind of trouble could result for her? That you’d get angry?! She still gets paid right? 

she also gave you erroneous information about your medical as others have mentioned.

it’s probably in your best interest to double check all the information she’s giving you in light of the above, including how she helps you prepare for the interview. (Which is all the info you could get for free on VJ, but you do seem intent on retaining her, so just ensure she doesn’t screw up your case. Wouldn’t be the first time.)

 

[geowrian 22,338]

Not sure if it applies in this case, but one must always keep in mind that not all attorneys deal in "simple" and/or family-based immigration cases. Many tend to stick with the more complicated cases (waivers, work visas, asylum cases, removal cases, etc.). So although one may have been in the business for 20 years, that isn't much of an indicator if they've recently dealt with a similar case. They may be fantastic with other cases, though.

 

A good lawyer doesn't provide advice about something they aren't sure about either, though.

Regardless, an interview will occur despite this lawyer's suggestion that it may not happen.

Edited July 7, 2018 by geowrian

[Ontarkie 14,657]

Your Canadian lawyer should stick to Canadian immigration. 

 

 

[Crazy Cat 42,734]

1 hour ago, Cammaray said:

She said I probably wouldn't have to attend one, not that I definitely wouldn't.

 

Honestly, she is so far off base, I wouldn't trust her to give me the time of day.........Yes, she is that incorrect because there is absolutely no chance that you can skip the interview under current immigration law.....no chance at all.

 

Good luck in your journey.

[Diane and Chris 651]

9 hours ago, Cammaray said:

No, she knows that I am moving to the US. She doesn't work with immigrations to Canada, only to the US. Once the process has begun (after we are married) she works in conjunction with an attorney in the US.

Uh oh!  Double attorney fees!?! 

[Scandi 4,206]

This attorney obviously isn't well aware of how the US immigration process works based on her very bad advice and the fact that she needs to work with an attorney in the US to get it right?

[NikLR 13,232]

As a note to everyone, the US embassy in Canada (located in Ottawa) does not conduct CR1/IR1 interviews. Only the US Consulate in Montreal conducts immigrant visa interviews. Semantics I know.  

[Rocko20 159]

5 hours ago, Cammaray said:

She has been practicing immigration law for over 20 years, I'm having a hard time believing that she would suggest anything that could result in trouble for her as well.

 

she could be mixing up different visas or different cases

 

You're more than welcome to follow her advice and skip the interviews and medical examinations...

Edited July 8, 2018 by Rocko20

[Rocko20 159]

4 hours ago, Going through said:

She's still incorrect.  You definitely will.

 

(As a side note....we've seen members come on here and report that their immigration lawyer outright suggested they commit visa fraud as an "easier way" to come across.  Length of time practicing means very little when it comes to scruples, sometimes.  Reviews/real testimonials from other clients worth more, as well as verifiable track-record of success)

 

Also, there have been members who stated how their lawyer screwed up their petition with missing paperwork or incorrect names, resulting in delays or RFEs

 

With all the different cases they work, from simple to complex, I have no doubt that some of them are wrong or get confused in certain instances.

 

[ThomasNC1988 762]

Unless you are a convicted bank robber or something I'd pass on hiring a lawyer to apply for a visa from Canada. Not exactly a high fraud country.