Recommendation for immigration lawyer

[Sam Archi]

Any recommendations for a reasonable price immigration attorney in New York City, i want to file I-485 and I-765 ?

[rayb]

You don't need an immigration attorney to prepare and file the Adjustment of Status paperwork. It may take you 45 minutes to prepare these two forms, add the I-864, and supporting documents. You also need an immigrant medical exam. Average attorney fees for this procedure are from $1200 to $3,000. Do it yourself.

--Ray B

Any recommendations for a reasonable price immigration attorney in New York City, i want to file I-485 and I-765 ?

[Sam Archi]

You don't need an immigration attorney to prepare and file the Adjustment of Status paperwork. It may take you 45 minutes to prepare these two forms, add the I-864, and supporting documents. You also need an immigrant medical exam. Average attorney fees for this procedure are from $1200 to $3,000. Do it yourself.

--Ray B

i think you're right, i asked a lawyer and he said he would charge me 2700$ for this. i'm just worried about the tiny things that i could miss and lead to denying my application, for instance i didn't know that i have to file I-865 .

[Walbrzyszanka21]

i think you're right, i asked a lawyer and he said he would charge me 2700$ for this. i'm just worried about the tiny things that i could miss and lead to denying my application, for instance i didn't know that i have to file I-865 .

Form I-865? Did you mean I-864?

For any questions you have, this forum is the right place to get your answers. Just either ask or search the forum. I am pretty sure many people before you have asked the same questions. As long as you have a legal entry and you were inspected at the entry, AND you have no criminal records, there should be no problem doing it yourself. I went for a free consultation and the lawyer figured it out that we wanted to do it ourselves and she said that she does not see an issue. A lawyer's job is to be present at the interview and take notes so that when they come back that they are denying the application, they have something to back up that the decision made was not correct. Or if the interviewing officer is asking inappropriate questions, the lawyer can step in and ask for the officer's supervisor. That is what the lawyer is paid for, the filling out is done by them but honestly, if you read the instruction carefully and a few times, you can fill out the forms yourself.

[Sam Archi]

Form I-865? Did you mean I-864?

For any questions you have, this forum is the right place to get your answers. Just either ask or search the forum. I am pretty sure many people before you have asked the same questions. As long as you have a legal entry and you were inspected at the entry, AND you have no criminal records, there should be no problem doing it yourself. I went for a free consultation and the lawyer figured it out that we wanted to do it ourselves and she said that she does not see an issue. A lawyer's job is to be present at the interview and take notes so that when they come back that they are denying the application, they have something to back up that the decision made was not correct. Or if the interviewing officer is asking inappropriate questions, the lawyer can step in and ask for the officer's supervisor. That is what the lawyer is paid for, the filling out is done by them but honestly, if you read the instruction carefully and a few times, you can fill out the forms yourself.

Thank you for the advice i really appreciate it , i was in between , either file it my self or hire a lawyer , i guess i'll go ahead and do it myself. so if you can tell me what i need exactly besides filing the 2 forms ?

[anthoknee]

Thank you for the advice i really appreciate it , i was in between , either file it my self or hire a lawyer , i guess i'll go ahead and do it myself. so if you can tell me what i need exactly besides filing the 2 forms ?

This really depends on your case. Tell us more about it.

[Sam Archi]

This really depends on your case. Tell us more about it.

I'm a permanent resident since 2013, i got married in September 27th 2015 and i filed I-130 on 12/15/2015 , according to the latest visa bulletin this priority date is current, so i want to file I-485 and I-765.
Please also note that my I-130 is not approved yet, the FBI background check took almost a year and half , then they asked for proof of bona fide marriage which i submitted, but then they transferred the case to the local office for an interview.
for my wife, she came with a B1/B2 visa on 2/10/2017 and she was supposed to leave by 8/9/2017 but on 8/3/2017 we filed change of status / extension to change her status from B2 to F1 student visa and this application is still pending and that gives her the right to wait for answer in US so she's here legally.
that's basically everything, please let me know if you need more info.

[anthoknee]

I'm a permanent resident since 2013, i got married in September 27th 2015 and i filed I-130 on 12/15/2015 , according to the latest visa bulletin this priority date is current, so i want to file I-485 and I-765.
Please also note that my I-130 is not approved yet, the FBI background check took almost a year and half , then they asked for proof of bona fide marriage which i submitted, but then they transferred the case to the local office for an interview.
for my wife, she came with a B1/B2 visa on 2/10/2017 and she was supposed to leave by 8/9/2017 but on 8/3/2017 we filed change of status / extension to change her status from B2 to F1 student visa and this application is still pending and that gives her the right to wait for answer in US so she's here legally.
that's basically everything, please let me know if you need more info.

Thanks, I'm really confused here. You say you are a permanent resident, which suggests that you already went through the USCIS process and have a Green Card. You are not considered a permanent resident until the I-485 is approved and you have a Green Card. Do you have a Green Card?

You say you got married in 2015 but your wife came with a B2 visa almost 2 years later?

[azblk]

Thanks, I'm really confused here. You say you are a permanent resident, which suggests that you already went through the USCIS process and have a Green Card. You are not considered a permanent resident until the I-485 is approved and you have a Green Card. Do you have a Green Card?

You say you got married in 2015 but your wife came with a B2 visa almost 2 years later?

He is a permanent resident. He is filing for his wife who came to the states on a B2 visa.

[azblk]

I'm a permanent resident since 2013, i got married in September 27th 2015 and i filed I-130 on 12/15/2015 , according to the latest visa bulletin this priority date is current, so i want to file I-485 and I-765.
Please also note that my I-130 is not approved yet, the FBI background check took almost a year and half , then they asked for proof of bona fide marriage which i submitted, but then they transferred the case to the local office for an interview.
for my wife, she came with a B1/B2 visa on 2/10/2017 and she was supposed to leave by 8/9/2017 but on 8/3/2017 we filed change of status / extension to change her status from B2 to F1 student visa and this application is still pending and that gives her the right to wait for answer in US so she's here legally.
that's basically everything, please let me know if you need more info.

Just file the normal petitions i-485(Green card) , i-131 (advance parole) i-765(work permit), i-864(affidavit of support) and wait to do medical until you are close to interview. include all paper work from b2 to F1 to show that she is eligible to AOS .

[Sam Archi]

Thanks, I'm really confused here. You say you are a permanent resident, which suggests that you already went through the USCIS process and have a Green Card. You are not considered a permanent resident until the I-485 is approved and you have a Green Card. Do you have a Green Card?

You say you got married in 2015 but your wife came with a B2 visa almost 2 years later?

NO I AM A PERMANENT RESIDENT , I'M FILING FOR MY WIFE TO GET GREEN CARD, I GET MY GREEN CARD THROUGH DIVERSITY PROGRAM SO IT'S DIFFERENT PROCESS. AND FOR B2 VISA I GAVE YOU ONLY THE LATEST ENTRY, SHE WAS COMING AND GOING BACK WITH HER B1 B2 VISA BUT THIS TIME SINCE IT WILL EXPIRE WE FILLED CHANGE OF STATUS TO GET F1 VISA , BUT NOW SINCE HER pd IS CURRENT I WANT TO FILE AOS .

- - - Updated - - -

Just file the normal petitions i-485(Green card) , i-131 (advance parole) i-765(work permit), i-864(affidavit of support) and wait to do medical until you are close to interview. include all paper work from b2 to F1 to show that she is eligible to AOS .

can i leave the Medical exam for later, i thought i have to submit it with the forms ?

[Yestoel92]

Sam Archi

READ THE INSTRUCTIONS. ALL THE FORMS HAVE INSTRUCTIONS.

And then if you have any questions come here and ask. As the other person said. Do it yourself... It means more than just fill in the form.

It's easier to help you if you have read instructions for the basics. No one will explain to you every single thing that's why lawyers charge for that.

You mentioned you don't know you need I864. If you read instructions on the USCIS and also look up other people's cover letters you will do most by yourself and best.

If you are lazy to even read basic instructions then you might want to invest in a lawyer then.

We will be here to help you but READ THE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

[Papijace963]

thats right

Sam Archi

READ THE INSTRUCTIONS. ALL THE FORMS HAVE INSTRUCTIONS.

And then if you have any questions come here and ask. As the other person said. Do it yourself... It means more than just fill in the form.

It's easier to help you if you have read instructions for the basics. No one will explain to you every single thing that's why lawyers charge for that.

You mentioned you don't know you need I864. If you read instructions on the USCIS and also look up other people's cover letters you will do most by yourself and best.

If you are lazy to even read basic instructions then you might want to invest in a lawyer then.

We will be here to help you but READ THE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

thats as direct an answer as anyone can give or recieved!!!

[azblk]

can i leave the Medical exam for later, i thought i have to submit it with the forms ?

Yes you can and should leave the medical for later as AOS take a really long time in most cases now and it might expire before your wife gets approved. Then you will have to redo and pay for it again

[ScottPreot]

Good advice is given here that is recommended. I hope you took advantage of it and had success