AOS through Marriage - Attorney's Fees

[AMAS]

Hello everyone! I am very new to the forum and the process. I tried looking this up before I made an account but I have not been able to find much info and I wanted to ask you guys instead. I tried reading the rules to see if this was not an allowed topic but I didn't find anything that said it was not.

My question is pretty simple: Is $10,000 a lot, average, or okay for attorney's fees + filing fees (which could be higher due to miscellaneous expenses such as FedEx, doctor's visits/reports, etc.)

I had initially seen one attorney who stated that was the cost. I did not proceed with him because he wanted me to lie on the application, so I kind of put this off for a bit while I was pregnant. Then I saw another really nice attorney and I told her about this and she was shocked, both about the lying and the price. She recommended another attorney and I talked to him yesterday. He also said it would be $10,000: $6,000 up front, $3,000 at some other time, and $1,000 before GC interview. He said if for some reason I got denied, it'd be another $10,000, possibly. I was okay with this, but I was looking up some info and I found attorney's fees much much lower. I don't mind paying whatever is necessary, but I don't want people taking advantage of my family, either.

I am in California, if it matters. Any insight would be appreciated.

Thank you!! And good luck to everyone on this journey.

[arbrts]

I think we paid something like $3,000 in lawyer fees for the AOS. And then had to pay for the AOS as well of course. That seems like a lot to me. Where are you located?

[Plz]

Hello everyone! I am very new to the forum and the process. I tried looking this up before I made an account but I have not been able to find much info and I wanted to ask you guys instead. I tried reading the rules to see if this was not an allowed topic but I didn't find anything that said it was not.

My question is pretty simple: Is $10,000 a lot, average, or okay for attorney's fees + filing fees (which could be higher due to miscellaneous expenses such as FedEx, doctor's visits/reports, etc.)

I had initially seen one attorney who stated that was the cost. I did not proceed with him because he wanted me to lie on the application, so I kind of put this off for a bit while I was pregnant. Then I saw another really nice attorney and I told her about this and she was shocked, both about the lying and the price. She recommended another attorney and I talked to him yesterday. He also said it would be $10,000: $6,000 up front, $3,000 at some other time, and $1,000 before GC interview. He said if for some reason I got denied, it'd be another $10,000, possibly. I was okay with this, but I was looking up some info and I found attorney's fees much much lower. I don't mind paying whatever is necessary, but I don't want people taking advantage of my family, either.

I am in California, if it matters. Any insight would be appreciated.

Thank you!! And good luck to everyone on this journey.

That is a lot of money. Why do you need an attorney to file for AOS? Is your case complicated?? I have seen some cases with one misdemeanor petty crime Never use an attorney and their cases were approved because they had all necessary documents. Unless you have a serious criminal record or you are on deportation proceeding, you shouldn?t pay all that money for a lawyer. This forum can help a lot if your case is simple.

[josger]

That is a lot of money. Why do you need an attorney to file for AOS? Is your case complicated?? I have seen some cases with one misdemeanor petty crime Never use an attorney and their cases were approved because they had all necessary documents. Unless you have a serious criminal record or you are on deportation proceeding, you shouldn?t pay all that money for a lawyer. This forum can help a lot if your case is simple.

I had a really good lawyer quote me 3.5k . My case is simple so I went with a non profit for 1k. I am based in Chicago. 10k is absolutely a lot in my opinion.

[AMAS]

That is a lot of money. Why do you need an attorney to file for AOS? Is your case complicated?? I have seen some cases with one misdemeanor petty crime Never use an attorney and their cases were approved because they had all necessary documents. Unless you have a serious criminal record or you are on deportation proceeding, you shouldn?t pay all that money for a lawyer. This forum can help a lot if your case is simple.

That's what I thought. I was told my case IS complicated, but not due to any crimes. I'm in the Sacramento area. Here is my situation: I came here in '99 when I was 13 with a VWP and overstayed with my family. Then my family decided to move back when I was over 18 and my parents forced me to go back with them. By then I had overstayed by 2 years and 9 months after being 18 We left in 2007. In 2009, my parents decided to come back and we came back through the border, using someone else's border crossing card.

I have been married to a USC for 5 years but I always thought I was subject to the permanent bar so I never filed anything. The first attorney I went to see told me to lie about leaving since it would be the only way, but I did not want to do that. Recently, I found a place that did free consultations, so I went just to see what they'd say. The attorney said that since I had come with inspection, it was not as bad. The non-profit would not be able to help me because it is complicated and she recommended this attorney.

I had an appointment with this attorney over the phone and explained the entire thing and he said it was not an issue at all, that I'd just file the waiver for overstaying and coming in with someone else's border crossing card. The phone consultation was $200 for 1 hour so I did not have time to ask many questions after explaining everything but he said he was "95% confident" that it would go through.

Does anyone have any experience with this? I was looking at the I-601 and it states to list the reason for inadmissibility but I wouldn't know what it is exactly.

ETA: no deportation proceedings or anything. I have never even gotten a parking ticket. Also, it is $10,000 for atty. fees and filing fees, so the atty. fees are around $7500.

Thank you guys!

[heklitza]

I paid 2500 for all fees. Plus ones I paid to USCIS. It was in California (oc).

Marriage based AOS after overstaying visa for longer than a year

[MzJ]

Hello everyone! I am very new to the forum and the process. I tried looking this up before I made an account but I have not been able to find much info and I wanted to ask you guys instead. I tried reading the rules to see if this was not an allowed topic but I didn't find anything that said it was not.

My question is pretty simple: Is $10,000 a lot, average, or okay for attorney's fees + filing fees (which could be higher due to miscellaneous expenses such as FedEx, doctor's visits/reports, etc.)

I had initially seen one attorney who stated that was the cost. I did not proceed with him because he wanted me to lie on the application, so I kind of put this off for a bit while I was pregnant. Then I saw another really nice attorney and I told her about this and she was shocked, both about the lying and the price. She recommended another attorney and I talked to him yesterday. He also said it would be $10,000: $6,000 up front, $3,000 at some other time, and $1,000 before GC interview. He said if for some reason I got denied, it'd be another $10,000, possibly. I was okay with this, but I was looking up some info and I found attorney's fees much much lower. I don't mind paying whatever is necessary, but I don't want people taking advantage of my family, either.

I am in California, if it matters. Any insight would be appreciated.

Thank you!! And good luck to everyone on this journey.

As long as you don't have complicated case as in any criminal charges and so on I would recommend doing it yourself.
That lawyer is too expensive. I did all by myself and by following immihelp, lots of information in here.

[sinoptola]

I have the same question as everyone, is your case complicated? I am in Los Angeles, CA and we filed everything ourselves, and the entire process only 3.5 months. Not sure about your situation, but a friend of mine didn't go through attorney but use those same day marriage or quick chapel services that starts from $500+ (legal advice and filing). This forum has been a great help for everyone, and it is FREE.

[AMAS]

As long as you don't have complicated case as in any criminal charges and so on I would recommend doing it yourself.
That lawyer is too expensive. I did all by myself and by following immihelp, lots of information in here.

Thank you. Yeah, I probably should but I am a bit scared. Do you guys know where I could ask about the I-601 in this forum? I do think he is taking advantage of the situation, but that seemed to be his standard price and he is definitely busy because it took a month to get an appointment with him

[cali2018]

My attourney was 2500. I fired him at 2000. 7,500 is a lot. But your case is borderline complicated. I am in California tons of attorneys here.

I suggest you join Upcounsel, make a proposal with your situation. Different attorneys will bid on it and you could see if anyone you prefer.

[AMAS]

I have the same question as everyone, is your case complicated? I am in Los Angeles, CA and we filed everything ourselves, and the entire process only 3.5 months. Not sure about your situation, but a friend of mine didn't go through attorney but use those same day marriage or quick chapel services that starts from $500+ (legal advice and filing). This forum has been a great help for everyone, and it is FREE.

I was told it's complicated but I don't think it's THAT complicated. I just need to file a waiver as well. I think this is the attorney's standard rate, not the price just for me.

- - - Updated - - -

My attourney was 2500. I fired him at 2000. 7,500 is a lot. But your case is borderline complicated. I am in California tons of attorneys here.

I suggest you join Upcounsel, make a proposal with your situation. Different attorneys will bid on it and you could see if anyone you prefer.

thank you! I never heard of that. I will look into it.

[Angelo1]

Usually the fee that me and my wife paid was 1500 for the lawyer and other fees for the GC application. This took place in NYC

[azblk]

That's what I thought. I was told my case IS complicated, but not due to any crimes. I'm in the Sacramento area. Here is my situation: I came here in '99 when I was 13 with a VWP and overstayed with my family. Then my family decided to move back when I was over 18 and my parents forced me to go back with them. By then I had overstayed by 2 years and 9 months after being 18 We left in 2007. In 2009, my parents decided to come back and we came back through the border, using someone else's border crossing card.

I have been married to a USC for 5 years but I always thought I was subject to the permanent bar so I never filed anything. The first attorney I went to see told me to lie about leaving since it would be the only way, but I did not want to do that. Recently, I found a place that did free consultations, so I went just to see what they'd say. The attorney said that since I had come with inspection, it was not as bad. The non-profit would not be able to help me because it is complicated and she recommended this attorney.

I had an appointment with this attorney over the phone and explained the entire thing and he said it was not an issue at all, that I'd just file the waiver for overstaying and coming in with someone else's border crossing card. The phone consultation was $200 for 1 hour so I did not have time to ask many questions after explaining everything but he said he was "95% confident" that it would go through.

Does anyone have any experience with this? I was looking at the I-601 and it states to list the reason for inadmissibility but I wouldn't know what it is exactly.

ETA: no deportation proceedings or anything. I have never even gotten a parking ticket. Also, it is $10,000 for atty. fees and filing fees, so the atty. fees are around $7500.

Thank you guys!

Your case is very complicated. Crossing the border with **** documents is a material misrepresentation and makes you inadmissible. Stay away from any lawyer telling you is 95% doable. You will need a i-601 waiver to successfully adjust your status - not easy to get.

[ember]

That's what I thought. I was told my case IS complicated, but not due to any crimes.

Crossing the border with someone else's documents is absolutely a crime. You case is VERY complicated.

In your case, I would not suggest using other people's estimates as a baseline. If I were you, I would speak to as many lawyers as possible and get a feel for the range.

I agree that you should stay away from any lawyer who tells you that you have a 95% chance. Even lawyers (ESPECIALLY lawyers) who are experienced with cases like yours should know that it's not so easy. If it were, they wouldn't be quoting you 10 grand!!

You are talking about document fraud & immigration fraud, which are Crimes of Moral Turpitude, along with other, lesser, violations. You will have to get a 601 Waiver, which is a complicated and difficult process, and if it's denied, it's a long road through the appeals process.

Probably doable, but a LOT of work.

Here's a brief overview: https://www.uscis.gov/policymanual/P...me9-PartG.html

[AMAS]

Crossing the border with someone else's documents is absolutely a crime. You case is VERY complicated.

In your case, I would not suggest using other people's estimates as a baseline. If I were you, I would speak to as many lawyers as possible and get a feel for the range.

I agree that you should stay away from any lawyer who tells you that you have a 95% chance. Even lawyers (ESPECIALLY lawyers) who are experienced with cases like yours should know that it's not so easy. If it were, they wouldn't be quoting you 10 grand!!

You are talking about document fraud & immigration fraud, which are Crimes of Moral Turpitude, along with other, lesser, violations. You will have to get a 601 Waiver, which is a complicated and difficult process, and if it's denied, it's a long road through the appeals process.

Probably doable, but a LOT of work.

Here's a brief overview: https://www.uscis.gov/policymanual/P...me9-PartG.html

Thank you for that. I have been consulting multiple attorneys for about a year. At first I thought it was not possible to adjust. Some say yes, some say no, and this one made it seem easy. I want to make sure he isn't charging a lot just to get the money for something that is not going to be productive. I now understand why he quoted me so much more. I thought that was his standard rate.

Thank you for the information!