Initial Interview - Lawyer cannot attend

[ibelite]

Hello,

I am scheduled to go for my initial interview in about 3 weeks. My lawyer has informed me that he cannot attend and has delegated this to a different attorney. This concerns me greatly because my lawyer is familiar with the case and this other attorney is not. I would rely on the support of my lawyer during the interview to guide me along and defend me if i am put under unnecessary pressure or get asked questions that are uncalled for, etc...

Question is...is this acceptable? and if not, how can i go about challenging my lawyer to have him show up? What are the risks of a different lawyer coming to the initial interview? What can go wrong...

Thanks!

[daru786]

Nothing can go wrong, you have to make sure that the attorney who accompanies you goes the details of your case.
FYI, attorney don't do much talking, but sit there and listen.

[thnos]

agree

Like Daru said the lawyer cannot do anything during your interview. You are responsible for your own answers, this is not a court case that he can stand up and defend you...The lawyer takes notes on what you say and what you are asked and if the immigration officer decides to deny the card to you then your lawyer takes over with the details of the second interview.
Again, FYI the second interview is nothing but pleasant. Second interview means that they suspect for fraud and you will be called to answer questions of VERY PERSONAL matter regarding your relationship with your partner in life! Immihelp.com has an extensive list of questions that may be asked during a second interview!

There are red flags that are raised during an initial interview that may alert the officer to get aggressive or intimidating. BUT THAT IS NOT THE NORM! Usually the interview goes smoothly if nothing raises suspicion. Red flags are but not limited to:

HUGE age difference

Difference in culture and/or religion (if you are christian and your partner is muslim for example)

Being positive to HIV

Having an extensive criminal record

Overstaying prior visas (notoriously J and B1 or B2 visas) or illegal violation of prior immigration status (example: A person is in deportation proceedings and gets married to an american citizen and they seek green card through marriage)

Lack of sufficient proof of living together (especially if one spouse is a student studying in a different town than the town of primary residence)

Not sufficient funds to prove that you can maintain a life in the USA and demonstrate a probability that you will become dependent on the US welfare program. (living just above poverty does not look good)

Husband-Wife relation is passive-aggressive. (one talks more than the other, one is the leader the other the follower...)

Hope it helps

[daru786]

Husband-Wife relation is passive-aggressive. (one talks more than the other, one is the leader the other the follower...)

All the husbands will fail the interview on that one!