Sent in AOS package May 10th, still no word

[EmmillJ]

Hello, I've been a lurker on this site and decided to finally join so that you may advise me.
I decided to use a lawyer because my husband and i don't know much about this process and we were afraid that being an overstay would hurt my chances. i used this site and others to do the research and put together a completed aos application which i handed to a lawyer that had come highly recommended. I gave him all of the paper work and paid him $2500 on April 28th. He said he mailed it out on May 10th. We still haven't received and NOA and when I call USCIS they have no record of me or my husband. He said they (USCIS) issued an RFE, but he has no proof of this or proof that he'd mailed it out in the first place.
I think I should fire my lawyer and start over (this makes us very sad, we've been waiting patiently for nearly 3 months now with nothing to show for it).

Is it a bad idea to fire a lawyer in the middle of the process? should i hire another one or should we just do it ourselves (even though I'm an overstay)?
Thank you

[barbarajlw]

Hello, I've been a lurker on this site and decided to finally join so that you may advise me.
I decided to use a lawyer because my husband and i don't know much about this process and we were afraid that being an overstay would hurt my chances. i used this site and others to do the research and put together a completed aos application which i handed to a lawyer that had come highly recommended. I gave him all of the paper work and paid him $2500 on April 28th. He said he mailed it out on May 10th. We still haven't received and NOA and when I call USCIS they have no record of me or my husband. He said they (USCIS) issued an RFE, but he has no proof of this or proof that he'd mailed it out in the first place.
I think I should fire my lawyer and start over (this makes us very sad, we've been waiting patiently for nearly 3 months now with nothing to show for it).

Is it a bad idea to fire a lawyer in the middle of the process? should i hire another one or should we just do it ourselves (even though I'm an overstay)?
Thank you

You have paid good money and should demand from your lawyer a receipt of when he sent your AOS off. This is just wrong or you have been ripped off which would be a shame. Your AOS should cost you $1070 and you can include EAD and AP application as well. You can do this on your own as long as you follow the instructions thoroughly. If he sent it May 10th you should have received a receipt I-797 within 4-6 weeks. You should also have been sent a letter for your biometrics appointment too. You say there was a RFE sent to you but your lawyer does not have it? This all sounds really wrong to me and a major red flag. You need to DEMAND your lawyer give you some information and don't pay another cent to this person and make sure you get the information you need. If USCIS say they have not received your application then how can he say he got a RFE something not adding up here.

[EmmillJ]

Thank you so much for replying to me. It is a bad situation that my husband and I are trying to fix. I told him I want my money back and my file since he cannot produce any proof that he has even mailed my package. Even the support team at the Chicago Lockbox has no record that our package went through there. I agree that there's no way I could have an RFE without a receipt, which is why we decided to fire him. But now we want our money back and we're trying to figure out if we have to start all over again or not.

[barbarajlw]

Thank you so much for replying to me. It is a bad situation that my husband and I are trying to fix. I told him I want my money back and my file since he cannot produce any proof that he has even mailed my package. Even the support team at the Chicago Lockbox has no record that our package went through there. I agree that there's no way I could have an RFE without a receipt, which is why we decided to fire him. But now we want our money back and we're trying to figure out if we have to start all over again or not.

You make sure you get your money back and all your paperwork and don't leave his office till you get it all. I am so sorry you had this happen to you some people are so horrible in this world.

[freecontributor]

Hello, I've been a lurker on this site and decided to finally join so that you may advise me.
I decided to use a lawyer because my husband and i don't know much about this process and we were afraid that being an overstay would hurt my chances. i used this site and others to do the research and put together a completed aos application which i handed to a lawyer that had come highly recommended. I gave him all of the paper work and paid him $2500 on April 28th. He said he mailed it out on May 10th. We still haven't received and NOA and when I call USCIS they have no record of me or my husband. He said they (USCIS) issued an RFE, but he has no proof of this or proof that he'd mailed it out in the first place.
I think I should fire my lawyer and start over (this makes us very sad, we've been waiting patiently for nearly 3 months now with nothing to show for it).

Is it a bad idea to fire a lawyer in the middle of the process? should i hire another one or should we just do it ourselves (even though I'm an overstay)?
Thank you

By now you should at least get a receipt about your case! One thing you don't want to quit after you has paid this sum of money, second don't let the lawyer ( or whatever scammer) rip you of, and the third thing, get your right because this is unfair! It is absolutely ok to transfer your case to another lawyer: just go find a credible lawyer and explain the situation, the new lawyer will be in charge of requesting your case from the former lawyer, not you! BEFORE all this: Do some research about how to report a lawyer malpractice! Also don't tell your lawyer anything yet. Get all your receipts ( proof that you paid the lawyer) and go to your district congress and seek help! They should be able to help you. One advise for everyone on this forums: BEFORE ANY IMMIGRATION PROCESS, CHECK TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LAWYER HAS LICENSE TO PRACTICE. Google the information about lawyers, you should be able to see the backgrounds, reviews, and if the lawyer is part of the American Immigration Lawyers Association ( AILA). Good luck to you!

[lionofafrica]

Mail to NBC

You are just wasting precious time, your lawyer has not submitted nor file any paper on your behave, you can fill the application now, sent it to Chicago lock box from there to NBC. You don't need a lawyer to fill and submit your application, but if you want a lawyer to follow you to the interview you can hire one for that purpose only or if you want a lawyer to handle the case after submitting the application you can also do that If you have $1010 it is better to submit another application and then face your lawyer for a refund of the previous money paid and if albeit the application was submitted by the lawyer with evidence to show, you will only lose some money and not time plus money as it is now. Overstaying your Visa will not affect your chances of AOS and getting GC, as long as you are married to an America( citizen) not someone with GC. USCIS will forgive overstaying for immediate relative application( married to a citizen), as long as you do not have any other eligibility issue and the marriage is valid, not for Visa purpose.

Goolluck.
Lionofafrica