For those of you who have used an attorney for your I-601...

[Klame1983]

So, we are using an attorney for our I-601 waiver packet, however, I'm really confused with what he wants to do.

He said he's going to write a brief and that I'm just going to write a narrative/affidavit talking from "the heart". Now, I'm really confused with what he meant. From what I understood, his brief will tie in our hardships into the legal context.

Now, what am I supposed to write? For those of you that have used a lawyer, what did you all write, if anything.

Thanks. I am just sooo confused.:wave:

[LilB]

This is pretty much Laurel's way of doing things as well. She does the brief after you give her all the supporting documents. You write the narrative from "the heart". It's allowed to be emotional because it's a piece of evidence. Someone WITHOUT an attorney will not be so emotional when writing their HSL. Hope this helps.

[Laura]

That sounds normal. I think Lynette posted both Laurel's brief and the letter she wrote - that is a good example. Laurel's brief is of course factual and includes legal context, but also addresses the hardships. Her letter was more emotional, and it touched on the hardships but there was more reliance on the brief for all the factual stuff.

[Laura]

Spend four days with someone and apparently you start having the same ideas at the same time. :)

[Pinkpig]

Here is a brief synopsis:

Our lawyer, very early in the process, had each of us write an essay in answer to this question: If our DIL is not able to come here legally, how will (I) our family suffer? If our son has to go to Brazil to live with her how will (I) our family suffer.

My essay turned into a small novel. We sent these to the lawyer. These essays gave her ideas into what the hardships would be. She then did interviews with each of us to clarify and probe issues that she thought would prove the hardship. Then she put them into affidavit form (using our own words).


After the lawyer had these from our son, our DIL, my husband, myself, and our other son, she formulated an overall strategy as to how our hardship story would flow.

Then the lawyer gave us a list of things that she wanted documentation for. She gave ideas of a couple of different documents that would work to prove each claim (i.e., IRS documents, death certificates, dr letters, medical records, psychologist reports, etc.)

Her lawyer's brief explained our story and quoted the law and tied everything together to give an overall grouping of reasons why they could not deny her waiver approval.

She used our affidavits as documentation for our claims. She also later on interviewed our son's best friends since age 10, and made an affadavit for him. She also had us get letters from friends and she told us what she wanted them to write about. She put each of these into affidavit form.

All the affidavits were signed originals. None were notorized.

So the lawyer planned the overall strategy and then she had us fill in the skeleton with other people's essays, and all of the documentation.

[rosie_jaime]

basically you are backing up everything on your attorney brief, it's just in your own words and of course expressing yourself emotionally.

[Klame1983]

Great everyone!!! With all of your responses and examples, I starting to get a clear picture of what I need to do.

AHHH... I'm so stressed right now!!! I just want to pull my hair out!!!

[Mami-cinco]

I would be happy to pm you my letter I wrote. Let me know.

[Klame1983]

mami-cinco... I sent you a PM.

[y14gemini]

Hey Klame as everyone else wrote it si something you write that comes from the heart.

[simply-heartfelt]

That sounds normal. I think Lynette posted both Laurel's brief and the letter she wrote - that is a good example. Laurel's brief is of course factual and includes legal context, but also addresses the hardships. Her letter was more emotional, and it touched on the hardships but there was more reliance on the brief for all the factual stuff.


This is what my attorney had me do also.....