Athens 601 waiver.

[Tatiana]

Can anyone tell me how hard are the adjudicators in Athens now to approve waivers. My husband was denied his visa for two moral turpitude offenses. I have spoken to several lawyers. Some of them tell me I have an 80% chance and others tell me I have a 10% chance of getting approved. Now, who do I believe? Also, they charge me between 5 to 7 thousand dollars. Is it better to use a lawyer for 601 approvals? is there any chance of getting approved without a lawyer? I have heard this office in Athens doesnt even look at your case if you dont have at least a one number 1 harship. I am so scared I dont even know where to start, I feel like we are losing our minds.
Can anyone give me any info on this?????? :blush:

[monki12]

hi tatiana...
normally i suggest that if you have criminal issues to deal with you should get a lawyer. YOu could do it yourself, but when a case is complicated it is easier for a lawyer to do it. We have a list of recommended lawyers. One lawyer Laurel Scott (www.visacentral.net) and Heather poole. A waiver does run around 5-9 thousand dollars, depending on the lawyer. Do a consultation with either laurel or heather and they will point you to the right direction. good luck.

[albayrak]

Traditionally this has been a very tough office to get an approval from, though it just received a new OIC. Extremely unlikely to approve case without at least one Level 2 argument, and at least one Level 1 argument preferred. Has been known to deny cases even with a Level 1 argument if the alien’s immigration history is especially complicated (e.g. multiple deportations and misrepresentations). If Counsel has the option to have the case adjudicated through another office then do so. It is advisable to not go through Athens if there is another option. Always investigate the option of having the client move to a country in Europe so that the waiver will not go through Athens. It is taking 12-14 months for a decision. If you do not have any approval from this office..... you are better off with an appeal that will be reviewed not in Athens.
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[Tatiana]

wow...I guess we are in trouble, because there is no chance of getting our case through another office but Athens. This is why I asked before, because some lawyers dont give me any hopes, but then others are offering me even an 80% chance. Im just afraid they are after the money and not telling me the truth. At least I want the truth to be prepared for the worse. Thanks for the reply, even though it broke my heart. :(

[albayrak]

well ...tatiana i am sorry if i broke your heart but here is the truth about the Athens...
my waiver has been denied with level 2 arguments and i have the best immigration lawyer from ny-nj area... i was not be able to move any other country to do my waiver with any other office but for know i appealed it ...my wife is an american and we have been sperated for 4 years... after all...
i am just preaying for everyone to let their dreams and hopes come thru and wishing you good luck...

ps: if i would have this experiance about waiver and etc. for 4 years ago ... i would not be telling my wife to get a lawyer... as for me just wasting the same time and the MONEY!!!

[blueblue]

Athens sucks, IMO. There have been a few approvals on the board but I believe the majority were denied, including ours.

In our case, our waiver was denied as not suffering enough, but they ignored most of the hardships we presenting, ignored our daughter as a qualifying relative, even accused us of having a fraud marriage after our I-130 was approved at the embassy by DCF, ignored that we had shown that no waiver was required because the embassy mistakenly said my husband was inadmissibile, plus much more. We filed an MTR which they did not even look at, just sent it as an appeal to the AAO. This was all under the current OIC Georgia Pappas. When the AAO finally reviewed our case, they dismissed it because my husband was never inadmissible!!

They don't seem to bother themselves too much with the actual law or Congress intent, just use what parts of it fit best in their denial template.

That being said, if you have no other choice but to use them, I would recommend using an attorney to present your case in the best way possible. One that had lots of Athens experience, according to Laurel, is Norma Ayoub. You can find out about her here: http://www.ayoublaw.com/about.htm

Wish you a speedy approval.

[Tatiana]

How sad, I have had 2 lawyers told me I have an 80% chance of getting an approval from Athens...I guess just like you...I will be one more fool that will be putting her money in the air just because they give us so much hope when they see us do desperate, and they dont think of the sacrifice we have to make to get this money. If people only knew the sacrifices and burdens everyone here makes, to get the money to pay the lawyers to help us with 601 waivers. By the time we finish the process, we are going through bankruptcy and we still dont have the one we love with us. I guess the other choice is to use the best and cheapest lawyer in the whole universe (GOD!) pray for his guidance through this process, and ask for his angels to hand deliver our papers and touch the hearts of those who are reading our petitions and our hardships. Heyyyyyyyyyy...how many people did he feed with 3 fish? and didnt he open the sea for his people to cross it? didnt he resurrected from the dead? Tell me if he is not the best? YES HE IS! what lawyer am I recomending? JESUS CHRIST. Good luck to all, and God bless and help all of you in this sad and rough journey. Faith can move mountains. As for me...Im a poor lady with a great love awaiting for me on the other side of the world. Im putting my case in God's hands, and may he take care of all.
SI DIOS CONMIGO, QUIEN CONTRA MI? (Filipenses 4:13)