why hire a lawyer?

[hawkyfan]

My wife is ewi and we'll be filing the I-130 soon, but I just don't understand why we should hire a lawyer. Maybe it's my frustration with the system and my natural distrust of lawyers, but after hearing 3 different possible courses of action from 3 different lawyers I'm very skeptical. My wife has no criminal history or deportation order and is a very hard working and honest person. Lawyers will tell you what you want to hear because they want business but the truth is they really can't do anything until the laws change. I guess we'll just have to wait until the next mid-term election when someone really "cares"!

[DeBenny]

Welcome to I2US, first of all!

Well, actually many of the users on this site have not used a lawyer for their cases. I think that it is based on your own personal choice, if you do. However, like I said, many of the users have not used a lawyer. Some lawyers are not even aware of the HSL, infopass system, etc.

[Laura]

Hmm.. there is something you can do to "fix" your wife's status, but you don't NEED a lawyer to do it. A lot of people on this site have gone through the process of legalizing our EWI spouses without a lawyer, others have done it with a lawyer. Not all lawyers are just out to get business, some actually care. Very overworked Laurel Scott is one of them. She can't take all our cases, but she shares information with others that allows them to attempt the process on her own.

If you hire a lawyer for this process just make sure they are knowledgeable and experienced with cases just like your wife's case. If she EWI and has never left and re-entered the U.S., and you said she doesn't have a criminal record, she should be eligible for the waiver. She will have to leave the U.S., to have her interview in Mexico I assume (if that's where she's from), but if you do your own research and spend a lot of time on your waiver package, there is a very good chance you can be approved.
Many people don't have to wait for the laws to change - there are exceptions, particularly if she lived here for a while and then left and EWI-ed a second time. But if that's not the case, start reading around here, particularly the sticky posts in the I-601 Mexico section, and decide for yourself if you need a lawyer.

[hawkyfan]

Let me apologize for my most cynical posting. Frustration getting the best of me again...we've decided to go "sin abogado" 4 now at least. we have a pretty complicated situation, and thank you for the saludos!

[DeBenny]

Could you post some more details on your case?

By the way I didnt find you to be cynical. This process is very frustraiting, draining, confusing and at times brings out the rage in us. Normal feelings of this "guessing game".

Good luck with everything and post your questions. We are all here to help one another out! :D

[Laura]

Why is it complicated?

[sandra191406]

Hi,

I think you can fix your wife's status on your own. I just recommend doing a LOT of research on the entire process so that all goes well. I have read several stories where people did not use any legal help. My husband also EWI and we have already filed the I-130 and it was approved. As I understand, after this it is forwarded to the NVC. Our application for some reason was at the NVC but then was returned to USCIS. This is where we have been stuck for a while and I know we took a wrong turn somewhere so now we are looking into a lawyer just because we don't want to make other mistakes and lose more time and money. :blush:

[ourboys2]

The reality of it is that changing the law for immigration is pretty much a bunch of hype. It is election year and the candidates need hype to get elected.

Don't wait, cause it could very well take over a year to get your I-130 approved. But the likelihood that the laws will change could very well take forever.

[Sabrina022203]

We went with a lawyer and it was super smooth. I made sure to do some research and our attorney only did immigration law and nothing else. We didn't have to do to much to be honest, but provide what she asked for. She did our HSL and I did my own letter also. She was amazing!! It was $$$ but worth it since my hubby is home. If you don't have time to put everything together and educate yourself on immigration then I would go with an attorney. I think most of us have had either a good or bad experience with a lawyer. If it is complicated I would look for advice on here first and then go from there. Good luck and let us know what we can do to help.

[Laura]

Sabrina - you should PM Pinkpig to have her add your attorney to the recommended list!

[Chikimyrn]

there are lots of guidelines and most in this forum have become "experts" at looking up information, laws, forms, procedures, etc. Many times just do your homework, read the stickies, and if you can't find it ask. best wishes.

[cs&mswaiting]

Please post details about why your case is complicated so everyone can understand a little better. We did have a lawyer, but just as well had not had one cause I ended up doing all the work myself. I should have payed myself $2500 :) or at least spent it in CDJ !!