Do I need a lawyer for my EB i-485 interview ?! please advice

M

mhd

Registered Users (C)
my case is straight forward, still working for the same employer... i dont know why they transferred my i-485. the lawyer is asking for $1,000(!!!) to represent me in the interview :confused: (the interview is usually less than half an hour and it is local ,no travelling).
please share your experience with interviews at local INS offices.
 
It is up to you

MHD,


It depends on how confortable you feel going by yourself. I was in the same situation as you (working for the same sponsoring employer). I assume they sent you a letter with the date of the interview, and I imagine (if it was the same letter I got) they requested a LOT :eek: of information. I went by myself (my attorney was charging $500 but the day before the interview I went to her office and she reviewed all the package I prepared and said "you don't need me but I still would go if you want me to" :rolleyes: ) It took me more or less 10 hours to gather all the information they requested, copies, additional file for me in the case they request to keep the information requested, etc., and a last visit to my attorneys to gather any documentation I did not have. My interview went well (it was exactly a year ago) and I did not get my GC at that time due to retrogression. By the way, wich office you were transferred to?

Wish you the best of luck!! keep us posted.
 
mhd said:
my case is straight forward, still working for the same employer... i dont know why they transferred my i-485. the lawyer is asking for $1,000(!!!) to represent me in the interview :confused: (the interview is usually less than half an hour and it is local ,no travelling).
please share your experience with interviews at local INS offices.
Click to expand...
No need at all since your case is straightforward. I had an interview and it didn't even cross my mind to have a lawyer to go with me. Of course, I never used an immigration lawyer.
In any case, the interview could last as short as 5 minutes. Nothing fansy. Just an interviewer sit across the table and ask you couple of questions. But the interviewer is usually absent-minded about what is in your file and what he/she has requested you to bring. So bring everything. Including the things the interviewer didn't ask for. I made a mistake by only bringing the request documents and the only thing she ended up asking for is what I didn't bring.
 
Evidence for interview

wildthing said:
Just an interviewer sit across the table and ask you couple of questions. But the interviewer is usually absent-minded about what is in your file and what he/she has requested you to bring. So bring everything. Including the things the interviewer didn't ask for. I made a mistake by only bringing the request documents and the only thing she ended up asking for is what I didn't bring.
Click to expand...

Wildthing, it happened the same to me!! the only thing is that I brought things that they did not ask for but the IO asked for something completely different :eek: , (of course, she asked for most of the things requested in the letter) I just told her that I did not have them since they were not requested and she was ok. My interview lasted around 10-15 mins.
 
what are those documents ?

thank you guys for the info...can you please share what other documents
(other than what they request in the interview notice) they asked for and you did not have with you at the time of interview?
 
to AJVM

AJVM,
thank you for the info..i was transferred to Cleveland,OH
i received an interview notice with ALOT OF REQUESTED DOCUMENTS
i am working on it now..i'll keep you posted
 
Copies.. copies...

mhd said:
thank you guys for the info...can you please share what other documents
(other than what they request in the interview notice) they asked for and you did not have with you at the time of interview?
Click to expand...


Last W-2 (even though I got the transcripts for my taxes direcltly from IRS), and I got all employer taxes forms from my sponsoring company.

Also asked for the whole tax return for the company. I told the officer that I only had the main form (1020 if my memory serves me right) but the entire return was more than 100 pages long.

Instead of saying "I don't have it" I said "I don't have this but you can find part of the information here".

When is your interview?

Have a great weekend.

AJVM
 
AJVM said:
Last W-2 (even though I got the transcripts for my taxes direcltly from IRS), and I got all employer taxes forms from my sponsoring company.

Also asked for the whole tax return for the company. I told the officer that I only had the main form (1020 if my memory serves me right) but the entire return was more than 100 pages long.

Instead of saying "I don't have it" I said "I don't have this but you can find part of the information here".

When is your interview?

Have a great weekend.

AJVM
Click to expand...

interview date is november 2nd.
i dont think i'll be able to bring tax forms of my company since it is a huge hospital and the numbers are scarry( hundreds of pages...millions of dollors!)
but my problem is i cannot locate my W-2 (they're asking for the last 3 years W-2 forms) any idea where can i get those from?

have a nice weekend too and thnx for the reply
 
mhd said:
interview date is november 2nd.
i dont think i'll be able to bring tax forms of my company since it is a huge hospital and the numbers are scarry( hundreds of pages...millions of dollors!)
but my problem is i cannot locate my W-2 (they're asking for the last 3 years W-2 forms) any idea where can i get those from?

have a nice weekend too and thnx for the reply
Click to expand...
your employer should be able to get you a copy of the W-2 forms.
 
To AJVM and mhd

Hi AJVM and mhd,

How long did it take to receive the interview notice after you received the transfer notice? Also, at which center was your I-485 originally received? I recently received the tranfer notice (back to NSC) and appreciate it if I could get an idea of how long to wait for the interview notice. Thank you.
 
ychumich said:
Hi AJVM and mhd,

How long did it take to receive the interview notice after you received the transfer notice? Also, at which center was your I-485 originally received? I recently received the tranfer notice (back to NSC) and appreciate it if I could get an idea of how long to wait for the interview notice. Thank you.
Click to expand...

my center was NSC
transfer notice 9/12
interview notice 9/29

good luck
 
Thanks for the information, mhd.

That was fast to receive the interview notice after the transfer notice (~3weeks). I thought the transfer notice said it will take several months to schedule the interview. Hopefully it won't take that long.
My case is a little different from yours, my I-140 was based on NIW. Thanks again.
 
My dates

ychumich said:
Hi AJVM and mhd,

How long did it take to receive the interview notice after you received the transfer notice? Also, at which center was your I-485 originally received? I recently received the tranfer notice (back to NSC) and appreciate it if I could get an idea of how long to wait for the interview notice. Thank you.
Click to expand...


ychumich,

My filing date to TSC: 9/2/003
Txfer date to MIA office: 4/15/04
Interview notice date: 7/28/05
Interview date: 10/6/05
I was not stamped at that time due to visa availability (EB3 ROW, pd 11/01)
 
W-2

Try giving a Buzz to IRS as well. They should send you copy of returns.

mhd said:
interview date is november 2nd.
i dont think i'll be able to bring tax forms of my company since it is a huge hospital and the numbers are scarry( hundreds of pages...millions of dollors!)
but my problem is i cannot locate my W-2 (they're asking for the last 3 years W-2 forms) any idea where can i get those from?

have a nice weekend too and thnx for the reply
Click to expand...

Good Luck for your interview.
 
Today is the I-Day!

Mhd,

I just noticed today is your interview date, please let us know how it went. Hope by the time I am writing this you're already approved :) , keep us posted

AJVM
 
VSC to NSC for interview

Hello,
I got the following message today:
------------------------------------------
On November 8, 2006, we transferred your I485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or to Adjust Status to our office in LINCOLN, NE for them to schedule and conduct your interview. Scheduling can take several months. Our office in LINCOLN, NE will notify you when they schedule your interview or take other action on your case.
-----------------------------------------
Is it normal for a case to be transferred from VSC to NSC even though I live in New Jersey? How long does it generally take to get the interview letter?

Thanks.
PRB
EB1-C
485: RD:Jul-15-2006
 
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