kamalraj paudel
New Member
ok respected moderator sm1smom...
DV 2016 Winners Meet Here
- Thread starter n.n.
- Start date
Sm1smom
Super Moderator
Please read this, (I believe @EURO2014 earlier on provided you with this particular link):
http://travel.state.gov/content/vis...re-selected/prepare-supporting-documents.html
And this:
http://travel.state.gov/content/vis...visa/interview/prepare-for-the-interview.html
CHME
New Member
Thank you for these links! I am aware of these instructions. Actually, I have already printed and taken a (quick) look at what they are saying. However, I was just wondering about the translation because our lawyer's secretary told us that there is no need to have our documents translated . So I have been really confused. I must show him the above link.
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Sm1smom
Super Moderator
I will suggest you take more than 'a quick look' at those links. It's in your own best interest to spend some quality time going over those links and follow the additional links they refer to as pertained to the embassy where you will be doing your interview. Your lawyer/lawyer's secretary isn't personally vested in your success with the process, so you can't leave your fate in their hands. You have access to the internet, you have a good grasp of English, buckle down and do the necessary reading on your own. The DV process (the consular process in particular) is quite straight forward, it shouldn't require the services of a lawyer IMHO.
CHME
New Member
Well, that's why I had the pages printed. I need them in paper in order to be able to study them thoroughly and satisfactorily. No, I don't rely solely on my lawyer, I do my searching as well. But we pay him to to carry out the procedure. I and my husband work, our children study and I also made a little mistake concerning our eldest child (in the initial application for the green card lottery) so the lawyer helped with this. Moreover, I have to say that it feels better if you have some professional help. My lawyer is an American citizen, residing most of the time in the USA, so I suppose he has a good knowledge of things.
On the other hand, I feel like needing something more, such as this type of contact & communication here, through this forum ; reading about similar experiences really helps a lot. And you are all very kind here.
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Britsimon
Super Moderator
The "little mistake" sounds ominous - what was the little mistake and what was the help provided by the lawyer. I ask to ensure you are being advised well....
CHME
New Member
No, no, it's ok. It has already been solved. Nothing serious. But thank you anyway!
Britsimon
Super Moderator
OK
Sm1smom
Super Moderator
Well, majority of the selectees who have successfully gone through the process in the past (and are currently going through it) equally work, same thing with their spouses and they also have children in school - they were still able to successfully complete the process on their own without paying any lawyer a penny. And by the way, the fact that your lawyer is an American citizen isn't a guarantee he knows jack about the DV process! The AOS Thread is full of stories of selectees who hired lawyers in the US to assist with their case and almost lost the opportunity of successfully completing the process.
CHME
New Member
You give me the impression that you criticise me for having chosen a lawyer to help me. I had no idea that it is something unacceptable.
SusieQQQ
Well-Known Member
I must wonder if it was nothing serious why it needed a lawyer
My experience of lawyers, certainly underscored by many reports here in this forum, is that they are always happy to take your money, whether or not they know what they are doing. If there is a conflict between what your lawyer's secretary is telling you and what the official instructions are telling you, as you seemed to indicate, then you really need to think about this again.
And yes honestly the process is not difficult. My husband and I both worked full time (and by full time I mean closer to 60-hour weeks than 40-hour weeks) with 2 kids and still managed to easily do everything needed for DV.
SusieQQQ
Well-Known Member
It's skepticism born of many reports here of things going wrong when lawyers get involved. It's more of concern to save you money and heartache, not intended to criticize you.
CHME
New Member
I must wonder if it was nothing serious why it needed a lawyer
My experience of lawyers, certainly underscored by many reports here in those forum, is that they are always happy to take your money, whether or not they know what they are doing. If there is a conflict between what your lawyer's secretary is telling you and what the official instructions are telling you, as you seemed to indicate, then you really need to think about this again.
And yes honestly the process is not difficult. My husband and I both worked full time (and by full time I mean closer to 60-hour weeks than 40-hour weeks) with 2 kids and still managed to easily do everything needed for DV.
Your question seems fair, but the fact is that our decision to hire a lawyer had nothing to do with my mistake. Actually I found out about it after my lawyer pointed it out for me and told me that we had to correct it. I have to say that our lawyer is specialised in this kind of visas and in immigration laws. I don't know why his secretary gave us the wrong information yesterday but we will find out soon about it (already sent him a question about it) and let you know about it if you want. It's really helpful to hear that the process is not difficult and I am really glad that you did well. I wish you the best of luck in your new country and I hope I am there too soon
.
CHME
New Member
What place of the USA have you moved to?
Sm1smom
Super Moderator
No, I'm not criticizing you for choosing to pay a lawyer to assist you with the process. I however did take offense at the way your response came across - it sounded to me like you were saying other people could afford to handle the process on their own because they and their spouses do not work, nor have children in school, while you on the other hand, including your spouse are two busy working and raising/supporting your children who are studying.
In addition, I'm very skeptical of lawyers' help regarding the DV process - I've read too many horror stories about their claims at being able to move heaven and earth which turns out to be otherwise.
CHME
New Member
I don't understand. How is it possible that I might be implying that other people could afford to handle the process on their own, since it is obviously something that doesn't concern me. Even if it concerned me though, why should I choose to be critical of others' decisions? I talked only about myself and what me and my family did. I really cannot understand why you misjudged my words so much, but I guess that's how forums (fora) are.
As far as the lawyers' part -genegally speaking- is concerned, doesn't this forum belong to a lawyers' site? So why is there this skepticism of lawyers' help?
SusieQQQ
Well-Known Member
Your question seems fair, but the fact is that our decision to hire a lawyer had nothing to do with my mistake. Actually I found out about it after my lawyer pointed it out for me and told me that we had to correct it. I have to say that our lawyer is specialised in this kind of visas and in immigration laws. I don't know why his secretary gave us the wrong information yesterday but we will find out soon about it (already sent him a question about it) and let you know about it if you want. It's really helpful to hear that the process is not difficult and I am really glad that you did well. I wish you the best of luck in your new country and I hope I am there too soon
See, that's the issue. DV is a tiny part of general immigration - 50000 visas a year, almost all of which are done without lawyers, vs around a million other immigrant visas a year - and many lawyers who have vast experience in other types of US immigration have only ever handled a handful of DV cases, if that, and are unaware of some of the key differences between DV and family/employment based petitions. Nevertheless you seem determined to use this guy despite already being given wrong info so I guess all that is left is to wish you best of luck for the rest of the process and hope you have smooth sailing.
SusieQQQ
Well-Known Member
"Here" refers to the forum, not where I live. (Which happens to be the best part of the US
)
Britsimon
Super Moderator
Because, as the others have said, lawyers rarely have any idea about how DV lottery cases work.
Generally speaking, people doing consular processing don't use a lawyer, because the process is simple and the forms are simple, If someone reads and follows the instructions, there should be no issue. So - we are skeptical about lawyers that say they are expert in DV matters because that is almost always not true. They may be used to immigration, but not DV (which has some quirks). So, to us a lawyer is simply charging fees unnecessarily, typically exploiting a simple case.
Cases processed in the USA (adjustment of status) are more technically challenging because the forms are more complex and there is some complexity in what status people adjust from. Since many people in the USA had already used a lawyer for their temporary visa, some use a lawyer for their AoS case. More often than not, the lawyers introduce delay and complication. They also introduce an unnecessary expense.
As Susie points out DV is around 5% of immigration annually. 5% of the 5% are the more complicated AoS cases, and some smaller percentage of those are through a lawyer. Hence, lawyers that claim to be expert in DV are usually exaggerating.