Why did immigration lawyer keep the Serbian passport of my husband?

V

verali

New Member
Hi,

I am a US citizen and I am applying for a green card for my husband. He scheduled to go for fingerprinting next week and they ask for an ID. The lawyer kept his Serbian passport and that is the only ID my husband has for now. I was just wondering if it's a standard procedure and what's the reason? Can my husband get his passport back so he can show some form of ID for fingerprinting?

Thank you, I would really appreciate any input.
 
Please update. This kind of practice goes on in middle east, where they keep passport of foreigners so that they can't leave. This is the first time I am hearing something like this happening in usa
 
Some lawyers want the passport so they can look through all the pages with their own eyes and take copies of the important pages. But if they're doing that, it's before the I-485 filing so they can submit the copies with the application. And when they do that, they don't need to keep the passport for any length of time, they can just have their paralegal or secretary make copies in 5-10 minutes and give it back to you on the spot. It's really strange that he would ask for the passport at this stage, after the I-485 was already submitted. And if he took the passport before the I-485 filing, he should have given it back already.
 
Probably ,Lowayer will ask for more money after all is done .
Tell your huby to go and get it right now, not calls , no apoitment, jusst go and sey you wan your passport. It is not lawyers to ask why your huby wants his passport.
 
I second bassman. Offer the lawyear a full copy of passport, including the cover page and all and I mean ALL the pages, again did I say every single page of passport.
Get the passport back.....
 
Don't call him to fuss at him. Play it smart, go to his office, tell him nicely( or his para legal) that you will need the passport for biometrics, since that is the only id he has. Afterwards don't give him yours or his passport, ever.
lady even the us government doesn't require to submit originals, ...
play it smart
 
Don't know about the passport for the country in question, but it actual states in US law that a US passport is property of the US government and shall be returned to the government on demand.
 
I agree that's government property and they will give definite reason why a us citizen can not have a passport or have their passport surrendered.
this lawyear has no right to keep his passport,
also for the aos purpose, they ask for photocopies and not originals,
thank you
 
Did you and your husband sign a contract or a retainer with the lawyer's office? If so, check to see if it says the lawyer's office has the right to hold on to the passport.

Either one of you might want to contract the embassy or consulate here in the US and ask if the passport is property of the government, and/or if another person other then the one listed in it is allowed to have ownership of the passport, even on a temporary basis.
 
That's a very good advice dhlunar. I hope the lady update us with the result. Hopefully we can help someone else because of her experience.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top