A non-lawyer charging for attorney services?
2 years ago when my husband and I applied for my green card we decided to go to a "non-profit" organization that assists immigrant with their legal matters.
I forget the breakdown of adjectives the fees, but it totaled $1300, a good chunk of that was "office fees".
2 years subsequently it's time for me to fill out the I-751 form to get my 10 year green card...I received a very rude send for from the man that helped us at the immigration center giving me a not so friendly reminder...he was going to charge a total of $1200, $500 of which was "department fees", to apply for the I-751 it's a total of $545.
The man that helped us, is the "director" of this immigration center...but is not qualified as a lawyer in no path shape or form (he says so himself), so my question is (sorry it took a while) how do they get away beside charging their "office fees"?
And by the way I recently found out he is individual sued by someone he charged over $2,000 and didn't provide the service.
Answers:
That would be illegitimate - he is not a lawyer, he's practicing (and trying to charge) without a license. www.youneedanidea.com
He is charging you for helping with the paperwork... and believe me $500 is a bargaing if you compare the fees of a Lawyer in this process, It took me $2000 Lawyer fees when I applied for my GC. Under particular circumstances they can charge you for filing and paperwork services (paralegal type work) as long as they don't present themselves as lawyers. Why? Are you looking for a way to avoid paying him?
Did you get anything in writing what the charges were to use this service? Did they show you their charges earlier hand? If this organization is dealing with immigration issues as a non profit after you were aware of the charges involved in the first place as you have used them earlier.
So he provides assistance in filling out your application forms for you and then you don't want to take-home pay him? You were fully aware of the charges last time and it didn't bother you then, why in a minute is it an issue for you to pay?
I hear of this happening adjectives too often. I think there necessitate to be stricter laws on who can and cannot advertise themselves as immigration attorneys. This guy is probably just a paralegal.
My husband and I JUST file his I-751 form yesterday. We compiled all the evidence of our relationship and filled out the form ourselves - just similar to we did with his original I-485. It's really not as hard as this man at the immigration center is probably trying to describe you it is.
Either try to fill the forms out yourself, or if you are worried that you aren't going to do it correctly, try to employ the services of an immigration attorney with verifiable credentials.
I option you the best of luck and will be praying that everything goes well with your I-751!
Resolved Questions:
4056-5.html
Why are Americans so Non-American?
I mean seriously many believe only if you are a citzen of the United States you deserve time liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is shameful how people throw away civil liberty and humane treatment if your not legally part of the country. Your dying sorry not part of our country so basically die, we could...
I forget the breakdown of adjectives the fees, but it totaled $1300, a good chunk of that was "office fees".
2 years subsequently it's time for me to fill out the I-751 form to get my 10 year green card...I received a very rude send for from the man that helped us at the immigration center giving me a not so friendly reminder...he was going to charge a total of $1200, $500 of which was "department fees", to apply for the I-751 it's a total of $545.
The man that helped us, is the "director" of this immigration center...but is not qualified as a lawyer in no path shape or form (he says so himself), so my question is (sorry it took a while) how do they get away beside charging their "office fees"?
And by the way I recently found out he is individual sued by someone he charged over $2,000 and didn't provide the service.
Answers:
That would be illegitimate - he is not a lawyer, he's practicing (and trying to charge) without a license. www.youneedanidea.com
He is charging you for helping with the paperwork... and believe me $500 is a bargaing if you compare the fees of a Lawyer in this process, It took me $2000 Lawyer fees when I applied for my GC. Under particular circumstances they can charge you for filing and paperwork services (paralegal type work) as long as they don't present themselves as lawyers. Why? Are you looking for a way to avoid paying him?
Did you get anything in writing what the charges were to use this service? Did they show you their charges earlier hand? If this organization is dealing with immigration issues as a non profit after you were aware of the charges involved in the first place as you have used them earlier.
So he provides assistance in filling out your application forms for you and then you don't want to take-home pay him? You were fully aware of the charges last time and it didn't bother you then, why in a minute is it an issue for you to pay?
I hear of this happening adjectives too often. I think there necessitate to be stricter laws on who can and cannot advertise themselves as immigration attorneys. This guy is probably just a paralegal.
My husband and I JUST file his I-751 form yesterday. We compiled all the evidence of our relationship and filled out the form ourselves - just similar to we did with his original I-485. It's really not as hard as this man at the immigration center is probably trying to describe you it is.
Either try to fill the forms out yourself, or if you are worried that you aren't going to do it correctly, try to employ the services of an immigration attorney with verifiable credentials.
I option you the best of luck and will be praying that everything goes well with your I-751!
Resolved Questions:
4056-5.html
Why are Americans so Non-American?
I mean seriously many believe only if you are a citzen of the United States you deserve time liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is shameful how people throw away civil liberty and humane treatment if your not legally part of the country. Your dying sorry not part of our country so basically die, we could...