Is this a good deal for immigration lawyer?

[Nuieve]

I contacted one office (they successfully handled RN case before), and they sent me a letter, which states the MINIMUM fee is 4000$, and initial payment of 1000$. Over the phone I was quoted 3000$, but the letter now says 4000$.

The 4000$ fee only includes:

- filing of the immigrant petition for alien worker

- ETA 9089

- application to register permanent status/adjust status

- other benefits requested such as work authorization and travel documents

It does NOT include:

- any contact outside the firm for additional consulting (such as other lawyers)

- photocopies, postage, long-distance calls

So, is this a fair fee, or is it to high?

Thanks

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

This is what my husband paid back in 1980 and that was 27 years ago. I would say it's not a bad deal. Actually, if you can read English well enough and follow the rules, you can do all this stuff yourself. What you are paying for is the avoidance of all the aggravation of doing it yourself. When you do it yourself you end up making mistakes and having to re-do some of the paperwork. Because these lawyers do this paperwork all the time they know all the nuances of it and don't have that problem. However, you still have to sit in the INS office to be seen when your final interview comes up and the lawyer won't be with you for that. Take a book. That is an experience I will never forget.

[Nuieve]

This is what my husband paid back in 1980 and that was 27 years ago. I would say it's not a bad deal. Actually, if you can read English well enough and follow the rules, you can do all this stuff yourself. What you are paying for is the avoidance of all the aggravation of doing it yourself. When you do it yourself you end up making mistakes and having to re-do some of the paperwork. Because these lawyers do this paperwork all the time they know all the nuances of it and don't have that problem. However, you still have to sit in the INS office to be seen when your final interview comes up and the lawyer won't be with you for that. Take a book. That is an experience I will never forget.

Daytonite,

Thanks for tuning in. Actually, they state in the letter that they can sit with me during the interview too (for a fee, of course). I don't mind paying 4000$, all I wanted to know if it is a fair price (I read somewhere once that the average price is 2-3k). I did my visa student paperwork myself, but AOS is way too important matter to take any risks, so I will have a lawyer (even if theoretically I could handle it all myself). Thanks for letting me know of your experience. :)

[suzanne4, RN]

The average fee is not $2000 to $3000 including all, unless done by a paralegal. And I never recommend that the petitions be done by them and the attorney just sign off on them. Have seen too many returned for additional information; in the US right now, and trying to go thru AOS, they will just send the petition back.

Fees also almost doubled just a couple of weeks ago, so the rates that they quoted on the phone more than likely changed.

[Nuieve]

The average fee is not $2000 to $3000 including all, unless done by a paralegal. And I never recommend that the petitions be done by them and the attorney just sign off on them. Have seen too many returned for additional information; in the US right now, and trying to go thru AOS, they will just send the petition back.

Fees also almost doubled just a couple of weeks ago, so the rates that they quoted on the phone more than likely changed.

Suzanne, thanks for clarifying that. Sounds reasonable to me. I guess I'll go on and hire this lawyer.