Retaining Reputable Counsel For My Thai Fiancee
A major concern for anyone seeking to retain legal advice regarding an Immigration matter from Thailand: how can I tell if my Thai fiancee is receiving legal advice from a competent credible professional? The answer: ask to see some credentials. Similar to a policeman asking a driver to produce a drivers license, a prospective client should not feel shy about asking to see their future attorney’s licenses in order to verify their credibility. Further, ask the attorney what law school they graduated from and in which state he or she is licensed and in good standing to practice law. Should the individual attempt to dodge the question or if he becomes angry, then one could take this as a sign that the individual is not being completely candid about something…or is not what they say they are. Should the attorney provide information about the state in which they are licensed, then the next step is to check the attorney’s name against the State Bar or Supreme Court list of practicing attorneys. Every state maintains a database listing all of the attorneys licensed in their jurisdiction. If the “attorney” is not on this list, then further inquiry may be required.
Usually at this phase, most people would wonder: “Am I going to trust my Thai fiance to an operator who fabricates information about their legal credentials?”
United States Immigration rules and regulations are a complex and constantly changing area of American law. On the surface, United States immigration may appear to be a straightforward endeavor and there are those who claim it is merely “filling in forms.” In many cases, after looking at the situation more closely people often find that this body of law is highly technical and complicated to the point of being nearly byzantine. Failure to be one hundred percent honest in an application can lead to unintended consequences. Ask yourself, “can I put my Thai fiance in the hands of someone who tells me to lie to the U.S. Government?”
Ignorance of relevant immigration rules and deadlines can lead an unwitting couple into a situation where they are unable to achieve their immigration goals in the time frame they desire. When hiring an Immigration Attorney stay away from so-called “visa companies,” and “visa specialists,” as they are unsanctioned by the Immigration authorities at USCIS. The operators to be most on the lookout for often use the even more sinister tactic of claiming to be an actual attorney when in fact they are unlicensed and often have not even graduated from an accredited law school in the US. This type of unscrupulous individual should be avoided at all costs, if for no other reason than the fact that if problems arise with the application only a licensed attorney can explain the situation to the authorities at USCIS. Generally, Embassies and Consulates will not accept 221g follow up documentation from an unlicensed attorney.
For more information please see: k1 visa.
