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How Do I Find Competent Legal Advice for My Thai Fiancee

By Ben Hart

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 24Oct2009 Word count: 654 Viewed: 555 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

The following article is written in an effort to inform the general public about what steps they can take to avoid being duped by an unlicensed Immigration practitioner.

In Thailand, as well as many other countries outside of the United States, there is a strong desire amongst the general population to move to the United States. An unfortunate side effect of this major demand for visas and travel documents is a proliferation of "visa companies," and bogus "immigration lawyers." Many of those claiming to be experts in American visa obtainment are simply not entitled to practice United States Immigration law. A question on the minds of many US Citizens with Thai loved ones is: "How do I ensure the best legal advice for my Thai fiancee?" The short answer to this question: make certain that you and your Thai fiancee are dealing with a licensed U.S. attorney.

The above paragraph begs the question: how can I tell if my Thai fiancee is receiving legal advice from a competent credible professional? The answer: when in doubt, card them. Much like a bartender asking someone for ID who appears less than 21 years of age, prospective clients should never be too shy to ask their prospective attorney for a copy of his or her bar card or other certificate in order authenticate their credentials. 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. If the person in question evades the inquiry or becomes hostile, then this might be a sign that the person is hiding something...Possibly something very serious. If he or she provides the name of their state of licensure, then go to the internet and search for the bar association or Supreme Court of that state. 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.

At that point, any reasonable person would ask themselves: "Am I willing to trust my Thai fiancee to someone who would lie to me about being an actual lawyer?"

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." However, upon further investigation, one will quickly see that it is a narrow and deep area of legal practice, filled with pitfalls for the unwary. Failure to be one hundred percent honest in an application can lead to unintended consequences. Ask yourself, "can I put my Thai Fiancee 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. Only a licensed attorney will have the credibility to provide follow-up documentation in a 221g refusal at the Embassy.

In either case, qualifications count and the difference between a properly trained, licensed US attorney and a fly-by-night operator can be quickly determined merely by doing some due diligence and checking the individual's credentials.

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