onetimeonly

Does anyone have any personal experience with a really good immigration lawyer in the bay area? My previous lawyer has since retired, but my current GC is expiring this year and I think its finally time to file an N400. Most of the lawyers I can find on Yelp and Google reviews all have 5 stars, which just seems way too fishy. I have nothing to worry about but that doesn't stop applying terrifying me, there's no way I'm doing it by myself. God forbid something goes wrong.

S Folinsky

I think the world of Angela Bean in Oakland (www.beancard.com).

There is a plethora of excellent attorneys in the Bay Area.

Nutmegger

Have you looked at the forms? It really is incredibly simple to file for naturalization -- using an attorney is just throwing money away.

Rete

It appears that OTO knows himself well. Those who are uncomfortable, perhaps fearful of government interactions, lack confidence in their ability to handle forms and stress, should have the assistance of a skilled immigration attorney regardless of how ridiculously simple the form is that needs to be prepared.

Since an attorney assisted him before with his visa and/or adjustment of status, he might not remember just what was put on the forms (I don't know how he obtained his LPR status, or if the poster is even a he ) and might FU by claiming something on the N-400 that was not claimed on the I-485, etc.

Good luck with your search for a new attorney and please be aware that attorneys and their paralegals make mistakes, as well. Double and triple the N-400 before signing for accuracy.

Pulaski

I agree with this 100%+

It might not be obvious, but unlike every other step in your immigration journey, the naturalization step is the one step that the federal government actually wants you to complete.

Therefore the process is easy and straightforward, and the "interview", such as it is, for a native English speakers who has any awareness of Anglo-American history and the political process in the UK, is pretty much a joke.

tom169

N-400 can be filed online which may help as there is form validation.

GeoffM

Imperfect as I found out just the other day

The form itself was easy enough. Working out my travel dates outside the US was actually the hardest part for me as I'd archived a load of stuff. But what Rete said - our "journey" was straightforward but it sounds like the OP had a few more steps.

onetimeonly

Thanks. I know they're probably happy people file but I'll happily waste some money on a lawyer to take some stress off. I've not much enjoyed being just a resident of another country, I feel like I'm always on eggshells, so this last step to no longer have to worry and be a citizen is freaking me out. Btw, I have nothing eventful, I moved here through marriage and used a lawyer for the initial process and the adjustment, but that was ages ago and the lawyer since retired.

RICH

My opinion. If you have money to burn on a lawyer, it seems odd you would be on a free forum looking for advice.

Noorah101

The only advice he asked for is a lawyer recommendation.

Rene

kateinbrooklyn

Check out avvo.com. Having a 5 star review on yelp or google isn't necessarily suspicious; just check that they're members of AILA. The N-400 forms are relatively straightforward, but plenty of people hire lawyers to see them through that final hurdle.

GeoffM

I know the eggshell feeling.

Why don't you try the online form? You don't pay unless you submit, and if you don't submit it then it dies after a month as if it never existed (it's not like it gets withdrawn). I only had to look up a couple of questions and the rest was straightforward.

Apart from re-wording any questions you don't understand, I'm not sure how an attorney is going to help you, except relieve you of your cash. Free advice on this forum!

Nothing against attorneys, just prefer to cut out the middle man if not required.

Rete

We don't know he is only here for advice.

Look peps, we know the N-400 is a simple and straightforward form and that the USCIS / US wants you to naturalize and makes it super easy.

Some people are not comfortable doing it themselves. OTO is one of them. His naturalization; his choice to go it alone or with legal assistance.

scrubbedexpat099

Why would you need to know anything about UK politics?

Pulaski

You wouldn't, it was a typo.