fatbrit

Don't like bullies, do you?

Elvira

Does anyone?

Matthew Udall

OK, let me try to give a more precise answer: My opinion does not matter, nor would it change the nature of the activity in question.

Elvira

That's where you are precisely wrong. See my previous post...

fatbrit

So why bully poor posters about it?

You are, of course, quite free to comment when you believe their advice contains errors or otherwise. And given your profession, I'm sure that much weight will be placed on those replies. For myself, however, this factor in your favour would be mitigated by your condescending attitude to us mere civvies.

Matthew Udall

I know it’s not a popular subject (And I’d like to say thank you to everyone for helping to keep this current discussion civilized), but as FatBrit has already mentioned; at least in his humble opinion, it is a subject that might be worth discussing.

And what if my concerns are legitimate? Would it not also be a crying shame if people hurt others or themselves in an environment that seems to invite one to engage in this sort of activity?

Please don't shoot the messenger. I would think the best place to seek clarification is with your own representatives, or perhaps even the agency in your own state that can answer the questions one might have about whether or not something might be considered UPL.

fatbrit

Elvira: It's a bit like an anti-hunt saboteur going to a hunt and then protesting when they "accidentally" fire his way. WTF does he expect the reaction is going to be!

Elvira

What on earth are you on about now?

Matthew Udall

Just what I said. In the context of the discussion: I'm not employed by any state's agency that polices UPL, and my opinion does not matter. If someone has concerns about whether they might be engaging in UPL, or if they just want to learn more about the subject/topic, there are people and agencies that could probably help them reach an informed determination. That's all.

Matthew Udall

I expected it not to be a popular subject. Doing the right thing (or discussing an unpopular subject) and seeking popularity points do not necessarily go hand in hand.

Elvira

Too true. And nobody else seems to be interested. And I have a life...

Tara then

fatbrit

You place the words: "Attorney, ALIA Member" in your header.

On your signature line, it states:
Matthew Udall - Attorney
http://members.aol.com/MDUdall/fiancee.htm
Member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Helping clients across the United States with their fiancee/marriage/family based immigration cases.

You have therefore already raised yourself well above the hoi polloi. Your mere mention of this subject will therefore raise more alarm than your average poster.

bionomique

Oh, we're on this subject AGAIN! My Aunt Fanny tried to tell me the other day to put a plaster on my hang-nail. Well, I said, "forget it, I'm not listening, I've been told that is bordering on the illegal. Let me see your shingle first". Needless to say she had no qualifications, and whilst awaiting an appointment to see the regional skin specialist, my keyboard is a nice marbled red and grey.
Now I ask you, and please be honest, when was the last time you trotted off to the local skin specialist when you had a hang nail?

Point is, we can take this conversation from the ridiculous to the sublime. Some information is clearly stated, even available from USCIS on their web site. If people were driven to secure an immigration specialist for non-essentials, immigration specialists would be inundated with volumes of cases, rendering each case deprived of the attention it might and does require, and none of the qualified experts would be available to spend the time required for the cases whose success depends entirely upon such expert attention.

P.S. I see more recommendations from the DIY-ers for others to seek expert immigration advice than you are inclined to acknowledge.

fatbrit

Your brave martyrdom together with your previous claims of merciless bigotry are ringing rather hollow to my ears, I'm afraid.

If you wish to discuss, why not start a new thread rather than hijack other threads with your concerns in a rather bully boy manner. I will happily join you if only to keep you off everyone's back so they can get down to the actual business of the NG and attempting to give their feeble, layperson's advice to the OP. If the OP, having seen your posts in this NG, wishes to engage such an excellent proponent of the law as yourself, I'm sure s/he's quite capable of using the address you so thoughtfully provide in your signature line.

Matthew Udall

Ah, the old Aunt Fanny practicing medicine without a license analogy. I love that one as a similar analogy “always” comes up during these discussions!

But actually, that brings up an interesting point. I don’t have the citation at my fingertips, but I believe the Code of Federal Regulations spells out who can provide legal services (including legal advice) to others and I believe there is an exception that would seem closer to your Aunt Fanny analogy. Perhaps it might be worth looking into, to see if groups like this fall into any of the permitted exceptions or perhaps in figuring out how to get a group into compliance with one of the exceptions.

I don’t think authoring a book would by UPL, nor would a library be in violation by allowing one to visit and read information while there. That is more in line with a true do-it-yourselfer who does their own research.

Non-essentials? You dismiss each legal question as being non-essential? Surly you are not advocating the dismantling of cites like this due to being unnecessary?

So you are familiar with the caseload, or work capacity of every immigration attorney? I’m impressed.