Immigration Lawyer???

Q: I probably don't need one, but rather safe than sorry. Two questions for those who have experience. 1) Where should your lawyer be located? My wife (foreign national) and I (US citizen) live in Japan, my wife's temporary green card was initally obtained in Boston, her INS file is now in Honolulu, our I-751 petition is in Vermont, but we plan to move back and reside in the NYC area. If we hire a lawyer wher should he/she be located? NYC? Does it particularly matter? Probably most/all consultation will be done via phone while we are still overseas. 2) Are there lawyers who will simply provide basic advice for an hourly fee or is it necessary to turn everything over to them (one lawyer with whom I spoke would only take our case if he handled everything). Our case is not terribly complicated, and I just need a few pointers here and there. Any advice appreciated.

A: -1. It would probably be easier to get a lawyer where you plan to live, although it is not necessary in regards to most non-litigious immigration issues. New York has certain advantages in that it is where you will live, thereby making contact with the attorney easier (you need to keep on top of us sometimes). Also, you will not have a problem finding a good attorney in New York since there are so many experienced immigration attorneys there, but you may find they charge more than in other parts of the country. I am in Houston, Texas and could represent you in most matters, but you may want to see me and talk to me, maybe even yell at me, and the distance would cause you a problem. However, since you are in Japan right now, and if the work needs to be done before you come back it really doesn't matter does it? 2. I suppose under certain circumstances, I might provide limited services, but it really isn't worth your money or my time. I am concerned that if you screw up your petition because of something that you did and I did not do, you would blame me for not doing that which you did not want me to do. It may seem unlikely now, but just wait to see how patient and understanding you will be when your wifes immigration papers are all confused, and the only person(s) you have to blame is/are yourself and/or you attorney. You may be a big enough person to realize that the fault lies with you, but I am not putting my reputation on the line. Your mistakes may come back to haunt me. -Your comments sound reasonable. It is just tough to be in a position where I only need a little help, but the only option seems to be to go the whole hog and actually retain a lawyer. Turns out though I got most of the info I needed by my own digging around. So if I screw up I'll have only myself to get mad at

Immigration Lawyer???

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