Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski (Post 482665)

So my son's GF is Haitian and was here on a student visa. She graduated in June. She has a permit to work for a year in her field. BUT she left the country for a few months and the visa expired. I guess that was a mistake (leaving more than 30 days).

Okay, none of us know anything about this, but I called my top notch Immigration lawyer who tells me she only does corporate (what conflicts could there be?) clients. But she gives me a phone number for a sole attorney. The person outlined what the GF can do, sounds pessimistic, but isn't calling anyone. she actually suggests I call my congressman (Sander Levin? NFW).

Shouldn't there be something more that she can do? I mean I know it is a real area of law, but this person just seems useless. Anyone know someone strong at this area?

Originally Posted by LessinSF (Post 482666)

I know my friend from Australia didn't dare leave the country to go home for years after she overstayed her visa. Until she got married and a green card. Six years I think she didnt see her family. The INS is not lenient.

LessinBariItaly

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski (Post 482667)

But she would be here legally under the work permit thing. It's just the dumb mistake of leaving too long. And given my practice of throwing money at a problem, I can't believe this lawyer can't do anything. Or asked another way, how can there be immigration practices in most big firms when they really cannot do anything?

Originally Posted by taxwonk (Post 482668)

The big firms tend to have immigration departments to work out all this shit for the employees of their corporate clients in advance so problems like your son's GF's don't crop up.

What she needs to do is ignore the advice of people like us (rank amateurs) and call the bar association or the local immigration law clinic and get a recommendation from someone who practices solving her type of problem.

Originally Posted by LessinSF (Post 482669)

2. Big firm immigation law is helping Indians get H1 visas to work at Cisco. I hope I am wrong, but I think she is fucked, no longer in Detroit though.

LessinBari

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski (Post 482670)

She may be (although blocked from Kalamazoo, which is better, and worse, than Detroit) but so far no one has actual knowledge of what these I lawyers do.

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski (Post 482670)

so far no one has actual knowledge of what these I lawyers do.

Originally Posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.) (Post 482672)

Seems like both Taxwonk and Less have told you what they do, which is consistent with my second-hand knowledge as well. Poor (or other than rich) immigrants tend not to hire corporate law firms for much of anything.

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski (Post 482673)

But I'm rich and offering to pay. Do they help potential employees of rich companies fill out paper, or do they ram the shit through?

Originally Posted by Atticus Grinch (Post 482674)

My experience of immigration law is that the best option is not "the best" immigration firm or lawyer, but the one that does (1) the specific thing you need (2) for people from the country you're working with. Only that person will know what has been said that worked in the past. So you need to be tapped into the Haitian immigrant community to find out who bestrides the small world of "Haitian visa violations" like a Colossus, not the guy who is recommended because he handled a tricky work clearance issue for a Austrian who later became the governor of a western state.

Good luck. Immigration law seems like an area where calling it part of the justice system is a sick joke.

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski (Post 482673)

But I'm rich and offering to pay. Do they help potential employees of rich companies fill out paper, or do they ram the shit through?

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski (Post 482673)

But I'm rich and offering to pay. Do they help potential employees of rich companies fill out paper, or do they ram the shit through?

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski (Post 482673)

But I'm rich and offering to pay. Do they help potential employees of rich companies fill out paper, or do they ram the shit through?

Originally Posted by Flinty_McFlint (Post 482678)

A friend of mine had this exact situation. It took years to resolve and get her back in the country legally, during which time included a wedding in said country. And then after all that shit, my friend and wife just moved to her home country. What the hell man, I could have saved a ton of steps and money there.

What I'm saying is, either have your son marry her, or save your money.

Originally Posted by bold_n_brazen (Post 482676)

I can assure you, as a client who hires a big law firm to handle her immigration matters, all the big law firm does is fill in forms and offer advice. They do not ram through anything because ramming through is apparently impossible.

Sadly and much to my chagrin.