I’m in the process of applying for permanent residence in the US. I answered all his questions and filled in the paperwork required for labor certification. By the date labor cert was supposed to be approved, I got in touch with him for another matter and I drop a line asking how’s it going about labor cert. I didn’t get anything on this topic. Well, I thought, maybe it was too soon to ask. Give him a couple of weeks.

After another month without a word from him, I ask him more directly, expressing discomfort about the lack of news.

For all answer, I get a 1 and half line note saying Chicago Labor Cert. offices are now closed, my case has been transferred to Atlanta, and there will be a delay of many months.

First, shouldn’t he come straight to me if something affecting my application “for many months” had happened? No apologies about the miscommunication. And no case ref. # for me to find out how’s my case directly with labor cert.

This attorney was endorsed by my employer. I did not find anything fishy about him in the state bar association, and, as far as I know, all other credential info was correct. But this attorney and the person at my job in charge of my file have taken care of my case with excruciating slowness, they’ve covered each other’s butts before about the delays, and I am deeply concerned about the lack of transparency.

Any thoughts or opinions from someone experienced in these matters?

I plan to meet with him, and if he does not answer my questions to my satisfaction, I’ll hire someone else, but I’m concerned about delaying the process further and losing the retainer.