How can i check my wife immigration status? i-765 n i-485

Question

hello

i have received my green card since 1998 and i have tried to file for my family right after i received it. but my lawyer told me not to do it at the time because he wanted me to wait until i have my us residency(passport) to apply for the entire family. so my wife and 4 kids have been in this country since 10 years but have no legal status. in january 2008 i went to apply for the working permit and green card application for my wife via the same lawyer to whom i have paid the fees and all but this is 8 month later and i have still not received a working prmit for my wife nor has she been called for fingerprint. im worried that my lawyer is a cheat and i would like to get some advice. is there any ways for me to check if the uscis has received anything regarding the working permit or i 485? in 2004 the i-30 petition was accepted meaning that she could file for green card so now she has the A number or alien registration number. also my so called lawyer told me that i should not file for the kids at the same time as my wife for some reasons. i mean if the wife is eligible shouldnt the kids be too?

my daughter are about to go to college and still have no legal status. i dont even know if they will be able to go to college right after high school.i think he is trying to charge me for every individual in my family and make money out of me. i went to see him today to get some exp[lanation but he got me lost in his legal jargon... im trying to go to another lawyer but i dont want to have two applications with the gvt. he is telling me that he filed for my wife since january 08 but she has not been called for biometric nor did she receive a working permit.i no longer believe in this guy but im stuck with him because i paid him and he said he has filed it already.

when i tried to check the status on the website , it just says that the i-30 petition has been approved since 04 but i have no news for the working permit nor the i485

please what should i do.i really need help. i have had the green card for 10 years now but i have been manipulated by this lawyer and cheated out of my money i believe...

Answer 1

Go to the USCIS website and check the status by plugging in the receipt number.  If you do not have a status there, I would suggest writing to USCIS yourself, calling their field office. etc.

Immigration lawyers can be very incompetent due to the fact they have easily been able to manipulate and cheap non-English speaking immigrants. I myself have had bad experience with immigration lawyers.

If all else fails, I would do a research on a good immigration lawyer or through a non-profit group.

Answer 2

With immigration everything works on receipt numbers, ask the lawyer for the receipt numbers from the filing of the I 485, I 765 (work permit)and all other paperwork filed, then go to uscis.gov and check your case status online. If he can't or won't give those numbers to you then he probably has cheated you.