Complaint Review: John F. Roth & Associates - Nanuet New York

I applied for a visa planning on bringing my fiancee to America from Ukraine. We started paperwork and I visited her to collect all the necessary documents per the advise of John Roth and the paralegals that were then currently working in his office. As we were filing paperwork, my relationship ended and it was not necessary for me to continue with Mr. Roth's firm; however, I did have a conversation with Mr. Roth and expressed my concern over what I had spent and we agreed upon a resolution. I would be able to continue my search for someone else and when the time was right, he would only charge me a nominal fee for starting new paperwork with someone else. Less than 1 year later, that came to pass and he was honorable in holding to our agreement. We filed our paperwork and followed the rules layed out by Mr. Roth in my initial interview. Our fiancee paperwork came in as expected... 5 months and we were going to Kiev to complete the medical requirements followed by the Embassy interview. While I did not know what to expect, it couldn't have been easier. Tanya waited 3 hours for the interview, but when the Embassy official saw me sitting in the waiting room with my fiancee, then interview lasted less than 2 minutes. The only question she was asked was, "Is that your fiancee with you?" Upon answering in the affirmative, he let her know her visa was approved.

I would recommend John Roth in the future, but would certainly like to make clear some other information would have been helpful. The first, let the US citizen fiancee know she will not get her Visa that day or the next... This caused some confusion for me and I had to make another trip to help her pack 2 weeks later once the Visa was delivered to Tanya. Second, make sure that US citizens know which forms to file and fees to pay for when doing a transfer of status. I made the mistake of listening to Tanya as she was getting her information off the Russian web sites and it was certainly inaccurate. We paid for a work permit that was already included when you file the transfer of status. So others know, you should also apply for the travel documents at the same time since it is also included.

Of course, I am not an attorney, so please do your own research, but this was my experience and I felt I should share it with whomever decided to research this attorney.

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I am a current client of Attorney John Roth. I had no problems what so ever in contacting Mr Roth, in fact you can even schedule a conference call right on his web site. Best time to call is before 12pm est, they are busy in the afternoon - as all attys are. My fiancee's visa was approved no problem in Kiev Ukraine. The interview lasted under 2 min! Document prep & Review was excellent! Kiev Attorney Surgey that works with the firm was super! Mr Roth answered all my questions and was always polite and provided accurate answers. My Fiancee had nothing at all to do but notarize a few of her documents - easy! I'd recommend both parties show up for the interview, the embassy seems to like that in my opinion. I saw some of the work of other law firms that were also applying for a K1 visa here, thru the same marriage agency, and the preparation was poor - very poor! Mr roth's work was excellent and I recommend him to anyone.

I am not licensed to practice law in New York but if I was, I think I would take a second look at this. Attorneys are supposed to take a retainer IF they agree to take your case and then to keep you advised whenever there has been any action in your case. THEY ARE NOT HAND HOLDERS TO BABYSIT YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY AND TO WHISPER ENCOURAGEMENTS EVERY STEP OF THE WAY BECAUSE COURTS CAN BE CAPRICIOUS AND JUDGES CAN BE WRONG AND THE OPPOSING PARTY CAN APPEAL AND IT CAN GET INTO A WHO HAS THE DEEPEST POCKETS CONTEST. NO LAWSUIT CAN HAVE GUARANTEED OUTCOMES. Paralegals are NOT attorneys at law and they CAN NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS OF LAW! They know the law as good or maybe better than most attorneys in Texas where I am -- however IN NO STATE I KNOW ABOUT CAN A PARALEGAL GIVE LEGAL ADVICE AND YOU CAN'T EXPECT THEM TO. It is not the attorney's fault. It is that the paralegals have not gone to law school and are not licensed to practice law. When you are asking questions of law to a paralegal, they really can't answer. And don't confuse a paralegal with a legal secretary. A legal secretary works for a law firm and she or he knows how to answer the phone, prepare legal documents and maintain the files and file relevant records. She or he can't answer questions of law either and neither a legal secretary or a paralegal can give an opinion concerning yuor case. They have to refer that to the attorney. You should have had a progress report on how your case is progressing, what actions have been taken on your behalf,etc. And I don't know why your attorney took these evasive actions. If I had been the attorney, I would have seen you and the billable hours fee would have kicked in. Attorneys are on the clock after the initial consultation. I think your attorney was trying to save you those billable hours. But he should answer your questions and I think he should BILL you for that.

Well, she continued to use our attorney services right up until the end (despite calling us a "sham", etc.). Now here is the kicker - her boyfriend lied during the embassy interview about his criminal record and was judged inadmissible to the U.S. I had asked the client as recently as two days before the interview whether her boyfriend had ever been convicted of a crime and she said "no" (in writing, by the way). We removed ourself from the case per our contract because the client had misrepresented a material fact to us from the very beginning of the case until the end. Even she couldn't argue with this. Now she has to find another attorney to file a (very expensive) waiver application. Nice girl. Just the type of dishonest and manipulative person who uses claims of abuse to abuse others on Ripoff Report.

Well, she continued to use our attorney services right up until the end (despite calling us a "sham", etc.). Now here is the kicker - her boyfriend lied during the embassy interview about his criminal record and was judged inadmissible to the U.S. I had asked the client as recently as two days before the interview whether her boyfriend had ever been convicted of a crime and she said "no" (in writing, by the way). We removed ourself from the case per our contract because the client had misrepresented a material fact to us from the very beginning of the case until the end. Even she couldn't argue with this. Now she has to find another attorney to file a (very expensive) waiver application. Nice girl. Just the type of dishonest and manipulative person who uses claims of abuse to abuse others on Ripoff Report.

Well, she continued to use our attorney services right up until the end (despite calling us a "sham", etc.). Now here is the kicker - her boyfriend lied during the embassy interview about his criminal record and was judged inadmissible to the U.S. I had asked the client as recently as two days before the interview whether her boyfriend had ever been convicted of a crime and she said "no" (in writing, by the way). We removed ourself from the case per our contract because the client had misrepresented a material fact to us from the very beginning of the case until the end. Even she couldn't argue with this. Now she has to find another attorney to file a (very expensive) waiver application. Nice girl. Just the type of dishonest and manipulative person who uses claims of abuse to abuse others on Ripoff Report.

Well, she continued to use our attorney services right up until the end (despite calling us a "sham", etc.). Now here is the kicker - her boyfriend lied during the embassy interview about his criminal record and was judged inadmissible to the U.S. I had asked the client as recently as two days before the interview whether her boyfriend had ever been convicted of a crime and she said "no" (in writing, by the way). We removed ourself from the case per our contract because the client had misrepresented a material fact to us from the very beginning of the case until the end. Even she couldn't argue with this. Now she has to find another attorney to file a (very expensive) waiver application. Nice girl. Just the type of dishonest and manipulative person who uses claims of abuse to abuse others on Ripoff Report.

Yes, that's right. She still wants us to continue as her law firm. And why not? Look at what the reality is http://www.arctec.com/testimonials.html, or the comment by one of our clients (consumer) above. This person has a very troubled relationship with the truth (there wasn't a single truthful sentence in her "report"), and with reality in general, it has often seemed to me and my staff. Because I tried to protect my other clients from her incessant calling and emailing (she apparently thought she had purchased a toy in addition to legal services when she hired our firm), and invoked the following language from our contract: "If a client engages in excessive, unwarranted telephone calling that clearly constitutes an abuse of the fixed fee arrangement, and hinders our ability to provide quality legal service to our other clients, then we may ask such client to desist, and, failing that, may assert a right to bill the client for the unreasonable additional contact." ...she threw a fit. Now she is determined to avenge herself. Everyone knows the type. If she really believed in her complaints, she would take the matter to the bar association, or some other reality based rather, than virtual, tribunal. I'd love to debate this matter in a forum where the actual facts could be checked, rather than through hit-and-run slander and reply on the internet.

Three years ago I used the services of John Roth and Associates. They help me fill out a finance visa. John was available for a phone call anytime I needed him. But most of the time his staff could handle my questions. Our application for K-1 Visa was approved in less than 6 months. John was so through I experienced no problems with the documents at all. My fiancee was meet in Moscow by John's associate there. She was fully briefed on her interview. Her paperwork was reviewed and placed in proper order. And sje was escorted for her medical exam by John's Moscow associate. John Roth was not a sham for me. He did an excellent and professional job. My wife was here in American 9 months faster than my friend who used no attorney at all. JOHN ROTH IS THE BEST David and Oksana