Reviews

I have had the pleasure of working with Bernard Sidman and his team on several occasions. I managed obtain two H1B visas and a green card through him. One of my employees let me go unexpectedly while I had the H1B, and Bernard was swift in giving me good advice and fliing the second H1B with my new employer in a timely manner so I could stay in the country. The prospect of uprooting my life and having to get on a plane and return to the UK was not something I wanted to entertain. He was supportive and compassionate. Bernard is factual and straight to the point. Sandra and Angela who are part of his team are quick to pass messages on and they always have gotten back to me promptly. I have and will continue to recommend Bernard and his team to anyone. He has lots of experience and knows the law. His fees are reasonable and I managed to get my green card in 7 months, No forms were ever returned for lack of information like I have had before. Bernard Sideman's firm are thorough and I would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone who wishes to negotiate the mindfield of immigration to the USA.

Sidman failed to gain a Green Card for me on two occasions. Sidman also failed to mail me J1 application documents for my London trip to the US Embassy – to this day, he has never sent them to me. Intentionally withholding documents from a client is illegal. Without these, a US Embassy interview would be void & a waste of travel time & money ($1000 & 5000miles). He also charged me $5000 for the J1 visa application where I later found out the average rate is $1200. My father had to mail these documents to me from the UK yet I was immediately rejected by the Embassy regardless. I was overqualified & Sidman should have known this. I retained a new, competent lawyer who, with just one education document requested, submitted this through Sua Sponte Motion and my green card was successful within 3 weeks. This was a single, one page critical qualification document that Sidman failed to request from me to submit. He ignored my repeat suggestions to include this information. He had submitted similar evidence about the same qualifications prior, to the INS, so knew full well of the qualification’s merits. My new lawyer contacted Sidman so I could recoup legal fees – Sidman never responded. He stated in writing Sidman had shown ‘intention or reckless violation above and beyond negligence and also said Sidman could be ‘subject to a 212(e) bar for 2 years, bordering on fraud. Any reasonable immigration attorney would advise the client of such a monumental change in their original immigration plan.’ Four well established lawyers also agreed that Sidman was repeatedly negligent. From this, I filed Arbitration against Sidman with the Los Angeles County Bar Association and I won. The Arbitrator confirmed that Sidman failed to provide a full retainer agreement on THREE jobs hired to do (2 Green Cards & J1 visa). Sidman admitted, in Arbitration under oath, he had never heard of a Sua Sponte Motion. Sidman had to reimburse me substantial legal fees as a result of Arbitration yet has failed to obey the law and not paid up by the deadline demanded, even though I’ve notified him and his office twice.