Choice of a migration/citizenship lawyer

[NiKo2b]

I've read everything I could about migration and citizenship (including the 63 pages thread), and I have a better idea of what I need I guess.
I'd like now some up to date information to help me make a better choice for the lawyer.

As I understood, there are two main options that are often recommended here:

- Celano : good lawyer to obtain a regular resident permit (rentista, maybe investment), everybody seems quite positive about him, might not be interested in immigration anymore? No idea of the price.

- Dr Rubilar : good lawyer, doesn't need resident permit, helps to get citizenship, a few mentions that some of his clients are trapped in a loop. In general very knowledgeable. More expensive (some mentionned 6,000 usd).


For some reasons, the second solution would be easier for me. But I'd be happy to hear your feedback about both of them, especially if you used their service.

 

[Frank2000]

Depending on your situation, you might also want to check with Paula Carello She is a great immigration lawyer, well connected, speaks many languages including English, and has reasonable prices. She has offices in BA, Rosario, and Cordoba. Whatsapp contact is +54 9 341 744-0184. You can also find her in LinkedIn. Her e-mail is [email protected]

 

[pacientecero]

I retained Celano to handle my temporary residency and a recent renewal. The cost was $1500 a couple years ago, but I think it's gone up a bit. The renewal cost $700.

They did a great job and have always responded fairly quickly to me when I've had questions, even between securing the initial residency and the renewal.

As far as the losing interest thing, I remember seeing a post recently from someone trying to contact them from outside Argentina not getting a response. They seem to be pretty busy and may focus on people that are already here. Just a guess.

 

[NiKo2b]

Depending on your situation, you might also want to check with Paula Carello She is a great immigration lawyer, well connected, speaks many languages including English, and has reasonable prices. She has offices in BA, Rosario, and Cordoba. Whatsapp contact is +54 9 341 744-0184. You can also find her in LinkedIn. Her e-mail is [email protected]

Thanks. What do you mean by depending on my situation?

I retained Celano to handle my temporary residency and a recent renewal. The cost was $1500 a couple years ago, but I think it's gone up a bit. The renewal cost $700.

They did a great job and have always responded fairly quickly to me when I've had questions, even between securing the initial residency and the renewal.

As far as the losing interest thing, I remember seeing a post recently from someone trying to contact them from outside Argentina not getting a response. They seem to be pretty busy and may focus on people that are already here. Just a guess.

Thanks. Indeed, might be easier to do it from inside the country anyway.

 

[MissM]

I've read everything I could about migration and citizenship (including the 63 pages thread), and I have a better idea of what I need I guess.
I'd like now some up to date information to help me make a better choice for the lawyer.

As I understood, there are two main options that are often recommended here:

- Celano : good lawyer to obtain a regular resident permit (rentista, maybe investment), everybody seems quite positive about him, might not be interested in immigration anymore? No idea of the price.

- Dr Rubilar : good lawyer, doesn't need resident permit, helps to get citizenship, a few mentions that some of his clients are trapped in a loop. In general very knowledgeable. More expensive (some mentionned 6,000 usd).


For some reasons, the second solution would be easier for me. But I'd be happy to hear your feedback about both of them, especially if you used their service.

Nico, what do you mean by some of Dr. Rubilar’s clients reported being trapped in a loop? Can you elaborate? Was it due to poor advice by Dr. Rubilar, due to poor advise by a previous attorney…?

 

[NiKo2b]

Nico, what do you mean by some of Dr. Rubilar’s clients reported being trapped in a loop? Can you elaborate? Was it due to poor advice by Dr. Rubilar, due to poor advise by a previous attorney…?

I have not much information. Some members claimed that a few times in various threads. But I’ve got also good feedbacks about him, he seems to be a good lawyer in general.

 

[GMan_27]

I have not much information. Some members claimed that a few times in various threads. But I’ve got also good feedbacks about him, he seems to be a good lawyer in general.

He takes on the toughest of cases. Getting citizenship without a DNI or just walking off a plane and claiming citizenship types. It would make sense people feel like its a loop when he is really taking on these tough cases. No doubt he is good at what he does.

 

[NiKo2b]

Makes sense. Thanks for your input!

 

[FallenAngel]

I would be wary of Christian Rubilar. What he tells people has all the hallmarks of a scam. He wins very few cases. And unlike what GMan_27 said he does not take the most difficult cases. His bread and butter cases nowadays are Russians with Argentine children.

The idea that you can come to Argentina without residency and then get citizenship 2 years later is a scam he sells people. Has it ever occurred? Yes. However, this relies on the fact that Argentina judgements are at the complete discretion of the courts. So, occassionally one of these cases will slip through, but it is very rare. The majority of Rubilar's cases end up as failed. Look at my post history for a few.

Another scam he tells people is you can just arrive and he can file a case for you immediately. This is so he can collect money from you faster! If you actually stay here 2 years first, then that means he has to wait 2 years to collect money from you. At that point you may already leave after deciding you don't like it here. So, he tells you he can file a case immediately so he can collect his fees immediately.

Does this have a benefit to the client? NO! First of all, you will have about a 50% chance that your case will just be immediately rejected. At which point you will just have a dead case sitting there for the next 2 years. In the other 50% of cases they will let you file some paper work like the background check etc and no one will look at it. Then, around two years, they will say you have to re-file all that stuff because it expired.

So, this does not really help you at all. It is to scam you out of fees. Sure, if you filed at the 1.5 year mark and you were in the 50% of judges that allowed this, then it might help you because then at least all the stuff you did just would not expire.

The reality is that Christian Rubilar has probably over 1000 cases. He wins 10-30 cases a year. The vast majority of his wins are people with residency and people with an argentine child. Very few of those cases are his classic "2 years no-residency, file after you walk off the plane with foreign income" cases that he advertises.

He only talks about those cases because lots of people see it as "easy" so will pay him fees to do "magic". But, it doesn't work! Unless you win the lottery and happen to get a judge that lets your case slip through. There are only a few cases like that a year. Do you want to take your chances?

If you look at my post history you will see some of his "paralyzed" cases. I might post some more because there are literally hundreds. If you want citizenship, get residency. Be 2 years here legally. Then, you do not even need a lawyer. You can file the case yourself and you will get citizenship.

 

[FallenAngel]

To add to this, Christian Rubilar may actually be the worst case for a citizenship lawyer. The judge has ultimate authority to decide your case. They are basically a dictator in their domain. As a result, not having a bad relationship with the judges is a good idea.

Due to Rubilar's antics such as mass-filing pointless cases of people that walk off the plane, frequently calling the judge natzis and islamists (and other nonesnese which he has been fined by the court for), etc, you can see Rubilar has an antagonistic relationship with the judges.

If you want fast citizenship you want a lawyer with a cooperative relationship with the judge not an antagonistic one! This is not the the USA. The judges have much more power. They don't even have to follow precedent. If they want to paralyze your cases in endless motions, then there is not really anything you can do, hence why Rubilar has an ever increasing number of cases being paralyzed at the court.