Bernard Sidman Law Offices

BEST SERVICE AND PRICE\r Before choosing Bernard Sidman I called and attended consultations for over 20 lawyers. My VISA was very important, I had to make sure I was able to return to the US as soon as posible.\r Bernard was very honest and told me all my options which were better than what I have heard from the other lawyers. The cost did not matter to me but his cost was also a lot lower than most. My wife suffered a family tradegy and his assistant Sandra had me back with my family within that week.\r Carlos A. R. more

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. more

You cannot get any better lawyer than that.\r \r Bernard is very competent to what he does. We put all my options down and we decided that my best option was a J1.\r \r I was amazed how professional his approach was, he guided me all the way through it, and it was an easy process.\r He requested documents which I produced, he asked me questions that I answered, he asked me about my qualifications and I presented them.\r \r Nothing could be more simple and professional than this.\r \r Regarding the price, it was a fair price for the result I got and for the procedure to get it.\r \r If you are looking for the best immigration lawyer in the US, look nowhere else but Bernard.\r \r Thanks a million Bernard,\r \r A very happy client.\r \r Hec. more

Mr. Sidman,\r \r A few years ago you got me legal!!!\r Thank you very much ! I am now married and I have produced a couple of movies, thanks to you!\r \r God bless you,\r \r I will never forget what you have done for me, and my case was not easy at all. On the contrary it was very complicated and I did not believe that anyone would make it in helping me. It seems I was wrong and also lucky to have met you and retained you as my attorney.\r \r Have a good day,\r \r Nikol more

Best Immigration Attorney you can get:\r \r When other ""TOP"" rated immigration attorneys told me that I could not get a work permit in the USA, Bernard immediately told me I was qualified and I could get it, and he explained to me everything.\r Sure enough, I got my work permit in the USA, and all is well. Bernard is definitely a person to be trusted, he is honest, smart and he acts fast.\r Whatever he tells you is what will happen.\r \r I would never recommend any other immigration attorney but Bernard.\r \r Easy, smooth transaction, direct response, honest and above all REALISTIC!!!\r \r Thank you Bernard\r \r Will be introducing you to everybody I know!\r \r Kate more

Worst lawyer ever! The facts are here: \r 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 (Eugene Wong) 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. Eugene contacted Sidman so I could recoup legal fees – Sidman never responded. Eugene stated in writing Sidman had shown ‘intention or reckless violation above and beyond negligence.’ Eugene 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. I have filed with State Bar of California for an ‘Enforcement of An Arbitration Award’ where the State Bar can now seize his bank (bank levy/lien) and suspend his license. The Enforcement can also be made public. \r \r All the above shows a true factual picture of a lawyer who is repeatedly negligent, refuses to pay up and has a tarnished & insignificantly below-par reputation. Avoid him. \r more

Bernie is amazing! I came to him to get my H-1B visa when I had enough of my former nightmare of an attorney. The difference was night and day! My old attorney could never be reached, never returned my calls, and lagged like crazy with submitting my visa stuff. Bernie was the polar opposite. He didn't have the typical ""sleazy"" attorney shuffle that most do. He was down to earth and really knew what he was talking about. I asked a question that he was not sure about, he didn't make something up like so many other know-it-all lawyers, but rather, got out this big book and looked it up for me right on the spot and apologized, explaining that he wasn't 100% positive because the policy had recently been changed. He had great ideas about why my last H-1B visa petition was denied that my old attorney never even mentioned. His office ladies are wonderful, and one of them is from my same hometown in England. Everything went so smoothly, all I had to do was provide them with the basics of my case and they handled the rest. They contacted my old jerk attorney to get my file from him because I will use Bernie for all my future immigration needs. I am now in valid H-1B status thanks to Bernie and his team. Pros: personable and intelligent Cons: can't think of any more