Here is my reason for getting a lawyer. Durbin talked about the DREAM Act today, and he talked in length, according to him this will not benefit every dreamer, they added a lot of obstacles that will be in play even before we are able to apply for the DREAM act. Theres biometrics, medical exams, good moral character, the need to really prove that you entered before the age of 15, the need to prove that you have been present (the way he made it sound, you need some really good proof, not something that can be manipulated easily), good moral character, applied to the Selective Service, FBI and local background checks to make sure you have not committed any crimes, and pay an application fee... all of that just before applying. The DREAM Act passed by the house will actually turn a profit, we would be paying just to get the opportunity to prove we can qualify.

Then there is the need to meet all the other requirements after applying, without in-state assistance, pell grants, or some other methods of funding, we would not get preferential treatment, the way that you can get into college right now its the way that you will be getting into college after the DREAM Act passes, according to him many may not be able to afford college, then there is the military, 2 years of service at least and to prove ourselves through service. He also failed to mention the work requirement that embedded in the dream act, the other 2000 fee.

To add to the complexity we start applying for permanent resident status one year before our conditional period expires, just to start the long term medical observation, more background checks, more scrutiny.

Senator from New Jersey had something else to say... chain migration will not happen (I really have to look into this new version of the dream act to see if that is true).

Waivers are only for exceptional cases, you have a criminal background it is likely not to benefit you.

This bill is not going to be easy, there will be quite an amount of work involved.

But, despite all of that, and knowing some of the stories of other dreamers, I think its possible for a dreamer to make it through by themselves, I will take the safe route and get a lawyer, a good lawyer that has proven himself to be reliable and diligent in his work, and I will scrutinize what happens the whole way, I don't want to become a statistic to the mistake of a lawyer.