I hired a lawyer to avoid simple mistakes that can cost time

[Texasangler 2]

Within 30-60 days after you have received notification from the USCIS Service Center and Department of State National Visa Center, the US Embassy in Bangkok will mail to your fiancee or wife packet # 3. The packet will be sent via the Thai postal system, which means that it may never arrive. Our experience is that it arrives 45% of the time. This packet contains the forms and instructions needed to proceed with the second part of the visa application process. We proceed before your fiancee or wife receives packet # 3 as we have copies of every form and document contained in the packet. We proceed prior to our clients receiving the packet 100% of the time. We never wait for this packet to arrive and we proceed immediately upon notification from the NVC that the file is being forwarded to the US Embassy in Bangkok. We always arrange for the police report, medical exam, and complete all forms well in advance and this saves 6-8 weeks time, minimum. Is this true? Will this save alot of time? I am in the beginning phase of getting my fiance here to the states. I did alot of reading that scared me in the beginning assuming it was going to take a year to get her here. I wish I would of found this site from the beginning. I have looked at many peoples profiles that have been approved for a k1 visa within 4-5 months. I have seen many people get the application approved within 1-2 months. If I look at the uscis site, it is telling me just to have the application approved is taking 5 months. My lawyer is telling me 4 months to get the application approved and 6 months total time to get the visa without running into problems. What is a realistic time?

[Rebecca616 38]

our petition took 6 months to be approved. he had his interview 2 months after our petition was approved. but that's Morocco and processing times are always different and this was also 5 years ago.

[B and H 18]

Welcome.

You will get a general idea by following other people's timelines, but VJ members and their timelines are only a small subset of the full picture. So no one can say for certain when something will happen.

Lawyers also make mistakes and have no magic way of making things go faster for their clients.

Is your timeline accurate? You say you're at the beginning, but your timeline says you're at NVC?

[Texasangler 2]

They received my I129 in california 9-30-16 and now waiting and checking with my receipt # daily on the USCIS website to see when it is approved.

Case Was Received

On September 30, 2016, we received your Form I-129F, Petition for Fiance(E), Receipt Number xxxxxxxxxxxxx, and sent you the receipt notice that describes how we will process your case. Please follow the instructions in the notice. If you do not receive your receipt notice by October 30, 2016, please call Customer Service at 1-800-375-5283. If you move, go to www.uscis.gov/addresschange to give us your new mailing address.

[sfcscott 34]

Within 30-60 days after you have received notification from the USCIS Service Center and Department of State National Visa Center, the US Embassy in Bangkok will mail to your fiancee or wife packet # 3. The packet will be sent via the Thai postal system, which means that it may never arrive. Our experience is that it arrives 45% of the time. This packet contains the forms and instructions needed to proceed with the second part of the visa application process. We proceed before your fiancee or wife receives packet # 3 as we have copies of every form and document contained in the packet. We proceed prior to our clients receiving the packet 100% of the time. We never wait for this packet to arrive and we proceed immediately upon notification from the NVC that the file is being forwarded to the US Embassy in Bangkok. We always arrange for the police report, medical exam, and complete all forms well in advance and this saves 6-8 weeks time, minimum. Is this true? Will this save alot of time? I am in the beginning phase of getting my fiance here to the states. I did alot of reading that scared me in the beginning assuming it was going to take a year to get her here. I wish I would of found this site from the beginning. I have looked at many peoples profiles that have been approved for a k1 visa within 4-5 months. I have seen many people get the application approved within 1-2 months. If I look at the uscis site, it is telling me just to have the application approved is taking 5 months. My lawyer is telling me 4 months to get the application approved and 6 months total time to get the visa without running into problems. What is a realistic time?

What your Attorney is telling you is somewhat true, BUT working with the US Consulate in BKK makes it very easy to do yourself. I will tell you from our journey that we are going through right now.

My Fiancé received Packet 3 on the 22nd of October. What Packet 3 contained was the following:

A copy of the I-129f that was initially submitted by myself to the USCIS

A copy of her rights as a US immigrant

A letter that gave clear instructions to visit the website and submit all of the required documents: http://photos.state.gov/libraries/thailand/591452/iv/k_instruction_packet_3.pdf

My Fiancé and I had everything ready to go way before our case ever became "READY" The case was ready on 19 October and we submitted our Packet 3 to the Consulate on the 20th of October. The actual Packet 3 arrived at her home on the 22nd of October. So as you can see, you CAN do everything yourself in advance without the use of an Attorney.

As far as the Police report goes, my Fiancé and I both went to BKK together to get this done. Again, a very simple process. If she bring all of the required documents and fill this this form out in advance. www.pcscenter.sb.police.go.th/eng/ It took my Fiancé all of 20 minutes to finish it up. They did however tell her that it would take approx. 30 days to received the clearance in the mail. She asked if she could get it sooner. We paid a little "Extra" for the service but she ended up getting the clearance in 7 days instead.

The examination is just a phone call to make an appointment. Nothing that you are your fiancé can't do.

To be completely honest with you, I actually thought about hiring one myself, but my fiancé talked me out of it and told me to save the money. I am so glad that I did after I found out how easy this has been. With the use of a little reading and the assistance of so many great people here on Visa Journey I couldn't go wrong! The Attorney can't do anything "Extra" or speed up your process any faster than the system will allow. It is all about the government system and how fast or slow they process your application.

Now if you have legal problems such as marriage, law or dependents, then an Attorney would most likely be for you through the process. I have heard some problems here about Attorneys and the lack of communication. You might want to keep in constant contact with them, especially if they are receiving all of your notifications.

We started this journey on 12 August 2016 and we are now waiting for Packet 4 notification. so up until this point, it has taken us 73 day. I feel pretty lucky that we have moved along so fast.

Just my two cents and if anyone would like to correct me on anything I was wrong on or that missed, please feel free to do so.

Edited October 24, 2016 by sfcscott

[khwaidee1 196]

What your Attorney is telling you is somewhat true, BUT working with the US Consulate in BKK makes it very easy to do yourself. I will tell you from our journey that we are going through right now.

My Fiancé received Packet 3 on the 22nd of October. What Packet 3 contained was the following:

A copy of the I-129f that was initially submitted by myself to the USCIS

A copy of her rights as a US immigrant

A letter that gave clear instructions to visit the website and submit all of the required documents: http://photos.state.gov/libraries/thailand/591452/iv/k_instruction_packet_3.pdf

My Fiancé and I had everything ready to go way before our case ever became "READY" The case was ready on 19 October and we submitted our Packet 3 to the Consulate on the 20th of October. The actual Packet 3 arrived at her home on the 22nd of October. So as you can see, you CAN do everything yourself in advance without the use of an Attorney.

As far as the Police report goes, my Fiancé and I both went to BKK together to get this done. Again, a very simple process. If she bring all of the required documents and fill this this form out in advance. www.pcscenter.sb.police.go.th/eng/ It took my Fiancé all of 20 minutes to finish it up. They did however tell her that it would take approx. 30 days to received the clearance in the mail. She asked if she could get it sooner. We paid a little "Extra" for the service but she ended up getting the clearance in 7 days instead.

The examination is just a phone call to make an appointment. Nothing that you are your fiancé can't do.

To be completely honest with you, I actually thought about hiring one myself, but my fiancé talked me out of it and told me to save the money. I am so glad that I did after I found out how easy this has been. With the use of a little reading and the assistance of so many great people here on Visa Journey I couldn't go wrong! The Attorney can't do anything "Extra" or speed up your process any faster than the system will allow. It is all about the government system and how fast or slow they process your application.

Now if you have legal problems such as marriage, law or dependents, then an Attorney would most likely be for you through the process. I have heard some problems here about Attorneys and the lack of communication. You might want to keep in constant contact with them, especially if they are receiving all of your notifications.

We started this journey on 12 August 2016 and we are now waiting for Packet 4 notification. so up until this point, it has taken us 73 day. I feel pretty lucky that we have moved along so fast.

Just my two cents and if anyone would like to correct me on anything I was wrong on or that missed, please feel free to do so.

My wife paid a little "extra" tea money and got her police report same day. Medical right before interview no problem. And yes, you guys are really moving! Good luck!

Edited October 24, 2016 by khwaidee1

[TBoneTX 43,045]

Thread is moved from the K-1 Process forum to the K-1 Case Progress subforum.