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Lawyer or No Lawyer

By HappyTurtles in General Polls

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271 members have voted

  1. 1. Did you/are you using a Lawyer for your Visa process


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Karee
Karee

I used a lawyer. It was a nightmare. He set me back 3 months minimum. I had to correct him at every step with info I got here on VJ. $1800 down the drain.

Lalo & Susana
Lalo & Susana

DO NOT HIRE A LAWYER! I actually spoke to USCIS in person and he said that hiring a lawyer is not only a waste of money but a waste of time. They tell you hiring a lawyer makes your visa process faste

CANtoUSlove
CANtoUSlove

Never... I saw way to many horror stories to ever put my faith in one. My husband and I did everything ourselves, and it allowed for us to have total control and correspondance with the folks at the U

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Karee Grand Master

Karee   4,189

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Thailand
 Timeline
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I used a lawyer. It was a nightmare. He set me back 3 months minimum. I had to correct him at every step with info I got here on VJ. $1800 down the drain.

You can click on the 'X' to the right to ignore this signature.

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Michael Ruffin Explorer

Michael Ruffin   1

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
 Timeline
Posted

Did you/are you using a Lawyer for your Visa process?

You don't need a lawyer! Just goto the guides and ask people on VJ to get you through things. I didn't need a lawyer and now my fiance is scheduled to arrive on July 4th! We petitioned in Sept 2011! You jsut need patiences

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CANtoUSlove Explorer

CANtoUSlove   3

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Never... I saw way to many horror stories to ever put my faith in one. My husband and I did everything ourselves, and it allowed for us to have total control and correspondance with the folks at the USCIS and NVC. Had everything been communicated through a third party, we would have lost our minds. :girlwerewolf2xn:

2005- Met through mutual friends

2009- Started our relationship

July 4, 2011- Engaged!

August 1, 2011- We're Married!!!

USCIS:

September 16, 2011 - I-130, Fedex to USCIS

September 26, 2011 - NOA1 ( Received )

March 16, 2012 - NOA 2

NVC:

April 12, 2012- Sent NVCResarch copy of reciept for inquiry

April 18, 2012- Called Congressman to ask for assistance

April 20, 2012- NVC Received petition

May 1, 2012- NVC Case number assigned

May 2, 2012- DS 3032 and AOS invoice recieved

May 3, 2012- Paid AOS bill, submitted DS- 261

May 4, 2012- Submitted AOS

May 11, 2012- Recieved IV invoice, Paid IV bill

May 14, 2012- IV bill payment received by NVC, Filled out DS-260 and submitted

May 15, 2012- IV packet emailed to NVC

May 21, 2012- Case complete!!!!!!

June 13, 2012- Medical appointment

July 9, 2012- Interview Date --- APPROVED!

July 13, 2012- POE

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Lalo & Susana Community Regular

Lalo & Susana   50

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Country: Chile
 Timeline
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DO NOT HIRE A LAWYER! I actually spoke to USCIS in person and he said that hiring a lawyer is not only a waste of money but a waste of time. They tell you hiring a lawyer makes your visa process faster which is a complete lie. I put everything together and sent it out myself. Just read the VJ guidelines, people's questions and comments and if you still have questions then start your own topic. This process requires you to fill out paperwork based on you and your fiance's information then to gather the information. All you do is send it to your lawyer he reviews it and sends it back. So why bother paying someone so much money when you are doing all the work yourself anyway.

event.png

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Removal of Conditions
08/25/2015: I-751 Sent 08/28/2015: I-751 Delivered
09/04/2015: NOA1 Received 09/25/2015: Biometrics Appointment
TBA: Interview Appointment TBA: Removal of Conditions Approved

AOS
06/11/2013: I-485 & I-765 Sent 06/13/2013: NOA1 Received (AOS & EAD)
07/11/2013: Biometrics Appointment 08/15/2013: EAD Approved
08/26/2013: EAD Card Received 09/16/2013: Interview Waived Letter Received
11/20/2013: AOS Approved

K-1
06/21/2012: I-129F Sent 06/27/2012: I-129F NOA1

12/21/2012: NVC Received 12/28/2012: NVC Left
01/07/2013: Consulate Received 02/27/2013: Interview Date

03/05/2013: Visa Received 03/15/2013: US Entry

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J+A Explorer

J+A   3

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Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Country: Colombia
 Timeline
Posted

No lawyer!

All the immigration forms can be downloaded from the USCIS site with instructions.

Plus you have the guides here on VJ along with people who have been through the process successfully who can help you out if you feel "stuck".

Save time and money and start your visa journey on your own.

Good luck!

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adiiann Proficient

adiiann   163

Posted
Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Philippines
 Timeline
Posted

Lawyer is waste of money if you don't have overly complicated situation.

Lifting Condition (I-751)

09/09/2011 - Sent the package to CSC

09/13/2011 - CSC received the package

09/15/2011 - CSC cashed check and NOA1 Received

09/26/2011 - Biometrics Appointment Notice Date (Sent)

10/13/2011 - Early Biometrics

10/19/2011 - Biometrics Appointment

10/26/2011 - GC expiration

11/25/2011 - Received RFE

11/28/2011 - Sent response to RFE

01/13/2012 - Ordered card production (Approved)

01/19/2012 - 10 yrs GC received

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X Factor Grand Master

X Factor   1,110

Posted
Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Philippines
 Timeline
Posted

Lawyer is waste of money if you don't have overly complicated situation.

:thumbs:

Sent I-129 Application to VSC 2/1/12
NOA1 2/8/12
RFE 8/2/12
RFE reply 8/3/12
NOA2 8/16/12
NVC received 8/27/12
NVC left 8/29/12
Manila Embassy received 9/5/12
Visa appointment & approval 9/7/12
Arrived in US 10/5/2012
Married 11/24/2012
AOS application sent 12/19/12

AOS approved 8/24/13

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Marilyn. Grand Master

Marilyn.   340

Posted
Filed: Other Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

I used a lawyer. It was a nightmare. He set me back 3 months minimum. I had to correct him at every step with info I got here on VJ. $1800 down the drain.

similar thing happened to us when we used a lawyer.. he was a total waste of money and he cost us a couple of months and we still had to do most of the paperwork and I had to tell the lawyer things he had done wrong :S

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canada_socks Community Regular

canada_socks   97

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

similar thing happened to us when we used a lawyer.. he was a total waste of money and he cost us a couple of months and we still had to do most of the paperwork and I had to tell the lawyer things he had done wrong :S

Same for us. I wish I found this site before we filed. I realized that we basically just filled out a form the lawyer made up, giving them the info needed to fill in the blanks on the actual immigration forms. I organized our package so well that the lawyer thought it was already done! All they did was fill out the actual forms! They also informed me that I wouldn't need a medical, nor an interview for the K1 process. So not worth the money we spent. When I told him I found out that I did in fact need an interview, he told me I was mistaken. After I got my visa (after I thankfully found this site!), never contacted him again, nor did he contact me or my now husband. I did my AOS on my own!

formerly sherrybaby

ROC Process

12-13-2013 * 90 day window to apply opens

02-24-2014 * ROC package sent to USCIS Vermont Service Center

02-25-2014 * ROC package received at USCIS Vermont Service Center

02-26-2014 * NOA1 notice date

02-28-2014 * Cheque cashed

03-05-2014 * Biometrics notice date

03-28-2014 * Biometrics Appointment in Baltimore

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bsd058 Proficient

bsd058   296

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

This survey is a little biased considering it was put on an immigration forum that is primarily "do-it-yourself."

Lawyers seem to be useless unless they are necessary. That's my experience anyways. ha. Most do not understand law as well as they should. That's coming from an insurance broker. I constantly have to explain exclusions and tort law to them. It's sad really.

 

IR-1 Visa Timeline (Service Center: Vermont)

image.png.806852c45242bc72b5f44a862566bdaf.png

 

N-400 Timeline (Field Office: Orlando, FL) & Voter Registration (Online)

image.png.c85e21010f669e0303f6fafb51f19f82.png

 

Passport Timeline (Submitted at USPS, Standard Processing, Standard Delivery, Locator number: 51) & SSA Update & Naturalization Certificate Receipt

 

03/23/2022: Application for passport submitted at USPS facility under standard processing.

04/04/2022: Status changed to “The U.S. Department of State has received your application for your passport book on 04/04/2022. We're now reviewing your application and supporting documents...Your application locator number is 51*******.”

04/04/2022: Check for passport cashed.

05/03/2022: Status changed to "The U.S. Department of State approved your application for your passport book. We're now printing your passport book and preparing to give it to you. You should receive your passport book on or around 05/09/2022."

05/05/2022: Passport Received.

05/09/2022: SSA Citizenship Status Updated.

05/25/2022: Naturalization Certificate received in mail.

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
abner137 Proficient

abner137   48

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
 Timeline
Posted

There's a time and place for everything.......:blink:

Most case's are easily done without one. I feel sorry for anyone who had a bad experience with their lawyer, but the attorney didn't choose them, they chose the attorney, so who's fault is it really?

K1 GuideUSCIS DashboardNVCUS Embassy Instruction PacketSt. LukesCFO


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Joe_janyll Rookie

Joe_janyll   0

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Dominican Republic
 Timeline
Posted

We used a lawyer, and I have to say my Lawyer is great, knew what he was doing, collected all the info sent out the package. Was approved at USCIS in 74 days. I'm very happy with the results so far.

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