The benefits of hiring a lawyer

[Cindy&Cris 0]

Hi Everyone! First of all my best wishes to all of you for a prosperous New Year and may all your requests work out in a positive way. I am new to this forum, and I have to say, thanks to all of you for sharing your experiences and knowledge I feel more positive of what I am about to do. I am engaged to Cris, he lives in Ecuador. I have seen him twice this year and we have decided that the best to do is for him to come to NY and get married here in NY. I am hoping to file I-129F by February after I visit him for Valentine's Day. My questions is can somebody advice me whether hiring a lawyer will be better than to go through the process alone. I will appreciate it if anyone can tell me how the process went or is going thorugh with a lawyer and also without a lawyer. Thanks to everyone.

[Merk 0]

Believe me when I say if you feel that you are in any way a person who can read -most likely you will not need the laywer!!! (of course if you have unusaual conditions then it is diffrent) But getting a laywer can complicate and bring up a lot of questions, that if you take your time to research you could find out on your own. And it will not cost you your retainer fee's and other money they will charge you!!! just take your time going over your papers and if possiable let another friend look it over with you! I wish I did. I spent(wasted!) the money. And I am no further than if I did it my self. Now just stuck calling the laywer asking " did you get a reciept yet" looking like a crazy woman!!

[Jesse and Hema 2]

Lots of people have hired lawyers and REGRETTED IT!! I've seen plenty of lawyer horror stories. Besides, is it worth paying someone $1500+ USD to fill out and mail some paperwork?

Don't bother unless your case has nonstandard complications that would need legal assistance. And if you do hire a lawyer, make sure it's a good one!

Good luck!

[Cindy&Cris 0]

Thank you so much for that advise. It has completely changed my perception of this matter and I believe that with the information I have in hands I can manage to do this and save $. Happy New Year Everyone (My fiance just called me and I am so sad not to be with him) I hope 2008 is the year we all can be by the side of our loved ones.....good luck all

[Mags 112]

I'll just say what I usually say when asked this question. It depends on YOU. Some people are great at filling in paperwork, others not so good. We all have strengths and weaknesses and we are all different. What one person thinks is easy another might find really difficult.

So, OP, you are the only one who can truly answer this question really. If you feel confident enough (and your case is straightforward) and you are good at paperwork filing then you might be able to do it yourself. If you don't feel confident enough then a lawyer might be the course for you.

Good luck!

[Dias Melhores 0]

Hi Everyone! First of all my best wishes to all of you for a prosperous New Year and may all your requests work out in a positive way. I am new to this forum, and I have to say, thanks to all of you for sharing your experiences and knowledge I feel more positive of what I am about to do. I am engaged to Cris, he lives in Ecuador. I have seen him twice this year and we have decided that the best to do is for him to come to NY and get married here in NY. I am hoping to file I-129F by February after I visit him for Valentine's Day. My questions is can somebody advice me whether hiring a lawyer will be better than to go through the process alone. I will appreciate it if anyone can tell me how the process went or is going thorugh with a lawyer and also without a lawyer. Thanks to everyone.

I debated this discussion with my fiancee for a few weeks. We decided to avoid a lawyer until something goes sideways. This forum is excellent in handling the process on your own. I have seen many posts from VJ'ers who regretted hiring a lawyer for many reasons. The most common reasons to avoid the lawyer is added time to the process, extra money spent, and mistakes!!!

If you can read and follow the examples in VJ, you should be in great shape. If you have a question, you can ask anyone and get a lot of great responses.

Best of luck to you...

[Alt name 1]

Unless there is a past criminal record, past overstay issue, or any special complications related to your specific case, a laywer is a waste of time, and I have seen MANY times right here where a laywer has flugged up a perfectly straightforward case. This isn't all that difficult.

Wish you the best in your journey and welcome to VJ

Our case went very smoothly without a laywer.

[rebeccajo 14]

When something goes sideways is not the time to hire an attorney.

Good, competent, ethical immigration attorneys will consult with you about your case and tell you if you need them or not. The good ones are too busy to take on cases just for a fee. A lawyer who tries to 'sell' himself/herself to you is not what you need.

We consulted with an attorney before filing and he told us just that - we didn't need him.

[MareBear 0]

Hello All!

Would anyone know or heard of what sort of legal circumstances would require one to hire a lawyer?? Any sort of these stories or examples out there??

Mare

[Stephen1 0]

what I did is just spent 50 dollars for a k1 visa kit that gives step by step instructions on how to fill everything out and what exactly is needed. It also gives completed samples of all the forms just incase you arnt sure of something. The one I did was called usavisanow. Even though I couldve figured it all out myself I think it at least saved me some time and was only 50 dollars so not such a big deal.

[one love 0]

Hi Everyone! First of all my best wishes to all of you for a prosperous New Year and may all your requests work out in a positive way. I am new to this forum, and I have to say, thanks to all of you for sharing your experiences and knowledge I feel more positive of what I am about to do. I am engaged to Cris, he lives in Ecuador. I have seen him twice this year and we have decided that the best to do is for him to come to NY and get married here in NY. I am hoping to file I-129F by February after I visit him for Valentine's Day. My questions is can somebody advice me whether hiring a lawyer will be better than to go through the process alone. I will appreciate it if anyone can tell me how the process went or is going thorugh with a lawyer and also without a lawyer. Thanks to everyone.

i used lawyer so no mistakes made.. but hey do wht u wish alot have done good jobs doing it alone K1 and make sure u make enough money if u have depenants proverty line.. to sponcer him

[Merk 0]

Hello All!

Would anyone know or heard of what sort of legal circumstances would require one to hire a lawyer?? Any sort of these stories or examples out there??

Mare

Here is something--- I am active duty military. Was deployed to Iraq where I met my now husband. While in Iraq at the end of my tour before I came back the the U.S. we decided to get married. I was the impatient one and wanted to do it diffrent! Ha! boy oh boy. Anyway, we learned about "proxy" marriages( basically a marriage where a laywer stands in your place and signs your name) well we did a "double proxy" marriage so neither of us were there! It is legally done in one state Montana. And is a valid marriage everywhere. Even Turkey. So we got married in the U.S without him every stepping foot on U.S soil. So try explaining that over and over and people!!!

[Stephen1 0]

Hello All!

Would anyone know or heard of what sort of legal circumstances would require one to hire a lawyer?? Any sort of these stories or examples out there??

Mare

Here is something--- I am active duty military. Was deployed to Iraq where I met my now husband. While in Iraq at the end of my tour before I came back the the U.S. we decided to get married. I was the impatient one and wanted to do it diffrent! Ha! boy oh boy. Anyway, we learned about "proxy" marriages( basically a marriage where a laywer stands in your place and signs your name) well we did a "double proxy" marriage so neither of us were there! It is legally done in one state Montana. And is a valid marriage everywhere. Even Turkey. So we got married in the U.S without him every stepping foot on U.S soil. So try explaining that over and over and people!!!

so technically he married you in the usa so does that mean he can come over here immiediatly. If so maybe I should take a trip to montana.

[Merk 0]

Hello All!

Would anyone know or heard of what sort of legal circumstances would require one to hire a lawyer?? Any sort of these stories or examples out there??

Mare

Here is something--- I am active duty military. Was deployed to Iraq where I met my now husband. While in Iraq at the end of my tour before I came back the the U.S. we decided to get married. I was the impatient one and wanted to do it diffrent! Ha! boy oh boy. Anyway, we learned about "proxy" marriages( basically a marriage where a laywer stands in your place and signs your name) well we did a "double proxy" marriage so neither of us were there! It is legally done in one state Montana. And is a valid marriage everywhere. Even Turkey. So we got married in the U.S without him every stepping foot on U.S soil. So try explaining that over and over and people!!!

so technically he married you in the usa so does that mean he can come over here immiediatly. If so maybe I should take a trip to montana.

LOL. that is what I thought too. He even has a dependant ID Card. But everyone tells me NO. He needs a Visa. Even the military will not fly him on a military flight to the US without one. So I hired a laywer looking for a loop hole. Nope no help and nothing but added stress. And even less money.

[zqt3344 21]

Hire lawyer if you want to spend the money otherwise do it yourself and save time and money .

Hi Everyone! First of all my best wishes to all of you for a prosperous New Year and may all your requests work out in a positive way. I am new to this forum, and I have to say, thanks to all of you for sharing your experiences and knowledge I feel more positive of what I am about to do. I am engaged to Cris, he lives in Ecuador. I have seen him twice this year and we have decided that the best to do is for him to come to NY and get married here in NY. I am hoping to file I-129F by February after I visit him for Valentine's Day. My questions is can somebody advice me whether hiring a lawyer will be better than to go through the process alone. I will appreciate it if anyone can tell me how the process went or is going thorugh with a lawyer and also without a lawyer. Thanks to everyone.