Need for lawyer?/Fiance's knowledge of English

[nfors13 0]

Hi everyone, I'm brand new to this site, as well as to this process (my fiance and I have recently decided that we would like for him to come to the U.S. and for us to get married). I haven't been able to read all the information (FAQs & guides) in detail yet but I have skimmed over them and they don't seem to have answers to my first few questions:

1) Are most people on this site attempting this process of obtaining a K-1 visa, etc., on their own, without the help of an immigration lawyer, or is help from a lawyer a near-must in any case? (I have read the TOS and I realize that the site is not a replacement of advice of a trained professional.) I was basically just wondering what most of the users of this site have done/are doing.

2) Is it a prerequisite that my fiance know English? Will his not knowing English hurt our case? (He is from Russia and speaks only Russian.)

3) I am a currently a student in Master's Program (I have a little less than 1.5 years to go). So, I have no income (I do have a stipend for now). I know that I can have a co-sponsor for the financial affadavits, but even with a co-sponsor (in this case it would be my parents), is it advisable that I wait to start this process until I have graduated and found a job? Or does my student status not really play a role?

Again, I'm sorry if my questions have been answered countless times already. I've just started looking into this process and I'm decidedly overwhelmed. Thanks for reading this and for any advice anyone can offer!

P.S. Also, I'm sorry if I should have posted this message not as a new topic but as something else. I'm not very Internet savvy.

[sara..... 371]

Hi everyone, I'm brand new to this site, as well as to this process (my fiance and I have recently decided that we would like for him to come to the U.S. and for us to get married). I haven't been able to read all the information (FAQs & guides) in detail yet but I have skimmed over them and they don't seem to have answers to my first few questions:

1) Are most people on this site attempting this process of obtaining a K-1 visa, etc., on their own, without the help of an immigration lawyer, or is help from a lawyer a near-must in any case? (I have read the TOS and I realize that the site is not a replacement of advice of a trained professional.) I was basically just wondering what most of the users of this site have done/are doing.

2) Is it a prerequisite that my fiance know English? Will his not knowing English hurt our case? (He is from Russia and speaks only Russian.)

3) I am a currently a student in Master's Program (I have a little less than 1.5 years to go). So, I have no income (I do have a stipend for now). I know that I can have a co-sponsor for the financial affadavits, but even with a co-sponsor (in this case it would be my parents), is it advisable that I wait to start this process until I have graduated and found a job? Or does my student status not really play a role?

Again, I'm sorry if my questions have been answered countless times already. I've just started looking into this process and I'm decidedly overwhelmed. Thanks for reading this and for any advice anyone can offer!

P.S. Also, I'm sorry if I should have posted this message not as a new topic but as something else. I'm not very Internet savvy.

we are k1 and we hired an attorney if i had found this site before hiring an attorney i would not have done so as he dont do anything anyway.......i am a student.......and my parents are the co-sponsors so i dont really think it makes a difference if ur a student or not........from what we were told the only thing for finance visa is both have met with in two years.......both legally able to marry.......and there is evidence of the on going relationship oh yes and also you have to be usa citizen at least one of u.......thats really about all i know about it ...... im sure some of the people that have much more experience will be giving u some answers also..... :yes: but good luck and i hope ur journey is smooth and hassle free.

[KimandRuss 0]

Hi, welcome to VJ.

Yes, most of us here in the K1 forum are filing for a K1 visa for our loved ones. Most of us are without legal representation. If you look at the top of the board you'll see a tab for the 'Guides'. Read through it and ask questions here if you need to. The people here are knowlegable and friendly.

I know it is a huge plus that your significant other speaks at least some of the same language as you. Do you speak Russian?? If you do, I wouldn't imagine it being too much of an issue but he will probably want to start learning English if he's planning on moving to America. I can only imagine it would help. They will probably ask you how you communicate if you do not speak his language.

As long as you or your co-sponser meet the financial requirments you should be all set.

You'll probably want to visit the Russian thread in the Regional forums here for better answers to that country. There are a lot of U.S./Russian couples here at VJ.

good luck!