Lawyer or No Lawyer?

[Sacha 0]

Apart from the fact that lawyers know how to process the K1 application accurately, what other benefits do do they have over you applying for the visa yourself? i.e. time, can lawyers actually work miracles by jumping the queue to get your application approved asap?

[raymaga 25]

Having a lawyer will definitely not jump the queue. The paperwork can be done by yourself with no problems as long as you have no waiver, over-stay or other unusual circumstances.

Good luck with the process.

[KarenCee 3]

Apart from the fact that lawyers know how to process the K1 application accurately, what other benefits do do they have over you applying for the visa yourself? i.e. time, can lawyers actually work miracles by jumping the queue to get your application approved asap?

If that were the case, immigration lawyers would be getting richer by the second 'cause all of us would be going that route. They aren't any faster than doing it yourself, and there are some cases where the lawyer messed things up, causing a delay in the process. Just my thoughts....

[Yaads 0]

Having a lawyer will definitely not jump the queue. The paperwork can be done by yourself with no problems as long as you have no waiver, over-stay or other unusual circumstances.

Good luck with the process.

I agree We used a lawyer and it was of no benefit to us whatsoever. Had we found VJ before the lawyer we never would have used him. As long as you don't have any major immigration issues as stated above you can do it yourself and save a load of money

[rebeccajo 14]

...... can lawyers actually work miracles by jumping the queue to get your application approved asap?

Nope.

And if one told you that, they are a liar.

[happyimmigrant 0]

Apart from the fact that lawyers know how to process the K1 application accurately, what other benefits do do they have over you applying for the visa yourself? i.e. time, can lawyers actually work miracles by jumping the queue to get your application approved asap?

There is the benefit that you will become infinitely familiar with the entire immigration process as you research the K-1 process in order to catch and correct the multitude of mistakes that your lawyer makes. You will also become familiar with the gathering and compiling of information that the lawyer has you do for him.

That's my experience anyway, after two separate (and highly recommended) immigration lawyers, and $12,000 out of my pocket. If I knew then what I know now, I would have done it all by myself from the start, and it would have been done correctly, instead of the repeated screw-ups the lawyers made on my behalf. I also would be in the US and happy now, instead of still sitting here in Canada 17 months later waiting for my K-1 interview.

[Fuzzness 2]

if your case is pretty simple, a lawyer would be a complete waste of money

[kaydee457 13]

Apart from the fact that lawyers know how to process the K1 application accurately, what other benefits do do they have over you applying for the visa yourself? i.e. time, can lawyers actually work miracles by jumping the queue to get your application approved asap?

Well, there's an oxymoron in your proclamation here.

Firstly, there are many "immigration" lawyers that frankly know little more than you do but will be happy to charge you a few thousand to traverse their learning curve, for any "lawyer" can proclaim to be an "Immigration Attorney" without any knowledge or training whatsoever.

If your case is pretty much ordinary then my advice is to forego the lawyer.

Save your money for your honeymoon.....

Edited May 8, 2006 by kaydee457

[PrettyGirls 1]

can lawyers actually work miracles by jumping the queue to get your application approved asap?

Nope. If your case is not complicated and you're not dealing with any of the aforementioned issues, just file for the K-1 yourself. You'll save yourself unnecessary costs and further complications that can come with hiring a lawyer. Other than that, I guess it's a matter of personal preference.

[Priscila and Christopher 0]

DEFINETELY, NO LAWYER!

As long as you read to everything patientily and clear up your doubts with people that went through the same kind of visa, you can do everything by yourself and save money for honeymoon or for the many extra expanses we use to have in the beggining of marriage life! hehe

Good luck!

[*Robert* 2]

Apart from the fact that lawyers know how to process the K1 application accurately, what other benefits do do they have over you applying for the visa yourself? i.e. time, can lawyers actually work miracles by jumping the queue to get your application approved asap?

Unless you have a unique or difficult circumstance, a lawyer will not provide that much extra, and will certainly not spee things up. There have been plenty of horror stories on here where the lawyers acutally messed things up (I know... imagine a blood sucker making a mistake! :0 )

You still have to collect all the information, documentation, and unless the lawyer has people in the UK to help, the beneficiary still has to do all the work over there as well!

[ezra 0]

I have not processed my application yet. But I was thinking about getting a lawyer as well, but have decided not to get one. This site is excellent. Make sure to view all the tips and guidelines at http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=300 It walks you through each item you need with tips and sample forms.

Save your money to go visit your fiance one more time while you wait for your K-1

[edsperfect 25]

I would have to agree with this thread and I am a lawyer.

[Danny&Adri 1]

I have just gotten started and decided to NOT use a lawyer. (I posted this exact same question in January.) All the reasons above were considered, but the main reason I decided against it was what one poster noted: A lawyer gets their money up front and then naturally cannot give your case higher priority than their other business; where you can. Thus, a lawyer might actually make the time longer.

So far I have had all my questions answered here at VJ. I'm in the category NOA1 received, i.e. submitted the first round of paperwork and waiting for review.

[happyimmigrant 0]

I have just gotten started and decided to NOT use a lawyer. (I posted this exact same question in January.) All the reasons above were considered, but the main reason I decided against it was what one poster noted: A lawyer gets their money up front and then naturally cannot give your case higher priority than their other business; where you can. Thus, a lawyer might actually make the time longer.

So far I have had all my questions answered here at VJ. I'm in the category NOA1 received, i.e. submitted the first round of paperwork and waiting for review.

Agreed. A huge amount of stress on my part was calling my lawyer (or attempting to, anyway) to find out what had been done, and waiting week after week while they kept telling me things were being done that hadn't been done. They wasted literally months of our time while they did nothing at all except play very efficient phone tag. They're very good at finally returning calls on Friday afternoon with no usable information, and of course when you call them back to find out what they are talking about, they're gone for the weekend. I HATE LAWYERS!!!!!!!!!