AOS: When to use a lawyer?

[newspud 0]

Hi All,

I'm new to VJ and have been hunting around quite a bit. I was recently married and now we're looking at getting our paperwork done. Lots of folks here have not used a lawyer and I've come across some who have. I'm just wondering, in your opinions, what constitutes a circumstance when you have to use a lawyer?

My husband's VISA (r/b1/b2) expired in 2000. He's been working and paying taxes since that time.

Other than that, I don't think that there's anything that may stand in the way of us filling out the forms ourselves except the fact that he owes child support.

I've downloaded the forms and read over all instructions, etc. Of course, there are some questions that I have, but nothing that seems insurmountable, although I do worry about having the most current info and all the loopholes that seem to exist in the law.

Also, just wondering if anyone has, rather than sending everything in at once, sent forms piecemeal. I know it's not ideal but we are slowly putting the money together and I wonder if it's not worth it to send in what we can for now - or wait until we can send it all in at once?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm so glad I found this forum - I've learned a lot and printed out many posts already!

[Maad 0]

Hi All,

I'm new to VJ and have been hunting around quite a bit. I was recently married and now we're looking at getting our paperwork done. Lots of folks here have not used a lawyer and I've come across some who have. I'm just wondering, in your opinions, what constitutes a circumstance when you have to use a lawyer?

My husband's VISA (r/b1/b2) expired in 2000. He's been working and paying taxes since that time.

Other than that, I don't think that there's anything that may stand in the way of us filling out the forms ourselves except the fact that he owes child support.

I've downloaded the forms and read over all instructions, etc. Of course, there are some questions that I have, but nothing that seems insurmountable, although I do worry about having the most current info and all the loopholes that seem to exist in the law.

Also, just wondering if anyone has, rather than sending everything in at once, sent forms piecemeal. I know it's not ideal but we are slowly putting the money together and I wonder if it's not worth it to send in what we can for now - or wait until we can send it all in at once?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm so glad I found this forum - I've learned a lot and printed out many posts already!

Welcome to VJ!

I am in the same situation. Read my timeline.

I did send I-130 alone (for different reason) and couple weeks later the I-485 & I-765.

So far so good.

In his situation do not send I-131. It is asking for troubles. He cannot leave the States till you get GC.

And I did all by myself. No lawyers. Just the wonderful people here on the forum and their experience.

Edited October 12, 2008 by Maad

[newspud 0]

I am in the same situation. Read my timeline.

I did send I-130 alone (for different reason) and couple weeks later the I-485 & I-765.

So far so good.

In his situation do not send I-131. It is asking for troubles. He cannot leave the States till you get GC.

And I did all by myself. No lawyers. Just the wonderful people here on the forum and their experience.

Thanks so much! I appreciate the info!

[Heliosphan 1]

Wow, another Trini

Yes you can do it by yourself, I mailed everything off without help from a lawyer (adjust while in student status).

You need a lawyer if your case is pretty complicated or if there's a chance you might be accused of immigration fraud in one way or another,

[tanyaru 3]

Hi All,

I'm new to VJ and have been hunting around quite a bit. I was recently married and now we're looking at getting our paperwork done. Lots of folks here have not used a lawyer and I've come across some who have. I'm just wondering, in your opinions, what constitutes a circumstance when you have to use a lawyer?

My husband's VISA (r/b1/b2) expired in 2000. He's been working and paying taxes since that time.

Other than that, I don't think that there's anything that may stand in the way of us filling out the forms ourselves except the fact that he owes child support.

I've downloaded the forms and read over all instructions, etc. Of course, there are some questions that I have, but nothing that seems insurmountable, although I do worry about having the most current info and all the loopholes that seem to exist in the law.

Also, just wondering if anyone has, rather than sending everything in at once, sent forms piecemeal. I know it's not ideal but we are slowly putting the money together and I wonder if it's not worth it to send in what we can for now - or wait until we can send it all in at once?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm so glad I found this forum - I've learned a lot and printed out many posts already!

Welcome to VJ!

I am in the same situation. Read my timeline.

I did send I-130 alone (for different reason) and couple weeks later the I-485 & I-765.

So far so good.

In his situation do not send I-131. It is asking for troubles. He cannot leave the States till you get GC.

And I did all by myself. No lawyers. Just the wonderful people here on the forum and their experience.

DO NOT SEND FORMS SEPARATELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Look at my signature and you will see how bad I stocked waiting for my I-130 to be approved. I had the same plan in mind as Maad. It is a rare case but trust me you don`t want to accidently stuck in there.

[link09 0]

Hi All,

I'm new to VJ and have been hunting around quite a bit. I was recently married and now we're looking at getting our paperwork done. Lots of folks here have not used a lawyer and I've come across some who have. I'm just wondering, in your opinions, what constitutes a circumstance when you have to use a lawyer?

My husband's VISA (r/b1/b2) expired in 2000. He's been working and paying taxes since that time.

Other than that, I don't think that there's anything that may stand in the way of us filling out the forms ourselves except the fact that he owes child support.

I've downloaded the forms and read over all instructions, etc. Of course, there are some questions that I have, but nothing that seems insurmountable, although I do worry about having the most current info and all the loopholes that seem to exist in the law.

Also, just wondering if anyone has, rather than sending everything in at once, sent forms piecemeal. I know it's not ideal but we are slowly putting the money together and I wonder if it's not worth it to send in what we can for now - or wait until we can send it all in at once?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm so glad I found this forum - I've learned a lot and printed out many posts already!

Welcome to VJ!

I am in the same situation. Read my timeline.

I did send I-130 alone (for different reason) and couple weeks later the I-485 & I-765.

So far so good.

In his situation do not send I-131. It is asking for troubles. He cannot leave the States till you get GC.

And I did all by myself. No lawyers. Just the wonderful people here on the forum and their experience.

DO NOT SEND FORMS SEPARATELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Look at my signature and you will see how bad I stocked waiting for my I-130 to be approved. I had the same plan in mind as Maad. It is a rare case but trust me you don`t want to accidently stuck in there.

Let me share my experience of working with an attorney... I hired one simply because I already have a professional job, and are generally really busy (I am on H1B - work visa, and my husband is a USC, and we are doing this through marriage instead of employment), so I thought I'd hire a lawyer so I can just let him handle all the paperwork. Well, my expectations were too high. I had to constantly stay on the law office to push my case forward... You may talk to an attorney at the beginning, but usually they hand your case to some law clerk (aka secretaries with no formal education in the field of immigration law), and this is when things become frustrating. These clerks/secretaries, at best, had some experience filing out forms, but they don't know much and won't be able to give you much advice. SO, I'd say if your case is straight forward, save the $$$$ and DIY. This site provides a lot of useful info. Had I know this sooner, I'd totally DIY as opposed to hiring an incompetent law firm to do it for me.

If your case isn't straight-forward, DO YOUR RESEARCH before hiring a lawyer, and especially make sure that this ATTORNEY (not the assistant) is accessible via e-mail/phone, so your case can be handled professionally. DEMAND service, and don't just sit there and wait. Even hiring a lawyer, you gotta be proactive, and make sure they are doing a good job for you.

:dance:

[newspud 0]

tanyaru and link09, thanks for the insight! I am definitely leaning towards not using a lawyer - especially since our case is not unusual.

Thanks!