newbie question...do I need a lawyer

[chinman 0]

I'm just looking into all this visa stuff. I've met my (soon to be) fiancee, who lives in mexico. She was denied a visitor visa, but otherwise nothing else should be an issue, no arrests or visa problems before.

My question is this...is there a benefit to using a laywer? I see their fees range from $300 to $3000. Do they make things go any faster?

[johndecka 0]

I'm just looking into all this visa stuff. I've met my (soon to be) fiancee, who lives in mexico. She was denied a visitor visa, but otherwise nothing else should be an issue, no arrests or visa problems before.

My question is this...is there a benefit to using a laywer? I see their fees range from $300 to $3000. Do they make things go any faster?

Just read the Guide.

U can do it Urself.

[YuAndDan 153]

You DO NOT need a lawyer. Being denied a visitors visa has no effect on processing of a K-Visa.

A lawyer cannot make the process go any faster, if one tells you that, "RUN AWAY!"

Simply follow the K-1 Guide here on VJ.

[SteveColo 0]

In my experience, a lawyer screwed things up for us making things worse!

With all the help available here, you can complete everything yourself

[KimandRuss 0]

Welcome.

It's against the Terms of Service at VJ to recommend not using legal service but... you can complete the process yourselves and save money and perhaps even added frustration.

Start with this page and read through all of the links provided.

Use the K-1 Guide to help you prepare your petition and the flowchart will help you see the steps of the process clearly.

You've found VJ so you're already off to a great start.

[tallcoolone 102]

Welcome.

It's against the Terms of Service at VJ to recommend not using legal service

Can you point out where this is stated in TOS

[KimandRuss 0]

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A lawyer can not even offer legal advice on VJ.

On a more personal level, I would hate to be the one who said to a stranger 'no dont use a lawyer' not knowing all the facts of the case and they had serious issues. While in this case, like most, it is likely not necessary...this is not true for everybody.

Besides, lets face it, some people need assistance because they have IMBRA issues, overstays, criminal history...etc.... some may just not have the comprehension skills to deal with what is required.

[ally and moh 3]

I hired a lawyer and I am now regretting it because his fees are so high and I see people seem to be doing fine without one. Does anyone know.... Is it difficult to fire him and change things with the processing center if I do?

[KimandRuss 0]

nope, it shouldn't be but I suppose that's up to the lawyer you'll dealing with. Is your NOA2 being mailed to his/her office? You can simply request all of your documentation back and that the address be changed. Chances are that wont be done at USCIS leval but you can always do it at NVC/Embassy stage of the process. The one document you will want to be sure you get is the NOA2 (I-797) as it will be needed when the beneficiary adjusts status.

good luck

[chinman 0]

No lawyer is the direction I'm leaning...I'm pretty detail oriented and we have no skeletons as far as legal issues or prior visas. Does anyone know the financial minimums, i think i read like 2.5 x the poverty level?

thanks all in advance

[Josh-and-Leona 0]

Im probably not giving you any additional advice but..... if you do not have some specialized or complicated case than i do not see the need for a lawyer... They CAN NOT speed up the process and if anything may only delay the process by putting holding off the information u send to them directly. Like others said. don't take any of these words as "legal advise" but me and my Fiancee are doing this by are own and so far (with the MUCH NEEDED help with VJ) are getting along just fine after filing the I-129F petition. Just my 2 cents.

Good Luck

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I'm just looking into all this visa stuff. I've met my (soon to be) fiancee, who lives in mexico. She was denied a visitor visa, but otherwise nothing else should be an issue, no arrests or visa problems before.

My question is this...is there a benefit to using a laywer? I see their fees range from $300 to $3000. Do they make things go any faster?

No. It is NOT POSSIBLE for an attorney to make the process go faster. The USCIS gives no preference and I will exolain further below that an attorney actually slows the process. But attorneys will lie to you about this, or at least imply they can make it go faster. They use the USCIS timelines as an indicator and then show you how "their" cases went faster and leave it to you to assign them the credit. Theu USCIS timelines are useless, they always refer to the oldest case in the system, one full of problems or maybe even abandoned. Nealry everyone gets their case done faster than the worst in the system.

Now, that said, what CAN an attorney do? Not much. Almost nothing. The process involves submitting a lot of persoanl forms and data. Copies of your birth certificate, passport, etc. Does the attorney have these? No. Where will he get them? From you! Does he know all your persoanl biographical data? No. Where will he get this? YOU! I could continue on and on. So what does HE do? After YOU gather all the documents and you provide all your personal information (he will tell you to write it out and give it to him, he is not going to sit there and collect it from you) then he will fill out some very simple forms, inputing the data you give him. He will use a $12 an hour secretary, for about an hour, to do this. He will make some copies (if you are lucky he will give a copy to you) which you could make at home or at Staples for about $5. He will do this some time when he has a chnace after juggling all his other clients. It can do nothing but slow the case down as NO ONE can give it the persoanl care you will.

You can get any questions answered here for free...and FAST. Post a question here and you will get many answers much faster than a return call from an attorney and I bet it will be more accurate. For one thing, if I give an answer and it is wrong, you and I will know about it PRONTO! If your attoreny gives a wrong answer you will be stuck with it, he has no audience to correct him, and believe me, they give lots of wrong answers!

You have found the best website on earth for this topic, with many members eager to help. We all did or are doing the same thing, we all want to help each other. People helped me, I try to help them.

This is an expensive process as is, no need to add thousands for an attorney that does almost nothing. I wish I could say, oh if you are busy then pay them and go about your business, but I can't. They aren't like real estate agents that can sell your house when you aren't home. They need you for every step of the process. They cannot do anything until YOU do it for them, they can only copy what you give them.

Good luck

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

No lawyer is the direction I'm leaning...I'm pretty detail oriented and we have no skeletons as far as legal issues or prior visas. Does anyone know the financial minimums, i think i read like 2.5 x the poverty level?

thanks all in advance

1.25 x poverty level

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Welcome.

It's against the Terms of Service at VJ to recommend not using legal service but... you can complete the process yourselves and save money and perhaps even added frustration.

Start with this page and read through all of the links provided.

Use the K-1 Guide to help you prepare your petition and the flowchart will help you see the steps of the process clearly.

You've found VJ so you're already off to a great start.

Personally, I recommend you do not use an attorney.

The choice is yours, of course, my opinion is just that. Get them to explain exactly what they will do...exactly. And explain exactly what you will do. Then you can make your own informed decision.

[TBoneTX 43,360]

On a more personal level, I would hate to be the one who said to a stranger 'no dont use a lawyer' not knowing all the facts of the case and they had serious issues. While in this case, like most, it is likely not necessary...this is not true for everybody.

Besides, lets face it, some people need assistance because they have IMBRA issues, overstays, criminal history...etc.... some may just not have the comprehension skills to deal with what is required.

Very elegantly stated by the wise and gracious Kim. It frosts me when people flatly state "you do not need a lawyer!" Instead, dispassionately state the existence of the guides here on VJ, and ask the poster if he/she has potential issues, comprehension difficulties, or fear of paperwork that are out of the ordinary. "Ready, fire, aim" responses are rarely "one size fits all" or even very well-thought-out.

Down off soapbox, si man!