Do i need a lawyer?

[Otto 83]

For those who say, "we do not know the circumstances", I say "what are the circumstances an attorney would be needed"? If they will tell you, then you can decide if it includes you. I have a difficult time thinking of a need.

• Previous Overstay(s)
• Previous Visa issues
• Complications of a personal nature (criminal, health, children, adoption, etc)
• High Fraud/Difficult Countries

These are some possible reasons a qualified immigration/family-based attorney might be needed.

[Fred N Emilia 0]

I hired an attorney, I should have done everything myself!

[daboyz 36]

For those who say, "we do not know the circumstances", I say "what are the circumstances an attorney would be needed"? If they will tell you, then you can decide if it includes you. I have a difficult time thinking of a need.

• Previous Overstay(s)
• Previous Visa issues
• Complications of a personal nature (criminal, health, children, adoption, etc)
• High Fraud/Difficult Countries

These are some possible reasons a qualified immigration/family-based attorney might be needed.

As far as the criminal part, the lawyer I hired pretty much told me I'd have a really hard time getting a K-3 visa without a lawyer because I had 1 drug and 2 alcohol convictions from 20 years ago due to IMBRA. What he failed to tell me before he stuck his hand in my pocket, is that IMBRA only applies to K visas. Another good way they rip you off via fear. I know I should have probably done more research, but I trusted a lawyer.

I know I know. I shouldn't use the words TRUST and LAWYER in the same sentence. It's factually and grammatically incorrect.

As far as High Fraud/Difficult Countries. I seriously doubt the guy could find Thailand on a map, let alone decide if it is high fraud or not.''

Now that I am pretty familiar with this process thanks to this website. I corrected mistakes my lawyer made, no less than 10 times. This doesn't count the months my petition sat on his desk before he filed it. I suspect he either used it as a beer coaster, or maybe to hold up one short leg on his chair.

As far as RFEs go, for the most part those seem to get cleared up 2 weeks to a month max. If you look at peoples time lines that received RFEs at both USCIS and NVC, their petition was almost immediately approved after they submitted the requested evidence.

Ohh and one other fun fact I found out. You have no recourse if they don't do their job. The state bar wont do anything. The only thing they are required to is send you back your paperwork.

Disclaimer: This is what happened to me. I'm sure there are good immigration attorneys out there. No one is going to take the care that you yourself would take to get this done right.

If you want to throw away money, I'll give you my Paypal info. I'm sure I could put it to better use buying lottery tickets, or investing it with Bernie Maddoff.

[Brit Abroad 166]

I'm pretty sure you can do this one on your own. Seriously, the most important thing is making sure you get copies of everything. Not just ONE copy, several.

Each time you send a packet in, make sure you still have two copies. Trust me, you'll be glad you did once you get to applying for LPR.

Read ALL the future processes you're going to need, both you AND your fiance, and start gathering information as early as possible. Make a checklist of each document you will need and order notarised copies of anything you don't have (birth certificates/former divorce certificates etc) as originals WILL be requested at interview stages.

Seriously, if you can read the forms and accompanying guide notes, you're well on your way to saving huge amounts of $$$$ on NOT paying a lawyer to do it for you.

Alternatively, if you have difficult circumstances, go for a fixed fee interview with someone for advice and then decide if you need/want to hire them for the process.

[Nik+Heather 121]

I have a straightforward petition, did it without a lawyer, and it was approved. Figure we can continue on in that way. I agree with the others who have said that for MOST petitions the overwhelming bulk of the work is done by YOU anyway, and basically all the lawyer might do is organize it -- which doesn't seem to have any affect on how fast/if your petition is approved (I used 5 paperclips. It's not hard)

Gary, I have read several of your "you don't need a lawyer" posts, and I think they are all different...have you thought about just copying and pasting the same one?

I noticed that the similar topics to this one are:

Lawyer is driving us crazy!!! HELP!

My Lawyer is driving me nuts!

algerian wife in france ! how long the process if with lawyer

Is my lawyer right?

(and another) Do I need a lawyer?

Sort of telling, huh?

Edited April 7, 2009 by Nik+Heather

[luckytxn 2,265]

Did it on my own and from a high fraud country and one where many have probs with and succeeded. Many had a lawyer that didn't help them at all. I figure if I could do it on my own then anyone can.

[blue123 0]

Hello all, i am new to this site and trying to find out as much information as possible before my fiance and i start the K1 visa process in June. Now, did you all go with a lawyer or have you done this process on your own? Looking over it i think i could do it alone but just wanted to get views on what to do, id really rather save the money and spend it on the visa than pay a lawyer.

We have a lawyer, our case is not complicated but I suppose we have peace of mind knowing we can call him and he can deal with any problems that could arise.

We actually found this site because of him, he has a link on his web page for VJ.

He may slow things down a little by eveything having to go through him, but so far we have been lucky. apart from the intitial questionairre that we filled in for him at the start of our case we havent had to fill anything in, he completes all the forms and sends by email, if they require a signature we print them off and send them straight back to him, so far we have only done this once for the intial filings. I am just waiting for one more document to arrive so that I can send all docs required by NVC directly to him. It works for us, but I agree there is so much information on this site that you could do it yourself.

[lesleysizeland 0]

Hello all, i am new to this site and trying to find out as much information as possible before my fiance and i start the K1 visa process in June. Now, did you all go with a lawyer or have you done this process on your own? Looking over it i think i could do it alone but just wanted to get views on what to do, id really rather save the money and spend it on the visa than pay a lawyer.

My fiance and I planned to hire a lawyer, but a friend recommended this site. It has been very helpful to us. Just try to read the guides and everything will be fine. If you've got questions, post them here. There will be a lot who will help you.

Good luck to you

Ok, so i can speak English, i can read and write and we have no skeletons in the closet, i think this is better to go at it alone! Thanks for all your advice, i just wanted to make sure, it upsets me parting with that much money when i could do it myself and, from what you guys say, its a damn site quicker and im very impatient so id rather do things myself and know they got done as soon as needed.

[SirJon 0]

I would save yourself the money on lawyers. They don't get you anything done any faster. By following the advice and guides here you will learn everything that you need to know.

I personally have found this site invaluable, and as a result I had a quite painless and hassle free journey to get my K-1.

You're also likely to get a faster response to any questions you have by using this site, and the advice is practical and free, and, unlike a lawyer, it is available 24 hours a day.

[WalkonWildSide 0]

Ok, so i can speak English, i can read and write and we have no skeletons in the closet, i think this is better to go at it alone! Thanks for all your advice, i just wanted to make sure, it upsets me parting with that much money when i could do it myself and, from what you guys say, its a damn site quicker and im very impatient so id rather do things myself and know they got done as soon as needed.

The thing that helped me the most was looking at the sample forms on this website. I looked at the sample, and I pretty much filled it in the same way. However I had only 1 gotcha, which was my GF had lived in more places in the last 5 years than spaces on the form. Took me oooohhh about 5 minutes to figure out that I could just right...continued on separate page...and on the separate page added the two additional locations.

My application was approved in 60 days, so must have been OK.

BEST suggestion I can make...read everything at least 3 or 4 times after completing the form. Make sure you have filled in each and every box. Missing the answer to one question can cause a major delay. And lawyers are human too (no really they are, contrary to popular opinion) and they could wind up missing a box too. Just better to save your money and do it yourself. Just take your time and be really careful filling in the boxes.

[Brit Abroad 166]

Ah, that's the other thing we should all remind new VJers:-

When filling in USCIS forms, use N/A *only* if the question truly isn't applicable. If the answer is None, write None. Huge distinction, especially on immigration paperwork.

[Waheed 0]

I wouldnt recommend using an attorney as they really dont do much exept act as a post office for ya. I went through our I130 process with an attorney and its been hell trust me. Ive been stuck at NVC for 4 months due to small mistakes he overlooked in the forms we had filled out and some of the documentation that was needed. Its my advise to do as much research as you can on your own and then file for the K-1.

Regards,

Waheed

[lesleysizeland 0]

I wouldnt recommend using an attorney as they really dont do much exept act as a post office for ya. I went through our I130 process with an attorney and its been hell trust me. Ive been stuck at NVC for 4 months due to small mistakes he overlooked in the forms we had filled out and some of the documentation that was needed. Its my advise to do as much research as you can on your own and then file for the K-1.

Regards,

Waheed

Someone mentioned something about the police checks, i used to live in the Cayman Islands nearly 5 years ago, if it is over 5 years when i go for my interview will i still need to get a police check from the Cayman Islands?

[daboyz 36]

I wouldnt recommend using an attorney as they really dont do much exept act as a post office for ya. I went through our I130 process with an attorney and its been hell trust me. Ive been stuck at NVC for 4 months due to small mistakes he overlooked in the forms we had filled out and some of the documentation that was needed. Its my advise to do as much research as you can on your own and then file for the K-1.

Regards,

Waheed

Someone mentioned something about the police checks, i used to live in the Cayman Islands nearly 5 years ago, if it is over 5 years when i go for my interview will i still need to get a police check from the Cayman Islands?

If you lived there for more than 6 months and you were over the age of 16, you will need one.

[R de la R 2]

Hello all, i am new to this site and trying to find out as much information as possible before my fiance and i start the K1 visa process in June. Now, did you all go with a lawyer or have you done this process on your own? Looking over it i think i could do it alone but just wanted to get views on what to do, id really rather save the money and spend it on the visa than pay a lawyer.

You don't need a lawyer, just read the guides and you will be just fine. Start reading now