Lawyer vs Doing it by myself

[BrianAndKati2009 0]

I am just wondering if anyone knows the answer or has an opinion to the following question. Do people that complete their own I-129F paperwork seem to get pushed back and take a little longer getting their NOA2's than people that pay money for a lawyer to do it? My Fiancé and I did our own paperwork... (Researched a ton and got NOA1 6/23/09) and I am getting anxious watching people submitting their paperwork in August and September of this year already getting their petitions approved. Is it just time, circumstance, and Service Center - or is there any logic to the lawyer question?

[Otto 83]

Having an attorney complete the paperwork (which is really all they do - besides advise their client) does not speed up nor slow down the process. On VJ (and I suspect elsewhere) an overwhelming majority of folks have gone the DIY route with the same results as those who hired an attorney.

According to your timeline, you're just behind the norm - to me, this says you should be due for some news any time now. Hang in there...

[brnidokiegurl 0]

dont feel the lawyer is the answer but i have often thought it might have to do with the location of the embassy, seems some got thru faster back when we were doing the process compared to others in different regions

[BrianAndKati2009 0]

Having an attorney complete the paperwork (which is really all they do - besides advise their client) does not speed up nor slow down the process. On VJ (and I suspect elsewhere) an overwhelming majority of folks have gone the DIY route with the same results as those who hired an attorney.

According to your timeline, you're just behind the norm - to me, this says you should be due for some news any time now. Hang in there...

Thanks... I hate having the type of personality that has to "Know Something" because my experience with this process ='s "You know when you Get it" It is encouraging to read others experiences!!!

[Kathryn41 3,205]

There have actually been people here on VJ who have used a lawyer and that slowed down the process. The lawyer made mistakes, did not complete the forms/applications in a timely way/ did sloppy work, etc. Once it is into the system USCIS/DOS don't look at whether or not someone has used a lawyer - they look at the type and quality of evidence submitted, whether or not it is complete, and what the information reveals about the individual/relationship. So, good luck with your application. I hope you hear something soon.

Edited October 8, 2009 by Kathryn41

[Kittyfang 6]

I am just wondering if anyone knows the answer or has an opinion to the following question. Do people that complete their own I-129F paperwork seem to get pushed back and take a little longer getting their NOA2's than people that pay money for a lawyer to do it? My Fiancé and I did our own paperwork... (Researched a ton and got NOA1 6/23/09) and I am getting anxious watching people submitting their paperwork in August and September of this year already getting their petitions approved. Is it just time, circumstance, and Service Center - or is there any logic to the lawyer question?

We are doing it without a lawyer. I taught about hiring one, but decided not too. 1. AoS SEEM to be fairly straight forward. 2. Money is an object for us. We are rather poor, $900 spent on a layer... that's about what my husband makes in a month. 3. I find that VJ is aweome to answer questions, and most of all, help you stay motivated trough it all.

[AbbynSheryl 0]

u can do it yourself and if u have any question put the post here and u will get answer, good luck, abby n sheryl

[daboyz 36]

My lawyer had all the paperwork from me to file the petition with USCIS. For some reason he waited 2 months to do so. Then once it got to NVC he delayed it another month. Then on top of that I correct no less than 10 mistakes he made. I was able to correct his mistakes thanks to this website.

[LC2016 15]

I am just wondering if anyone knows the answer or has an opinion to the following question. Do people that complete their own I-129F paperwork seem to get pushed back and take a little longer getting their NOA2's than people that pay money for a lawyer to do it? My Fiancé and I did our own paperwork... (Researched a ton and got NOA1 6/23/09) and I am getting anxious watching people submitting their paperwork in August and September of this year already getting their petitions approved. Is it just time, circumstance, and Service Center - or is there any logic to the lawyer question?

I'm in the same boat as you. We however did decide to hire a lawyer, and to be honest I think had we thought about it better we would've never hired him. Why because we file last Nov2008, and got our NOA 1 in Dec,2008 then we got a RFE in May2009 if I hadn't called the freaking lawyer I would've never known about it , now its freaking Oct. and we still done know NOTHING. I guess its really just depends if you really think its necessary or not. I, myself think I should've put that money to better use then to spend it on our "lawyer". BEST WISHES TO YOU GUYS!

Edited October 9, 2009 by missing_my_baby

[Kittyfang 6]

I am just wondering if anyone knows the answer or has an opinion to the following question. Do people that complete their own I-129F paperwork seem to get pushed back and take a little longer getting their NOA2's than people that pay money for a lawyer to do it? My Fiancé and I did our own paperwork... (Researched a ton and got NOA1 6/23/09) and I am getting anxious watching people submitting their paperwork in August and September of this year already getting their petitions approved. Is it just time, circumstance, and Service Center - or is there any logic to the lawyer question?

I'm in the same boat as you. We however did decide to hire a lawyer, and to be honest I think had we thought about it better we would've never hired him. Why because we file last Nov2008, and got our NOA 1 in Dec,2008 then we got a RFE in May2009 if I hadn't called the freaking lawyer I would've never known about it , now its freaking Oct. and we still done know NOTHING. I guess its really just depends if you really think its necessary or not. I, myself think I should've put that money to better use then to spend it on our "lawyer". BEST WISHES TO YOU GUYS!

This seems to be the general consensus. I think a lawyer is basically a $900 Valium.

[BrianAndKati2009 0]

I am just wondering if anyone knows the answer or has an opinion to the following question. Do people that complete their own I-129F paperwork seem to get pushed back and take a little longer getting their NOA2's than people that pay money for a lawyer to do it? My Fiancé and I did our own paperwork... (Researched a ton and got NOA1 6/23/09) and I am getting anxious watching people submitting their paperwork in August and September of this year already getting their petitions approved. Is it just time, circumstance, and Service Center - or is there any logic to the lawyer question?

I'm in the same boat as you. We however did decide to hire a lawyer, and to be honest I think had we thought about it better we would've never hired him. Why because we file last Nov2008, and got our NOA 1 in Dec,2008 then we got a RFE in May2009 if I hadn't called the freaking lawyer I would've never known about it , now its freaking Oct. and we still done know NOTHING. I guess its really just depends if you really think its necessary or not. I, myself think I should've put that money to better use then to spend it on our "lawyer". BEST WISHES TO YOU GUYS!

This seems to be the general consensus. I think a lawyer is basically a $900 Valium.

Well, I am glad we did not spend the money then I guess I just have to have new hope everyday that "TODAY WILL BE THE DAY"

[dvit 1]

If you are organized, use the checklists on VJ and don't have any complicated circumstances, then absolutely you can do it yourself. We got our approval in under two months and I simply followed the instructions on here (double checking, of course, with the most recent USCIS information).

The sample filled-out forms on VJ we found incredibly helpful, as the USCIS has an...well, let's just say interesting - way of obfuscating even the most simple information.

[baron555 934]

I am just wondering if anyone knows the answer or has an opinion to the following question. Do people that complete their own I-129F paperwork seem to get pushed back and take a little longer getting their NOA2's than people that pay money for a lawyer to do it? My Fiancé and I did our own paperwork... (Researched a ton and got NOA1 6/23/09) and I am getting anxious watching people submitting their paperwork in August and September of this year already getting their petitions approved. Is it just time, circumstance, and Service Center - or is there any logic to the lawyer question?

Yes, the lawyer option will always take longer. You still have to gather all the evidence, then send it to the lawyer and then wait for their staff to assemble it all and then mail it out. You could have mailed it to USCIS rather than the lawyer and the result will be the same.

Paying lawyers will not quicken the process, that is for sure.

Edited October 9, 2009 by baron555

[heis 0]

YO! I'm a living testimony also DO NOT GET A LAWYER co'z in my own experience they are the CAUSE OF DELAYS of some paper works not to mentions their mistakes on the petitioner's address & other information of beneficiary.

You will be just pissed with the lawyer and they are always late to give you infos...

>>> This VJ website can satisfied your Q&A through the VJ members & captain ewok AND so NOT be lazy in reading a lots of thread/ forum in this site for sure you will not be lost... After all it's easy to track your case just give a time as in everything has a time... a little bit of piss... a little bit of prostrations... a little bit of lossing hopes... but in the long run the result of all the hardship it's still in your hands!

>>> A TIME FOR EVERYTHING (Ecclesiastes 3:1-15)

>>> Ajah! U can do it.

[1HappyGuy 45]

The question of whether to use an attorney or do it yourself comes up often on VJ. A lot depends on your ability to understand the information needs and organize it to the satisfaction of the USCIS bureaucracy. However, some cases may have additional difficulties because of countries or circumstances. If you choose to use an attorney, then by all means find one that is very experienced with this kind of process. Attorneys as a group generally feel they can do any task even if they have never done something like this in the past.

The process is only slower due to the fact you are sending everything to the attorney, who will then submit it to the USCIS on your behalf. If you have a competent attorney, they will walk you through the process to insure that all aspects are there and the applications are complete. Also, you don't need to use an attorney near you, since everything is done by mail anyway.

Finally, the last aspect is what makes the determination for most people. Can you afford the fees? If you don't like paperwork and have the money, then the attorney process may be for you. There are a lot of people that just want to sign where you say sign, pay what you say and wait.

The decision is up to you.