Did you do the I-129F packet yourself or through a lawyer?

[SSSSS 13]

I did it myself and I got it all the way to the interview. Now we're just waiting for the result (they did request a few more documents during the interview 221g yellow). However my friend did it through a lawyer, lawyer screwed up and it took 3 months longer to get the visa, and it cost her 5 times more. Good luck.

[patient2010 93]

I did it myself, as did many others here on VJ. Save your money for a plane ticket or AOS.

[pasaway na angel 2]

Hubby and I did ours together during one of his visits. We just read through all the USCIS instruction, discussed what needs to be done, prepared documents and he filed it as soon as he go back home to the US. And it's all good.

As long as you know that there are no complicating issues in your situation, the K-1 process is simple enough to do on your own. And VJ is a very good reference website, not to mention support group.

Good Luck on your journey!

[Wishin-n-hopin 15]

I did it myself...no need to hire a lawyer. I had the same question, though, when I was starting the process and I found a post in this forum. Basically, it said something like this: If you hire a lawyer, it will cost you a minimum of $1,000. If you get an RFE, you have to pay the lawyer more to file the RFE. If the petition is denied, you have to pay the lawyer more to file an appeal. However, if you do the petition yourself, it costs $350. If you get an RFE, you file it yourself, there is NO additional charge. If the petition is denied, you can appeal, and pay the fee (which would not be as expensive as a lawyer), or you can just do another petition and start the process again for $350. All in all, it is going to be considerably cheaper to do it yourself. As long as you follow the guides on this website and ask questions along the way, you should be fine. There are so many people in this forum with SO much knowledge and experience and I have found answers to all of my questions along the way. My petition was approved without any RFE's. You can do it, too....just do your research and you should be fine.

[virtualNik 1]

Did the packet myself. Super-neat organization, each page signed. Index, etc. Moved along quite fast. Why pay someone when all info and resources are available, right? This site helps out, BIG time!

[Bsze 50]

DIYer here too.

[Danielb4643 0]

Do it yourself, triple check everything and keep VJ on SPEED DIAL!!!

We are all here to help eachother and it is free!

[Liz&Nate 23]

Always better to do it yourself, and I found this out after consulting several lawyers, all of which seem somewhere between confused and greedy. The process can be overwhelming sometimes, but this community is helpful and with a little patience and luck all should be fine.

[JS30 0]

VJ members are just fantastic! you will never get this pool of advice from any website, OOOh sorry u you will get it but they will demand some dollars which VJ will not. the above information is all that you need cos i can say base on the information provided here that greater percentage filed themselves and they were successful. I will try and convince my fiance to let us handle the whole process by ourselves. this post must be threaded or saved for future visitors of this great site. thanks to all members and Visitors of VJ keep up the good work!

Edited August 17, 2011 by saahreuben

[clarence954 20]

I was about to send my paper work off to a lawyer; he was going charge me 1500 for the k1 application. then the Sunday before the Monday I was suppose meet him I found this site.

I can honestly say I saved 1500 dollars. there's no need to use a lawyer if you don't have any complications

[Love Eth 14]

I did the I-129f packet myself. I haven't get any problem, my petition is aproved and my fiancee is going to the interview next week. I follow the instruction from this website and I did it very well. You could be a little creative to compile the packet beside that if you follow the guide, you will be fine.

Good luck

[awkwardsoul 20]

My fiance is insisting we use a lawyer as we are doing our I-129f, as everyone he knows told him to do so (with a couple horror stories of people who didn't).

I didn't agree, but he wants it "fullproof" that we have no issues... despite us not having any things like criminal record/overstays/drug use that would complicate the process.

From the experience so far, the lawyer wanted my info, and I instead I filled out the G-325a on my own and sent it to him via email. The lawyer re-did it so my long entries fit into the PDF file's boxes typed instead of handwritten, wanted a few things from me that was not required as far as we know for the I-129f. So it has dragged us getting our I-129f done so far 2 weeks later because of waiting for my fiance to have an appointment with the lawyer and time for lawyer to fill out the forms, sign the forms and send it back to the lawyer, than if we just powered through and filled out the things ourselves and mailed it.

I guess a benefit is it made my fiance have someone in person to ask questions rather than dig through the internet and have someone fill out everything for him. That and it makes him happy (and it's his money).

Edited August 17, 2011 by awkwardsoul

[Tyeger87 10]

i did it myself- so far so good except for AP which has nothing to do with absent paperwork