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Dannii Rookie

Dannii   0

Posted
Filed: Country: Australia
 Timeline
Posted

Has anyone had any experiences with filing a petition without a lawyer? Just wanted to know how the process was for anyone who has. How long the process was. Whether it is achieveable. There is a lot of discussion about using the services of an immigration lawyer. I guess it would make sense that if petitions are filed without a lawyer then they may be subject to a lot more scrutiny. I have had consultation with various immigration lawyers in the US, in person, spanning over a year. I have consulted with lawyers in CA, WA, and NY. Has anyone had any experiences with filing a petition with USCIS without using a lawyer?

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Ryan H Grand Master

Ryan H   3,791

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: China
 Timeline
Posted

I filed without using a lawyer. USCIS approved the petition and did not issue me an RFE.

Currently I'm working my way through the NVC, a lawyer would not make any difference for me at this juncture.

All most lawyers or immigration services will do for you when you retain them is fill out all the required forms for you. You still have to gather all the evidence for your file yourself.

Most people on VJ did not use a lawyer.

In the end, the decision on whether to hire a lawyer or use an immigration service is yours to make.

Our journey:

Spoiler

September 2007: Met online via social networking site (MySpace); began exchanging messages.
March 26, 2009: We become a couple!
September 10, 2009: Arrived for first meeting in-person!
June 17, 2010: Arrived for second in-person meeting and start of travel together to other areas of China!
June 21, 2010: Engaged!!!
September 1, 2010: Switched course from K1 to CR-1
December 8, 2010: Wedding date set; it will be on February 18, 2011!
February 9, 2011: Depart for China
February 11, 2011: Registered for marriage in Wuhan, officially married!!!
February 18, 2011: Wedding ceremony in Shiyan!!!
April 22, 2011: Mailed I-130 to Chicago
April 28, 2011: Received NOA1 via text/email, file routed to CSC (priority date April 25th)
April 29, 2011: Updated
May 3, 2011: Received NOA1 hardcopy in mail
July 26, 2011: Received NOA2 via text/email!!!
July 30, 2011: Received NOA2 hardcopy in mail
August 8, 2011: NVC received file
September 1, 2011: NVC case number assigned
September 2, 2011: AOS invoice received, OPTIN email for EP sent
September 7, 2011: Paid AOS bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 9, 2011)
September 8, 2011: OPTIN email accepted, GZO number assigned
September 10, 2011: Emailed AOS package
September 12, 2011: IV bill invoiced
September 13, 2011: Paid IV bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 14, 2011)
September 14, 2011: Emailed IV package
October 3, 2011: Emailed checklist response (checklist generated due to typo on Form DS-230)
October 6, 2011: Case complete at NVC
November 10, 2011: Interview - APPROVED!!!
December 7, 2011: POE - Sea-Tac Airport

September 17, 2013: Mailed I-751 to CSC

September 23, 2013: Received NOA1 in mail (receipt date September 19th)

October 16, 2013: Biometrics Appointment

January 28, 2014: Production of new Green Card ordered

February 3, 2014: New Green Card received; done with USCIS until fall of 2023*

December 18, 2023:  Filed I-90 to renew Green Card

December 21, 2023:  Production of new Green Card ordered - will be seeing USCIS again every 10 years for renewal

 

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JeannieL Proficient

JeannieL   44

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

I did not use a lawyer. Lawyers typically slow the process down for people. If you read the guides on this site you can do it easily without paying a lawyer. Most people on this site have gone through their process without using a lawyer.

It would be very helpful if you would add which visa you are applying for so that people that have gone through the same process can respond.

If you click forums, and go to the Australian forum you will find more people in similar situations to yourself.

Again, I stress read the guides for the visa you want to apply for. There are step by step guides as to what to send.

Good luck!

Sent AOS pack......2011-08-08

NOA's dated ..........2011-08-15

Biometrics..............2011-09-13

EAD card.................2011-10-26

AP card....................2011-10-26

AOS approved .......2011-12-19

Green card rec.......2011-12-27

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LiveLaughLove Explorer

LiveLaughLove   2

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Philippines
 Timeline
Posted (edited)

Has anyone had any experiences with filing a petition without a lawyer? Just wanted to know how the process was for anyone who has. How long the process was. Whether it is achieveable. There is a lot of discussion about using the services of an immigration lawyer. I guess it would make sense that if petitions are filed without a lawyer then they may be subject to a lot more scrutiny. I have had consultation with various immigration lawyers in the US, in person, spanning over a year. I have consulted with lawyers in CA, WA, and NY. Has anyone had any experiences with filing a petition with USCIS without using a lawyer?

Not sure what type of petition you're referring to. I'm assuming since you posted under Non-Family Based US Visa Discussion

> Employment Visas > Filing---it pertains to employment visas. If so, I have no knowledge in this area. But there are others on this site that can help you with your question.

However, I did file for spouse CR1 petition, without a lawyer. You can read my progress below. Good luck!

Ahhhh...there goes the L1A visa response.

Edited by sweetheart428

*USCIS JOURNEY* - 96 Days

01/31/11 - Our wedding :-) Manila, Philippines

03/15/11 - I-130 package sent Fedex Priority

03/16/11 - Package delivered - signed by S. BUSH 9:17AM

03/18/11 - NOA1 (Priority Date 03/16/11) - Rec'd Email & text msg 9:15pm CT/CSC

03/21/11 - Able to view case status on USCIS.gov

03/22/11 - $420.00 check cleared bank

03/24/11 - Rec'd NOA1 via regular mail

06/23/11 - called USCIS- petition approved as of 06/20/11! Rec'd NOA2 hardcopy 06/23/11

*NVC JOURNEY* - 28 days - from case # assigned to SIF

07/20/11 - NVC Case # Assigned :-) yay!

07/21/11 - Obtained IIN

07/23/11 - Emailed DS3032 - accepted 07/27/11

07/26/11 - $88.00 AOS fee paid/print barcode 7/29

07/28/11 - $404.00 IV paid//print barcode 08/01

08/08/11 - Sent I-864EZ & DS230 via Fedex Overnite

08/09/11 - NVC rec'd AOS & DS230 @ 9:55am

08/17/11 - NVC SIF/Case Complete! Wooohoo!

08/30/11 - rec'd official NVC interview email

*Medical/USEM Manila/POE*

08/15-16/11 - Advanced Medical St. Lukes - PASSED! Yay!

08/26/11 - Interview set for Oct 4!

10/04/11 - Interview passed

10/06/11 - Passport with visa on hand

10/08/11 - POE - Houston TX

yj8dm5.png

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Dannii Rookie

Dannii   0

Posted
Filed: Country: Australia
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted

Ryan H, what was your visa category that you applied for?

Great thankyou "Sweetheart428". I wanted to know overall, with regard to filing a petition, kind of didn't really matter which one. The process of filing a petition with USCIS looks very intimidating.

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Boiler Grand Master

Boiler   43,597

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Wales
 Timeline
Posted

It really does matter.

For a L1 the company would file so a no cost/hassle operation for you.

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

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LiveLaughLove Explorer

LiveLaughLove   2

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Philippines
 Timeline
Posted

Ryan H, what was your visa category that you applied for?

Great thankyou "Sweetheart428". I wanted to know overall, with regard to filing a petition, kind of didn't really matter which one. The process of filing a petition with USCIS looks very intimidating.

Looking back, it was a little intimidating and overwhelming. It took a lot of reading (VJ, USCIS website, Google), research and more reading to finally nail the process down. From the ink color when signing documents, labeling sections with tabs, whether to use paper clips, fasteners, or binder clips; pictures in ziploc bag, when to use capital letters when completing documents, to staple or not to staple, how to arrange the order of each required document in the file, etc. Wheewwwww! Glad I'm done with all that. Ohhh and make sure to make an exact duplicate for you to keep and likely take to the interview.

In my case, I front-loaded our documents to both USCIS and NVC. By the way, I'm the USC petitioner/wife.

Good luck to you! :star:

*USCIS JOURNEY* - 96 Days

01/31/11 - Our wedding :-) Manila, Philippines

03/15/11 - I-130 package sent Fedex Priority

03/16/11 - Package delivered - signed by S. BUSH 9:17AM

03/18/11 - NOA1 (Priority Date 03/16/11) - Rec'd Email & text msg 9:15pm CT/CSC

03/21/11 - Able to view case status on USCIS.gov

03/22/11 - $420.00 check cleared bank

03/24/11 - Rec'd NOA1 via regular mail

06/23/11 - called USCIS- petition approved as of 06/20/11! Rec'd NOA2 hardcopy 06/23/11

*NVC JOURNEY* - 28 days - from case # assigned to SIF

07/20/11 - NVC Case # Assigned :-) yay!

07/21/11 - Obtained IIN

07/23/11 - Emailed DS3032 - accepted 07/27/11

07/26/11 - $88.00 AOS fee paid/print barcode 7/29

07/28/11 - $404.00 IV paid//print barcode 08/01

08/08/11 - Sent I-864EZ & DS230 via Fedex Overnite

08/09/11 - NVC rec'd AOS & DS230 @ 9:55am

08/17/11 - NVC SIF/Case Complete! Wooohoo!

08/30/11 - rec'd official NVC interview email

*Medical/USEM Manila/POE*

08/15-16/11 - Advanced Medical St. Lukes - PASSED! Yay!

08/26/11 - Interview set for Oct 4!

10/04/11 - Interview passed

10/06/11 - Passport with visa on hand

10/08/11 - POE - Houston TX

yj8dm5.png

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Ryan H Grand Master

Ryan H   3,791

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: China
 Timeline
Posted

Ryan H, what was your visa category that you applied for?

As a USC, I filed a petition for my wife, my wife will apply for a CR-1 visa.

Our journey:

Spoiler

September 2007: Met online via social networking site (MySpace); began exchanging messages.
March 26, 2009: We become a couple!
September 10, 2009: Arrived for first meeting in-person!
June 17, 2010: Arrived for second in-person meeting and start of travel together to other areas of China!
June 21, 2010: Engaged!!!
September 1, 2010: Switched course from K1 to CR-1
December 8, 2010: Wedding date set; it will be on February 18, 2011!
February 9, 2011: Depart for China
February 11, 2011: Registered for marriage in Wuhan, officially married!!!
February 18, 2011: Wedding ceremony in Shiyan!!!
April 22, 2011: Mailed I-130 to Chicago
April 28, 2011: Received NOA1 via text/email, file routed to CSC (priority date April 25th)
April 29, 2011: Updated
May 3, 2011: Received NOA1 hardcopy in mail
July 26, 2011: Received NOA2 via text/email!!!
July 30, 2011: Received NOA2 hardcopy in mail
August 8, 2011: NVC received file
September 1, 2011: NVC case number assigned
September 2, 2011: AOS invoice received, OPTIN email for EP sent
September 7, 2011: Paid AOS bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 9, 2011)
September 8, 2011: OPTIN email accepted, GZO number assigned
September 10, 2011: Emailed AOS package
September 12, 2011: IV bill invoiced
September 13, 2011: Paid IV bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 14, 2011)
September 14, 2011: Emailed IV package
October 3, 2011: Emailed checklist response (checklist generated due to typo on Form DS-230)
October 6, 2011: Case complete at NVC
November 10, 2011: Interview - APPROVED!!!
December 7, 2011: POE - Sea-Tac Airport

September 17, 2013: Mailed I-751 to CSC

September 23, 2013: Received NOA1 in mail (receipt date September 19th)

October 16, 2013: Biometrics Appointment

January 28, 2014: Production of new Green Card ordered

February 3, 2014: New Green Card received; done with USCIS until fall of 2023*

December 18, 2023:  Filed I-90 to renew Green Card

December 21, 2023:  Production of new Green Card ordered - will be seeing USCIS again every 10 years for renewal

 

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Dannii Rookie

Dannii   0

Posted
Filed: Country: Australia
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted

Great thanks guys. Just checking back in to see the posts. Really appreciate the information. Feel it is better to well informed than to go at it "bull-at-a-gate", no matter what side of the petition process you're on (i.e., petitioner or beneficiary).

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kzielu Experienced

kzielu   1,147

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Poland
 Timeline
Posted

Had more questions: what is CR1 visa? Also, what does "front-loaded documents" mean?

"Sweetheart 428", how long did it take for you to get all your information together and petition completed before it was ready to send to USCIS?

CR-1 - immediate relative category. Front loaded - you have a lot of proof your relationship is real. This are way different petitions than for work visas which I assume you are looking at.

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Harsh_77 Mentor

Harsh_77   716

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: India
 Timeline
Posted

Had more questions: what is CR1 visa? Also, what does "front-loaded documents" mean?

"Sweetheart 428", how long did it take for you to get all your information together and petition completed before it was ready to send to USCIS?

I think you are getting wrong information. Most ppl answered other then Boiler are talking about CR1. If you are looking for L1 that is petitioned by company lawyers and they take care of it.

H1, L1s etc are in general petitioned by company lawyer.

CR1 is not applicable to it is for spouse to get their other half back in the country.

L1 without a lawyer would not be adviceable since you don't yet even have the company on this side, you need to hire a good american immigration lawyer who can help you and your company thru the process, since this would be first time you or someone from your company would be coming to US to setup the American front of the company.

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