Attorney vs. DIY

[meauxna 15]

I recommend the posts from those who have used your specific Consulate.

They are not all created equally.

Oh, and most def. look into DCF, and follow Yodrak's recommendation.

[masterpiece 2]

I would gladly pay a neurosurgeon to remove, and later replace, the part of my brain that obsesses over the process or perhaps get a hypnotist to send me to sleep while the process runs its course. Paperwork and details? Can handle those without a lawyer but then again my case is relatively straightforward....

I think any person with an eye for detail can complete this process without a lawyer. I also believe that there is an opportunity available to learn about the immigration process. I probably would hire a lawyer too if there were not so many other avenues to spend the money, but alas there are!!!!!!!!!!!

[Yodrak 7]

masterpiece,

Hope it stays that way. Let us know how the visa interview goes.

Yodrak

.... my case is relatively straightforward....

.....

Edited September 21, 2006 by Yodrak

[earinsound 0]

Hello and thank you all for your very sound advice. I downloaded some of the forms yesterday and had a look through them. I think my case is pretty straightforward...I'm just hung up on the fact that I won't immediately have employment when I return. I'm going to do it myself. I just can't imagine paying someone $2000 to fill out a form for me and mail it. Plus one firm wants to charge me an additional $250 because I'm not the sole supporter!! The reason? "Because we have to get more paperwork from the joint sponsor." Huh? Actually, the attorneys don't have to do that---my father would!!

I emailed a friend who used to work with me here in Bangkok--he brought his fiancee over to the US, and helped three other friends do the same. Luckily he'll be here next month, so I can go over things with him.

Thanks again and GOOD LUCK to everyone!

[rushter 0]

Translation:

I didn't use a lawyer and you shouldn't either = I'm willing to risk your future with my advice.

I couldn't agree more. I am so tired of hearing everyone bash bad lawyers they should just change the thread name to "Bash Immigration Lawyers". People have been laying blame at crappy lawyers forever.

But in my opinion, if you are smart enough to educate yourself and do the process correctly, then you're smart enough to find a good immigration lawyer that knows what they are talking about.

What I did? I did the entire package myself. I thought it looked good and it was ready to go.

I contacted a local immigration attorney, Alex Halow (google alex halow immigration) and he took the whole thing apart and did it entirely his way. The good thing was that I already knew what had to go in there. But because of some issues I had with income, proof, etc... he was able to 100% fix this thing so that the K1 package 'looked' impressive, ready for presentation at your local supreme court.

Needless to say I was impressed. He and I worked together on it in the end, including a backup co-sponsor package for my fiance to present at the Moscow interview (only if needed) to prevent an rfe. His office manager was also a notary. Everything in there was notarized. All the stuff that didn't need it... still notarized. Signed blue pages by my then fiance and by me that he was representing us ect. It was even accompanied by CD's that had scanned copies of every document page in the file (yes the cd's were sent to uscis and in the package for my wife - unless they lose the cd, there's no way they can misplace a document and then not be able to get it from the cd - eg less chance of an rfe).

You just don't hear people praising immigration attorney's in forums. All you see is the pissed off attitude because somebody got screwed by this or that lazy whatever and didn't do what they were supposed to do.. got sick, blah blah. I think those are some pretty lame attorney's. ####### happens.

The point is though, if you hire an attorney, YOU should already know what THEY are supposed to be doing for you. I don't think it's a good idea to hire one and then forget the entire process just because you've hired one. This is life surgery, and if you just trust someone to open you up and say they'll fix what's wrong and you don't even know what's going on then in some cases, I can see where you could deserve to have your hat handed to you.

pffft.

Regarding the 100% success rates, yes I do believe they are true. Someone in one of those threads talked about a very expensive west coast firm (which will remain nameless). I contacted `Mr Lawyer` myself back when I started this mess and explained my situation. Even if I did pay the $5000 retainer that they wanted at the time, he said there was no way he could guarantee success, and he didn't want to hurt his success rate, so he declined to take my case.

Heck I don't blame them. My case had some serious weak spots. But I wanted this package to show the departments to be that I was prepared to fight if need be, and that I had representation. And by the looks of the package, it looked like I had a freakin pit bull beside me.

My application zinged thru. At the embassy interview, they hardly even looked at the evidence or the app sent from nvc. Just said something like "I see you have a lawyer".. then struck up a conversation with our 7 year old son about how he felt about going to the USA. It was a breeze... (minus one minor screw up thing on our part that caused an rfe that was fixed very fast). My sorry butt got an approved case with all my lifes baggage.

My lawyer? I made installment payments via paypal, he was very easy going and this is all he does, immigration. Nothing else.

Value? Priceless.

[Yodrak 7]

earinsound,

No interest, then, in marrying in Thailand and having your wife accompany you to the USA entering as a Permanent Resident, Green Card in hand?

Yodrak

Hello and thank you all for your very sound advice. ....

Thanks again and GOOD LUCK to everyone!

[zauberblume 0]

I don't entirely agree.

The OP wants to hear opinions on the matter and most people here, given the nature of the forum, have chosen not to use a lawyer.

Using a lawyer depends on your situation. If you have a straightforward case and have some intelligence to fill out a few forms, I see no reason to hire a lawyer. Filling out the forms is not challenging, in and of itself.

I went through the entire DCF process without a lawyer. I'd like to think that my financial situation was a bit complicated since I was residing in the country where my husband was and did not work. I asked questions here on VisaJourney and got all of the answers I needed. This community helped tremendously. I felt comfortable with the responses I received here coupled with the responses I got directly from the Consulate.

This process is really not complicated, in terms of the paperwork, for the straightforward case.

--Z

Translation:

I didn't use a lawyer and you shouldn't either = I'm willing to risk your future with my advice.

I couldn't agree more. I am so tired of hearing everyone bash bad lawyers they should just change the thread name to "Bash Immigration Lawyers". People have been laying blame at crappy lawyers forever.

But in my opinion, if you are smart enough to educate yourself and do the process correctly, then you're smart enough to find a good immigration lawyer that knows what they are talking about.

What I did? I did the entire package myself. I thought it looked good and it was ready to go.

I contacted a local immigration attorney, Alex Halow (google alex halow immigration) and he took the whole thing apart and did it entirely his way. The good thing was that I already knew what had to go in there. But because of some issues I had with income, proof, etc... he was able to 100% fix this thing so that the K1 package 'looked' impressive, ready for presentation at your local supreme court.

Needless to say I was impressed. He and I worked together on it in the end, including a backup co-sponsor package for my fiance to present at the Moscow interview (only if needed) to prevent an rfe. His office manager was also a notary. Everything in there was notarized. All the stuff that didn't need it... still notarized. Signed blue pages by my then fiance and by me that he was representing us ect. It was even accompanied by CD's that had scanned copies of every document page in the file (yes the cd's were sent to uscis and in the package for my wife - unless they lose the cd, there's no way they can misplace a document and then not be able to get it from the cd - eg less chance of an rfe).

You just don't hear people praising immigration attorney's in forums. All you see is the pissed off attitude because somebody got screwed by this or that lazy whatever and didn't do what they were supposed to do.. got sick, blah blah. I think those are some pretty lame attorney's. ####### happens.

The point is though, if you hire an attorney, YOU should already know what THEY are supposed to be doing for you. I don't think it's a good idea to hire one and then forget the entire process just because you've hired one. This is life surgery, and if you just trust someone to open you up and say they'll fix what's wrong and you don't even know what's going on then in some cases, I can see where you could deserve to have your hat handed to you.

pffft.

Regarding the 100% success rates, yes I do believe they are true. Someone in one of those threads talked about a very expensive west coast firm (which will remain nameless). I contacted `Mr Lawyer` myself back when I started this mess and explained my situation. Even if I did pay the $5000 retainer that they wanted at the time, he said there was no way he could guarantee success, and he didn't want to hurt his success rate, so he declined to take my case.

Heck I don't blame them. My case had some serious weak spots. But I wanted this package to show the departments to be that I was prepared to fight if need be, and that I had representation. And by the looks of the package, it looked like I had a freakin pit bull beside me.

My application zinged thru. At the embassy interview, they hardly even looked at the evidence or the app sent from nvc. Just said something like "I see you have a lawyer".. then struck up a conversation with our 7 year old son about how he felt about going to the USA. It was a breeze... (minus one minor screw up thing on our part that caused an rfe that was fixed very fast). My sorry butt got an approved case with all my lifes baggage.

My lawyer? I made installment payments via paypal, he was very easy going and this is all he does, immigration. Nothing else.

Value? Priceless.