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Bush_rl

Is a lawyer necessary?

By Bush_rl in K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures

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Wes and Shiela Apprentice

Wes and Shiela   2

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Philippines
 Timeline
Posted
Here are my questions:

1) Is is possible to have success in obtaining a K1 visa if I submitt the paperwork? Is a lawyer necessary? Is the $1500- 2000 dollars for a lawyer worth it?

2) Any success stories without a lawyer?

3) Why not use a lawyer in the Philippines to help my wife-to-be?

Ray

I had the same question as you, but after finding this website, I felt able to do the US paperwork myself. We have a straight forward petition too: no kids, no prior marriages, no criminal records, and met in person, so it was easy enough to do it myself, with the help from this website.

But, I am strongly considering hiring an attorney in the Philippines to help my SO, because I think there is where a lot of mistakes can occur which could hurt our petition. I am not familiar with all of the Philippine requirements, and neither is my fiancee, so I would say this is where an attorney might be helpful to you.

I am curious what some of the vets think about that scenario...

K1 Timeline

Aug 15 2006 ----- I-129F mailed to CSC

Aug 25 2006 ----- NOA1

Nov 02 2006 ----- NOA2 Approval

Mar 13 2007 ----- St. Luke Medical Exam

Mar 20 2007 ----- Embassy Interview

Apr 24 2007 ----- Visa delivery

May 29 2007 ----- Shiela arrives in US - POE: LAX

Jul 23 2007 ----- Married in Las Vegas!

AOS Timeline

Sep 27 2007 ----- AOS/EAD/AP mailed to Chicago Lockbox

Oct 09 2007 ----- AOS/EAD/AP NOAs received via USPS, Check cashed same day

Oct 24 2007 ----- AOS/EAD Biometrics appointment

Dec 04 2007 ----- AP, EAD Approved

Dec 13 2007 ----- AP, EAD received via USPS

Jan 12 2008 ----- Interview letter received via USPS

Feb 27 2008 ----- Interview... AOS Approved!

Feb 28 2008 ----- AOS Card Production Ordered

Mar 08 2008 ----- Green Card Received! Woo-Hoo!!

ROC Timeline

Jan 23 2010 ----- I-751 USPS Express mailed to CSC

Jan 25 2010 ----- NOA date, received via USPS on 01/28/10

Feb 01 2010 ----- Received Biometrics letter, scheduled for 02/19/10

Feb 17 2010 ----- Early Biometrics appointment

Mar 03 2010 ----- Card Production Ordered

Mar 13 2010 ----- 10-Yr Green Card Received!

Feb 27 2011 ----- N-400 Eligibility begins...

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Peter Miami Experienced

Peter Miami   0

Posted
Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Colombia
 Timeline
Posted

I did the whole process without an attorney and I had no problems. :thumbs:

Good luck,

Peter Miami

Johanna & Peter

Colombia / U.S.A.

I-129F / K-1 Fiancee Visa

08-20-02 - Met Johanna in Armenia, Colombia

10-05-05 - K-1 Sent to TSC

10-14-05 - Received NOA1 by E-Mail (Day 9)

12-22-05 - Reveived NOA2 By E-Mail & Mail (Day 78)

03-03-06 - Interview Date! (Day 149) Approved

03-10-06 - Johanna Arrived

05-27-06 - Married

I-485 / AOS (Did not applied for EAD or AP)

06-05-06 - Sent I-485 application to Chicago via USPS (Day 1)

06-06-06 - AOS Package Delivered at 12:29PM

06-12-06 - Received NOA1 by Mail

06-14-06 - Check Cashed

06-22-06 - Received Appointment Notice for Biometrics

06-26-06 - "Request for Additional Evidence" Online, waiting for letter

06-29-06 - Biometrics Done!

06-30-06 - Received RFE Letter by mail. (Missing Birth Certificate)

07-10-06 - Sent RFE by Express Mail USPS

07-11-06 - RFE Delivered @ 10:54AM Sign by D. Atwell

08-28-06 - AOS Transferred to CSC E-mail & USCIS Website (Day 85)

08-30-06 - Touched #1

08-31-06 - Touched #2

08-31-06 - E-Mail from CRIS & USCIS-CSSO - CSC received AOS Application

09-01-06 - Touched #3

09-01-06 - NOA by Mail Regarding Transfer to CSC

09-05-06 - Touched #4

09-07-06 - Touched #5

09-13-06 - Touched #6

09-15-06 - AOS Approved by Online Status & E-mail

09-21-06 - Received GC and Welcome Letter (Day 109)

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Swamped Contributor

Swamped   0

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Timeline
Posted

You don't need an attorney unless you can't read and follow instructions. It's not that difficult and a lawyer will just rip you off. ;)

05/2005 - Met on line

06/20/05 - first serious e-mails

01/15/06 - traveled to China to meet Yonghua and family

02/24/06 - I-129 F sent (K1 visa) Laguna

03/01/06 - I-129 F delivered at USCIS

03/06/06 - I-129F received date (check processed)

03/07/06 - NOA1 issued

03/10/06 - NOA1 received

06/23/06 - Notice date on RFE

06/28/06 - RFE for IMBRA received and mailed back to CSC

06/30/06 - RFE received at CSC

09/08/06 - NOA2 notice date

09/12/06 - received NOA2 in mail

10/02/06 - received and case number issued at NVC

10/19/06 - Case sent to Consulate in Guangzhou

- update -

05/22/07 - Visa approved

06/15/07 - SO arrives at LAX

07/07/07 - Married

07/24/07 - AOS filed

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rebeccajo Grand Master

rebeccajo   14

Posted
Filed: Other Timeline
Posted
I DIDNT USE A LAWYER BECAUSE I CANT AFFORD ONE TO BE HONEST,BUT I HAVE A CRIMMINAL RECORD AND I JUST FILED EVERYTHING AND FILLED ALL THE BLANKS AND WAS STILL APPROVED NOA2 ON SEPT 13 SO I THINK I LAWYER JUST CHECKS THE BLANKS AND TAKES UR MONEY IN MY OPINION

Once you have your visa in hand, come back and let us know how it all worked out.

Cheap is as cheap does...good luck!!!

*scratches head*

That sounds rather smug.

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BelwinMills Experienced

BelwinMills   0

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Jamaica
 Timeline
Posted
You don't need an attorney unless you can't read and follow instructions. It's not that difficult and a lawyer will just rip you off. ;)

ditto agree

Met Jan 1998, vows on 2006, Jay Jay born 2008, baby 2 - 2011

Look at time line for visa information

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Great Cook Shop in the Chicago Land Area: Montego Bay Jerk Chicken Restaurant in Bellwood IL

lXHgm6.png

CuySm6.png

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zauberblume Explorer

zauberblume   0

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa (DCF) Country: Germany
 Timeline
Posted
Translation:

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

Couldn't your "translation" apply to nearly any question posed here on VisaJourney?

The poster is asking for our opinion of and possible experience with using a lawyer. We offer our experience to the poster and what he or she chooses to do with that information is ultimately up to him or her.

DCF (Germany)

April 7, 2006 - Married

April 15, 2006 - I-130 sent to Frankfurt Consulate

April 22, 2006 - I-130 returned to us (personal checks not acceptable)

April 24, 2006 - I-130 resubmitted with Credit Card Payment Form

June 14, 2006 - I-130 Approved

June 15, 2006 - Packet 3 Received

June 16, 2006 - OF-169 & Passport (Biographical Page Only) faxed to the Consulate

June 17, 2006 - DS 230 Part 1 & OF-169 mailed to the Consulate

June 26, 2006 - Packet 4 Received

June 27, 2006 - Medical Examination in Berlin

July 21, 2006 - Interview at Frankfurt Consulate

July 21, 2006 - Visa Approved!

August 22, 2006 - America!

July 26, 2008 - I-751 sent to VSC

August 1, 2008 - Check cashed

August 1, 2008 - NOA-1 received

September 9, 2008 - Biometics Appointment

March 12, 2009 - Transfer from VSC to CSC?

March 16, 2009 - Approved (10-year green card should be mailed within 60 days)

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cycleserg Rookie

cycleserg   0

Posted
Filed: Other Timeline
Posted
Translation:

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

I did not use a lawyer and received the NOA2 today. I used the resources on this website. Checked everything multiple times. I also sent more information than needed. I had a cover letter explaining everything.

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meauxna Mentor

meauxna   15

Posted
Filed: Country: United Kingdom
 Timeline
Posted

Sorry to say, but practically anyone can get a NOA2 if they're a warm body.

Getting a visa is a whole other thing.

Now That You Are A Permanent Resident

How Do I Remove The Conditions On Permanent Residence Based On Marriage?

Welcome to the United States: A Guide For New Immigrants

Yes, even this last one.. stuff in there that not even your USC knows.....

Here are more links that I love:

Arriving in America, The POE Drill

Dual Citizenship FAQ

Other Fora I Post To:

alt.visa.us.marriage-based http://britishexpats.com/ and www.***removed***.com

censored link = *family based immigration* website

Inertia. Is that the Greek god of 'can't be bothered'?

Met, married, immigrated, naturalized.

I-130 filed Aug02

USC Jul06

No Deje Piedras Sobre El Pavimento!

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Perseverance Proficient

Perseverance   1

Posted
Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Nigeria
 Timeline
Posted

We have a lawyer, we discussed it together and decided that is what was best for us. Not that we had the money for one, we needed the piece of mind. I am so far not sorry, our lawyer caught mistakes that could have cost us more time. To us the time is worth more than the money.

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sunandmoon Experienced

sunandmoon   450

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Philippines
 Timeline
Posted
Here are my questions:

1) Is is possible to have success in obtaining a K1 visa if I submitt the paperwork? Is a lawyer necessary? Is the $1500- 2000 dollars for a lawyer worth it?

2) Any success stories without a lawyer?

3) Why not use a lawyer in the Philippines to help my wife-to-be?

Ray

i didn't find it necessary to use a lawyer. so far so good. you will be the one submitting the petition here. why use a lawyer in Philippines? if you do feel the need for a lawyer would think it would be better to us one in US.

US Embassy Manila website. bringing your spouse/fiancee to USA

http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3204.html

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Alex+R Veteran

Alex+R   0

Posted
Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Brazil
 Timeline
Posted

Yes, it can be done without a lawyer, and most of us here are doing it without lawyers.

If you see any possible complications in your case, you should at least get a consultation with a lawyer, IMO.

But if you are uncomfortable with doing it yourself, use a lawyer.

I probably would have for the peace of mind, but my pocketbook does not allow.

*Alexandra*

(I did it)

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