Lawyer to assist fiancee?

[Glenn D. 0]

New to this list and to this experience. Please be patient.

I've read discussions on retaining attorneys. I'm not intimidated by government forms and I suspect I could prepare them properly on my own. My concern is my fiancee in Ukraine. Lawyers' fees are not cheap but the thought of removing any stress and simplifying the process for Natalia seems to make the cost minimal. I've thrown more money away on stupid things in my life than I care to remember.

So, my questions to everyone are:

What's been the experience of your fiancees in other countries navigating the process?

If money were no object, or at least not the difference between having a meal tonight, would you be tempted to purchse some peace of mind?

Do you think there's value in having a law firm that provides real life assistance, on the ground, to the fiancee?

Thanks,

Glenn

[caroledfb 0]

Hi

Forms are made for regular citizens, so a lawyer is not needed to understand what to do... If your fiancee can speak English it is even more straight forward... I did not use a lawyer but I can understand you would prefer one... But I do not think it would speed up the process, just make you maybe less worried. I know that I prefer to be in control and know what is happening rather than having to go through a third parties...

Good luck

[Glenn D. 0]

You raise an interesting concern I didn't address in my original post:

Natalia speaks very little English. Does that change people's advice?

Hi

Forms are made for regular citizens, so a lawyer is not needed to understand what to do... If your fiancee can speak English it is even more straight forward... I did not use a lawyer but I can understand you would prefer one... But I do not think it would speed up the process, just make you maybe less worried. I know that I prefer to be in control and know what is happening rather than having to go through a third parties...

Good luck

Edited September 24, 2006 by Glenn D.

[Erik 0]

Glenn, also keep in mind that you are allowed to assist your fiance in completing the paperwork she will receive from the Embassy in her country.

For example, my fiance is from Brasil and does not speak English to save her life. All the documents come in English and Portuguese, but most of, if not all the documents she will receive can be located on the Embassy's website. I downloaded or printed all the forms, completed them, scanned them to my computer, and when she receives the papers, I send them to her one by one over the internet, and she simply copies the information to the real forms.

This way, you have piece of mind that everything is correct because you are the one actually completing the forms for her. My fiance is not real involved in this process, I tell her what she needs to do, and she does it, thats about the extent of it. So, I know your fear, but this way I know if there is any mistake, it will be my fault, not hers, and I'm ####### as all get out in regards to paperwork, so I'm confident all will be well.

If the documents are not available on the Embassy Website, then when she receives them, have her Fax them to you... you can complete them, Fax them back, or did as I did and scan them to your computer and send them to her that way.

Edited September 24, 2006 by Erik

[joeyjoey 1]

New to this list and to this experience. Please be patient.

I've read discussions on retaining attorneys. I'm not intimidated by government forms and I suspect I could prepare them properly on my own. My concern is my fiancee in Ukraine. Lawyers' fees are not cheap but the thought of removing any stress and simplifying the process for Natalia seems to make the cost minimal. I've thrown more money away on stupid things in my life than I care to remember.

So, my questions to everyone are:

What's been the experience of your fiancees in other countries navigating the process?

If money were no object, or at least not the difference between having a meal tonight, would you be tempted to purchse some peace of mind?

Do you think there's value in having a law firm that provides real life assistance, on the ground, to the fiancee?

Thanks,

Glenn

When I started this process, I worried that Fernanda would stress over everything. In the beginning, she did! But when I was better able to explain what's happening, she calmed down. So the stressing is normal! Your job is to calm her down.

All the forms that she will be receiving , I believe, can be pulled from Dept of State's website. You can fill them out and send them to her with instructions on what to sign now and what not to sign until Interview.

If money were no object.....sure, I'd let someone in my Fiancee's city take a look at docs, explain the process, etc.

Is there value in the real life assistance? Yes, your comfort level just increased and your Fiancee believes she has someone with her specific interests at heart. So maybe she'll relax also.

However, I will be downloading and completing the forms for my Fiancee. Fernanda and I talk almost every night. Communication about what is happening and what's about to happen is the key. She understands the process. She is very comfortable. She knows that if she has a question that I have the forms here, I have VisaJourney, and we can discuss all issues. Every ones situation is a little different. Fernanda speaks no English! So I need to translate and to explain anything that is in English. Hey, just brings us closer to each other!