Is it worth hiring a service provider to do my application for me?

[stevensane 10]

Hello,

Is it worth hiring a service provider to do my application for me? I was just speaking to one of their reps and he seemed fairly sure that for $400 I should have them do the application for me. I wonder, is it even needed? Might their lawyer services be necessary? Bearing in mind my problem I posted here http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/442415-will-a-previous-fine-in-the-us-cause-any-problems/

Thank you!

[Ashley903 7]

My personal opinion is that you can do this all by yourself. I actually looked at all the references this site has to offer and I received my NOA2 just a few days ago with no rfes.

There are so many free resources out there and to be honest the lawyer is not doing anything more than what you can do on your own.

Hope this helps!

[d3adc0d3 186]

I used a paperwork service.

I work 50-60 hours a week, I'm a "single" mom, and I just don't have time to scour the websites to make sure I did it right.

The peace of mind, and the ease of using their online forms to fill everything out properly. having someone go over my forms & make sure everything was in proper order...

this was very much worth the $400 I spent in my humble opinion.

It's entirely up to you, how much time you have, how confident you feel, your budget, and how complicated or straightforward your case is.

[c.lucky 2]

I also used an attorney for my application. I just do not have the time to do the paperwork, let alone double and triple check everything to make sure everything is accurate.

Also, the attorney speaks my fiancee's native language and is of her national descent so he is very familiar with the processes of that country's consulate.

It also was just very, very nice to have someone who i could talk to with any question and who could answer and help me with some of the more complicated parts such as the income/support documents which were very tedious for me to get sorted out. I am self employed and getting everything sorted to alleviate extra questions was time consuming.

It all boils down to your comfort level.

[stevensane 10]

Thank you for you responses!

I totally understand that some people need this service because they are too busy with their day to day lives to do it. English is my native language and my fiancé (US citizen) has native fluency in English so that isn't a problem.

I suppose what I am mainly concerned about is other than convenience and piece of mind is there anything else they provide? Are they capable of making the application stronger because of their legal team, assuming I make no mistakes in my application?

[Justud 42]

IMO, if you have a straight forward case, no red flags, and have good organization, you should do it yourself. save that $400 to buy a ticket to attend the interview. i just completed the entire process - visa in hand, and we did it ourselves. every question i had was answered correctly by either someone on vj or calling one of the 800 numbers along the process. i cant see where an attorney will give you any edge.

[Mrs-Belle 0]

I spoke with two lawyers before applying. When I went for the first consultation with each office, I already had the package done, everything signed, and all supporting evidence with me. They must have been very honest people. Because both of them agreed that I could do this myself and still be just as successful. As long as you send accurate and complete information, Make sure to check over all documents for mistakes, and send up to date forms, you should be fine.

[stevensane 10]

I spoke with two lawyers before applying. When I went for the first consultation with each office, I already had the package done, everything signed, and all supporting evidence with me. They must have been very honest people. Because both of them agreed that I could do this myself and still be just as successful. As long as you send accurate and complete information, Make sure to check over all documents for mistakes, and send up to date forms, you should be fine.

IMO, if you have a straight forward case, no red flags, and have good organization, you should do it yourself. save that $400 to buy a ticket to attend the interview. i just completed the entire process - visa in hand, and we did it ourselves. every question i had was answered correctly by either someone on vj or calling one of the 800 numbers along the process. i cant see where an attorney will give you any edge.

Thank you both. This is what I expected. The only potential red flag I have is outlined in this thread (http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/442415-will-a-previous-fine-in-the-us-cause-any-problems/) and I don't actually think it is a red flag (I also got an email from someone from an attorney's office that said this should not effect my case), just something I was worried about. I suspect that if I am methodical, check and re-check everything it should be fine.

[Harpa Timsah 13,260]

I suppose what I am mainly concerned about is other than convenience and piece of mind is there anything else they provide? Are they capable of making the application stronger because of their legal team, assuming I make no mistakes in my application?

No.

[Operator 1,927]

I suppose what I am mainly concerned about is other than convenience and piece of mind is there anything else they provide? Are they capable of making the application stronger because of their legal team, assuming I make no mistakes in my application?

It's bad enough dealing with an attorney let alone an entire team of them.

The petition that will be submitted on your behalf by your lady is to prove that you have met in person within the 24 months prior to submission and that you can legally and are willing to wed. It's not really a matter of strengths it's a matter of facts.

You may need to prove the strengths of your relationship at a future date but not yet.