Immigration attorney needed ?

[ForeverAmen 0]

From someone who has gone through the process without a lawyer, please accept this advice .... DO IT YOURSELF! My husband arrived here on a K-1 Fiance visa. We did his AOS, EAD and AOS Interview all by ourselves. Trust me .... if we can do it all on our own ..... anyone can.

Wish you well!

[robacjd 1]

I hired an attorney and I think it was money well spent. My attorney submitted my I-129F on July 18th and I was approved on September 18th, only took 60 days. I never received any RFE's. There were a lot of I-129F's submitted before mine and mine was approved well before theirs. Mine went through the California office though. I never worried about whether I had submitted everything needed or had all of the information correct. I have seen conflicting information on this site about different topics an I am glad I didn't use any of it. Every case is different, so you can't use the information on this site and think your petition will be approved because you used any of it.

However, their are some people who used an attorney without checking their background and have had trouble with them, so they will write derogatory things about their experience with an attorney. Don't judge all attorneys with what has been written on this site about them.

Good luck and I hope your petition gets approved just as fast as mine did or even faster.

[jezebelseven 0]

However, their are some people who used an attorney without checking their background and have had trouble with them, so they will write derogatory things about their experience with an attorney.

There are also people who did their research and found attorneys that had a spotless record, but the attorneys gave them completely awful advice about how to do things in a less than legal way. The attorney I checked out was is in good standing with the Bar and AILA, and is also an honorary consul of her home country. She advised me to tell my fiance to plan a trip here, tell the immigration agents that he was 'just visiting' when he really had full intent on staying anyway, and other outright lies. I paid $50 for that misinformation from a so called immigration specialist, and thank my stars that I had VJ to bring me back down to earth, because I could've made one costly mistake with that woman. The only good advice she DID give me was that our case was very uncomplicated and we probably didn't need her help the whole way. As of yet, we've never needed it, and I certainly wouldn't go back to her after some of the other advice she gave.

While there are plenty of good ones out there, I'm sure, and I'm sure there's a few users out there who didn't bother checking their attorneys standings, it's also not fair to jump to saying that people just 'didn't check their background'. Sometimes there's no way of telling whether a attorney is any good until you're having a face to face with them and seeing exactly what they do know.

[robacjd 1]

If someone wants to use an immigration attorney, they should look in or near where they live. There are attorneys in every state and nearly every county in the US that handle immigration matters. When you find one you may want to use, if they are reputable, they will give you a list of clients they have represented and you can contact the clients themselves to see how the attorney's services worked for them. This information is free and is available before you hire the attorney. Some people probably go to some web site and choose an attorney from there. Of course there is no way to get any information on previous clients from them.

If there is a place to "APPLY" for a passport near you, there is a probable chance of finding an attorney to assist you on immigration matters also. He will be local and thus has to be reputable to stay in business.

[BJZags 17]

I would agree with the statements that a lawyer would likely "catch" the goofs that might lead to an RFE because an immigration attorney would know the general scheme-work of the law. Where you would have to do some "shopping" around is to find a lawyer who has experience dealing with your specific embassy to know the ends-and-outs of the process once it hits the USE.

[David -n- Yuxuan 0]

I am interested in peoples opinion on whether a Immigration Attorney is needed, or if used would speed up the process. My Fiance is in Hunan China, and that consulate seems to have very long lead times for interviews. I have been reading the support material on this site and generally understand the process, though this is all new to me.

Is it worth the ~$2500 for a Lawyer to make sure things are correct ? Do they know any tricks to speed things up ?

LarryC

I was going to use an immigration attorney before I did a lot of research and found enough information to convince me NOT to use a lawyer. A couple of reasons convinced me. One, our case wouldn't be 'special'. Two, the fact that I had all the information necessary to do the job and follow up on everthing withing their respective times. I've just called the NVC to see if they've received my K1 Petition. They have and are currently processing it before sending it to the Consulate in Guangzhou.

As far as processing times goes, there is really nothing a lawyer can do because the rules are set in stone. If you have an emergency or you think your case should be expedited for a GOOD reason, there are standard processes to follow. But, where a lawyer would help, is if you truly had a special case and would need to petition the government through the courts to move your case along faster. That can only be done by a good immigration attorney. Otherwise, our case isn't special and I don't anticipate any emergencies, therefore, I will do the work myself and save the cash!

You on the other hand have to decide if you got the time and cash. I guess that is really what it comes to. But, you will still have to hunt for all necessary paperwork, call your bank, get stuff from your employer, etc..., then give these things to your lawyer, at which point he/she would just arrange everything neatly, clarify somethings with you, make copies, and send them off. So the time spent on the lawyers side is negligible, especially when his/her assistant would probably do all the work.

I hope this helps. Good luck!

[Nkybaby 0]

Well everyone has to make the better judgement that suit themselves...If you know that you are a detailed person...and you are one to read a lot and ask as many questions as needed...and it doesn't have to always be on this site...you are entitled to fee consulations...then you should be able to do it on your own...

People hire lawyers for may reason...

1. To have someone else handle the process

2. Because they may not understand all the procedures...

Also there are many more reasons...

However, not everyone who wishes the file the application may be happy that they meet the income guideline that they may not have the extra expense for a lawyer...

I think in this day and in time...computers are user friendly...books have been written...so it makes it easier for the every day comman person or anyone who feels to do it on their own...that much easier...then in the past when it was almost forbidden to even know what was required...unless you hired a lawyer...and during those times...often families had to pull together for someone to raise money to hire a lawyer...

At the end of the day, us judgement and make the best choice that you feel comfortable with...

For me I prayed on it...and I say well let me just give it a chance and fill the information out myself...I know our feelings are true from the heart....and there's no fraud...and if we shall stumble, now days in life there's always a family member or friend who knows a lawyer that might not mind giving you a hint of advice...especially if you were able to clear most of the stuff on your own...

And I also know that Grad students at Colleges get a kick out of helping, it's their experience...and also you would be working directly with their professor who already has a degree in law...

I mean it's just a thought, there are many roads you can take, however, at the end of the day...if you feel you may need a lawyer, hire one, but seek referrals...we've all heard about being ripped off from an attorney...or just try and do it yourself...

But I must say...working with my love on the application...actually made me feel it brought us closer together...

But there are many ways to do that too...but I guess we were just proud that we could do something as serious together...and count on each other in different ways...He knows I am the more detailed on as far as pulling information...and he is the more advisable one when it comes to seeking options...

Take care!!!

I am interested in peoples opinion on whether a Immigration Attorney is needed, or if used would speed up the process. My Fiance is in Hunan China, and that consulate seems to have very long lead times for interviews. I have been reading the support material on this site and generally understand the process, though this is all new to me.

Is it worth the ~$2500 for a Lawyer to make sure things are correct ? Do they know any tricks to speed things up ?

LarryC

I was going to use an immigration attorney before I did a lot of research and found enough information to convince me NOT to use a lawyer. A couple of reasons convinced me. One, our case wouldn't be 'special'. Two, the fact that I had all the information necessary to do the job and follow up on everthing withing their respective times. I've just called the NVC to see if they've received my K1 Petition. They have and are currently processing it before sending it to the Consulate in Guangzhou.

As far as processing times goes, there is really nothing a lawyer can do because the rules are set in stone. If you have an emergency or you think your case should be expedited for a GOOD reason, there are standard processes to follow. But, where a lawyer would help, is if you truly had a special case and would need to petition the government through the courts to move your case along faster. That can only be done by a good immigration attorney. Otherwise, our case isn't special and I don't anticipate any emergencies, therefore, I will do the work myself and save the cash!

You on the other hand have to decide if you got the time and cash. I guess that is really what it comes to. But, you will still have to hunt for all necessary paperwork, call your bank, get stuff from your employer, etc..., then give these things to your lawyer, at which point he/she would just arrange everything neatly, clarify somethings with you, make copies, and send them off. So the time spent on the lawyers side is negligible, especially when his/her assistant would probably do all the work.

I hope this helps. Good luck!