Filing Forms

[Ricca711 1]

Good afternoon all. I feel so blessed to have found this site. Already, I have learned a lot by just reading some of the posts. I have question. I noticed that most people here are filing the K-1 Visa without an attorney. Or, I should say no one mentions using an a lawyer. Has anyone been successful in filing this way. Next...can one of the senior members detail a list of lingo used in the timelines? For instance, what is NOIA? I see that a lot. It would be helpful because I am preparing my K-1 application for my Ghanaian fiance. Oh one more question...I just got back from Ghana and cannot bear going and leaving my fiance again. It was really tough. But, do you think we will have a better chance if I visited again?

Thanks for the info.

Erika

[payxibka 10,048]

Good afternoon all. I feel so blessed to have found this site. Already, I have learned a lot by just reading some of the posts. I have question. I noticed that most people here are filing the K-1 Visa without an attorney. Or, I should say no one mentions using an a lawyer. Has anyone been successful in filing this way. Next...can one of the senior members detail a list of lingo used in the timelines? For instance, what is NOIA? I see that a lot. It would be helpful because I am preparing my K-1 application for my Ghanaian fiance. Oh one more question...I just got back from Ghana and cannot bear going and leaving my fiance again. It was really tough. But, do you think we will have a better chance if I visited again?

Thanks for the info.

Erika

This is predominantly a DIY community... I would expect a significant majority here did navigate the waters without legal representation. There are situations where legal help however would be the best course of action.

Look in the guides/FAQ section for a list of the acronyms

[Yodrak 7]

Erika,

Many people go through the immigration process without hiring or consulting an attorney. Most do just fine, a few do not. My advice is that a consultation with an experienced immigration attorney is an inexpensive and very worthwhile exercise to find out what potential problems, if any, may exist given the facts of your case, and to get some good tips and info that you may not get here at VJ. Then you will be in a better position to decide if you want to go it alone or hire an attorney.

Ghana. I strongly recommend a consultation with an immigration attorney who has experience with the US consulate in Ghana, one who knows what they look for and how to prepare for that particular consulate.

You don't want to rely on senior VJ members, you want to rely on knowledgeable VJ members. The two are not always the same, as you will discover.

There is a dictionary of terms in the Appendix of the Visa FAQ.

Yodrak

Good afternoon all. I feel so blessed to have found this site. Already, I have learned a lot by just reading some of the posts. I have question. I noticed that most people here are filing the K-1 Visa without an attorney. Or, I should say no one mentions using an a lawyer. Has anyone been successful in filing this way. Next...can one of the senior members detail a list of lingo used in the timelines? For instance, what is NOIA? I see that a lot. It would be helpful because I am preparing my K-1 application for my Ghanaian fiance. Oh one more question...I just got back from Ghana and cannot bear going and leaving my fiance again. It was really tough. But, do you think we will have a better chance if I visited again?

Thanks for the info.

Erika

[Kinsey 0]

Ricca,

I agree that most of us here did it without a lawyer, but a lawyer may be helpful if you have a complicated case.

I will tell you, from my experience so far on this forum, a good majority of what I've read of people hiring lawyers was bad. I've heard of them filling in forms wrong, sending forms to the wrong place, and you have to wait for them to get around to doing your stuff, as they usually quite busy.

I would take a really good look at the Guides and the FAQ up top. Chances are you will get the hang of it quite easily, and then feel more secure in pursuing it on your own if you choose to do so.

Best of luck!

[Ricca711 1]

Thank you to all who replied so quickly.

Erika

[joeyjoey 1]

Good afternoon all. I feel so blessed to have found this site. Already, I have learned a lot by just reading some of the posts. I have question. I noticed that most people here are filing the K-1 Visa without an attorney. Or, I should say no one mentions using an a lawyer. Has anyone been successful in filing this way. Next...can one of the senior members detail a list of lingo used in the timelines? For instance, what is NOIA? I see that a lot. It would be helpful because I am preparing my K-1 application for my Ghanaian fiance. Oh one more question...I just got back from Ghana and cannot bear going and leaving my fiance again. It was really tough. But, do you think we will have a better chance if I visited again?

Thanks for the info.

Erika

Look through this first. It'll give you a good idea as to what it is you are trying to do.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;page=k1guide

Unless you have some "questionable" past, you don't need a Lawyer. But you do need to read, think and follow instructions.

[wille 0]

Good afternoon all. I feel so blessed to have found this site. Already, I have learned a lot by just reading some of the posts. I have question. I noticed that most people here are filing the K-1 Visa without an attorney. Or, I should say no one mentions using an a lawyer. Has anyone been successful in filing this way. Next...can one of the senior members detail a list of lingo used in the timelines? For instance, what is NOIA? I see that a lot. It would be helpful because I am preparing my K-1 application for my Ghanaian fiance. Oh one more question...I just got back from Ghana and cannot bear going and leaving my fiance again. It was really tough. But, do you think we will have a better chance if I visited again?

Thanks for the info.

Erika

To answer your questions NOA1 stands for Notice of apporval...that would be the I-129 NOA2 would be the I-130. As far as using a lawyer I don't think they can do anymore than you can at this stage. Just read all you can and educate yourself to the process. I don't know what you found when you were there but I found the american embassy was not very helpful. I therefore came back to the states and started the process in December 2005. We are currently waiting on an appointment date. Be prepared for a long wait and get your elected congressman and senator involved early on. That way if anything goes worng they will know about it. Good luck.

[Kang Lang 7]

hi there i am someone who hired an attorney and deeply regret it, not the best money i have spent we're not quite done (just waiting for intervew stage) but in retrospect had i known about this site and simply taken my time i realise i could have done it for us.

but good luck to you two!

[msu17 0]

Good afternoon all. I feel so blessed to have found this site. Already, I have learned a lot by just reading some of the posts. I have question. I noticed that most people here are filing the K-1 Visa without an attorney. Or, I should say no one mentions using an a lawyer. Has anyone been successful in filing this way. Next...can one of the senior members detail a list of lingo used in the timelines? For instance, what is NOIA? I see that a lot. It would be helpful because I am preparing my K-1 application for my Ghanaian fiance. Oh one more question...I just got back from Ghana and cannot bear going and leaving my fiance again. It was really tough. But, do you think we will have a better chance if I visited again?

Thanks for the info.

Erika

To answer your questions NOA1 stands for Notice of apporval...that would be the I-129 NOA2 would be the I-130. As far as using a lawyer I don't think they can do anymore than you can at this stage. Just read all you can and educate yourself to the process. I don't know what you found when you were there but I found the american embassy was not very helpful. I therefore came back to the states and started the process in December 2005. We are currently waiting on an appointment date. Be prepared for a long wait and get your elected congressman and senator involved early on. That way if anything goes worng they will know about it. Good luck.

Ok, granted this is an old thread, but just to clarify, NOA1 does not = 129 and NOA2 = 130. NOA1 is when the service center recieves your package FOR the 129f (or I-130 I guess) and NOA2 is when they approve it unless I am completely misreading what you are saying (which I tend to do ). However K1 has nothing to do with I-130 in any case.

Edited May 24, 2007 by msu17