Filing alone or have service?

[Willyn and Larry 0]

I am looking at all the paperwork and was wondering if its better if I try and do it all or better to hire a service to do the complete k1 visa? I would hate to mess up on something and have it take longer to get my girl here.

[payxibka 10,048]

Strictly a personal decision... The waters are navigatable if you have the inclination to spend the time self-educate yourself on the process....

[phila 0]

With a fews hours of reading, and revisiting a couple times, you can learn the process. This forum is amazingly helpful. We have some translation issues, so we're actually considering getting help for Packet 3. If you don't have any translation issues or concerns- do it yourself. I've read too many horror stories on here about attorneys.

[ullumanali 0]

I am looking at all the paperwork and was wondering if its better if I try and do it all or better to hire a service to do the complete k1 visa? I would hate to mess up on something and have it take longer to get my girl here.

Personally, getting my wife here is so important that I wasn't willing to trust anyone else to do this whole process. If you look around VJ you'll see a lot of people complaining and mention that some of the screw-ups was due to their hired immigration lawyer/service. So far VJ guides, posts and members have been a great help in doing everything myself. And seems like most people here on VJ are filing it alone.... gave me some confidence.

But if you can find a lawyer that comes through good recommendations/reviews and are willing to trust, it may be a more convenient option to pursue.

Best,

/UM

[Mononoke28 137]

It depends on how you feel about filling out paperwork, doing a lot of reading and triple checking everything you do. If you're ok with that, then you should do it yourself, if not, then hiring a "good" and trusting lawyer should be ok too.

[pnd629 0]

This forum can provide all the help you'll need--as long as you have a fairly simple case.

If there are issues (overstays, previous K-1's etc.), then you might need the expertise of an attorney.

Using an attorney does not make the process any faster, only more expensive.

Good luck!

[Jasman0717 9]

I followed the guide and used the examples here on VJ and didn't have any problems what so ever. Good luck

[TimsDaisy 0]

You can probably do it yourself - as people here have mentioned. You're always going to be the person most dedicated and most concerned with your process and getting it right, no matter how much you pay someone else (who will likely have multiple clients to worry about).

Take a week - read everything you can get your hands on about the process - starting with the K1 Process Flow Chart available on this site, and the guides, and the instructions on the forms themselves from the government, and as much of the USCIS website as you can get through.

Then look at your circumstances and decide if you really need the help.

Honest to god - it isn't a difficult process. It is a frustrating process and there can be some abiguities and a lot of over-thought concerns, but at the end of the day, this is a rather simple form. Just a lot of waiting time.

[Robee 0]

I am looking at all the paperwork and was wondering if its better if I try and do it all or better to hire a service to do the complete k1 visa? I would hate to mess up on something and have it take longer to get my girl here.

If you have the time do the papers yourself. You will probably do better than the service because you have a vested interest. I have seen the "service" fail at their job.

Rob

[JODO 2]

Knowing how important this was to me, there was no way I was letting someone else do this for us. However, as a wise soul said, if you have anything other than a straightforward case, you may want to contact an immigration attorney. Nevertheless, if you have the time,patience, and dedication to do it on your own, I say go for it!

Good Luck

[lirachadsbaby 0]

We hired an agent for this processing but we still end up readiang and learning more here on VJ. Experience is a great teacher.

Just read on here.

[David-and-Mae 15]

You will learn alot just being here at VJ but it's still your best judgment if you'll do the paperwork yourself or hire an immigrant lawyer. Reading the GUIDES will give you all the information you need in starting K1 and members here can give you advices and helpful tips. We thought about hiring an agency but the fact that it's still us who will fill up forms and provide necessary documents, we decided to do it on our own and so far, so good - we're almost half through the K1 journey.

[QuietMe 0]

You will find the process is not that hard to complete yourself if you just read the I-129F. The examples are here on the VJ website.

My friend hired the service and found out he could have actually done the paperwork himself, quicker and way less expensive.

Save your money for the various fees you will find along this journey!

Cheers!

Quietme

[Willyn and Larry 0]

Well im going to do it myself but am going to need help along the way. Thanks for all the advice so far. My girl has gotten her sons birth cert. already and is going to her provence of birth next week to get hers. Hope all will go well with that. Anyone gone to Clarke for there passport? Clarke is for angeles city.

[dj1206 0]

I agree with previous posters. I spoke with an immigration lawyer's office back in June, after me and Jacki got engaged. They wouldn't answer any of my questions, not even how much they would charge!!! They also wouldn't guarantee that the case would get approved. They wanted $1000 upfront, but the way the lady talked, it sounded like they would milk it for as much money as they can get, upwards of multiple thousands. Not being a financially rich type of person, and with a wedding to pay for after the K1 goes through, it didn't sound very economical to me to go through a lawyer, who like others have said, has a more vested interest in your money than in the success of your case. In December when I was with Jacki in the Philippines celebrating Christmas with her family, her cousin's American fiancé told us to check out this site, and then it might be easier on us and we could do it without burning money up with a lawyer. Jacki visited/joined here before I did, and we really got going around mid-January on our paperwork. We started with her forms, letters and what all she would need to send to me, and after I got those in the mail from her in February, I did mine. If I hadn't taken bereavement leave from work when my dad died, I'd probably still be fighting to assemble the packet today. What I ended up with looked more professional than anything a lawyer could dream of putting together, so that gave me a sense of accomplishment. And Jacki was proud of me, too, which means a lot to me. Her love and support has helped to sustain me, even in my lowest points.

Anyway, I recommend no lawyer, but if you can't do it after the enormous help this site is, and you can afford astronomical lawyer fees, go for a lawer.