My fiancée's parents want us to hire a lawyer in Vietnam.

[Nowrya 59]

I'm currently in Vietnam now with my fiancée. Her parents are very worried about us with the whole K1 visa process. They've heard from other Vietnamese how difficult it can be. I'm waiting for my NOA2, I hope to get it any day now.

They really want us to hire a lawyer here in Vietnam to help us. But I'm already getting help from rapidvisa. And from my research I don't need a lawyer at all. I keep telling her to tell her parents that we don't need a lawyer.

Any suggestions?

[geowrian 22,335]

I certainly don't have an expertise with Vietnam, but generally the K1 process is a DIY process. If there are some flags in your case, it might not be a bad idea to seek professional assistance. Otherwise, I'm not sure what the lawyer would even do at this point (other than direct you to what forms to file or bring).

[Casey&Titi 14]

My wife and I had zero problems bringing her from Việt Nam using a K1 visa. Getting a lawyer never crossed my mind, I just followed the instructions and took the advise of a few members on this site.

Edited December 29, 2016 by Casey&Titi

[Rome & Ann 2]

Same with us I had no problems bringing my fiancee from Vietnam via K-1 we followed the guides from this site, and double checked the forms before sending them in, if you follow the guides on this site it shouldn't be a problem to do it yourself without a lawyer.

[zeta054 111]

No need for a lawyer. If you have done your homework and look at the forums on this site u should be fine.

[Boiler 43,436]

Their money and if they want to spend it on a lawyer let them.

[jac_chappin 24]

On 12/28/2016 at 4:02 PM, Nowrya said:

I'm currently in Vietnam now with my fiancée. Her parents are very worried about us with the whole K1 visa process. They've heard from other Vietnamese how difficult it can be. I'm waiting for my NOA2, I hope to get it any day now.

They really want us to hire a lawyer here in Vietnam to help us. But I'm already getting help from rapidvisa. And from my research I don't need a lawyer at all. I keep telling her to tell her parents that we don't need a lawyer.

Any suggestions?

Hey there!

As many have stated, a lawyer is not needed. I do recommend that you leave no stone unturned.

What I mean is go above and beyond with documentation, proof of relationship, etc and prepare your fiancee for the toughest interview possible. I gave my fiancée about 100 questions to study and she was well prepared. Feel free to read my consulate review as I have noted some helpful items.

I think if you and your fiancee take the time to prepare you should be in good shape.

On a side note, my fiancee's parents were somewhat insinuating something similar about paying someone to help but I made it clear that it was going toe on my terms due to the fact that I thoroughly understood process.  It sounds like you have a good grasp of entire process. 

Best wishes!

 

 

 

 

[Smartwater 5]

Lawyers in Vietnam can practice US laws? I'd trust visajourney resources over Vietnamese lawyers.  If getting a lawyer make you feel comfortable, then I think hiring one in US would be better.

Edited January 2, 2017 by Smartwater

[frontgear 194]

13 hours ago, Smartwater said:

Lawyers in Vietnam can practice US laws? I'd trust visajourney resources over Vietnamese lawyers.  If getting a lawyer make you feel comfortable, then I think hiring one in US would be better.

 

I think her family meant to say Immigration Services (Dich Vu), not lawyer. These services have inside people at the consulate in Saigon (or embassy in Hanoi) that will help place your case, coach you on the how-to's of the interview, what to say and what not to say and how to say it, and even guarantee that you will pass the interview or your money back. Two of the people I personally know have paid close to $1,500 USD for these services.

 

They usually work with someone else in the US to help the petitioner with the paperwork. Someone who may be an immigration lawyer or is well versed in immigration laws but not required to have a law degree.

[Smartwater 5]

10 hours ago, frontgear said:

 

I think her family meant to say Immigration Services (Dich Vu), not lawyer. These services have inside people at the consulate in Saigon (or embassy in Hanoi) that will help place your case, coach you on the how-to's of the interview, what to say and what not to say and how to say it, and even guarantee that you will pass the interview or your money back. Two of the people I personally know have paid close to $1,500 USD for these services.

 

They usually work with someone else in the US to help the petitioner with the paperwork. Someone who may be an immigration lawyer or is well versed in immigration laws but not required to have a law degree.

Ok well if you are comfortable with English and read up on visajourney you won't need those services.  I left the consulate and the consular sercurity guys warned me of not to use those kind.  In my experience, I think using those services would hinder your chances especially when it comes to paperwork and interview coached answers.

[Nowrya 59]

21 hours ago, frontgear said:

 

I think her family meant to say Immigration Services (Dich Vu), not lawyer. These services have inside people at the consulate in Saigon (or embassy in Hanoi) that will help place your case, coach you on the how-to's of the interview, what to say and what not to say and how to say it, and even guarantee that you will pass the interview or your money back. Two of the people I personally know have paid close to $1,500 USD for these services.

 

They usually work with someone else in the US to help the petitioner with the paperwork. Someone who may be an immigration lawyer or is well versed in immigration laws but not required to have a law degree.

Her family didn't mean to say that. That sounds highly illegal. The lawyer they want to hire is just to make sure she has all the correct documents (birth certificate and w/e else she needs on her end). 

[aaron2020 11,651]

42 minutes ago, Nowrya said:

Her family didn't mean to say that. That sounds highly illegal. The lawyer they want to hire is just to make sure she has all the correct documents (birth certificate and w/e else she needs on her end). 

Waste of money to hire a Vietnamese lawyer if you can read and follow directions.  

 

Vietnamese think that they need help from the "experts" around the US Consulate.  I've seen cases handled by US immigration attorneys that Vietnamese families insist be reviewed by these "experts."  

 

You can either give in to shut them up and be in a position where they dictate things in the future, or you can tell them no and that you have it under control.  If things go wrong and it's not your fault, they will blame you.  That's the Vietnamese mentality.

 

Best of luck.

[Will_and_Tu 46]

On 12/28/2016 at 7:02 PM, Nowrya said:

I'm currently in Vietnam now with my fiancée. Her parents are very worried about us with the whole K1 visa process. They've heard from other Vietnamese how difficult it can be. I'm waiting for my NOA2, I hope to get it any day now.

They really want us to hire a lawyer here in Vietnam to help us. But I'm already getting help from rapidvisa. And from my research I don't need a lawyer at all. I keep telling her to tell her parents that we don't need a lawyer.

Any suggestions?

Resist that pressure. You and your fiancee own this process, and it's a costly one, so the last thing you need to do is spend additional money on services that don't add value but also set a precedent that you're not in charge of your own relationship.

[Chi&Clint 203]

We are waiting for our NOA2, but we all did our documents by ourselves. I dont think the process is too difficult to hire a lawyer. If your fiance's parents want to hire a lawyer let them pay for that haha. They just have heard about the process, they haven't read the instructions. So, the answer is No