To use a lawyer or not-applying for K-3

[CanadianButterfly 0]

Hello Everyone,

I'm new to this site and I appologize in advance if someone has already asked this question. I have been reading through different threads trying to see if I saw my question posted already, but I didn't see it.

I am Canadian citizen and I'm married to an American citizen for over a year now. We're planning on filing for my K-3 ASAP, however we're not sure if we should go through an immigration lawyer for this...or just do it ourselves. Any advice on this would be great, from people that did use a lawyer/didn't use a lawyer.

Thanks everyone!

Canadian_Butterfly

[island_princess 2]

Generally, if your case is complicated and you have the money then it advisable to get one. However, if you are the online type of person and a member of this kind of forums like VJ, it helps a lot..and you don't need a lawyer at all.

Edited April 3, 2007 by island_princess

[~Chad~ 0]

Welcome to VJ! This site is great!

[sunset2005 0]

that is great but i saw that you are filing for your k3, just make sure you file your I130 first. Best wishes to you both.

Hello Everyone,

I'm new to this site and I appologize in advance if someone has already asked this question. I have been reading through different threads trying to see if I saw my question posted already, but I didn't see it.

I am Canadian citizen and I'm married to an American citizen for over a year now. We're planning on filing for my K-3 ASAP, however we're not sure if we should go through an immigration lawyer for this...or just do it ourselves. Any advice on this would be great, from people that did use a lawyer/didn't use a lawyer.

Thanks everyone!

Canadian_Butterfly

[Niels Bohr 72]

I never needed a lawyer thanks to this forum. If I had a lawyer, I can pretty much kiss my life good bye. Very expensive. So far, I experience no problems.

[Carlawarla 1]

Hi, and welcome to VJ. Looks at all the FAQ's and Guides before going to see a lawyer. This is a great site if you don't have any type of complicated application, however by all means get a lawyer if you think you need one.

I note your name has "Canadian" in it, so I suspect that one of you is Canadian!

Head over to the Canada Forum, under Regional Discussions. There are quite a few active members right now going through the same K-3 process! They'll be able to help answer questions.

Carla

[Mona Lisa 0]

I think All VJs here (incluse myself) are becoming in lawyers!! jajjajaaja. I never thought I could move with myself in all documents of process. This site help me so much. Congratulations for all VJs and Welcome to you.

cordially, Mona Lisa Smith

[Mononoke28 134]

If you're good at following instructions and are detailed oriented, then all you would need is this forum to get most of the information you might need. I've read several posts of people not being too happy with their lawyers regarding documentation and misleading information.

[Niels Bohr 72]

You know what? Maybe, after all of this mess, you can be an immigration consultant and make some money? Hehehe.

[Nagishkaw 510]

WELCOME TO VJ !

[MissStacey 1]

Welcome to VJ!!

I have gotten better advice here than any Immigration Lawyer could give. 7 months ago- I was a mess. Trying to find answers and getting reliable advice was a nightmare. I was so happy to find VJ.

Unless you have any complex issues regarding your case, you can find almost everything you need to know right here.

[CanadianButterfly 0]

Wow thanks everyone! Everyone on here seems so nice!

This site really seems like it will be able to help me...Right now I'm like a crazy person up till all hours of the night reading whatever I can about immigration, border crossing, visa's... My eyes burn now! LOL

We will consider what everyone has to say, to help us make our decision. If anyone has any other information about this, that would be really appreciated as well.

Thanks again everyone!

Canadian_Butterfly

[misa 2]

As others have stated, if your case isn't complicated and you're detailed oriented, there's no need for a lawyer. We filed and received a K3 without the help of a lawyer. All we needed was the guides to this site and members' advice.

Good luck!

[Flames9_RN 358]

We hired a lawyer and wish we had not!! We had not found VJ, both were busy, so we hired a lawyer, big waste of $$$, like $2500 plus filings!! If ur case is straight forward (no criminal charges, etc) you can do it urself. The lawyer really doesnt do much!! Al our lawyer did was collect the paperwork, mailed them to us, we filled them out, mailed them back to her, she double checked them, and mailed them where they had to go!! You stil have to colelct the proper documents (long from birth cert, police record) lawyer really doesnt do much!! Save the $$$, spend some time on here, and you should be set!! take your time filling out the forms:

1) ensure it is legible!!

2)No white out!!!

3) One requires a long form birth cert (Canadian) it is the 1 that lists your birth parents on the form.

4)Background check, for every country you have lived in for 6 months or more for every country!! For canada, you just need 1 that covers the whole country!! Can be obtained at most local RCMP detachments and Local police stations, or in the Greater Toronto area the Commisionaires (http://www.commissionaires.ca/) It is a easy document to obtain, some give it to u on the spot, some take longer, some charge no fee, some do!! Should say somewhere onthe document that the search was conducted CANADA wide or mentions Cpik(think thats what it is called??)

5) If you have ever had a criminal record, you will need fingerprinting!! NO criminal record, no fingerprinting, just the above mentioned background check!

6) Ensure you make copies of everything you mail in!!!

And most of all be patient!! Another option since you are already married is the Cr-1 (married for less than 2 yrs, IR-1 is married for over 2 yrs)

Best of luck

[Niels Bohr 72]

Lawyers gets paid lots of monies! That $2500 is enough to live for one month! So if he has 12 clients, he can live for 12 months, and doing only a few hours worth of work. LOL

Edited April 3, 2007 by consolemaster