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JacknElli

Do you recommend hiring a lawyer for Adjustment of Status while in the USA.

By JacknElli in Adjustment of Status Case Filing and Progress Reports

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JacknElli Newbie

JacknElli   0

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Filed: F-1 Visa Country: Brazil
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Hello,

 

My girlfriend and I just got engaged! I am a US citizen and she is in the US on a student visa and is now getting her work permit (OPT). We have been dating for 2 and a half years and are not worried about the interview or back story inquiry. 

I have been doing research on whether or not hiring an attorney is worth it or not and the benefits. I was wondering if anyone else had experience filling the paperwork themselves and if paying $2000 for a lawyer is worth it. 

Any feedback or advice is greatly appreciated.

 

Cheers! 

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Ben&Zian Experienced

Ben&Zian   4,397

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Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Philippines
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~Moved to Adjustment of Status from Work, Student, and Tourist Visas - Case Filing and Progress Reports~

 

 

I wouldn't. Nothing to hide as you said and she's in a legal status in the US currently. Pretty straight forward to me.

Edited by Ben&Zian

08/15/2014 : Met Online

06/30/2016 : I-129F Packet Sent

11/08/2016 : Interview - APPROVED!

11/23/2016 : POE - Dallas, Texas

From sending of I-129F petiton to POE - 146 days.

 

02/03/2017 - Married 

02/24/2017 - AOS packet sent

06/01/2017 - EAD/AP Combo Card Received in mail

12/06/2017 - I-485 Approved

12/14/2017 - Green Card Received in mail - No Interview

 

   

brickleberry GIF they see me rolling college football GIF by ESPN  

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Crazy Cat Grand Master

Crazy Cat   39,312

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Taiwan
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I paid an attorney $2000.00.  If I had Found Visa Journey first, I would have saved $2000.00.  My attorney gave me some incorrect information which cost us at least 3 months delay.  The guides and the vast knowledge of veteran posters here are as good or better than what I  received from my attorney, imo.

"The US immigration process requires a great deal of knowledge, planning, time, patience, and a significant amount of money.  It is quite a journey!"

- Some old child of the 50's & 60's on his laptop 

 

Senior Master Sergeant, US Air Force- Retired (after 20+ years)- Missile Systems Maintenance & Titan 2 ICBM Launch Crew Duty (200+ Alert tours)

Registered Nurse- Retired- I practiced in the areas of Labor & Delivery, Home Health, Adolescent Psych, & Adult Psych.

IT Professional- Retired- Web Site Design, Hardware Maintenance, Compound Pharmacy Software Trainer, On-site go live support, Database Manager, App Designer.

______________________________________

August 7, 2022: Wife filed N-400 Online under 5 year rule.

November 10, 2022: Received "Interview is scheduled" letter.

December 12, 2022:  Received email from Dallas office informing me (spouse) to be there for combo interview.

December 14, 2022: Combo Interview for I-751 and N-400 Conducted.

January 26, 2023: Wife's Oath Ceremony completed at the Plano Event Center, Plano, Texas!!!😁

February 6, 2023: Wife's Passport Application submitted in Dallas, Texas.

March 21, 2023:   Wife's Passport Delivered!!!!

May 15, 2023 (about):  Naturalization Certificate returned from Passport agency!!

 

In summary, it took 13 months for approval of the CR-1.  It took 44 months for approval of the I-751.  It took 4 months for approval of the N-400.   It took 172 days from N-400 application to Oath Ceremony.   It took 6 weeks for Passport, then 7 additional weeks for return of wife's Naturalization Certificate.. 
 

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isa_bella Contributor

isa_bella   41

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Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Timeline
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If you can read the instructions on the forms carefully, do plenty of research, and are very organized, you can do it yourself. Having an attorney provides a peace of mind though, and if you and your spouse are busy, you might just hire an attorney. I didn't want to pay $5000 for something that I could have done myself, so I didn't use an attorney

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Going through Mentor

Going through   5,668

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
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Well..this is the way I look at:

 

-You have to gather all of your supporting documents yourself, and do the legwork yourself to obtain any needed foreign documents.  The lawyer won't do this.

-You have to photocopy all of your originals yourself for your own records.  The lawyer won't do this.

-You can research experiences here for free as well as ask an endless amount of questions for free.  Most lawyers charge you each time you contact them.

-You can read the form instructions yourself and fill it out yourself, since you and your soon-to-be-spouse know all of your own information already.  All you would be doing with a lawyer is reciting that same info to them.  The lawyer will happily take your money for this knowing you could have filled out the form yourself.

 

As you say, you have a pretty straightforward case.  Lots of info and help to be found for free right here.

 

Applied for Naturalization based on 5-year Residency - 96 Days To Complete Citizenship!

July 14, 2017 (Day 00) -  Submitted N400 Application, filed online

July 21, 2017 (Day 07) -  NOA Receipt received in the mail

July 22, 2017 (Day 08) - Biometrics appointment scheduled online, letter mailed out

July 25, 2017 (Day 11) - Biometrics PDF posted online

July 28, 2017 (Day 14) - Biometrics letter received in the mail, appointment for 08/08/17

Aug 08, 2017 (Day 24) - Biometrics (fingerprinting) completed

Aug 14, 2017 (Day 30) - Online EGOV status shows "Interview Scheduled, will mail appointment letter"

Aug 16, 2017 (Day 32) - Online MYUSCIS status shows "Interview Scheduled, read the letter we mailed you..."

Aug 17, 2017 (Day 33) - Interview Appointment Letter PDF posted online---GOT AN INTERVIEW DATE!!!

Aug 21, 2017 (Day 37) - Interview Appointment Letter received in the mail, appointment for 09/27/17

Sep. 27, 2017 (Day 74) - Naturalization Interview--- read my experience here

Sep. 27, 2017 (Day 74) - Online MYUSCIS status shows "Oath Ceremony Notice mailed"

Sep. 28, 2017 (Day 75) - Oath Ceremony Letter PDF posted online--Ceremony for 10/19/17

Oct. 02, 2017 (Day 79) -  Oath Ceremony Letter received in the mail

Oct. 19, 2017 (Day 96) -  Oath Ceremony-- read my experience here

 

 

 

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T_P Proficient

T_P   872

Posted
Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Brazil
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Posted
On 3/26/2018 at 4:17 PM, JacknElli said:

Hello,

 

My girlfriend and I just got engaged! I am a US citizen and she is in the US on a student visa and is now getting her work permit (OPT). We have been dating for 2 and a half years and are not worried about the interview or back story inquiry. 

I have been doing research on whether or not hiring an attorney is worth it or not and the benefits. I was wondering if anyone else had experience filling the paperwork themselves and if paying $2000 for a lawyer is worth it. 

Any feedback or advice is greatly appreciated.

 

Cheers! 

No. READ and SAVE some money cause you will need it.

8/14/17 --- AOS sent I-485, I-765, I-131

8/16/17 --- AOS Packet received Chicago USCIS Day 0

8/21/17  --- Received email & text notification 

8/23/17  --- Received hard copy of NOA  

9/01/17  --- Biometrics letter notice for I-485 & I-765 & I-131  

9/11/17  --- Biometrics Appointment Done

10/17/17 - Case Is Ready To Be Scheduled For An Interview

11/30/2017 - EAD/AP Approved
12/01/2017 - Card in Production
12/05/2017 - Received Approval Notice in the Mail
12/06//2017 - Card Mailed (Priority Mail) to Me
12/07/2017 - Card Received 

1/19/18  --- Interview Date 2/21

2/21/18  ---  Approved on the Spot

  • 1 hour after the interview received uscis mobile app alert
  • Status changed from "Interview is scheduled" to "New Card Is Being Produced

2/26/18  --- Received hard copy of NOA for the Green Card

2/26/18  --- USCIS Mobile Status changed to "Card was mailed to me"

2/28/18 --- Permanent Resident/Green Card received :jest:

 

******

Travelling with Combo Card Feedback 

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AOS Interview - Review and Tips

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Brazil Instructions After i-129F Approval    and  Emails Sent by NVC and Brazilian Embassy after the i-129F approval

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B2 Visa Experience / Mother-in-law financially challenged for visa

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Please register for informed delivery if it is applicable in your region - USPS INFORMED DELIVERY

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NVC - (603)-334-0700

USCIS - 800-375-5283

******

" Have you tried the search tool? K1 isnt an easy process and a LOT of reading is required to avoid problems (RFEs) etc, if you dont like reading, be prepared to spend WAY more time and couple more $$$ with an lawyer " 

 

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