K1 Visa - immigration attorney or not?

[natenoeyes 0]

Hi everyone!

 

Just wanted to get your input - I plan to follow my fiancee to the US, where she is currently working, through the K1 Visa (we've been in a relationship for 8 years, and she just left for the US a few days ago). We've been canvassing immigration lawyers and I'm wondering if it really is needed to hire one? Any advice on this will be appreciated.

 

Also, we've already had a consultation with Mike Templo of Templo & Templo Law Firm. Has anyone had experience hiring them as your lawyer? Thank you!

 

Regards,

Nathan

 

P.S. This is my first post on Visa Journey, so if I've violated anything, please don't hesitate to let me know. Thanks!

[ourjourney_pc 118]

7 minutes ago, natenoeyes said:

Hi everyone!

 

Just wanted to get your input - I plan to follow my fiancee to the US, where she is currently working, through the K1 Visa (we've been in a relationship for 8 years, and she just left for the US a few days ago). We've been canvassing immigration lawyers and I'm wondering if it really is needed to hire one? Any advice on this will be appreciated.

 

Also, we've already had a consultation with Mike Templo of Templo & Templo Law Firm. Has anyone had experience hiring them as your lawyer? Thank you!

 

Regards,

Nathan

 

P.S. This is my first post on Visa Journey, so if I've violated anything, please don't hesitate to let me know. Thanks!

No.. Do it on your own.. 

Read here.. Read online 

Read read read, dont need lawyer for this.. 

[EM_Vandaveer 2,408]

Is your fiancee a US citizen?

[natenoeyes 0]

Yes, she’s a US Citizen. Sorry for leaving out that info.

[Chris Duffy 1,257]

2 minutes ago, natenoeyes said:

Yes, she’s a US Citizen. Sorry for leaving out that info.

Waste of time and money to hire a lawyer, they charge on average from what I have seen around $3000 to $5000 US Dollars.

 

You basically gather all the information and they submit if for you.  For the lion share of people a lawyer is not needed and actually can be a hinderance.  A lawyer will not be able to do anything you can't do regarding filing a K1 or related paperwork.

 

I would say anyone with at least a few years of high school can file the K1 visa

[Cryssiekins 976]

You may consult with the attorney, but the person actually completing and filing the paperwork is an intern (at least at the firm

I worked at).  If your case is more difficult, a paralegal would handle it.  The actual attorney only steps in when it’s something incredibly difficult.  

 

Save the $2,500 - $4,000 and do it yourself.  Same amount of leg work, and VisaJourney members have a wealth of knowledge they are always happy to share and help. 

[KrashC 9]

We hired a lawyer and it was the worst mistake ever

[Hank_ 9,174]

1 hour ago, natenoeyes said:

Hi everyone!

 

Just wanted to get your input - I plan to follow my fiancee to the US, where she is currently working, through the K1 Visa (we've been in a relationship for 8 years, and she just left for the US a few days ago). We've been canvassing immigration lawyers and I'm wondering if it really is needed to hire one? Any advice on this will be appreciated.

 

Also, we've already had a consultation with Mike Templo of Templo & Templo Law Firm. Has anyone had experience hiring them as your lawyer? Thank you!

 

Regards,

Nathan

 

P.S. This is my first post on Visa Journey, so if I've violated anything, please don't hesitate to let me know. Thanks!

The process can easily be done yourself ... USCIS even states this.   Whoever completes the I-129F would have to get all the information from you.   You need evidence of meeting in person within the past two years, and tha you are both free to marry.

 

Follow the instructions for the I-129F on the USCIS website .. it is not difficult.

 

http://www.visaconnection-philippines.com/i-129f-petition-process.html

 

 

[kev&jo 27]

6 minutes ago, KrashC said:

We hired a lawyer and it was the worst mistake ever

I totally agree with you. My F hired a lawyer also and trust me instead of being helpful he indeed up being a stressor. Lol

[payxibka 10,045]

1 hour ago, natenoeyes said:

Hi everyone!

 

Just wanted to get your input - I plan to follow my fiancee to the US, where she is currently working, through the K1 Visa (we've been in a relationship for 8 years, and she just left for the US a few days ago). We've been canvassing immigration lawyers and I'm wondering if it really is needed to hire one? Any advice on this will be appreciated.

 

Also, we've already had a consultation with Mike Templo of Templo & Templo Law Firm. Has anyone had experience hiring them as your lawyer? Thank you!

 

Regards,

Nathan

 

P.S. This is my first post on Visa Journey, so if I've violated anything, please don't hesitate to let me know. Thanks!

This is a DIY website,  what do you think the overwhelming response will be?

[Cryssiekins 976]

4 minutes ago, kev&jo said:

I totally agree with you. My F hired a lawyer also and trust me instead of being helpful he indeed up being a stressor. Lol

Attorneys are a source of stress.  Try working for one.  Anytime he goes to court, I get no less than 20 texts for information.  When a client calls, I have to sit in his office, with the phone on speaker, and feed him answers.  

 

2 minutes ago, payxibka said:

This is a DIY website,  what do you think the overwhelming response will be?

Accurate, but if he’s just looking into the process, perhaps is unaware how normal it is for this to be a diy process

[natenoeyes 0]

7 minutes ago, Cryssiekins said:

Attorneys are a source of stress.  Try working for one.  Anytime he goes to court, I get no less than 20 texts for information.  When a client calls, I have to sit in his office, with the phone on speaker, and feed him answers.  

 

Accurate, but if he’s just looking into the process, perhaps is unaware how normal it is for this to be a diy process

Thank you for all your replies. While I am aware that this is a DIY website (that’s why I’m posting!) I honestly initially thought that the K1 visa process would be made much easier and seamless with the help of a lawyer. Our concerns are mostly about the strategy needed - which documents are appropriate to provide, etc, - and also about details such as being able to travel to the US while the petition is being processed.

 

Again, thanks for all the input, all.

[payxibka 10,045]

14 minutes ago, natenoeyes said:

Thank you for all your replies. While I am aware that this is a DIY website (that’s why I’m posting!) I honestly initially thought that the K1 visa process would be made much easier and seamless with the help of a lawyer. Our concerns are mostly about the strategy needed - which documents are appropriate to provide, etc, - and also about details such as being able to travel to the US while the petition is being processed.

 

Again, thanks for all the input, all.

All of those tips, tricks, and techniques are here if you are willing to take the lead and educate yourself 

[Curt&Ro 18]

You don't need one. VJ family are here. We manage our case like : Banckruptcy during K1 visa process , Devorces, Name Change, Discharge from Military, Petitioner leave in the Philippines for almost 3yrs using Tourist Visa and He has a kid not even from his ex wives. Our complicated case.. but no issue visa approved after all. Thank you VJ's family.😉😉😅😅😚

[carmel34 3,638]

2 hours ago, natenoeyes said:

I honestly initially thought that the K1 visa process would be made much easier and seamless with the help of a lawyer.

This is a huge mistake that a lot of people make, then later they regret it when they find out it is much more difficult, with errors, delays, all kinds of problems because low-paid interns or clerks fill out forms with information you have to gather anyway.  Far from seamless, it adds another layer of bureaucracy to an already bureaucratic process.  Trust the many people on here who have learned to regret hiring anyone to do something that you are basically going to have to do yourself anyway.  Big waste of money.  The only time you need to hire clerks at a law firm is if you don't speak English well enough to answer the questions on the forms, or if you have a legal issue like past deportation, criminal record, inadmissability issues, prior denied petitions.