Ready to begin AOS but do I need a layer?

[craig21123 2]

Hello everyone! 

 

Based on my last post myself and soon to be wife are ready to get married and begin the AOS process on ESTA but the big questions is do we need a lawyer? We have spoken to a few and most are quoting around $4,000 + filing fees! Whilst this is completely affordable for us we'd rather not fork out thousands of dollars if it's just as easy for us to do ourselves, especially as we are having a baby . 

 

Are there any guides on this site or any others that explain the process in more detail? 

 

If any of you have successfully AOS on ESTA without a lawyer can you please share your experience?

[Roel 7,191]

Well if only we have a HUGE Guides section on this website... 

[Ben&Zian 4,397]

Haha no, you don't need any lawyer.

 

We did it all ourselves, took a few days to gather everything and fill out the forms, but no issues.

 

Follow the guides here on VJ: https://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide2

[Toastbear 146]

8 minutes ago, craig21123 said:

Hello everyone! 

 

Based on my last post myself and soon to be wife are ready to get married and begin the AOS process on ESTA but the big questions is do we need a lawyer? We have spoken to a few and most are quoting around $4,000 + filing fees! Whilst this is completely affordable for us we'd rather not fork out thousands of dollars if it's just as easy for us to do ourselves, especially as we are having a baby . 

 

Are there any guides on this site or any others that explain the process in more detail? 

 

If any of you have successfully AOS on ESTA without a lawyer can you please share your experience?

I know how you feel, that was how we felt when we first started the k1 process but honestly once you start reading and looking at the forms, it becomes very easy. Especially AOS, EAD and AP dont need a lot of extra documents which makes it a lot easier than the k1 stuff.

So just as the other two suggested, read the guides, read the threads and if you have any questions, ask! People here are very kind and patient.

[craig21123 2]

3 minutes ago, Ben&Zian said:

Haha no, you don't need any lawyer.

 

We did it all ourselves, took a few days to gather everything and fill out the forms, but no issues.

 

Follow the guides here on VJ: https://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide2

Thank you Ben & Zian I will check this out. 

[craig21123 2]

2 minutes ago, Toastbear said:

I know how you feel, that was how we felt when we first started the k1 process but honestly once you start reading and looking at the forms, it becomes very easy. Especially AOS, EAD and AP dont need a lot of extra documents which makes it a lot easier than the k1 stuff.

So just as the other two suggested, read the guides, read the threads and if you have any questions, ask! People here are very kind and patient.

Thank you! 

 

Most are fairly helpful on here, bar the occasional sarcastic comment like above! 

[Ben&Zian 4,397]

1 minute ago, craig21123 said:

Thank you Ben & Zian I will check this out. 

 

Main thing, don't over think the questions on the forms. Most people do and panic. It's pretty straight forward stuff.

 

Also, before even having to post a question, you can search the search bar up top right corner and search for threads pertaining to your question and probably can find the answer or just other good information.'

 

Haha, and that's just Roel, very blunt and straight forward but good advice.

Edited March 30, 2019 by Ben&Zian

[Ben&Zian 4,397]

2 minutes ago, craig21123 said:

Also, how long should we wait from the point of entry before marrying and filing? Everything on Google seems to say something different! 

 

There is no specific time frame. Some always pull out this "90 day" law/rule, but there is no such thing. 

[ThousandMoreSteps 50]

50 minutes ago, craig21123 said:

Hello everyone! 

 

Based on my last post myself and soon to be wife are ready to get married and begin the AOS process on ESTA but the big questions is do we need a lawyer? We have spoken to a few and most are quoting around $4,000 + filing fees! Whilst this is completely affordable for us we'd rather not fork out thousands of dollars if it's just as easy for us to do ourselves, especially as we are having a baby . 

 

Are there any guides on this site or any others that explain the process in more detail? 

 

If any of you have successfully AOS on ESTA without a lawyer can you please share your experience?

 

We did an AOS on Etsa. But we were already married. It was a fairly straightforward process, there are plenty of guides around. It is not worth hiring a lawyer at all. 

[millefleur 5,034]

**Moved from What Visa Do I Need - Family Based Immigration to Adjustment of Status from Work, Student, & Tourist Visas; topic is AOS from ESTA**

[C90 376]

1 hour ago, craig21123 said:

Hello everyone! 

 

Based on my last post myself and soon to be wife are ready to get married and begin the AOS process on ESTA but the big questions is do we need a lawyer? We have spoken to a few and most are quoting around $4,000 + filing fees! Whilst this is completely affordable for us we'd rather not fork out thousands of dollars if it's just as easy for us to do ourselves, especially as we are having a baby . 

 

Are there any guides on this site or any others that explain the process in more detail? 

 

If any of you have successfully AOS on ESTA without a lawyer can you please share your experience?

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but your wife (or you, not sure who is the USC in this story) entered the US on an ESTA with the intent to marry and adjust status? In that case you're committing immigration fraud, since an ESTA is to visit for a max of 90 days, not to get around the I-129F or I-130 process. 

 

If you/she entered with the intent to leave and you ended up getting married, than no, you don't need a lawyer. It's a pretty DYI process.

I didn't read all 7 pages of your last post btw.

[Villanelle 4,121]

2 hours ago, C90 said:

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but your wife (or you, not sure who is the USC in this story) entered the US on an ESTA with the intent to marry and adjust status? In that case you're committing immigration fraud, since an ESTA is to visit for a max of 90 days, not to get around the I-129F or I-130 process. 

 

If you/she entered with the intent to leave and you ended up getting married, than no, you don't need a lawyer. It's a pretty DYI process.

I didn't read all 7 pages of your last post btw.

This^^^^

 

@craig21123  Your last thread was Jan 22nd where you stated you were set to depart on Jan 9th but found out she was pregnant. Members outlined the 2 possible paths- K or CR. You repeatedly stated you did not overstay- so I am assuming you left the US and have since returned under ESTA. Because you were very aware of the 2 paths on Jan 22nd it is very hard to believe you returned on ESTA in late March and it was not your intention to bypass the 129f or 130 process. 

 

Visajourney has a very strict policy on fraud and assisting with fraud. Before I ask for the thread to be closed accordingly I am going to wait for you to respond and perhaps clarify things, however I dont really see anyway you can justify coming back on ESTA to marry and stay- which it seems you are doing. Correct me if Im wrong.

[JunkTardis 183]

4 hours ago, craig21123 said:

Hello everyone! 

 

Based on my last post myself and soon to be wife are ready to get married and begin the AOS process on ESTA but the big questions is do we need a lawyer? We have spoken to a few and most are quoting around $4,000 + filing fees! Whilst this is completely affordable for us we'd rather not fork out thousands of dollars if it's just as easy for us to do ourselves, especially as we are having a baby . 

 

Are there any guides on this site or any others that explain the process in more detail? 

 

If any of you have successfully AOS on ESTA without a lawyer can you please share your experience?

Don't bother with a lawyer, it's a total waste of time and money.

For the record, you cannot enter the US with intent to marry on an ESTA. That is immigration fraud and will be treated seriously. You should take the K1 route to marry in the US, or CR1 if you are already married. 

 

There are a ####### ton of guides on how to do that on VJ, just use the search. My now wife and I did this whole process using the K1 approach ourselves with no lawyer. We just use VJ for help where we needed, and did our research.

[C90 376]

2 hours ago, username_taken said:

This^^^^

 

@craig21123  Your last thread was Jan 22nd where you stated you were set to depart on Jan 9th but found out she was pregnant. Members outlined the 2 possible paths- K or CR. You repeatedly stated you did not overstay- so I am assuming you left the US and have since returned under ESTA. Because you were very aware of the 2 paths on Jan 22nd it is very hard to believe you returned on ESTA in late March and it was not your intention to bypass the 129f or 130 process. 

 

Visajourney has a very strict policy on fraud and assisting with fraud. Before I ask for the thread to be closed accordingly I am going to wait for you to respond and perhaps clarify things, however I dont really see anyway you can justify coming back on ESTA to marry and stay- which it seems you are doing. Correct me if Im wrong.

Completely agree. And besides the VJ policy, if USCIS finds out that any visa and/or status was obtained via an illegal way (and they find out a lot) they have the right to revoke the status and start the removal process + a ban to the US. This can happen even after citizenship is already obtained.

 

Do it the legal way or don't do it (or at least don't talk about it on a website where everyone endured a long, long wait to retrieve their visa/status the legal way)

[Redheadguy03 505]

You definitely cannot adjust from ESTA if your intent was to adjust before you came into America (or your fiance) that is indeed fraud. As for needing a lawyer it isn't necessary, just study up on how to do everything.