Recommended lawyer to help with CR-1?

[jagsfl 14]

Hey all,

 

I am looking for guidance in getting this CR-1 done correctly. I got married to an Indonesian December of last year. I was going to do it myself, but there is so much conflicting info, that I'd rather it just be prepared and sent in by someone who's been doing this for many people. I want it done right the first time without hick-ups. Any recommendations at good prices would be great. I know this isn't that tough of a job, and the little time spent on it isn't worth the quotes I've been hearing from some law firms trying to pull a fast one.  Thanks.

[Crazy Cat 39,226]

If your case is not complicated, you can probably do it yourself.  Most people here use the guides and ask questions.  An attorney or visa service will only use the information and documents that you have to provide to fill in forms...then they submit the paperwork.........

[jagsfl 14]

5 minutes ago, missileman said:

If your case is not complicated, you can probably do it yourself.  Most people here use the guides and ask questions.  An attorney or visa service will only use the information and documents that you have to provide to fill in forms...then they submit the paperwork.........

This is true, and I've thought about it. I've done quite the research. But then I see the cases where people send stuff in and don't hear back from USCIS for months because something was wrong, and then I also see mixed info on it all.

 

I'd rather just have someone tell me exactly what to send them and have them do it, instead of worrying if it was done right. I guess that leads me to the question....

 

How long is it 'suppose to' take before you even find out if what you sent in was correct? 

Edited May 17, 2019 by jagsfl

[payxibka 10,044]

6 minutes ago, jagsfl said:

This is true, and I've thought about it. I've done quite the research. But then I see the cases where people send stuff in and don't hear back from USCIS for months because something was wrong, and then I also see mixed info on it all.

 

I'd rather just have someone tell me exactly what to send them and have them do it, instead of worrying if it was done right. I guess that leads me to the question....

 

How long is it 'suppose to' take before you even find out if what you sent in was correct? 

6 to 8 months 

[Dashinka 23,243]

2 minutes ago, jagsfl said:

This is true, and I've thought about it. I've done quite the research. But then I see the cases where people send stuff in and don't hear back from USCIS for months because something was wrong, and then I also see mixed info on it all.

 

I'd rather just have someone tell me exactly what to send them and have them do it, instead of worrying if it was done right. I guess that leads me to the question....

 

How long is it 'suppose to' take before you even find out if what you sent in was correct? 

If you are set with using an attorney, simply do a search for one in your local area that specializes in immigration.  You can also look at visa services.  Just keep in mind that those attorneys and visa services make mistakes as well (for example, not notifying a client of an RFE), and really you still have to be very vigilant with respect to how they are doing the work.  Also, no attorney or visa service can speed up the immigration process regardless of what they advertise.  I happen to agree with @missileman, if the case is simple, I would do it myself and bank the money for when my spouse arrives.  Remember VJ is here to help.

 

Good Luck!

[Crazy Cat 39,226]

4 minutes ago, jagsfl said:

This is true, and I've thought about it. I've done quite the research. But then I see the cases where people send stuff in and don't hear back from USCIS for months because something was wrong, and then I also see mixed info on it all.

 

I'd rather just have someone tell me exactly what to send them and have them do it, instead of worrying if it was done right. I guess that leads me to the question....

 

How long is it 'suppose to' take before you even find out if what you sent in was correct? 

There are certainly plenty of attorneys and agencies out there who will happy to take your money and do the "middle man" work.   My attorney cost me $2000 and caused a 3 month delay..........

RFEs can occur at any point in the process.......so, until the visa is issues, approval and accuracy is not guaranteed

[USS_Voyager 1,971]

11 minutes ago, jagsfl said:

I'd rather just have someone tell me exactly what to send them and have them do it, instead of worrying if it was done right

There are USCIS authorized representatives/providers. They must work for a specific nonprofit, religious, charitable, social service, or similar organization. The organization must be authorized by the Board to represent aliens. They can help you fill in the paperwork, usually at very little charge (a couple hundred bucks compares to thousands a lawyer would charge) or even free. I work with some of these guys before. They're pretty knowledgeable and usually themselves have gone through the process before personally.

 

 

https://www.uscis.gov/avoid-scams/become-authorized-provider

https://www.uscis.gov/tools/glossary/accredited-representative

[jagsfl 14]

 

6 minutes ago, Bill & Katya said:

If you are set with using an attorney, simply do a search for one in your local area that specializes in immigration.  You can also look at visa services.  Just keep in mind that those attorneys and visa services make mistakes as well (for example, not notifying a client of an RFE), and really you still have to be very vigilant with respect to how they are doing the work.  Also, no attorney or visa service can speed up the immigration process regardless of what they advertise.  I happen to agree with @missileman, if the case is simple, I would do it myself and bank the money for when my spouse arrives.  Remember VJ is here to help.

 

Good Luck!

Thanks... I guess the biggest thing is that I don't want one thing to be wrong on the forms when I'm doing it. One slight thing can get them to say "No" right? And as someone mentioned above, it can take months before you finally hear back from USCIS with them telling me so? So then I have to re-start the whole process all over again?

 

 

 

 

7 minutes ago, missileman said:

There are certainly plenty of attorneys and agencies out there who will happy to take your money and do the "middle man" work.   My attorney cost me $2000 and caused a 3 month delay..........

RFEs can occur at any point in the process.......so, until the visa is issues, approval and accuracy is not guaranteed

This kinda ties into my response to Bill & Katya, a 3 month delay can't really be a bad thing right? When the delay could be a lot worse if you were to do it yourself and USCIS doesn't let you know you've done it wrong for 6 months +? 

Also, I'd like to point out that I work for myself so I have been living and traveling abroad for the past couple of years with my wife. Since I am not at home, could the process of going back and forth with USCIS in regards to RFE's and other sorts be a pain in the ***?

I wouldn't mind submitting things myself. I just have all of these concerns ^above^ that makes me think I wouldn't mind forking out 2 grand to have it taken care of for me without concerns. I can always make more money.

[jagsfl 14]

2 minutes ago, USS_Voyager said:

There are USCIS authorized representatives/providers. They must work for a specific nonprofit, religious, charitable, social service, or similar organization. The organization must be authorized by the Board to represent aliens. They can help you fill in the paperwork, usually at very little charge (a couple hundred bucks compares to thousands a lawyer would charge) or even free. I work with some of these guys before. They're pretty knowledgeable and usually themselves have gone through the process before personally.

 

 

https://www.uscis.gov/avoid-scams/become-authorized-provider

https://www.uscis.gov/tools/glossary/accredited-representative

Man that's awesome. Thanks for that tip! I'm going to give these guys a look, I really appreciate it.

[jagsfl 14]

7 minutes ago, USS_Voyager said:

There are USCIS authorized representatives/providers. They must work for a specific nonprofit, religious, charitable, social service, or similar organization. The organization must be authorized by the Board to represent aliens. They can help you fill in the paperwork, usually at very little charge (a couple hundred bucks compares to thousands a lawyer would charge) or even free. I work with some of these guys before. They're pretty knowledgeable and usually themselves have gone through the process before personally.

 

 

https://www.uscis.gov/avoid-scams/become-authorized-provider

https://www.uscis.gov/tools/glossary/accredited-representative

Would you happen to have contact info to anyone who could help me?!

[USS_Voyager 1,971]

 

2 minutes ago, jagsfl said:

Would you happen to have contact info to anyone who could help me?!

Here are the links to the lists

[jagsfl 14]

1 minute ago, USS_Voyager said:

 

Here are the links to the lists

I don't see the links attached, maybe it didn't attach right

[USS_Voyager 1,971]

1 minute ago, jagsfl said:

I don't see the links attached, maybe it didn't attach right

Oops, would be really useful to have the link, wouldn't it?

 

https://www.justice.gov/eoir/recognition-accreditation-roster-reports

[jagsfl 14]

3 minutes ago, USS_Voyager said:

Oops, would be really useful to have the link, wouldn't it?

 

https://www.justice.gov/eoir/recognition-accreditation-roster-reports

Haha! thanks alot!

 

[Crazy Cat 39,226]

48 minutes ago, jagsfl said:

This kinda ties into my response to Bill & Katya, a 3 month delay can't really be a bad thing right? When the delay could be a lot worse if you were to do it yourself and USCIS doesn't let you know you've done it wrong for 6 months +? 
 

Our delay didn't happen in the first 6 months.  It happened at the NVC stage, 9 months after the attorney submitted the first paperwork......in stead of the normal 11 weeks (at that time) at NVC, our case was stuck there for 23 weeks............delays can happen at any time during the 12-14 month process.