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JeffandNadine

Is it difficult to file for AOS without an attorney?

By JeffandNadine in Adjustment of Status (Green Card) from K1 and K3 Family Based Visas

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JeffandNadine Explorer

JeffandNadine   14

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
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How difficult is it to file AOS without an attorney? We are currently deciding whether or not to hire an attorney for the next part of the k-1 visa process. 

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SalishSea Grand Master

SalishSea   16,770

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Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: New Zealand
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9 minutes ago, JeffandNadine said:

How difficult is it to file AOS without an attorney? We are currently deciding whether or not to hire an attorney for the next part of the k-1 visa process. 

Why do you think you need one?  I don't think most people here have used a lawyer for it.

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Pitaya Grand Master

Pitaya   2,576

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Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: China
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My wife (K1) and stepson (K2) got their 10-yr GCs in June 2015. We went through the whole immigration journey thusfar, without the aid or assistance of an attorney. We got one RFE in the ROC phase of the journey. The process is not hard, it can be tedious, and you have to be able to pay attention to detail. The VJ guides and the other forum members are really helpful in navigating your case through USCIS.

 

YMMV.

Completed: K1/K2 (271 days) - AOS/EAD/AP (134 days) - ROC (279 days)

"Si vis amari, ama" - Seneca

 

 

 

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Boris Farage Community Regular

Boris Farage   353

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Filed: IR-5 Country: England
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Despite my initial preference for using an attorney, my ex-wife handled our AOS back in 2011 and we had no problems. Probably helped we had a straightforward case. We had suffered an RFE during the initial K1 process so I was very hesitant to let her be in charge again. However this time I was in the States and was able to check and recheck her work before we submitted the documents. No issues, and we had a very speedy process (no longer so fast I understand). No reason why you can't too as long as you take your time and review your work as you go along, can't stress that enough. Preparation and precision now can avoid delays and disappointment later. Good luck to you both and congratulations on your upcoming marriage.

 

-

“He’s in there fighting,” the president said. “Boris knows how to win.”

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geowrian Grand Master

geowrian   22,335

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Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Country: Philippines
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More paperwork. More reading instructions. More documents. But overall not very complex.

The I-129F + K-1 is the harder part IMO. Dealing with the consulate is usually harder (albeit faster) than USCIS.

Timelines:

ROC:

Spoiler

7/27/20: Sent forms to Dallas lockbox, 7/30/20: Received by USCIS, 8/10 NOA1 electronic notification received, 8/1/ NOA1 hard copy received

AOS:

Spoiler

AOS (I-485 + I-131 + I-765):

9/25/17: sent forms to Chicago, 9/27/17: received by USCIS, 10/4/17: NOA1 electronic notification received, 10/10/17: NOA1 hard copy received. Social Security card being issued in married name (3rd attempt!)

10/14/17: Biometrics appointment notice received, 10/25/17: Biometrics

1/2/18: EAD + AP approved (no website update), 1/5/18: EAD + AP mailed, 1/8/18: EAD + AP approval notice hardcopies received, 1/10/18: EAD + AP received

9/5/18: Interview scheduled notice, 10/17/18: Interview

10/24/18: Green card produced notice, 10/25/18: Formal approval, 10/31/18: Green card received

K-1:

Spoiler

I-129F

12/1/16: sent, 12/14/16: NOA1 hard copy received, 3/10/17: RFE (IMB verification), 3/22/17: RFE response received

3/24/17: Approved! , 3/30/17: NOA2 hard copy received

 

NVC

4/6/2017: Received, 4/12/2017: Sent to Riyadh embassy, 4/16/2017: Case received at Riyadh embassy, 4/21/2017: Request case transfer to Manila, approved 4/24/2017

 

K-1

5/1/2017: Case received by Manila (1 week embassy transfer??? Lucky~)

7/13/2017: Interview: APPROVED!!!

7/19/2017: Visa in hand

8/15/2017: POE

 

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SB5130 Explorer

SB5130   88

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Philippines
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13 hours ago, JeffandNadine said:

How difficult is it to file AOS without an attorney? We are currently deciding whether or not to hire an attorney for the next part of the k-1 visa process. 

I did my AOS myself. Didn't have any issues. 

Pinoy Ako! ^_^

 

 

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Falcon Cara Rising Star

Falcon Cara   378

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Filed: Citizen (pnd) Timeline
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14 hours ago, JeffandNadine said:

How difficult is it to file AOS without an attorney? We are currently deciding whether or not to hire an attorney for the next part of the k-1 visa process. 

I would say anyone with at least 8th grade education can do it fairly easy.

ChickBoy

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DaveAndAnastasia Experienced

DaveAndAnastasia   2,078

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
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Haven't had our interview yet, but it was more tedious than difficult (at least four forms to fill out, and some of them are long, but they don't ask for anything you shouldn't be able to get without much difficulty in most cases). 

K-1                             AOS                            
NOA1 Notice Date: 2018-05-31    NOA1 Notice Date: 2019-04-11   
NOA2 Date: 2018-11-16           Biometrics Date: 2019-05-10    
Arrived at NVC:  2018-12-03     EAD/AP In Hand: 2019-09-16     
Arrived in Moscow: 2018-12-28   GC Interview Date: 2019-09-25      
Interview date: 2019-02-14      GC In Hand: 2019-10-02
Visa issued: 2019-02-28
POE: 2019-03-11
Wedding: 2019-03-14

ROC                             Naturalization
NOA1 Notice Date: 2021-07-16    Applied Online: 2022-07-09 (biometrics waived)
Approval Date: 2022-04-06       Interview was Scheduled: 2023-01-06
10-year GC In Hand: 2022-04-14  Interview date: 2023-02-13 (passed)
                            	Oath: 2023-02-13

 

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Liflead Collaborator

Liflead   112

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Qatar
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I have come across examples here on VJ where ppl who hired an immigration attorney still got RFE. You can all do it by urself. You just need to do your research and be meticulous while preparing your package. Ppl here on VJ are very kind and helpful and share their valuable experience. Just throw your queries here on VJ and your post will be flooded with answers. :)

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Ocelot Contributor

Ocelot   30

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Thailand
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I did everything myself and my wife recently received her greencard. It honestly just comes down to following the instructions right down to the last detail. If you're ever unsure of something just ask on here.

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Canerican Rising Star

Canerican   242

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
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Just like everyone has been mentioning, did the whole process myself. From K-1 all the way to ROC without any interviews, although interview waivers were possible during my AOS. I recently completed the N-400 process naturalizing a week ago. Did all this without a lawyer. As others have said it is straight forward but does require you to check and recheck if you do not want to receive an RFE. I think I drove my wife nuts when we did the paperwork but in the end not RFE's. 

 

 

N400 - Naturalization                                                                                                        U.S. Passport

Aug 05, 2018 (Day 1): Applied for Naturalization online                                                  Oct 01, 2019 (Day 1): Sent US Passport Application

Aug 06, 2018 (Day 2): Check Cashed, NOA1 received online                                         Oct 08, 2019 (Day 8 ) : Passport trackable 

Aug 11, 2018 (Day 6): Recvd notification that Biometrics appointment scheduled       Oct 17, 2019 (Day 17) : Received Passport

Aug 13, 2018 (Day 8): Received biometrics appt letter online                                        Oct 21, 2019 (Day 21) : Received Naturalization Cert. back

Aug 28, 2018 (Day 23): Biometrics Appt

May 06, 2019 (Day 274): In Line For Interview

Jun 11, 2019 (Day 311): Interview Date

July 01, 2019 (Day 327) : Oath Ceremony I AM NOW A US CITIZEN!!!!

 

FROM K-1 PETITION SENT TO OATH CEREMONY WAS ABOUT 7 YEARS 4 MONTHS

 

After 8 years of marriage divorced October 4, 2021

 

TO SEE MY FULL TIMELINE GO HERE: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/user/125109-cdnon-usavt/

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UserNameNA Rookie

UserNameNA   16

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If you follow the instructions that are given, there would be little need for an attorney in my opinion.  And questions you have, we can answer on here.  We filed everything ourselves, from K1 to AOS and have not ran into any issues.  GC is to arrive in the mail today.  One thing I do want to state is REMEMBER TO SIGN wherever it asks for a signature.  quadruple check your AOS, and you will be fine.

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