miteshpatel

I did read a lot about imigration process before my fiancé filed the I-129F. My fiancé met some lawyer who works to assist any military family. After he told me, I said that we don't need any lawyer to assist our I-129F. He was little bit worried since some woman at his work telling him that he should hired a lawyer.
The reason why he was worried because when I applied B-2 visa, they refused mine -thanks to whoever abuse B-2 visa system, came to US, and then filed AOS-ing even though they knew it is fraud-.
I then told him, my B-2 visa refusal is nothing to do with my K-1 visa in the future. After had a few conversation, I was succesful to convinced him NOT to hire a lawyer.
Like some others said, if the case is really "mission impossible way", then hire a (good) lawyer is MUST.

well guys i have a lawyer for my process too but he is really co operative always replies me on time he did everything on time never made us late or wait so i dont know but i am happy with him plus he is pretty cheaper too lolz 2000$.. thank you

I was about to hire a lawyer. I spoke to a couple of them who wanted anywhere between $3K - $5K so that they could have their paralegal fill out the paperwork for the I-130 (CR-1/IR-1). One of the lawyers even suggested that my husband and I do something that would.... be against the TOS of visajourney.com, so to speak. He suggested my husband come here on his tourist visa, stay, and we file an AOS. We said "umm.. we'll call you later." and never did.
*sigh* Thank goodness for visajourney.com. You guys have been more helpful than any lawyer.
Here's to hoping that we all are reunited with our loved ones, soon!

Hello everyone here thought just to let everyone know here that please beware of certain laywers.
I am going to share my person experience here so in future no body gets fooled like me.
IF YOU DONT HAVE ANY PROBLEM IN YOUR CASE NEVER EVER APPOINT A LAWYER, bcoz it will only delay your case.
I appointed a lawyer named MICHAEL PHULWANI from New Jersey one of the best immigration lawyer So that my wife can get here at its earliest. I paid $3200 for my case.
He is one of the slowest lawyer, never communicate properly and if you ask for the status always gives you negative reply.
I see many members here get thier spouse quickly then me, even people who had filed after me getting thier visa.
NVC sent lawyer my Case number on Aug 6th and asked for futher processing. I called NVC on 4th and already got my case number and asked lawyer to email me the requirements of AOS, he said he have everything nothing required.
Now on 21st Aug he emailed me the required AOS documents. He is lazy and just delaying my case and always did such kind of thing throughout my whole process of case. Its been around 2 years since i filled.
I made a mistake of hiring him and paid my hard earned money just to get this sort of delays.
Now i feel like crying why i did that mistake.
So everyone here just letting you know that unless there is no problem in your case dont waste your hard earned money and god gifted time by hiring such lawyers.

A question for all the VJ petition experts. In the event that there is a US Government shutdown come October 1, 2013, how will it impact on NVC's visa processing?

Here is what the public might expect if the federal government is forced into a partial shutdown:
FEDERAL WORKERS
Employees in all three branches of government are vulnerable to furlough, or temporary unpaid leave, although each agency makes its own final decisions, according to a report last month by the Congressional Research Service.
However, some high-level employees, such as the president and presidential appointees, are not subject to furlough. Other so-called "essential" workers must work during a shutdown, some with and others without pay.
For example, exempt workers include those whose work is critical for national security or public health and safety, such as air traffic controllers and border security agents, according to federal guidance.
Affected workers may be able to receive pay retroactively, as has happened after past shutdowns, but such payments are not guaranteed, CRS staff said.
About 800,000 federal workers were furloughed in November 1995; the next month, nearly 300,000 were furloughed and another nearly 500,000 worked without pay.
Federal contractors are also likely to be affected. In the last shutdown, more than 20 percent of federal contracts, or nearly $4 billion, were involved, researchers said.
Members of Congress cannot be furloughed, according to CRS.
TOURISM AND TRAVEL
Tens of thousands of Americans' passport applications could go unprocessed along with visa applications from foreigners seeking to visit the United States, which will affect airlines and other related industries.
Hundreds of National Park Service sites could close temporarily along with national monuments and museums, losing millions of visitors. Such closures can also impact neighboring communities and businesses that depend on tourism.

I agree on the impact within DOS...even if NVC is staffed by contractors how will they be paid?
My best guess is a shut-down (and it's becoming more likely by the day) will be relatively short, maybe a week. That said agencies are already preparing for the shutdown, meaning it's already likely to start impacting things. And, it will take time to get things restarted.
Surely it can't be a good thing. We still have to pay taxes though, even if they can't figure out how to play nice long enough to keep government running.

I'm thankful for the immigrant lawyer we got online..we paid him $900.he replies quick even though i'm asking him everyday.(part of his job) He sends reminders,tips and advice,he always remind us what we papers need to get.,with his help we processed our cr1 visa and got it in just (7) seven months ,It should be six months but we are the one who late in giving documents.The Immigrant lawyer and the applicants must work together,they will just check and prepare the documents you sent to him/her.Before hiring Immigrant lawyer try to read reviews bout them online..If he/she still sleeping remind that you are paying him/her and never give 100% payment until you're not in USA.

GUYS.... Lawyers don't have any special "in" with the USCIS. What you are paying for is the document prep. Having an attorney doesn't put you in a priority bin. The attorney won't sit on the phone and get your NVC number. They wait for everything in the mail.
I have an attorney. I have a special circumstance and I definitely need him for the document prep but not until after our interview. He sent me an email last week with a checklist of things I will need for the NVC. I am an April filer. I'm not approved yet. He is on top of things. In the begining, I was also told the approval would be about 6 months. I have it in a few emails... but I was also told that nobody has any control over the approvals. He told me he was going by his experience. After being on this site for years, I know that the USCIS does what it wants. There are lots of threads on this site about having a lawyer.
Having an attorney doesn't mean you can sit back and do nothing. I have made 3 inquiries through my local senators office and I call tier 2 pretty often. I don't expect that from a lawyer. I want to know, so I get busy with phone calls.

yes so true...my fiance also hired a lawyer he did pay $1500 expecting her to help us speed up the case and yet we got RFE after 6 mos of waiting, so disappointing!!! and we got an approval after 11 mos and 17 days...so horrible!!!

OMG this is horrible, Never knew that they are all about the money well good to know. Good luck to you i hope your wife gets here soon.

I work in law but not immigration law and you can make a complaint against them and if the state bar finds them at fault they will be reprimanded. At least voice your concerns, perhaps there are others just like you. Nothing beats a failure but a try.
Good luck

I FEEL YOU!
I thought that a lawyer will be the solution. Will be like our guard that will check anc check and check every detail. That will communicate as their webpage said. Even a video on youtube saying how much they communicate with their costumers.... well.... NOT TRUE!
Right now i prefer not to make anything about it because even if i want to send her an email telling her how crapy her service was and put a comment on her page, i can't, she still have our future on her hands.
I understand you. They don't communicate, barely answer. In fact my lawyer hates me. I sent her an email 2 months ago because after investigating i start feeling that we will receive an RFE nad sent her an email. She told me that i should stop investigating that there is a reason why we payed her. what happen after 2 months? RFE!!! yuuuuup! ..... anyway ...
There is nothing we can do. The only advice i can give to you is be nice and polite. He have all those papers in his hand now.
Good luck!!!

The second mine showed online paid I sent The AOS I-864 and the required documents. was sent on a Thursday and Monday tracking showed they received it so I called Tuesday they said they had it and would be 30 days to process it so I'm hoping won't be that long I'm waiting for IV invoice now so I can pay that next

Yes you are wasting time. Why wouldn't you and the lawyer already have your AOS and IV package completed b this time to send in.
NVC sends no forms all they send is the link for you to go get the forms yourself. You need to be doing that now.
Also you should go to the NVC filers thread and read Post #1. New procedures at NVC now with Electronic forms.
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/451446-nvc-filers-september-2013/

DOS Rolls Out DS-260 Online Immigrant Visa Application to Most Applicants
August 29th, 2013 | by D.M. | Category: Articles, News, Visa Processing

The Department of State (“DOS”) has reported that they are transitioning to an online immigrant visa application as of September 3, 2013. Immigrant visa applicants who are processing their immigrant visas (green cards) through the National Visa Center (NVC)/U.S. Consulate will now need to complete the DS-260 form online (Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration). Similarly, the Form DS-261 (Choice of Address and Agent) form will be online as well.
The online DS-260 form was, until now, used only for immigrant visa applicants for a few selected consulates. With the upcoming transition, after September 3, 2013, DOS will require most immigrant visa applicants to complete the DS-260 form online (as opposed to the paper DS-230 form). Only Diversity Visa and Cuban Family Reunification Parole applicants will continue to use the paper forms (DS-230). It is important to note that nonimmigrant visa applicants (B-1, H-1B, L-1, etc.) should still continue to use the DS-160 electronic application.
NVC Pending Cases
For those immigrant visa applicants who have a case pending with NVC already, NVC may instruct some applicants who previously submitted Form DS-230 on paper to submit Form DS-260 online.
Conclusion We welcome DOS’s rollout of the DS-260 system to all applicants. Even though the DS-260 application form is somewhat more complex to complete than the DS-230 paper form, it should eliminate the amount of paperwork, data entry mistakes and delays which are often associated with processing paper DS-230 forms. Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can help you. Also, please visit us again or subscribe to our free weekly newsletter to ensure that you obtain this and related immigration-related news and announcements.

If they are irresponsible like this, why bother charging this much $$$. It's really frustrating that no one has any clue about what is going on.

My priority date is February 21 and I'm still waiting. It's ridiculous that married couples (and many people have children, myself included) have to wait so long. No offense to the K1 filers but shouldn't married people be given priority? USCIS needs to hire more people or work around the clock. lol. The world is getting smaller and people are meeting and falling in love so people filing petitions for loved ones isn't going to go away any time soon.

I called too. Let me know what they are going to tell you please.
They told me (although they already have all necessary information) that they are not going to open the file back up until I send them the stuff they requested. It will take about another 3 weeks for them to recheck your case!!!!
I was wondering why they do not open up the file immidiately to check and see that they have everything but they did not care.