Spousal Visa ..people in the same situation?

[The Heub's 0]

Hello everyone, I was wondering if anyone else was using a immigration lawyer for their spousals visa's? Im will be in the uk and my husband will be in the USA. We really want someone who will let up know asap where we stand, and what information we will need to provide, without time wasting! Any comments would be helpful. Thanks as always!

[Inky 1,110]

Lawyers are a waste of time and money .. they take the forms fill them out for you and mail it, all of which you can do yourself.

VJ is a do - it - yourself website with help from members, guides and forms available for download here.

The only time you would need a lawyer is if you have a hard case that has a lot of red flags in it like criminal history or from a high fraud country etc.

[Darnell 8,478]

I'll suggest a coupla things, maybe (maybe...) help you to decide whether you need an attorney or not.

a. read the VJ guides. map the steps out on paper and pencil. See if anything doesn't make sense to you.

b. Read the USCIS web portal about the forms. Map out the steps on paper and pencil. See if anything doesn't make sense to you.

c. Practice filling out the forms, at least 5 times. See if anything still doesn't make sense to you.

d. Have any red flags? Practice writing up attestation letters about each red flag.

Now, after doing (with major emphasis on DOING ) all of the above, if you do NOT understand the forms and the process and potential red flags for your petition,

then I'd suggest getting a good IMMIGRATION lawyer. You are concerned with time, I am concerned with your 'knowledge acquisition', as knowledge is power. You can have 'it' good, fast or cheap - pick 2.

Welcome to VJ, btw - this is a GREAT DIY Immigration Web Portal, with emphasis on 'Y', and 'D'.

*** not a K-3 visa topic - moving to IR-1/CR-1 forum ***

Edited September 14, 2010 by Darnell

[The Heub's 0]

Lawyers are a waste of time and money .. they take the forms fill them out for you and mail it, all of which you can do yourself.

VJ is a do - it - yourself website with help from members, guides and forms available for download here.

The only time you would need a lawyer is if you have a hard case that has a lot of red flags in it like criminal history or from a high fraud country etc.

Ok im just panicking as i dont want things to take any longer then necessary...any questions i have, i will ask on here, and hope that someone knows the answer..from what ive read people are extremely knowledgable and helpful.

[Inky 1,110]

Ok im just panicking as i dont want things to take any longer then necessary...any questions i have, i will ask on here, and hope that someone knows the answer..from what ive read people are extremely knowledgable and helpful.

Take a deep breath! relax some.

People on VJ have all gone through the visa process or are going through it. Many people can help with questions. Check out the guide for CR-1 visa, have a read of it. http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1

The guides are really good on here and really helpful.

Sometimes and most people on here will say never get a lawyer because a lot of them have had their process messed up/ over charged/ lost/ never checked on/ and taken forever because the lawyer did not have the time to take care of the visa case properly. You have more time than a lawyer does to cross your Ts and dot your Is and make sure everything is good to go and you have more time to be checking online at your case status etc than they would.

[LotofPatience 65]

Hello everyone, I was wondering if anyone else was using a immigration lawyer for their spousals visa's? Im will be in the uk and my husband will be in the USA. We really want someone who will let up know asap where we stand, and what information we will need to provide, without time wasting! Any comments would be helpful. Thanks as always!

A small startup guide for you in my signature

Loto

[TravellingNomad 12]

i agree with what everyone has said to you. you're worried about time, but hiring a lawyer to file the petition in you and your hubby's behalf does not cut processing and waiting time at all! what it does cut into is your pockets. like Darnell said, if there are no red flags to worry about, the lawyer will just be doing the same thing you will be doing if you did the process yourselves.

[The Heub's 0]

i agree with what everyone has said to you. you're worried about time, but hiring a lawyer to file the petition in you and your hubby's behalf does not cut processing and waiting time at all! what it does cut into is your pockets. like Darnell said, if there are no red flags to worry about, the lawyer will just be doing the same thing you will be doing if you did the process yourselves.

Thanks for the advice, the forms can be filled out relatively easy by myself and husband. The checklist was real helpful, so again thank you all this information is greatly appreciated. So applying for the K3 spousal visa and then AOS within the 2 years after it is approved whilst in the states seems the best route-or does anyone think the CR1 is better? it says it could also take longer but not always. Also am i correct in NOT filing for the I129?

Also having to have the medical in england can anyone point me in the direction for more info or when it should be done?

[Inky 1,110]

With the CR-1 you dont have to do AOS, when you enter on the CR-1 visa you get your green card in the mail automatically.

With the K-3 its $1010 to aos and im not completely sure but i think its administrativly closed anyways.

AOS can take some months to be approved so you would have to wait to get a job where as CR-1 you could start working pretty much right away and not have to pay 1010$ and wait.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Wait wait, no no. K3 is administratively closed. You will apply for the Cr1/IR1. (That's what people linked you to). It's just as fast now as the K3 was and you are a permanent resident when you enter the country. You said you "will be" in England. Are you in England now? Good luck!

[The Heub's 0]

Wait wait, no no. K3 is administratively closed. You will apply for the Cr1/IR1. (That's what people linked you to). It's just as fast now as the K3 was and you are a permanent resident when you enter the country. You said you "will be" in England. Are you in England now? Good luck!

Ok the CR1 it is and no im not in England yet but will be going back next week

[Darnell 8,478]

K-3 ?

what ?

you seriously are considering a K-3 ?

truly ?

wow.

OK - please? click this link - read it - then LET ME KNOW yer thoughts, after you read it?

http://www.visajourney.com/news/2010/02/07/department-of-state-to-close-k-3-visas-if-i-129f-and-i-130-petitions-approved-and-received-together/

Edited September 14, 2010 by Darnell

[The Heub's 0]

K-3 ?

what ?

you seriously are considering a K-3 ?

truly ?

wow.

OK - please? click this link - read it - then LET ME KNOW yer thoughts, after you read it?

http://www.visajourney.com/news/2010/02/07/department-of-state-to-close-k-3-visas-if-i-129f-and-i-130-petitions-approved-and-received-together/

So there is no point doing the K3 so glad we found this out before applying, a immigration lawyer actually advised me to do this.

[LotofPatience 65]

So there is no point doing the K3 so glad we found this out before applying, a immigration lawyer actually advised me to do this.

Replace your immigration lawyer. He may not have handled this year cases.

Loto

[Dream'nJordan 9]

I wish I would have found VJ before hiring a lawyer! He did NOTHING!!!!!!! He left our case sitting in his office for almost 2 months after we had already paid NVC and then we had 2 RFE's, things he should have known we were supposed to send. I did all of the calling and emailing to NVC and the Embassy! Like I said, HE DID NOTHING!!!!!!!! You will find out quite a bit from here, just ask, if they dont know, someone will find out for you! Good luck with everything!