Immigrant Visa-Attorney required?

[Tourseasia 5]

I'm sure many have done the immigrant visa starting with the I-130 and CR-1/IR-1 here in the Philippines to bring your family to the USA. Is this done through a travel agency,Immigration Lawyer or are people doing it themselfs? Seems like they want a hefty amount from an immigration attorney.

Is it really worth it to pay to have someone assist you in this process in the Philippines?

Thanks

[joonphon 7]

I think most of the VJ members are doing everything on their own. If you have a clean case, most of us would suggest you to do it on your own. Unless you don't have time or ability to fill out our own information or go to the post office. I never hired anyone before, from my understanding if you hire someone they basically just fill out the form for you and send it to the post office. That's pretty much their jobs. You still need to find all the proofs and go to the interview on your own. Sometimes the lawyers are not clear about what proofs you should look for so if you give them the wrong info, they'll just send in the info anyway and then wait for the embassy/uscis to write you RFEs and later will tell you that "oh you need this" just so that you give them more work to do and pay them more. IMO, if you have a clean case why not do it on your own. save you lots of money and energy to deal w/ lawyers later on....

[Hank_ 9,174]

I'm sure many have done the immigrant visa starting with the I-130 and CR-1/IR-1 here in the Philippines to bring your family to the USA. Is this done through a travel agency,Immigration Lawyer or are people doing it themselfs? Seems like they want a hefty amount from an immigration attorney.

Is it really worth it to pay to have someone assist you in this process in the Philippines?

Thanks

Do it yourself. Read the guides here

[Rob&Ema 12]

Take your time and read everything carefully and you will have no problems doing it yourself. The money you will save will come in very handy for the other expenses you will incur. Like it was said above, there is as much or more knowlege and experience in the forums than most lawyers have. Never be afraid to ask questions.

Edited July 28, 2012 by Rob&Ema

[sjr09 155]

It looks like your living in the PI as of now? 'Filing Location Embassy' If so, as not mentioned

read the GUIDE: US Citizen and Spouse both live/reside overseas:

----- Direct Consular Filing Information

　

　

Important Note: A US Citizen living overseas that wishes to complete the I-864, Affidavit of Support, for their spouse (as part of the DCF process to get an Immigrant Visa) will be required to have U.S. domicile/intent to reestablish domicile to qualify as a Sponsor for the I-864. In addition to having a US domicile/reestablishing domicile the US Citizen must either have employment that will continue (from the same source) when they move/return to the US, or, per the instructions on the I-864, the US Citizen and their spouse may use assets to qualify if the income requirement is not met. In many cases however a couple may need to get a joint sponsor to successfully fulfill the requirements on the I-864.

[Tourseasia 5]

Current DCF procedures state that if a US Citizen lives overseas they may file the I-130 for a foreign spouse, child or parent at the US Consulate / USCIS Field Office governing their place of residence.

In most cases permanent residence abroad must be legally established for a period of six months prior to submitting an I-130 petition.

What do they mean by permanent residence? I'm on a tourist visa that I renew every 2 months, and leave the country every year and return. I have been doing this for 12yrs. Do I need a 13a permanent residence visa in the Philippines before I can file a I-130?

Why would I file for permanent residence if I'm going to petition to leave with my wife & stepson to the USA?

Edited July 28, 2012 by Tourseasia

[DouglasFiel 53]

If you are in Manila,,, you can stop by the consulate and verify whether or not you qualify (or just perform the paperwork) and see

if they will accept it. I think it is somewhat subjective as it states "In most cases". Probably would not take too long to get in

front of a consular officer,,, I think last time I went there,,, was maybe 20 or 30 mins wait.

Regards,

dc

[Tourseasia 5]

I am a long way from Manila and they don't answer the phone there.

Nobody knows in the Philippines Forum?

Many must have done this and known if they had to have a 13a visa to file a I-130.

[sjr09 155]

I am a long way from Manila and they don't answer the phone there.

Nobody knows in the Philippines Forum?

Many must have done this and known if they had to have a 13a visa to file a I-130.

Your question may be better answered in the proper forum: Direct Consular Filing (DCF) General Discussion

If they don't answer the phone, email the U.S. Consulate for more specifics on what is required for the U.S. Citizen to legitimately "qualify" as a resident of the foreign spouse's country, you should get a response in about five days.

[cardilene 26]

We only did it on our own, I130 process,

we prepared everything, from application to the preparation of documents,

we did it on our own, just be sure you get everything in order,

and do follow each and every instruction, no need for a lawyer,

mas marami nga kaming nakitang na-delay pa ang process dahil gumamit pa ng abogado,...

Good luck...

[Hank_ 9,174]

Contacting the embassy:

Embassy (Manila) Phone Number (and email)

(632) 301-2000, extension 5184 or 5185 (local number: USEM 3012000 loc 5184/5185 call them around 3-4:30pm)

** (214) 571-1600 or (646) 254-3546 (these are USA numbers)

NEW EMAIL ADDRESS

In order to serve our visa applicants more efficiently, we have created this new e-mail address: IVMNLAppointments@state.gov , for early appointment requests and visa scheduling issues. Please note, however, that early appointment requests will be approved on a case to case basis (i.e., aging out cases, or in cases involving personal or medical emergencies), and only if visa interview slots are available.

For other immigrant and K visa concerns, please send an e-mail to IVManilaReplies@state.gov

.

To enable us to electronically sort the messages and provide better, more timely responses, you should follow the instructions below.

The subject line of your email should indicate the visa applicant's last name, first and middle name (ex. DOE, John James), case number/USCIS receipt number, visa category and priority date.

Messages should be limited to 500 characters or less. The mail size should not be more than 15 KB.

Do not submit documentation or attachments with your message as our system is unable to receive inquiries with attachments.

Do not send your inquiry more than once as duplicate inquiries will congest our system and delay our response time.

From what I read on the USEM website you direct file at the USCIS office at the embassy in Manila. The bulk of the process is completing a few forms and providing required documents, nothing that would require a lawyer for sure.

***These two link both have info that should help you.

http://manila.usemba...v/wwwh3202.html

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_2991.html#9

ONE MORE LINK - USCIS office in Manila

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=73b714836a14d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=1ac900c262197210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD

Edited July 30, 2012 by Hank_

[marklovetina 52]

I'm sure many have done the immigrant visa starting with the I-130 and CR-1/IR-1 here in the Philippines to bring your family to the USA. Is this done through a travel agency,Immigration Lawyer or are people doing it themselfs? Seems like they want a hefty amount from an immigration attorney.

Is it really worth it to pay to have someone assist you in this process in the Philippines?

Thanks

no.. just use the VJ guidelines and you'll be fine..

[Tourseasia 5]

We only did it on our own, I130 process,

we prepared everything, from application to the preparation of documents,

we did it on our own, just be sure you get everything in order,

and do follow each and every instruction, no need for a lawyer,

mas marami nga kaming nakitang na-delay pa ang process dahil gumamit pa ng abogado,...

Good luck...

The American citizen petitioner must have been resident in the Philipines for at least six months before filing the petition and be able to present proof-of-residency.

Q)Does the probationary time count for the 6 months or do you have to wait till the 1yr probationary is finished, then another 6 months?