CONFESSION TIME....NEED ADVISE!!!

[MapleLeafBaby 1]

Ok, so the K1 part is over...

Here's my confession... I have a lawyer that i'm too scared to get rid of.... lol!

I keep hearing everyone on here say it's easy etc...

I'm worried that i'll mess it up and get deported lol!

No seriously... I just got a quote from him for the AOS/AP and it's gonna cost $1500 just for his fees, and about $1700 for me and my son to file.

Listen, I am a quick learner, but i'm also a stress case... i'll drive you all nuts with questions

Are the guides really that easy?

I need to file AOS and AP, but I also need to try and schedule an Info Pass to see if they will grant earlier AP with a visitation legal agreement between me and my ex for him to access my son... we hope maybe they will look at this (I know it's not a family emerg, but maybe worth a try)

Question is, can I do it? is it a lot of forms? How many have done it alone?

My fiance really wants to save the costs but said if I feel like I can't do it, he will pay it (I will be the one doing all the work, he is waaaaay to busy with his own work load)

What do you guys think?

Also, (another confession) It's a jungle outside of the Canadian forum! lol! I don't mind getting generic info from out there... but I like feedback from other Canadians sometimes, as we are in somewhat the same boat when it comes to approval etc... You know what I mean... low risk country etc...

???? so????

ps. please be warned i'll ask a lot of questions lol!

[Bobby+Umit 161]

First - and if you can understand what it is outlining, then you may be able to do it yourself.

many people do it themselves - and are quite successful doing it. As long as your case isn't too exotic, you should have no issues.

[Krikit 1,164]

AOS was a breeze. Nothing to it, really. But if you still aren't comfortable doing it yourself, I'll do it for half the price of your lawyer!

[JillA 2]

Oh girl, trust me, it's a piece of gateaux! If I can do it, anyone can!! I read the guides a few times, looked at some sample forms, in my opinion it's easier than filing for the K-1! One of the apps, AP or EAD is only 1 page! Save your $$, do it yourself! We are always here for you to answer questions, after reading the guides you probably won't have toooo many questions, even if you do who cares! Ask away, most of us did this entire process without a lawyer and look where we are today!!

Also to note, I asked some AOS questions on the Canada forum, you don't have to venture into the wild jungle out there!

Edited April 23, 2009 by JillA

[Sprailenes 47]

I didn't even read the guides and I did it... all without an RFE. My husband and I literally put our AOS package together in one night. If we can do it, so can you.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Ok, I didn't go the K1 route, but the CR-1 route. When the time came for me to file the I-751, my lawyer emailed me and stated she would do it for $1000.00. How nice of her. I took me at MOST 20 minutes to fill out the paperwork! Again, thats at most, more likely 10 minutes! Plus I had to put together some evidence of our relationship, some utility bills, mortgage, again, maybe took me 20 minutes to put together! Very easy, and on my OWN!! You can do it!

[Misty1979 0]

If it makes you feel any better, I chose to skip the lawyer as well, and am also a complete stress case. Needless to say I badgered people here in the Canadian forum at least daily, (sometimes a few times a day,) with annoying, paranoid questions, and people were always friendly and willing to help out! (I did the CR-1, but I've heard AOS is a breeze

Honestly, I'm sure you'll be fine! It's not as hard as it looks, and you'll have your VJ buddies around to back you up, so why not save the dough?

Edited April 23, 2009 by Misty1979

[Krikit 1,164]

If it makes you feel any better, I chose to skip the lawyer as well, and am also a complete stress case. Needless to say I badgered people here in the Canadian forum at least daily, (sometimes a few times a day,) with annoying, paranoid questions, and people were always friendly and willing to help out! (I did the CR-1, but I've heard AOS is a breeze

Honestly, I'm sure you'll be fine! It's not as hard as it looks, and you'll have your VJ buddies around to back you up, so why not save the dough?

Shhhhh. I'm trying to get her to give it to me.

[Misty1979 0]

If it makes you feel any better, I chose to skip the lawyer as well, and am also a complete stress case. Needless to say I badgered people here in the Canadian forum at least daily, (sometimes a few times a day,) with annoying, paranoid questions, and people were always friendly and willing to help out! (I did the CR-1, but I've heard AOS is a breeze

Honestly, I'm sure you'll be fine! It's not as hard as it looks, and you'll have your VJ buddies around to back you up, so WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT WEATHER??

Shhhhh. I'm trying to get her to give it to me.

Oops, my bad. Edited out for the sake of Kriket's billfold

[Krikit 1,164]

If it makes you feel any better, I chose to skip the lawyer as well, and am also a complete stress case. Needless to say I badgered people here in the Canadian forum at least daily, (sometimes a few times a day,) with annoying, paranoid questions, and people were always friendly and willing to help out! (I did the CR-1, but I've heard AOS is a breeze

Honestly, I'm sure you'll be fine! It's not as hard as it looks, and you'll have your VJ buddies around to back you up, so WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT WEATHER??

Shhhhh. I'm trying to get her to give it to me.

Oops, my bad. Edited out for the sake of Kriket's billfold

OMG, now it makes me look like some kind of perv!

[Udella&Wiz 325]

AOS is easier - you're togteher and doing the paperwork - no need for a lawyer - do not waste your precious money!

[MapleLeafBaby 1]

If it makes you feel any better, I chose to skip the lawyer as well, and am also a complete stress case. Needless to say I badgered people here in the Canadian forum at least daily, (sometimes a few times a day,) with annoying, paranoid questions, and people were always friendly and willing to help out! (I did the CR-1, but I've heard AOS is a breeze

Honestly, I'm sure you'll be fine! It's not as hard as it looks, and you'll have your VJ buddies around to back you up, so WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT WEATHER??

Shhhhh. I'm trying to get her to give it to me.

Oops, my bad. Edited out for the sake of Kriket's billfold

OMG, now it makes me look like some kind of perv!

HAHA!!! Kirkit, YOU'RE HIRED!!! lol! But just so I know who i'm dealing with, are you the one on the right with hair, or the bald one on the left in your photo?

Ok, I will read over the guides etc... I assume I can maybe start some of it now? like filling out the forms etc?

The proof (such as bills, leases etc...) is not needed till afterwards right?

For the K1, for every form I had to complete for myself, I had to do the same one for my son. So I assume I will do the AOS, AP, but not the EAD?

Off topic, do kids need SSN's? Like if I go to the SSN office to apply, should I get one for my 5 year old son?

Ok, you guys made me feel better... my lawyer is gonna hate me.... lol!

Keep an eye out for a thread titled 'POPROCKS AOS JOURNEY'

Thanks guys!!!!

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I agree, AOS is easy unless you have something specifically out of the ordinary. You might want to use a lawyer then, but for the regular run-of-the mill AOS you can do it on your own. Even with a lawyer, you have to do the work gathering the information anyway, so just make a checklist of what you need, then check it off when you get it. The form is easy, but do a trial run - fill in one just for practice, make your mistakes there (VBG), then just transfer the information. You'll be fine.

Edited April 24, 2009 by Kathryn41

[HYENA 4]

I used a lawyer...problem with using a lawyer is you can't see the mistakes they made. Turns out I could have had mine faster if I didn't use a lawyer (they're paid to promise the world then ignore you after you pay). This is the case with all lawyers! I'll never use a lawyer again...no recourse (they held my packet for 3 weeks, didn't tell me, made a mistake...and this is a well known company with US lawyers)!

After seeing VJ, there's no reason anyone would need a lawyer; it's ALL here plus you get live help any time you want! I'll never put any part of my case at someone elses mercy again (not to mention their staff hangs up on my fiancee if they don't feel liek answering her questions or they don't know). I'm not exaggerating, either! I was there during one hang up (I called right back and told them another stunt like that and I'll.....I'll.....)what can I do? Answer- NOTHING! Never again...never (I used the #1 US company in Thailand...I dont' care how good they are, how good do you need for someone to try to submit facts you know to someone else?

Too many hands in the pot increases mistakes (guaranteed)!

[Ontarkie 14,226]

We did it ourselves the only thing that slowed us down was the printer, having to print out the forms for 5 of us and then double checking it all making sure we didnt miss a kid lol.