Visa Recomendations.

[TomD 4]

Hi All,

I am new with all of this and still a little shocked at the difficulty, time and expense that is required to have someone get a visa to the USA. I will be soon playing this game and was wondering what you recomentd based on your past experiances. I am not married yet and I have not filed anything with anyone.

Here are a few questions that I have

- Do I need an Attorney to get a visa for my lady in the Philippines or is it straight forward enough to do myself.

- Is the fee charged by the Attorney usually a flat rate or do they add cost as the process moves forward.

- Should I get married in PI and file for a K-3 or go the K-1 route.

- What is the typle cost for the entire process once your completed the process.

I know these are broad questions and I dont expect exact answers but any information you can provide would help.

Thanks.

[donnastl 0]

Hi All,

I am new with all of this and still a little shocked at the difficulty, time and expense that is required to have someone get a visa to the USA. I will be soon playing this game and was wondering what you recomentd based on your past experiances. I am not married yet and I have not filed anything with anyone.

Here are a few questions that I have

- Do I need an Attorney to get a visa for my lady in the Philippines or is it straight forward enough to do myself.

- Is the fee charged by the Attorney usually a flat rate or do they add cost as the process moves forward.

- Should I get married in PI and file for a K-3 or go the K-1 route.

- What is the typle cost for the entire process once your completed the process.

I know these are broad questions and I dont expect exact answers but any information you can provide would help.

Thanks.

Hi Tom!!

You can process it yourself. With my case we hired Cherry Blossoms but we also asked help from other people who had undegone the same process. I would say, you can save more money if you wont hire lawyers. In most cases, lawyers dont even make the process faster:)

[GuardianOne 0]

- Do I need an Attorney to get a visa for my lady in the Philippines or is it straight forward enough to do myself.

I would do it yourself and save on the fees. It's pretty straight forward and you just have to fill out some forms for the I-129F. You could hire a lawyer, but you could do it yourself with some research. The major part about it is gathering what to send, that was my biggest issue. Filling out the forms takes a few hours MAX.

- Is the fee charged by the Attorney usually a flat rate or do they add cost as the process moves forward.

Don't know, didn't go that way.

- Should I get married in PI and file for a K-3 or go the K-1 route.

Not sure on this, K-1 is the way to go. I think adding marriage documents/etc would be too much of a hassle.

- What is the typle cost for the entire process once your completed the process.

Depends, in my case my fiance and I sorted out the majority of documents when I was still in the Philippines. If not, you'll be paying for DHL/FedEX/Etc to transfer the documents. The fee is $455 + postage. After that there are other fees which I haven't gotten into yet such as the medical fees, etc. Then the plane ticket.

[GregwedsAngel 0]

The definition of straightforward case for any petition would mean IF you do not have the following blocks(for both petitioner and beneficiary):

1. previous marriages still NOT legally severed.

2. paternity/maternity issues

3. criminal history issues

4. "domicility" issues hence security verified identity papers can not be had

5. those with no employment affecting the proof of financial support for the one being petitioned (in which case the US Embassy in the Philippines is very "snob-nosed" on co-sponsorships on that regard)

6. prior entry bans to United States

Those are the major concerns that make your cause NOT straightforward. Personally, I would suggest you and your lady love do the paperwork together. Besides, whatever USCIS/NVC/US Embassy Manila ask about your petition, it is you and her that hold the answer and not your lawyer.

Edited July 24, 2009 by GregwedsAngel

[Chris Me lil D 17]

Hi All,

I am new with all of this and still a little shocked at the difficulty, time and expense that is required to have someone get a visa to the USA. I will be soon playing this game and was wondering what you recomentd based on your past experiances. I am not married yet and I have not filed anything with anyone.

Here are a few questions that I have

- Do I need an Attorney to get a visa for my lady in the Philippines or is it straight forward enough to do myself.

No, you don't need an attorney, VJ is a better adviser than an attorney would be to you in most of the cases. It's pretty straight forward, just follow all the instructions you'll get in the process from either USCIS or NVC.

- Is the fee charged by the Attorney usually a flat rate or do they add cost as the process moves forward.

Fees could be different, an attorney could always find something else to charge you more!

- Should I get married in PI and file for a K-3 or go the K-1 route.

As of what I see on timelines here on VJ, K-1 is just a little bit shorter than the CR-1. Do not do the K-3, it's taking nowadays as long as the CR-1. K-3 is not good anymore, plus it cost more money. Save it (from attorney and K-3/K-1). So, yes, go ahead and marry in PI

- What is the typle cost for the entire process once your completed the process.

Prices vary.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...amp;page=guides

http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/...nited_States%3F

http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/...he_NVC_ShortCut

http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/...s%27s_Shortcuts

[Dakine 26]

Cheapest, easiest and BEST by far visa at this time is The CR-1.

[TomD 4]

Hi All,

I am new with all of this and still a little shocked at the difficulty, time and expense that is required to have someone get a visa to the USA. I will be soon playing this game and was wondering what you recomentd based on your past experiances. I am not married yet and I have not filed anything with anyone.

Here are a few questions that I have

- Do I need an Attorney to get a visa for my lady in the Philippines or is it straight forward enough to do myself.

- Is the fee charged by the Attorney usually a flat rate or do they add cost as the process moves forward.

- Should I get married in PI and file for a K-3 or go the K-1 route.

- What is the typle cost for the entire process once your completed the process.

I know these are broad questions and I dont expect exact answers but any information you can provide would help.

Thanks.

Hi Tom!!

You can process it yourself. With my case we hired Cherry Blossoms but we also asked help from other people who had undegone the same process. I would say, you can save more money if you wont hire lawyers. In most cases, lawyers dont even make the process faster:)

Thanks Donna I am leaning in that direction.

[TomD 4]

The definition of straightforward case for any petition would mean IF you do not have the following blocks(for both petitioner and beneficiary):

1. previous marriages still NOT legally severed.

2. paternity/maternity issues

3. criminal history issues

4. "domicility" issues hence security verified identity papers can not be had

5. those with no employment affecting the proof of financial support for the one being petitioned (in which case the US Embassy in the Philippines is very "snob-nosed" on co-sponsorships on that regard)

6. prior entry bans to United States

Those are the major concerns that make your cause NOT straightforward. Personally, I would suggest you and your lady love do the paperwork together. Besides, whatever USCIS/NVC/US Embassy Manila ask about your petition, it is you and her that hold the answer and not your lawyer.

Thanks I dont see any concern other than my finding divorce papers that are 30 yrs old. Even the IRS only requires documentation up to 7 yrs...Thanks

[TomD 4]

Hi All,

I am new with all of this and still a little shocked at the difficulty, time and expense that is required to have someone get a visa to the USA. I will be soon playing this game and was wondering what you recomentd based on your past experiances. I am not married yet and I have not filed anything with anyone.

Here are a few questions that I have

- Do I need an Attorney to get a visa for my lady in the Philippines or is it straight forward enough to do myself.

No, you don't need an attorney, VJ is a better adviser than an attorney would be to you in most of the cases. It's pretty straight forward, just follow all the instructions you'll get in the process from either USCIS or NVC.

- Is the fee charged by the Attorney usually a flat rate or do they add cost as the process moves forward.

Fees could be different, an attorney could always find something else to charge you more!

- Should I get married in PI and file for a K-3 or go the K-1 route.

As of what I see on timelines here on VJ, K-1 is just a little bit shorter than the CR-1. Do not do the K-3, it's taking nowadays as long as the CR-1. K-3 is not good anymore, plus it cost more money. Save it (from attorney and K-3/K-1). So, yes, go ahead and marry in PI

- What is the typle cost for the entire process once your completed the process.

Prices vary.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...amp;page=guides

http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/...nited_States%3F

http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/...he_NVC_ShortCut

http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/...s%27s_Shortcuts

Thanks Chris From what I am reading I think I can do it myself without much pain. Also as some have said I need to do all the gathering of documents anyway so all thats left is filling in the blanks.

The wedding would be cheaper in PI and her family could attend which would be much better for her. My family is pretty much non existant. Okay now I need to work on finding those darn divorce papers from 1978... haha that should be a snap...probably better off not even bringing it up...

[TomD 4]

Cheapest, easiest and BEST by far visa at this time is The CR-1.

Mahalo Haole... Now I need to look at this CR-1 and figure out what it is. Sure miss my time of living in Hawaii but that was back in the mid 80s

[Dakine 26]

Hi All,

I am new with all of this and still a little shocked at the difficulty, time and expense that is required to have someone get a visa to the USA. I will be soon playing this game and was wondering what you recomentd based on your past experiances. I am not married yet and I have not filed anything with anyone.

Here are a few questions that I have

- Do I need an Attorney to get a visa for my lady in the Philippines or is it straight forward enough to do myself.

No, you don't need an attorney, VJ is a better adviser than an attorney would be to you in most of the cases. It's pretty straight forward, just follow all the instructions you'll get in the process from either USCIS or NVC.

- Is the fee charged by the Attorney usually a flat rate or do they add cost as the process moves forward.

Fees could be different, an attorney could always find something else to charge you more!

- Should I get married in PI and file for a K-3 or go the K-1 route.

As of what I see on timelines here on VJ, K-1 is just a little bit shorter than the CR-1. Do not do the K-3, it's taking nowadays as long as the CR-1. K-3 is not good anymore, plus it cost more money. Save it (from attorney and K-3/K-1). So, yes, go ahead and marry in PI

- What is the typle cost for the entire process once your completed the process.

Prices vary.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...amp;page=guides

http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/...nited_States%3F

http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/...he_NVC_ShortCut

http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/...s%27s_Shortcuts

Thanks Chris From what I am reading I think I can do it myself without much pain. Also as some have said I need to do all the gathering of documents anyway so all thats left is filling in the blanks.

The wedding would be cheaper in PI and her family could attend which would be much better for her. My family is pretty much non existant. Okay now I need to work on finding those darn divorce papers from 1978... haha that should be a snap...probably better off not even bringing it up...

You can get certified copies of your divorce from the county and court you were divorced in. I went thru same trip from 1978. Cost was about $10 for 2 CERTIFIED copies. What ever you do don't hide anything in the process.

Tell your lady EVERYTHING also. One of the question the CO asked my wife was "Why did I divorce"?

Edited July 25, 2009 by Haole

[Jamaican JNR 2]

- Do I need an Attorney to get a visa for my lady in the Philippines or is it straight forward enough to do myself.

I would do it yourself and save on the fees. It's pretty straight forward and you just have to fill out some forms for the I-129F. You could hire a lawyer, but you could do it yourself with some research. The major part about it is gathering what to send, that was my biggest issue. Filling out the forms takes a few hours MAX.

- Is the fee charged by the Attorney usually a flat rate or do they add cost as the process moves forward.

Don't know, didn't go that way.

- Should I get married in PI and file for a K-3 or go the K-1 route.

Not sure on this, K-1 is the way to go. I think adding marriage documents/etc would be too much of a hassle.

- What is the typle cost for the entire process once your completed the process.

Depends, in my case my fiance and I sorted out the majority of documents when I was still in the Philippines. If not, you'll be paying for DHL/FedEX/Etc to transfer the documents. The fee is $455 + postage. After that there are other fees which I haven't gotten into yet such as the medical fees, etc. Then the plane ticket.

It is really your choice. K-1 or K-3 might have your spouce in the USA sooner, however there are other documents and fees require once he/she enters the US e.g. Adjust of Status, Employment Authorization Document and eventually removing condition from visa etc. I got married and did the IR1/CR1 Visa. It only took approx 1 year for me. The good thing is that when I enter the US I wont have to Adjust Status or apply for EAD. The only fee will be in 2 years from now to have the conditions removed.

[DouglasFiel 53]

My case is fairly complex and I did it without a lawyer and no RFEs.

It will take a minimum of 2 weeks to get married in the Philippines due to the 10 day waiting period.

There is quite a few benefits to getting married in the PI... A couple are... First, your fiancee can invite her friends and relatives...

Second, She will not have to put her life on hold for a promise,,, that can be a long time,,, and there is no guarantee that you

will marry her,,, even after she travels to the USA...

So,,, I know in my situation is was the right one.. To marry in the PI and file for the I-130 CR1.

Costs are about $1100.00

Regards,

[TomD 4]

My case is fairly complex and I did it without a lawyer and no RFEs.

It will take a minimum of 2 weeks to get married in the Philippines due to the 10 day waiting period.

There is quite a few benefits to getting married in the PI... A couple are... First, your fiancee can invite her friends and relatives...

Second, She will not have to put her life on hold for a promise,,, that can be a long time,,, and there is no guarantee that you

will marry her,,, even after she travels to the USA...

So,,, I know in my situation is was the right one.. To marry in the PI and file for the I-130 CR1.

Costs are about $1100.00

Regards,

THanks Doug, I have a few more questions for you if you dont mind. I will try to ask them off line as I dont think they are need to be on the forum.