Using a Law Firm for Philippines K-1 Visa

[Joseph & Ana 0]

I knew nothing about getting K-1 so i thought the safest bet was hiring a law-firm. Well, its been almost a month of back and forth back and forth and we're still not filed yet. Its like pulling teeth with them to get a simple update on their progress.

Anyone have similar experience?

[RVIANE♛ 5]

I knew nothing about getting K-1 so i thought the safest bet was hiring a law-firm. Well, its been almost a month of back and forth back and forth and we're still not filed yet. Its like pulling teeth with them to get a simple update on their progress.

Anyone have similar experience?

why do u need to hire a law firm to file your petition? just confused

[Joseph & Ana 0]

Because I'm a stupid dumbass who doesn't deserve to live I guess.

[essjay 0]

Because I'm a stupid dumbass who doesn't deserve to live I guess.

I'm sure that's not true Many people use lawyers in order to minimise anything falling through the gaps. Unfortunately, many people also have the experience of having to wait longer for a lawyer to reply to something than if you were doing it yourself.

So yes, other people have had the same experience with lawyers, but the timing all seems to even out in the end.

Good Luck (And don't be so hard on yourself)

[Joseph & Ana 0]

Thanks for the heart-felt reply. I guess my patience is very thin with them. I already chewed them out once and they became teddy bears again.. However, I overnighted a package to them on monday, they received it tuesday, and I have had to badger them into reviewing it today. What did i waste the money overnighting it for? It did no good. Thanks for hearing my vent.

[Brian&Naty 0]

Because I'm a stupid dumbass who doesn't deserve to live I guess.

Many people do the K-1 process themselves. I did with no problems. VisaJourney members are more than happy to help you when you need it. follow the guides posted here and this is not as difficult as it appears. Why pay an attorney who is only going to have you fill out a questionnaire which will be the same information you provide for k-1 anyway?

Save your money. They do not have any more access to the Embassy staff then you do. They will only take your money and hope you never discover the process is just some paperwork that requires no special skills.

[Otto 83]

This is a fairly common statement from folks enlisting the aid of an attorney. Most folks here have-done/are-doing it themselves since it is a fairly straightforward process.

Best advice is for you to educate yourself on the process so that when you do speak with your attorney, you have a good understanding of the process. The Guides (above) and Example Forms (and many other things) can help get you up to speed.

[essjay 0]

Venting is sometimes good for the soul....

It can be very frustrating dealing with any kind of advisor, where you are ready to go, go, go, and they seem to be nowhere to be found! The whole visa process is an excellent tutor in patience, I am sure I am one of the most patient people you will find now!!

Stay focussed and keep pressing your lawyer firmly, but always with a smile.

I wish you the very best of luck...

Save your money. They do not have any more access to the Embassy staff then you do. They will only take your money and hope you never discover the process is just some paperwork that requires no special skills.

Actually, some lawyers do have more access to Embassy staff than us!! And some of them are worth the money, and help overcome problems in out of the ordinary situations.

[Joseph & Ana 0]

If a lawyer is just a waste of money, then it is too late. I guess I will find out. Can't back out now. As of right now i'm just not satisfied with the communication. They also claim to have people in the Philippines (not sure how i can validate that), but they do have excellent references and testimonials on the BBB, and other places. I never expected it to take a month to get filed (of course i am just guessing that we will be filed soon - I don't know for sure yet.).

They claim they weed out any errors before it gets to the filing station, and that they keep checking constantly with the office to make sure they aren't dragging their feet.

Well, the guy i was dealing with went on vacation for a week and i had to badger them into making someone else work on my case.

Its just frustrating that I feel like I can't get anything done unless i am hounding them. Maybe its all in my head. I thought I was patient before this, but then I fell in love and my patience is ALL GONE - I know you all know how i feel.

[essjay 0]

I reiterate, there are many situations in which a lawyer is not a waste of money!

Each person's situation is very different. Just because some people on this forum advocate doing the whole process relying only on forum advice and their own research, that doesn't mean it is right for everyone...

[arch and cel 0]

Because I'm a stupid dumbass who doesn't deserve to live I guess.

I'm sure that's not true Many people use lawyers in order to minimise anything falling through the gaps. Unfortunately, many people also have the experience of having to wait longer for a lawyer to reply to something than if you were doing it yourself.

So yes, other people have had the same experience with lawyers, but the timing all seems to even out in the end.

Good Luck (And don't be so hard on yourself)

Used this guide like we did.... http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;page=k1guide

Good Luck

[Joseph & Ana 0]

I've read the guides. I think in every post I make someone tells me to read the guides. I'm just talking about lawyers and firms in this post. Even the lawyer sent me a guide. Ok fine - Now i want to talk to real people, is that ok?

[essjay 0]

Perfectly OK

[Joseph & Ana 0]

I'd really like to have a timeline, but Ana and I aren't even filed yet, so I guess I need to wait on that.

I'm fortunate though, that I'll be going back to see her (in Bohol) in December for Christmas. Hopefully that will break up the wait.

Well, everytime I contact the law-firm they act as if i am being overly impatient. I think waiting a day for a response from them is plenty of time. Especially when i'm not getting any updates on my final drafts of forms.

[rockhouse 1]

I've read the guides. I think in every post I make someone tells me to read the guides. I'm just talking about lawyers and firms in this post. Even the lawyer sent me a guide. Ok fine - Now i want to talk to real people, is that ok?

Lol. You sound like me. I am so fed up with this BS visa process. I'm almost 200 days into it. I called the USEM yesterday and some ####### said they have our case, but to wait 2 weeks and call back. I literally just sat here flexing like the hulk for like 20 seconds until my eyes almost exploded after i heard that.

I called back and some ####### who was rude as hell told me the same thing and wouldn't answer my questions.

You're in for a bumpy ride if you have as little patience as i got.

PM me if you need any info.

Good luck.