Hired Attorney

[Caribbean Lady 3]

Hello All:

Did most people go through an attorney to organize their documents for filing the I129 fiance visa application? I have most of the documents but am just curious how others proceed.

Carmen

[Inky 1,110]

This website is a do-it-yourself website. Most of the people on here have done it by themselfs without a lawyer. A select few have opted to get a lawyer because of a complicated case, a hard embassy, or criminal backgrounds that need a lawyer to get you through the process.

[Caribbean Lady 3]

This website is a do-it-yourself website. Most of the people on here have done it by themselfs without a lawyer. A select few have opted to get a lawyer because of a complicated case, a hard embassy, or criminal backgrounds that need a lawyer to get you through the process.

Thanks for the quich answer

The question #18, how we met... can someone give me a format as I am using extra page to answer it. Thanks

[Inky 1,110]

Thanks for the quich answer

The question #18, how we met... can someone give me a format as I am using extra page to answer it. Thanks

Just a simple paragraph about how you met, thats it. Cant really give a format when there isnt one to give.

[Caribbean Lady 3]

Just a simple paragraph about how you met, thats it. Cant really give a format when there isnt one to give.

Inky,..Thanks for the answer.

[Caribbean Lady 3]

Inky,..Thanks for the answer.

Another question: Do you have to show that you are engaged? Can you engaged after the forms have been submitted?

[Robert de Bonda 3]

Thanks for the quich answer

The question #18, how we met... can someone give me a format as I am using extra page to answer it. Thanks

Hi Caribbean Lady. Welcome to Visa Journey. I am a naturalized citizen from St. Kitts. Hi neighbor. When I filed my I-129F, I did not use a lawyer. I found lots of information readily available on this site and knew that I could ask a question whenever I needed to and get quick, considerate and logical answers.

As to your question regarding question #18, I submitted a typewritten page. I had recently read of the advantage of front-loading the petition and used the opportunity to talk about the reason for me being where I was when I met her and what we did after that; how many times we have been together since then; vacations that we have taken and people that we have met. In te end I had to delete a lot of what I wrote as I did not want it to exceed 1 page. I believe that my page will give the Consular Officer fodder to ask questions. And any questions asked from these trips etc are well known to both of us. Maybe, just maybe they won't have time to ask trick questions that might be more difficult to answer.

Good luck on your journey.

[Caribbean Lady 3]

Hi Caribbean Lady. Welcome to Visa Journey. I am a naturalized citizen from St. Kitts. Hi neighbor. When I filed my I-129F, I did not use a lawyer. I found lots of information readily available on this site and knew that I could ask a question whenever I needed to and get quick, considerate and logical answers.

As to your question regarding question #18, I submitted a typewritten page. I had recently read of the advantage of front-loading the petition and used the opportunity to talk about the reason for me being where I was when I met her and what we did after that; how many times we have been together since then; vacations that we have taken and people that we have met. In te end I had to delete a lot of what I wrote as I did not want it to exceed 1 page. I believe that my page will give the Consular Officer fodder to ask questions. And any questions asked from these trips etc are well known to both of us. Maybe, just maybe they won't have time to ask trick questions that might be more difficult to answer.

Good luck on your journey.

Robert,

Thanks for your comments. I believe just what you have described. The statement needs to have some weight...factual stuff like the times we met and some details of how we spent the time together.

Good lUck to you too.

Carmen

[Dodi 69]

I made a very brief statement as to how we met, but included a three page letter detailing the evolution of our relationship, and front-loaded the petition with lots of photos and copies of passport pages, as well as phone logs, etc. from the history of our relationship.

The USCIS is only going to really want to know 2 things: Are you both legally eligible to marry; have you met within the past 2 years.

The rest is all done at the embassy/consulate level.

As for the attorney - I've had a horrible experience using an attorney who didn't know what she was doing, and even gave me advice that was ILLEGAL in the extreme as far as immigration goes, and I'm now having to work my way around it. This isn't always the case, as there are some knowledgable people out there who can help you. In the end, it's down to you, but you're going to be paying someone to fill in some forms and guide you. You're going to be giving them all of the information and documentation they need to fill in these forms, which means you could do it on your own. With help from other VJ'ers, it's usually pretty simple. I wish I'd found this place sooner, I'd have saved myself a headache ages ago, and he could be here by now.

Good luck to you!

Edited September 7, 2010 by Dodi

[Dodi 69]

If you want to learn more about what myself and others have gone through with bad immigration attorneys, click here.

Edited September 7, 2010 by Dodi

[kennym 275]

Hello

VJ is a great resource for the do-it-your-self'ers.. Unless you've got some complicating factors, I would say this process can certainly be done by most anyone...

Be very careful with attorneys.. Dodi's story is unfortunely fairly common.. When I first started this process, I spent sometime talking to several attorneys, before I knew about VJ.. I didn't know much about the rules then.. Today, thinking back, I remember that some attorney's gave me advise that I've since learned was illigal..

So be careful and make sure you find a qualified attorney.. But the truth is, you can likely do this yourself...

Kenny

[faytaan 0]

We hired lawyer and we beleive it was the worst decision we made, it is just wase of time and money and energy. The K1 visa is a transparent process which can be handeled by yourself. they just get your personal information, fill the forms and post them. nothing more.

[BirdyGirl85 23]

I personally would not recommend hiring an attorney. I have heard horror stories here on VJ about what attorneys have done, causing problems and delays. Going through the K-1 process, so far that I have experienced, is fairly straight forward, and unless you have a complicated case, you can do the whole process yourself. You can really save time and money that way. I'm glad I did without an attorney. (But I never considered an attorney in the first place) Of course I was confused when I started the process too, but I did a lot of research, here on VJ, and I also bought this book, Fiancé & Marriage Visas: A Couple's Guide to U.S. Immigration. I don't think you'd have to have the book, VJ is probably enough, but I'm glad I bought the book. It was nice to see the forms filled out with example answers in that book, since I was unsure how to answer some questions.

As for your questions, you don't have to show you are engaged in the I-129F package. My fiance and I didn't have anything to show we were engaged. We didn't even have rings yet at that point. So I was worried that we had no proof of engagement. But I found out though here on VJ, that you can send a letter of intent and have each person sign it. Basically a letter saying you will marry and sign it. You can look at the guides here and there is a checklist for the I-129F package and it has an example of the letter of intent. That checklist was very helpful for me. Our I-129F petition was approved with no problem, with only that letter as proof of our engagement. Even during my fiance's interview, they didn't even bother to look at the proof of our relationship and proof of our engagement, even though I sent more proof to my fiance for his interview. All they wanted to look at was the support evidence, and my fiance Petteri was only asked three simple questions and approved on the spot. But I'm not suggesting to not have proof of your relationship with you at the interview, you want to be prepared.

As for question #18, I did the same as Robert de Bonda. I typed a page describing how we met, and all the times we have spent together and the things we have done, basically how our relationship evolved. I have heard others just typed up a paragraph, and that worked, but I'm glad I typed up more then that. I just wouldn't type up more then a page, you don't want the USCIS to be annoyed that have too much to read.

For the proof of meeting in person in the I-129F, I included a timeline of all of our meetings since our five year relationship started. Even though I only needed proof within the last two years of meeting, I'm glad I included that. I feel it really showed we have a strong and long relationship, that we spent so much time together in person.

I hope my advice helps. Feel free to ask more questions. The people here on VJ are very helpful and with all the research I did here on VJ and in that book I bought, the K-1 process was pretty simple and went fairly fast. (Well it felt long waiting at the time, but I do realize our process went faster then some couples. A little over 5 months) Good luck!

Edited September 7, 2010 by BirdyGirl85

[thongd4me 69]

If you have a straightforward case - no past visa overstay embarrassments or other immigration infractions to explain away,

you will never improve your chances or timeline by using a lawyer - the lawyer's clerks do all the paperwork and they are

not liable for any mistake because they get paid by the hour, not by results.

I did the K-1 petition myself and it was approved in record time.

The AOS took longer but we applied for that under the 3-month deadline.

We know of people whose deadline has passed without filing

- not recommended, with or without a lawyer.

[Peter&Jaime 1]

Read everything on this website about the process and ask questions. If you feel that you understand everything and you have a very simple case then you don't need a lawyer. Hiring one would be a waste of money. My husband and I did the entire process by ourselves and would do it again.