Do you suggest getting an attorney or use an agency?

[Felya and Olya 3]

I am planning on doing everything my self (using all the forums, example forms, and other online outlets) but a friend suggested that I get a lawyer because the reviewers are looking for mistakes and such and a lawyer would be able to make sure there aren't any. I personally think that I would be able to take care of this my self but now I am a little scared. What do you think?

[marriedtomrg 141]

If your case is straightforward, you won't need a lawyer. And you will find plenty of support here.

I am planning on doing everything my self (using all the forums, example forms, and other online outlets) but a friend suggested that I get a lawyer because the reviewers are looking for mistakes and such and a lawyer would be able to make sure there aren't any. I personally think that I would be able to take care of this my self but now I am a little scared. What do you think?

[Felya and Olya 3]

Yes, its pretty straight forward. I personally think I can do a much better job than some attorney who could care less. Thanks!!!

[marriedtomrg 141]

Plus there is a regional board where you can get location-specific answers. Am sure members from your home country can offer a lot of insight.

Yes, its pretty straight forward. I personally think I can do a much better job than some attorney who could care less. Thanks!!!

[Jeff and Tatiana 0]

I agree with the above poster. I had a lawyer, but to be honest looking back it only gave one thing that I do think was helpful. They had staff in Russia. This was nice as she could deal with them on the documents she needed to give them on her side. Also at the time of the interview, she went to their offices in Moscow and they reviewed the paperwork she had and gave her some coaching and practice on the interview. It also helped to calm her down and reassure her somewhat. Otherwise, they did not do much. They send you a list of docs you have to collect (can be found on this site) and then they fill out the forms for you. Send it back to you to confirm/sign then they send it on to the government with your money. So the gist is, if it is complicated, get a lawyer, if you want some hand holding for your fiance' in her own language in Russia, then get a lawyer that has resources/offices in Russia otherwise do it yourself and save some cash.

I did the whole change of status when she was in the USA with me, on my own using the site here and asking questions of the forum. Good luck and ask questions if your confused by any of it. If you follow the process outlined and it is a pretty straight forward case, you should be just fine.

Welcome to the Visa Journey!

Jeff & Tatiana.

[SisJ 13]

Totally Agree with marriedtomrg...Save yourself the expensive attorney fees and get all the help you need from the VJs...There's always someone here who's been through what you're going through who will give you straight forward answers to your questions....

Good Luck on your Journey

[rodceasar 34]

I agree with everyone above and also, a lawyer could potentially make mistakes as has happeneded to many who use this forum....

[pushbrk 12,892]

Whether professional help is needed depends on many factors, not the least of which are competence and confidence in your own abilities. That one person or thousands will be successful doing it themselves, has little bearing on whether any given individual will be. Certainly there's lots of help here but many prefer to hire professionals to do things they don't already know how to do, for various reasons, not the least of which is that they prefer to use their time in more productive ways than spending many hours in study and worry.

[baron555 934]

Yes, its pretty straight forward. I personally think I can do a much better job than some attorney who could care less. Thanks!!!

If we could do it ourselves, then you can too. It's not that hard. Follow the Guides to the tee; follow the Example forms.

Also pop on down to the RUB Russia-Ukraine-Belarus regional forum for the "real scoop".

[Felya and Olya 3]

Thanks everyone!

[Aztec&Taino 144]

I am planning on doing everything my self (using all the forums, example forms, and other online outlets) but a friend suggested that I get a lawyer because the reviewers are looking for mistakes and such and a lawyer would be able to make sure there aren't any. I personally think that I would be able to take care of this my self but now I am a little scared. What do you think?

You can do it yourself if you do not have a criminal record or a "difficult" situation that would need the help of a lawyer. If you can read and understand English you can do it on your own. Too many people have wasted their money or lost time due to incompetent lawyers or their parelegals' mistakes...

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I am planning on doing everything my self (using all the forums, example forms, and other online outlets) but a friend suggested that I get a lawyer because the reviewers are looking for mistakes and such and a lawyer would be able to make sure there aren't any. I personally think that I would be able to take care of this my self but now I am a little scared. What do you think?

So what part is stumping your friend? Name? Address? Date of birth? Where you have lived and worked in the last 5 years? have you looked at these forms? Which question can an attorney anser that you can't? Which question can they answer at all? They can't. YOU have to answer them.

YES, they look for mistales, it is their job. If you make one you will get an RFE and you will send them what you forgot to include. No one dies. Attorneys make mistakes, no one dies but it costs lots of money.

Zdrastvootye! Welcome to VJ! Check out the Russia/Ukraine/Belarus sub forum down below for the foremost in information and best of luck.

Edited October 25, 2010 by Gary and Alla

[Yellowhead 12]

After consultations with lawyers about the K-1 process, I found that I knew more about the process than every lawyer I spoke with, simply by perusing the forums here at VJ. That being said, our case is very simple and I am from a low-risk country. When dealing with the paperwork, I realized that the work would be the same either way (lawyer or not) because I would still have to compile everything and that is what takes the most time and effort. A Lawyer in a basic case is simply a proof-reader, and there are plenty of those here for free if you need us Best of luck!

[pushbrk 12,892]

So what part is stumping your friend? Name? Address? Date of birth? Where you have lived and worked in the last 5 years? have you looked at these forms? Which question can an attorney anser that you can't? Which question can they answer at all? They can't. YOU have to answer them.

YES, they look for mistales, it is their job. If you make one you will get an RFE and you will send them what you forgot to include. No one dies. Attorneys make mistakes, no one dies but it costs lots of money.

Zdrastvootye! Welcome to VJ! Check out the Russia/Ukraine/Belarus sub forum down below for the foremost in information and best of luck.

As someone who has helped a lot of people through the process, particularly with filling out forms, I can tell you that for many, things are not as simple as they may seem. Some are simply not prepared to read carefully, interpret literally and answer accurately. What seems so simple to some just ISN'T to others. Here are some examples.

You must have met within the past two years is interpreted as you must have known each other for at least two years, or if you've known each other more than two years, you must marry and take the spouse visa route. Neither is a literal interpretation but both are common misinterpretations.

G325a forms ask for five years of residence history but specifically for start and end dates for each residence. Many falsely indicate they moved to the oldest address exactly five years prior to filling out the form, even if they live there much longer.

People divorced more than twice will only disclose two divorces because that's all the space there is.

I could go on and on.

Don't judge for others whether they can do something based on your ability to do it. Some people just can't and others just shouldn't. Some of the silliest and most dangerous mistakes are made by otherwise very intelligent people who over-think what they read in the instructions. The most danger comes not from wrong answers or misinterpretation but from questions people never knew they needed to ask.

Unfortunately, hiring a professional isn't a guarantee you'll avoid mistakes either. Don't make the mistake of hiring the wrong professional for anything, immigration or otherwise.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

As someone who has helped a lot of people through the process, particularly with filling out forms, I can tell you that for many, things are not as simple as they may seem. Some are simply not prepared to read carefully, interpret literally and answer accurately. What seems so simple to some just ISN'T to others. Here are some examples.

You must have met within the past two years is interpreted as you must have known each other for at least two years, or if you've known each other more than two years, you must marry and take the spouse visa route. Neither is a literal interpretation but both are common misinterpretations.

G325a forms ask for five years of residence history but specifically for start and end dates for each residence. Many falsely indicate they moved to the oldest address exactly five years prior to filling out the form, even if they live there much longer.

People divorced more than twice will only disclose two divorces because that's all the space there is.

I could go on and on.

Don't judge for others whether they can do something based on your ability to do it. Some people just can't and others just shouldn't. Some of the silliest and most dangerous mistakes are made by otherwise very intelligent people who over-think what they read in the instructions. The most danger comes not from wrong answers or misinterpretation but from questions people never knew they needed to ask.

Unfortunately, hiring a professional isn't a guarantee you'll avoid mistakes either. Don't make the mistake of hiring the wrong professional for anything, immigration or otherwise.

You speak the truth and I will say that if someone needs professional help, I would suggest a service that can provide all the service you need, translations and information gathering in your fiancee's native language for example.

I am not against the payment of fees for services (it is how I make my living) but be sure one is getting service they are paying for/ Most attorneys offer little in "service" as they simply do not have or do not care to have the resources to do so. To be honest, a person that does a good service is probably not making a lot on a "per hour" basis. Attorneys do not normally fall into that category. If I applied a rate of minimum wage to all the efforts I applied, it would cost more than any service charges, but such is the case with building furniture or even knitting a sweater. Attorneys have a clerk with a software program that fills in forms with information you give them and copies documents you give them. We have seen so much of bad advice handed out by attorneys here. It really is not a process that needs an attorney.