New Filer - Attorney or No Attorney..that is the question - HELP!

[Stephen9822 0]

Hello all,

This is a great site and very informative. I am a beginning filer and am in the process of gathering paperwork, evidence etc. I've spoken to several attorney's but am wondering if going that route is worth the money. I've also spoken to USCIS several times and they informed me the filing is very straight forward. I'm just torn, I don't wanna raise any flags if anything goes wrong and delay this process. I've read the guides and am making multiple copies of everything but does anyone know what possible RFE's stuff I may need and whether to go with or without an attorney is the way to go?

Thanks all in advance.....

Signed,

Stephen & Vitia

[TwoCats 55]

Hello all,

This is a great site and very informative. I am a beginning filer and am in the process of gathering paperwork, evidence etc. I've spoken to several attorney's but am wondering if going that route is worth the money. I've also spoken to USCIS several times and they informed me the filing is very straight forward. I'm just torn, I don't wanna raise any flags if anything goes wrong and delay this process. I've read the guides and am making multiple copies of everything but does anyone know what possible RFE's stuff I may need and whether to go with or without an attorney is the way to go?

Thanks all in advance.....

Signed,

Stephen & Vitia

As is mentioned frequently...

VJ is a site built around self-filing. Almost everyone you'll encounter here will be a self-filer, with a few exceptions.

The only reason I would see for using a lawyer is:

a) if your a compulsive worrier and you think it will make you feel better.

b) you are disorganized and are having trouble understanding the guides.

c) your case has some sort of red-flag situation that you need to address. (criminal convictions, overstays, etc.)

The best suggestion I have is to read the guides thoroughly. Make a checklist for yourself of all the documents and information that you'll need and feel free to ask questions before you send things out. You /can/ do this yourself without any trouble as long as you are willing to put the time in to read the guides, and double check you have everything you need.

Also, be aware that lawyers, as much as they are experts, still make mistakes. The K-1 is actually not that common of a process (less than 1% of all petitions a year), so many lawyers don't seem familiar with the process. If you do a search on the forums, you'll find plenty of people who's lawyers made mistakes - ones that an individual reading the guides wouldn't have missed. Even if you /do/ decide to go the lawyer route, I highly suggest reading the guides, understanding what is asked, and double checking whatever your lawyer does.

[Kish.2328 9]

No need for a lawyer really. You can do this by yourself just as long as you read the guidelines carefully. As to what the above poster says, make a checklist and feel free to ask questions before you send anything. Me and my fiance are also new on this but we did the process by ourselves and of course with the helped of the VJ member who are always there addressing everyone's concern. Most here are expert, I must say. :dance:

[mrs. carey 4]

Ditto! We filed ours all by ourselves too. If there aren't any complication/s on your case, then you guys should be fine. Unless you have a lot of dollahs to blow and wouldn't mind paying the lawyer an absurd amount of money.

[nenooye 8]

if you have loads of money and you can not read the instruction carefully then you need attorney.. my suggestion is do it by your self is better..but of course need extra work and attention from you..

[Tero 105]

You do not need a layer. You can do it yourself if you have no criminal records, previous overstays, previous filings that were suspicious. Start with the guides, they are comprehensive.

http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide

http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1flow

http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1tips

[joyjohn 18]

well thats always a good question and i agree with the answers given you......so heres my deal, i filied myself,,,my brother hired a attorney,, i got my NOA-1 ina few days my brother ask how i got mine so fast, i said go ask your attorney!!! then ask yourself who's really going to have your interest at heart your attorney or YOU!! will you do the short cuts to speed your process or will your attorney just follow the paper trail, then pick the one YOU LIKE the best....... obtw....i'd rather spend my money on her airplane ticket...

[Tero 105]

well thats always a good question and i agree with the answers given you......so heres my deal, i filied myself,,,my brother hired a attorney,, i got my NOA-1 ina few days my brother ask how i got mine so fast, i said go ask your attorney!!! then ask yourself who's really going to have your interest at heart your attorney or YOU!! will you do the short cuts to speed your process or will your attorney just follow the paper trail, then pick the one YOU LIKE the best....... obtw....i'd rather spend my money on her airplane ticket...

Nice!

[Rayoflight 10]

We hired an Attorney but if I had found VJ before starting that process we probably would have did it ourselves. I work in administration and accounting so it would have been a breeze. Oh well.. live and learn :-)

[patient2010 93]

No need to use an attorney as previous poster said we are experts here if your case is straight forward it is surely something you can do on your own...GOOD LUCK!!! and welcome to VJ

[thelastpetitioner 218]

you know you might try to save money and not use an attorney in the beginning ,but then face a problem caused by the embassy,nvc or yourself and need the help of an attorney.read forward,review the entire process and then decide whether or not you can do it yourself

[thelastpetitioner 218]

well thats always a good question and i agree with the answers given you......so heres my deal, i filied myself,,,my brother hired a attorney,, i got my NOA-1 ina few days my brother ask how i got mine so fast, i said go ask your attorney!!! then ask yourself who's really going to have your interest at heart your attorney or YOU!! will you do the short cuts to speed your process or will your attorney just follow the paper trail, then pick the one YOU LIKE the best....... obtw....i'd rather spend my money on her airplane ticket...

thats a wrong answer to give,you having filed yourself has absolutely nothing with the reason you got your noa 1 so early.there is nothing an attorney can do that would speed up the process

[joyjohn 18]

thats a wrong answer to give,you having filed yourself has absolutely nothing with the reason you got your noa 1 so early.there is nothing an attorney can do that would speed up the process

thank-you you just made my point.....theres nothing an attorney can do that would speed up the process....but theres many things you can do too speed it up...like not waiting on the paper trail......

[thelastpetitioner 218]

thank-you you just made my point.....theres nothing an attorney can do that would speed up the process....but theres many things you can do too speed it up...like not waiting on the paper trail......

of course if you find a good lawyer it will give you peace of mind for a price,but we need to remember websites dont always replace lawyers,so,i PERSONALLY always suggest people who ask me to have a good lawyer at hand in case they need consultation

[JoannaV 174]

If your case is straightforward and merely involves form-filling, then do it yourself. Adding a lawyer into the mixture just means you have to give him the information and then he can copy it wrong :-) If at any point you need someone to argue on points of law, that is when you would probably want a lawyer.