do it yourself

[santiagoymoca 0]

i am petitioning my wife from the dominican republic

uscis revieved my applicantion august 25 2010

nvc january 3 2011

march 10 case completed

may 31 2011 interview date

i did everything myself and i did it by following the instructions. why pay a lawyer to do the same thing that you can do yourself and get the same results.

i strongly recommend that when you send in the affidavit of suppor send in the ds 230 with it to save you 20 days, i didnt know this but i tell you so that you can benefit from it.

[BPham 0]

I agree it's worthwhile doing it yourself, and you feel like a bureaucrat afterwards

[Darnell 8,479]

VJ is a great DIY immigration portal, with an emphasis on 'Y' and 'D'.

The guides are great, mostly (if only they'd kill the K-3 instructions)

and the mentoring here is great, also - we tend to 'pay it forward', most of the time.

Getting a lawyer sometimes is necessary, here's my guidelines about it:

I'll suggest a coupla things, maybe (maybe...) help you to decide whether you need an attorney or not.

a. read the VJ guides. map the steps out on paper and pencil. See if anything doesn't make sense to you.

b. Read the USCIS web portal about the forms. Map out the steps on paper and pencil. See if anything doesn't make sense to you.

c. Practice filling out the forms, at least 5 times. See if anything still doesn't make sense to you.

d. Have any red flags? Practice writing up attestation letters about each red flag.

Now, after doing (with major emphasis on DOING ) all of the above, if you do NOT understand the forms and the process and potential red flags for your petition,

then I'd suggest getting a good IMMIGRATION lawyer. You are concerned with time, I am concerned with your 'knowledge acquisition', as knowledge is power. You can have 'it' good, fast or cheap - pick 2.

[TBoneTX 46,455]

+1 to Brother Darnell.

[Phillip2 3]

I would have to agree with Wuhaun I hope I got it right. However, lawyers make mistakes 2. If you want to save money and you pay attention and follow direction closely along with using your fellow VJ's here you can do it.

[pushbrk 13,267]

VJ is a great DIY immigration portal, with an emphasis on 'Y' and 'D'.

The guides are great, mostly (if only they'd kill the K-3 instructions)

and the mentoring here is great, also - we tend to 'pay it forward', most of the time.

Getting a lawyer sometimes is necessary, here's my guidelines about it:

I'll suggest a coupla things, maybe (maybe...) help you to decide whether you need an attorney or not.

a. read the VJ guides. map the steps out on paper and pencil. See if anything doesn't make sense to you.

b. Read the USCIS web portal about the forms. Map out the steps on paper and pencil. See if anything doesn't make sense to you.

c. Practice filling out the forms, at least 5 times. See if anything still doesn't make sense to you.

d. Have any red flags? Practice writing up attestation letters about each red flag.

Now, after doing (with major emphasis on DOING ) all of the above, if you do NOT understand the forms and the process and potential red flags for your petition,

then I'd suggest getting a good IMMIGRATION lawyer. You are concerned with time, I am concerned with your 'knowledge acquisition', as knowledge is power. You can have 'it' good, fast or cheap - pick 2.

This post is "helpful". The original post in the thread is not, IMO. I would only add that Attorney's are not the only potential source of professional immigration assistance. It is not a "legal issue" clearly, since many can do it themselves. Those that are not prepared, unwilling or unable, need assistance regardless of how many ARE willing and able.

[calibob 73]

This post is "helpful". The original post in the thread is not, IMO. I would only add that Attorney's are not the only potential source of professional immigration assistance. It is not a "legal issue" clearly, since many can do it themselves. Those that are not prepared, unwilling or unable, need assistance regardless of how many ARE willing and able.

Good statement, this is primarily a "process/procedure issue" not legal. Obviously there are many occasions in the process where legitimate legal "advice" would be helpful but VJ is more than enough for the majority of cases. I venture to say the amassed knowledge here is quite substantial. I'm not anti-lawyer, I just like keeping my money better and the feeling of accomplishment or "doing it yourself" means to me more than paying a lawyer.

Bob

[Moosker 7]

Do it yourself! Research your heart out and send in all of your paperwork. At least when an NOA comes in, it comes straight to you, it doesn't sit on a lawyers desk waiting to be sent to you.

Now that I look back on it, the process took time (and USCIS took their sweet time), but it wasn't a difficult process at all.