Immigration specialist to file a K1 petition

[bigdog 376]

No lawyer for us. Got approved today!

Save your money and start reading the guides! Unless you have some issues like previous bans or criminal history, etc.,

Good luck!

Great Job congratulations.

Dear All,

I have a question regarding the necessity to use the services of an immigration lawyer to file a K1 petition. My fiance and I were told that it can cost us up to 5,000-7,000$ to hire a lawyer. It sounds way too expensive for us. Is it possible for a regular person to file for a K1 visa petition without paying a lawyer for that? Some friends advise us to use an immigration specialist, while others say to do it on our own. What is the safest and easiest way? How much can a lawyer cost just to file the petition? If my fiance files everything on his own, will it take us more time to get the petition approved? Thanks in advance for your reply~

I used an attorney for a total of 2k (mistake). You can do it yourself and save the money. We filed our own AOS and are waiting. Good DIY here on VJ. You supply all the information, why not do the forms yourself.

[pushbrk 12,824]

Great Job congratulations.

I used an attorney for a total of 2k (mistake). You can do it yourself and save the money. We filed our own AOS and are waiting. Good DIY here on VJ. You supply all the information, why not do the forms yourself.

Again, none of us knows what any other CAN do. We only know what WE can do, and sometimes don't even know that. Folk, please realize this. Do it yourself is NOT for EVERYBODY. It takes good language skills, attention to detail, confidence and diligent study to manage a visa process. Not everybody has those in sufficient measure. Others would simply rather spend their time doing other things and leave the study and details to others.

[memmy 3]

Oh my, we hired a law firm to fill out the forms for us, paid $3,000 for the petition alone and we didn't even need them coz we don't have issues whatsoever, we were just nervous wrecks. It was hassle free since we just provided our infos and they did everything else but we didn't retain them for the consular processing/embassy interview and it saved us almost the same amount. It's understandable that when you are not familiar with the process we tend to be nervous and paranoid but it's part of it. Save your money for the AOS. Hire a lawyer if there's a problem that might be an issue during the process.

Thanks for your reply! We have no problems so far( those that can be not good for the petition). I have been to the US a few times and always left the coutnry on time. We just got nervous to start on our own:)

Edited August 31, 2011 by memmy

[memmy 3]

Again, none of us knows what any other CAN do. We only know what WE can do, and sometimes don't even know that. Folk, please realize this. Do it yourself is NOT for EVERYBODY. It takes good language skills, attention to detail, confidence and diligent study to manage a visa process. Not everybody has those in sufficient measure. Others would simply rather spend their time doing other things and leave the study and details to others.

You are right, thanks for your advice. We will try to file on our own.

Great Job congratulations.

I used an attorney for a total of 2k (mistake). You can do it yourself and save the money. We filed our own AOS and are waiting. Good DIY here on VJ. You supply all the information, why not do the forms yourself.

As far as issues go, none of us has any. I lived in the US for 2 years before, and traveled there on a B2 once. Always left the US on time.

No lawyer for us. Got approved today!

Save your money and start reading the guides! Unless you have some issues like previous bans or criminal history, etc.,

Good luck!

Thanks a lot! We will! We have no criminal records or any other issues whatsoever.

You can do it, you will have to provide the information for the lawyer or immigrations specialist anyway, you might as well fill in the blanks and complete the forms yourself. As the others have mentioned, follow the Guides and ask questions.

Ok, we will ! Thanks a lot!

[memmy 3]

If you do decide to hire a lawyer, that is insanely expensive. My fiance and I used an attorney because we had not found this site yet. We only paid $950 and we're in a decent sized city. We'll be charged an additional $800 to file the AOS, AP and EAD if we decide to use him again.

Paperwork SHOULD NOT cost that much unless you have a lot of mitigating factors that the lawyer is anticipating having to deal with and is therefore jacking up the price. If that is the case, I would file without the lawyer and just pay him if you need his help later.

Having an attorney prepare the paperwork will not have an impact on speed of process.

Good luck!

Ok, thanks for letting us know the prices! The one we were given was an approximate price for the whole process. We have no issues whatsoever, I was to the States before, studies there, always left country on time and never violated visa rules. We will definitely try to file a petition on our own now!

[memmy 3]

Your petition is best done by the people that are most concerned with it being succesfull. Please look in the mirror and srart from there.

Thanks!

[baron555 934]

Again, none of us knows what any other CAN do. We only know what WE can do, and sometimes don't even know that. Folk, please realize this. Do it yourself is NOT for EVERYBODY. It takes good language skills, attention to detail, confidence and diligent study to manage a visa process. Not everybody has those in sufficient measure. Others would simply rather spend their time doing other things and leave the study and details to others.

I can agree with this.....but......the process is really very simple and if one needs someone else to hold their hand through the entire process (there's tons more than just the K-1), it will take either a lot more money ......or maybe these folks are just not cut out for this adn shouldn't be attempting it. I don't like the thought that someone will go through this process totally blind without knowledge of or regard to the requirements and the regulations. Just my thought.

[Liz&Nate 23]

It's ultimately your call. If you read very carefully and spend time collecting the right information and asking the proper questions you can absolutely do it on your own and save that money. On the other hand, it depends on the complexity of your case and in your ability and availability to spend time reading the guides and poring over the consulate reviews. In the end it's a fairly straightforward process and you certainly don't *need* to use a lawyer (my fiance and I did at first and it didn't work out well) if you feel you are up to doing the hard work. People here are wonderful and always willing to help.

[Leatherneck 693]

Respectfully, you know nothing of either the capabilities, priorities, time availability or inclinations of the OP. To the OP, don't let strangers tell you what you can do. There's more to obtaining a visa than filing a petition and there's more to filing a petition than filling in the blanks. I'm not saying you "CAN'T" do it yourself. I haven't a clue. I and many others did it OURselves but we are not you.

Respectfully, what was the purpose of your comment? Considering the nature of which was less than positive and uplifting.

Of course, "There's more to obtaining a visa than filing a petition and there's more to filing a petition than filing in the blanks." the information

relevant to a visa petition is far more important than who fills in the blanks.

I think the OP was served well by the more encouraging comments and hopefully the OP feels a bit more confident with the idea

of doing it herself/himself.

Dear All,

I have a question regarding the necessity to use the services of an immigration lawyer to file a K1 petition. My fiance and I were told that it can cost us up to 5,000-7,000$ to hire a lawyer. It sounds way too expensive for us. Is it possible for a regular person to file for a K1 visa petition without paying a lawyer for that? Some friends advise us to use an immigration specialist, while others say to do it on our own. What is the safest and easiest way? How much can a lawyer cost just to file the petition? If my fiance files everything on his own, will it take us more time to get the petition approved? Thanks in advance for your reply

Look at the very first question persented by the OP. The intent of my comment along with the comments from others was to show the OP that filing for the petition could be done and had indeed been done successsfully. The OP was looking for clarification if a "regular person" could file, (without paying a lawyer) because she got advice to use the services of a lawyer and advice to diy.

[Enigma11561 336]

Unless you have a situation outside the normal ( overstayed visa, criminal issues for examples) do it yourself as many of us did. It's not hard, more time consuming than anything else. Follow the guides, take your time, go over everything several times and you should not have any problems.Everything you need to know is here.

[Leatherneck 693]

You are right, thanks for your advice. We will try to file on our own.

As far as issues go, none of us has any. I lived in the US for 2 years before, and traveled there on a B2 once. Always left the US on time.

Thanks a lot! We will! We have no criminal records or any other issues whatsoever.

Ok, we will ! Thanks a lot!

You are very welcome.

Let me add this, at one point we were ALL CLULESS about the visa process. From the most senior and well versed members on this site to licensed lawyers specializing in immigration law, were at one time clueless, they too had to acquire the knowledge. No one gets pushed out of the womb knowing what a K-1 from a I-751, the visa process, or immigration law. Thank God (no offense to the non believers) for the internet, sites like VJ and the countless blogs about the visa process...you can now diy. The visa process was once the exclusive domain for well paid lawyers...no more. My comment is not to dismiss lawyers outright, there is a place for the lawyers in the matter of complicated cases or to help those that have no time nor inclination to do this.

Based on the fact you feel you have no issues to be concerned with, follow the guides closely, read the forms carefully, follow the instructions and when and if you are not sure, then ask. I will tell you this now, you will get people here that are lacking in tact with regards to their replies, they can be less than diplomatic...do not take it personal, it's just their style of communicationing. They offer good advice also. Then you have others that are always gracious, kind and polite in their delivery of informationm and advice.

You too can certainly do this...many have traveled this road before you.

[memmy 3]

You are very welcome.

Let me add this, at one point we were ALL CLULESS about the visa process. From the most senior and well versed members on this site to licensed lawyers specializing in immigration law, were at one time clueless, they too had to acquire the knowledge. No one gets pushed out of the womb knowing what a K-1 from a I-751, the visa process, or immigration law. Thank God (no offense to the non believers) for the internet, sites like VJ and the countless blogs about the visa process...you can now diy. The visa process was once the exclusive domain for well paid lawyers...no more. My comment is not to dismiss lawyers outright, there is a place for the lawyers in the matter of complicated cases or to help those that have no time nor inclination to do this.

Based on the fact you feel you have no issues to be concerned with, follow the guides closely, read the forms carefully, follow the instructions and when and if you are not sure, then ask. I will tell you this now, you will get people here that are lacking in tact with regards to their replies, they can be less than diplomatic...do not take it personal, it's just their style of communicationing. They offer good advice also. Then you have others that are always gracious, kind and polite in their delivery of informationm and advice.

You too can certainly do this...many have traveled this road before you.

Many thanks for your encouragement! I really appreciate it:)

Unless you have a situation outside the normal ( overstayed visa, criminal issues for examples) do it yourself as many of us did. It's not hard, more time consuming than anything else. Follow the guides, take your time, go over everything several times and you should not have any problems.Everything you need to know is here.

Thanks for your response!

Respectfully, what was the purpose of your comment? Considering the nature of which was less than positive and uplifting.

Of course, "There's more to obtaining a visa than filing a petition and there's more to filing a petition than filing in the blanks." the information

relevant to a visa petition is far more important than who fills in the blanks.

I think the OP was served well by the more encouraging comments and hopefully the OP feels a bit more confident with the idea

of doing it herself/himself.

Look at the very first question persented by the OP. The intent of my comment along with the comments from others was to show the OP that filing for the petition could be done and had indeed been done successsfully. The OP was looking for clarification if a "regular person" could file, (without paying a lawyer) because she got advice to use the services of a lawyer and advice to diy.

Thanks for the clarification! I got worried a bit at first:)

[Leatherneck 693]

Guilty '88-'98, 2nd MAW

'81-'87

My last command was 3rd BN 12th MAR Okinawa

Semper Fi!

[DeeDee&Sam 68]

do it on your own....the "specialists" only slow you down and take your money. we got approved in 3 months and a half at the most horrible place ever that people call VSC. soooooooo, yeah...

[Channah&Aaron 51]

DO NOT hire a lawyer if you don't have a complicated case. It can be such a waste of money and a part of that money you can use for Interview Fee, Medical and AOS (still cheaper )

Majority of the members here, including me, have done it ourselves.

On this website (guides) it tells you exactly what you need to do in order to file a petition. It's really clear and it has links where you can download the forms.

Please read the guides/forum to get answers to your questions or just simply ask your fellow VJ members.

Good luck!

Edited August 31, 2011 by Channah&Aaron