confused......please help

[ndu26 114]

Using an attorney or not using an attorney is a personal preference. There is no reason to argue about it.

I did not use any "expert" help and I think my timeline has been pretty remarkable, thanks to God. OP you mentioned that you are a perfectionist, so that may hlep you if you pay attention to details. Like it has been said in previous posts, paying someone to do it does NOT guarantee speed or accuracy( there are more than enough stories here to convince one about that). if the process was fast then it was just one of those who had a straight forward case.

You already said the K-1 is NOT an option for you which I take to mean both of you must get married before you start any immigration process. if the three months you mentioned is about your stay in the philippines, I think that is more than enough to organize your wedding and all other paperwork that will be needed after that for the rpocess ( get dates , certificates, memories of you two, etc right while there) and you are good to go. Once you file, the length of time depends on what is going with immigration at the time your application got to tthem( and NOT through whom you filed) such as :

what serivce center your file is taken to( mostly depends on your state/region of residence),

how many applications at the time .

on whose desk your file lands(slow or quick hand)

any missing/improper documents that could trigger an RFE( slows down the process by few days to months) both at USCIS and NVC statge.

This could take from 4mothns - one year or slightly over ...and you will needing a lot of patience for the latter.

if you are a USC then the IR- 1 seems to be your route to take cos the K3- is a categoyr is "extinct'