lawyer vs no lawyer

[Gosia & Tito 199]

"Visa assistance firms" - ie scammers - are not a good choice. No license and no recourse for the "client" if things go belly up.

There is little -if any- recourse if the belly up was caused by an attorney. They are well covered.

[Kajikit 65]

Just follow the guide right here and you can save yourself the legal fee - they'll just be filling out your paperwork for you, unless there's something very special and complicated about your history... good luck!

[Mark + Melissa 49]

My fiance is wanting to hire a lawyer to assist in the visa process. I was wondering what everyone's opinion was? Is it worth it?

Thank you

While I do think it depends on your experiences, I would vote for lawyer. We're on round 2... kinda feel like we should have used the lawyer the first time. Ours is very reasonable, and will take us through the consulate interview. She really knows her stuff. He would have been here, and approved already if we had spent the extra money for the lawyer. Despite our best intentions and efforts, it didn't happen. It wasn't particularly tricky, but hindsight shows that there were things we could have done differently to ensure no misunderstanding regarding the multiple divorce decrees between the two of us. And really, with something this important, its worth the extra $800.

Edited February 6, 2012 by mseifman

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

There is little -if any- recourse if the belly up was caused by an attorney. They are well covered.

That's right, they are well covered - by their malpractice insurance which will pay out a claim if there is negligence on the part of the lawyer.

With "visa assistance firms" - not so much.

[Boiler 45,939]

Malpractice Insurance is to cover them, not the client.

I always explained to it as a large legal defence coverage.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Malpractice Insurance is to cover them, not the client.

I always explained to it as a large legal defence coverage.

Just like any insurance, malpractice insurance covers the cost of defending a claim, and pays any judgment in favor of the claimant, up to the limits of the policy.