Should i get a lawyer?!

[Clarkey85 0]

I am a UK citizen working in the US on an H-1B Visa. I am marring aUS citizen in May 2012. I will be applying for adjustment of status visa.

Do you recommend i use a lawyer to prepare my case for me? If not, then should i have one check over all of the forms once i have filed them out?

My H-1B expires in October 2012 so i will need the authorization to work and travel before this expires. I don't want to make mistakes and keep having to re-apply seeing as time is of the essence!

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Here is the VJ guide. http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide2

Getting a lawyer is your choice, largely dependent on whether or not you can follow instructions. This is a DIY website, so most people here did not use a lawyer. A lawyer does not make things faster, in fact, it usually makes it slower.

If you make a mistake, then they will send a Request for Evidence.

Edited April 2, 2012 by Harpa Timsah

[fabulous02 1]

I am a UK citizen working in the US on an H-1B Visa. I am marring aUS citizen in May 2012. I will be applying for adjustment of status visa.

Do you recommend i use a lawyer to prepare my case for me? If not, then should i have one check over all of the forms once i have filed them out?

My H-1B expires in October 2012 so i will need the authorization to work and travel before this expires. I don't want to make mistakes and keep having to re-apply seeing as time is of the essence!

I had a similar case. I came to the US on an H1B visa and married my husband who is a US citizen. I applied for our AOS soon after we got married and I did it myself. You just need to follow the instructions on this site and go through the guides. I personally don't think you need a lawyer and can do it yourself, unless your case is very complicated. You can always post questions when you are stuck. Maybe you should start by going through the guides, see what forms and evidence need to be submitted and then decide if you can do it yourself.

You can look at my timeline to see when I received the EAD, but I submitted my AOS on the 1st of March and I received the EAD on the 27th of May. So if you submit your AOS soon after you get married in May, you should ideally receive the EAD before October when your H1B expires.

Good luck!!

[pasportit 7]

Your case sounds easy enough. You can start filling the paperwork, before wedding, and see if you feel like you might need a lawyer.

Best luck! This forum is very helpful, if you need help with a form and so on.

[ceadsearc 516]

If you feel you need a lawyer, get one. However, unless you find yourself having difficulty understanding the forms or if there is some major red flag you haven't mentioned, you probably don't need one. Your case sounds pretty straight forward and there is a good chance it will be done by October anyway if you file next month. H1-B is a dual intent visa so you can continue to work and travel using it while your AOS is pending, but applying for the EAD and AP is a good idea anyway (and will almost definitely be approved prior to October if you file in May) just in case your AOS is not completed by the time your H1-B expires.

Edited April 2, 2012 by ceadsearc

[Clarkey85 0]

If you feel you need a lawyer, get one. However, unless you find yourself having difficulty understanding the forms or if there is some major red flag you haven't mentioned, you probably don't need one. Your case sounds pretty straight forward and there is a good chance it will be done by October anyway if you file next month. H1-B is a dual intent visa so you can continue to work and travel using it while your AOS is pending, but applying for the EAD and AP is a good idea anyway (and will almost definitely be approved prior to October if you file in May) just in case your AOS is not completed by the time your H1-B expires.

Thanks for all of the help. I'll tackle it myself to start with. It seems like I will get a lot of help from people on this forum.

[aosapplicant 3]

I am a UK citizen working in the US on an H-1B Visa. I am marring aUS citizen in May 2012. I will be applying for adjustment of status visa.

Do you recommend i use a lawyer to prepare my case for me? If not, then should i have one check over all of the forms once i have filed them out?

My H-1B expires in October 2012 so i will need the authorization to work and travel before this expires. I don't want to make mistakes and keep having to re-apply seeing as time is of the essence!

Sorry, I can't answer your question. If I do my posts will be deleted and I would be temporarily or even permanently barred.

Your best bet is to make your own decision based on your own discretion. Good luck.

[Ryan H 3,815]

I will be applying for adjustment of status visa.

Adjustment of status is not a visa, you are applying to adjust your status from non-resident worker to US Permanent Resident.

[Myopia 93]

I think my case was a lil complicated and I didnt use a lawyer. In restrospect, I wish I had consulted with one just for peace of mind but they all kinda said the same thing, just follow the instructions and directives and you should be ok.So I would imagine if you are a clear case from one state to another...it makes sense just using VJ as a guide.

[mg23 1]

I am a UK citizen working in the US on an H-1B Visa. I am marring aUS citizen in May 2012. I will be applying for adjustment of status visa.

Do you recommend i use a lawyer to prepare my case for me? If not, then should i have one check over all of the forms once i have filed them out?

My H-1B expires in October 2012 so i will need the authorization to work and travel before this expires. I don't want to make mistakes and keep having to re-apply seeing as time is of the essence!

I'm in the same boat as you but a few months ahead - I'm British on H-1B and married my American girlfriend in March. If I were you I'd just do it all yourselves. Once you do your research you'll realise it's not as daunting a process as it's made out to be. There's a few ambiguously worded questions on some of the forms but apart from that it's not too complicated. You have a month to read the guides thoroughly, pencil your answers out, check and re-check them, and ask on here if there's anything you're unsure about.

If you do use a lawyer at some point remember that in this country you often get what you pay for in terms of professional competency. My company hired the cheapest lawyer possible to do my H-1B and he almost completely ballsed it up. So get a good recommendation from someone local, or someone on here.

[shranjan84 5]

I had a similar case. I came to the US on an H1B visa and married my husband who is a US citizen. I applied for our AOS soon after we got married and I did it myself. You just need to follow the instructions on this site and go through the guides. I personally don't think you need a lawyer and can do it yourself, unless your case is very complicated. You can always post questions when you are stuck. Maybe you should start by going through the guides, see what forms and evidence need to be submitted and then decide if you can do it yourself.

You can look at my timeline to see when I received the EAD, but I submitted my AOS on the 1st of March and I received the EAD on the 27th of May. So if you submit your AOS soon after you get married in May, you should ideally receive the EAD before October when your H1B expires.

Good luck!!

Hi,

did u guys get married in india? or did it here in US. I am on F1 and currently my company planning to initiate my H1 ,meanwhile my GF also got USC . we planning to get married in December in india. I do not know if I should go for GC or H1b. What did advise me to show my relation a bonafide relation as she is not living with me right now.

thanks

Shashi

[fabulous02 1]

Hi,

did u guys get married in india? or did it here in US. I am on F1 and currently my company planning to initiate my H1 ,meanwhile my GF also got USC . we planning to get married in December in india. I do not know if I should go for GC or H1b. What did advise me to show my relation a bonafide relation as she is not living with me right now.

thanks

Shashi

We got married in US first and applied for AOS. Then we had a traditional indian wedding in India after I received my GC. If you are already in US, you should probably get married here and apply for AOS. If you are in India then get your H1B visa, come here and then you can get married. It takes about 6 months to get your GC once you apply for AOS.