Immigration attorney or marriage agency?

[baron555 934]

I honestly don't care about saving money, I just want it done right. Do you guys still think I should do it myself?

If you have a legitimate relationship and have all those proofs, then you can do it yourself. No one, no lawyer, no agency can or has any affect on what the Embassy will do. Moscow is a relatively easy Embassy.

How many times have you two seen each other?

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

Again thank you all. I just spoke with a man named Fred Wahl from HeartOfAsiaOnline.com and FianceeVisaServices.com and he made a compelling sales pitch to me. He told me that the you have to present a convincing case to the consulate and prove you have a "bone fide" relationship. He said he puts all the documents together in a convincing manner to the consulate. He says that you needs photos and things such as letters, emails, online messages to each other and he will pick and choose what to use. Here is his youtube video, it seems pretty convincing to me.

I honestly don't care about saving money, I just want it done right. Do you guys still think I should do it myself?

Don't think about saving money, look at it this way. It's your future, why not understand the process completely. It really isn't complex, just requires a little precision.

Unless you're from a High Fraud country there is not much to proving your "Bone Fide" relationship. Vietnam is by far one of the most difficult consulates (would actually require most if not all of what he claims) and yet so many here are able to do it just fine.

Russia is not even in the same neighborhood of difficulty.

I found that by doing the paperwork ourselves, my wife and I are a lot more confident in her immigrant status.

Of course the guys is going to have a convincing sales pitch, he just wants your money and doesn't care if your fiance is actually issued a Visa.

[dwheels76 5,468]

Hmm I didn't know that, that's interesting. What about an agency that specializes in marriage visa. I would assume they would be fast and reliable?

It seems you are thinking that an attorney or anyone else expedites tour Petition request. That is so not true. You have to wait in line like everyone else no matter who files for you. Pray for God's grace and a bit of luck and maybe maybe you may get through faster. But really its a lengthy wait. Lawyer or not. And whats a marriage counselor going to do for engaged folk? Just wondering.

[keysjangle 145]

You can do this on your own. Like everyone else has said, be diligent and organized. I'm 22 and a beneficiary and I did 99% of the work because I don't trust my husband to do it with the same amount of attention to detail/####### retention as myself.

If you're thinking of paying someone to do it, you might as well start burning your cash. They want to make money off of you, full stop. His websites look like they were made in 1998. If he can't put work into his website, what says he'll work on your documents with any ounce of care?

Edited April 3, 2012 by Gervl

[Caryh 5,206]

OMG we didn't use an attorney or a visa service! I guess I need to tell my wife to return to her country and we'll start again

Seriously its not that hard and third parties doing the work for you have been known to cause problems and slow the process. Actually you'll do the leg work, they'll just translate your work into a package. There's also the follow up AOS, EAD and AP, followed by ROC, and then maybe even Citizenship. Its much better to get familiar with the process and do it yourself. At least you'll know about the follow up steps you need to go through instead of assuming its all done. Primarily its a lot of waiting and having someone do the work for you just leaves you in the dark with even more waiting. BTW waiting generally equates to worrying. But if it gives you peace of mind, and you have the cash, and someone you feel you can trust, then go ahead and use them.

[Tanya and Barry 59]

reliable for what?

Cashing his check...

[LeftCoastLady 441]

Cashing his check...

But seriously, FromCali, if you want to use a service, fine. However, as you've seen in this thread alone, there are plenty of us who have sat down with our loved one to start the petition/visa journey on our own with the support of others on VisaJourney.

I still believe you should read the guides to ensure you know what's involved and also do a lot of research on the various services to ensure you know what they cover/don't cover. Putting together a sales pitch is remarkably easy, but can they actually do what they're promising?

[Darnell 8,478]

back to the OP

Just remember, Visa Journey dot Com is a DIY web portal for Immigration into the USA.

We have loads of resources (Guides, wiki, example forms)

and a community forum (like the one you've posted in)

where folk in your shoes albeit already walked the path,

are happy to help...

IMO, the defining thing for you, should be -

--can you read at 11th grade reading level?

--can you follow instructions that were written at the 11th grade reading level?

if you can answer YES to both questions, then I invite you to come back to vj, albeit from a pc with a real web browser (handphones suck) and start learning.

[masipag 6]

Op,

My husband used the visa assistance name OLVIS.COM they are amazing our case is a lil bit complicated but they handle it well.mine was approve infact I'm already here in the us & living with my husband.they are really helpful & they will help you from start to finish.they have office in phils and at las vegas as well.give them a call and ask them want u want to know..

Masipag.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Time once again for this public service announcement from USCIS regarding "visa assistance firms".

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.e8b24a3cec33ca34c48bfc10526e0aa0/?vgnextoid=b9563ab7b8f3b210VgnVCM10000025e6a00aRCRD&vgnextchannel=b9563ab7b8f3b210VgnVCM10000025e6a00aRCRD

Avoid Scams

Are you getting the right immigration help?

Many people offer help with immigration services. Unfortunately, not all are authorized to do so. While many of these unauthorized practitioners mean well, all too many of them are out to rip you off. This is against the law and may be considered an immigration service scam.

If you need help filing an application or petition with USCIS, be sure to seek assistance from the right place, and from people that are authorized to help. Going to the wrong place can:

Delay your application or petition

Cost you unncessary fees

Possibly lead to removal proceedings

[TBoneTX 45,304]

public service announcement from USCIS regarding "visa assistance firms"

Straight from the place with the Misinformation Line that has arguably screwed up more cases and screwed over more people than all assistance firms combined...

[Ryan H 3,812]

Do you guys still think I should do it myself?

That's a decision only you can make.

[Xanax 349]

Sounds like you really want to use an agency so use an agency, but... remember they probably wont do any better than you could, they will charge you and they could possibly slow down your petition. You do not need an attorney or service to do this, it is DIY.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Straight from the place with the Misinformation Line that has arguably screwed up more cases and screwed over more people than all assistance firms combined...

Ah, but that does not negate the fact that they are The Man with The Gold, who ultimately apply the law.

And the law is what their message is about.