do i need a lawyer?

[epoy2 0]

getting ready to file my k3 for my spouse.

should i get a lawyer ?

is it easier if i get a lawyer?

thanks

[sarah and hicham 3]

If your case isn't too complicated and you are willing to put in some time to gather documents and fill things out then you can do it by yourself. I would reccomend it.

Good luck!

ps. I did the I-129 myself and had no problems. I prefer to do that stuff rather than leave it in the hands of someone I don't really know.

[lucyrich 20]

We don't know anything about how complex your case is, nor do we know anything about your ability to attend to the details of filing the case properly. So we don't know whether you need a lawyer or not.

My take on it is, if you have to ask, then you're probably best off at least making an appointment with an attorney or two to discuss the facts of your case, and what to expect during the process. Immigration attorneys will usually do a half-hour or one hour consulation for a fixed fee, relatively inexpensive.

But many, many people here handle their cases themselves. If you're organized, if you can really read and follow instructions, if you write clearly, if you pay attention to details, and if your case is not complex, then you can probably handle your own case. You may in fact be able to do it better than a typical attorney, because you probably care about it more than any attorney cares about your individual case. Read the guides and think about how well you think you can handle it.

Most of the time during the process, your case is sitting on a shelf, waiting, while the government bureacrats are looking at cases that were filed before yours was filed. A lawyer won't speed up this time waiting in line one bit. A lawyer might increase your chances of having things approved right away when your case does finally reach an adjudicator's desk. But thorough preparation on your part can probably do much the same thing.

A bad lawyer can screw up your case pretty badly, and you'll periodically hear horror stories around here about this kind of thing. Then again, we also commonly hear horror stories about people making stupid "beginner's mistakes" when handling their own cases, which end up costing them a fair bit of time.

[kim&james 0]

Unless your case has something a bit out of the ordinary, past convictions medical problems or anything a bit wierd then yes get a lawyer. If your case is straight forward then no you dont need one... Just follow the steps outlined in the FAQ here and ask any questions when you get to a stumbling block.

for timelines on how the process goes, use the immigration timelines and what people have written in their signatures...

Everyone here is very very helpful and informative. I used a lawyer for my K3 but I started that before I found this board, otherwise I would of done ours myself, I found the whole process daunting basically they just filed all the paperwork and double checked it for us. I found more answers here than from my lawyer just by reading what other people where going through..

Best wishes on a speedy journey.

[erporsche 0]

Reading and following the guides on this Board provide helpful information, my take is to not secure legal counsel. Any questions you may have can be answered by those who are going through the same process in the same embassy.

Use the guides, use the correct forms and learns from others on this Board

Best of luck!

[payxibka 10,047]

I found more answers here than from my lawyer just by reading what other people where going through..

Where do you think lawyers go for answers? VJ!

[kim&james 0]

I found more answers here than from my lawyer just by reading what other people where going through..

Where do you think lawyers go for answers? VJ!

LOL... it should be compulsory for lawyers to give out this site address!!!!

[wasabisnack 0]

I found more answers here than from my lawyer just by reading what other people where going through..

Where do you think lawyers go for answers? VJ!

LOL... it should be compulsory for lawyers to give out this site address!!!!

Actually - funny thing - we saw an immigration lawyer at the start of the process. She gave us a fair amount of wrong advice (k3 doesn't require any affidavit, we should send proof of relationship with our 129F, etc...) and gave us a reference that was actually from VisaJourney.com. That's how we found this site!

We did not stick with her, needless to say. VJ is great help, but as others have stated, if your case is more complex than a lawyer who knows their stuff can be helpful.

Good luck with your journey.

[Turboguy 6]

If you don't have complications you are far better off doing it yourself. A lawyer will increase your chances of an RFE and slow the process down. It also keeps you more in the dark.

With a lawyer instead of sending the paperwork in you send stuff to him. Then he has some questions. When he gets to it he sends it back for signatures, they you send it to him. When he gets around to it, he sends it in. He does many so he is not as careful. Any contact will be with him so you don't know what is going on.

When I start my K-1 in a month it will be my second. I had a friend who's lawyer mailed his K-1 to Vermont the same day I sent my first one and I gained a month on him though the process.

[bradyvicky 0]

getting ready to file my k3 for my spouse.

should i get a lawyer ?

is it easier if i get a lawyer?

thanks

Simple.... NOOOO!

[aussiewench 9]

getting ready to file my k3 for my spouse.

should i get a lawyer ?

is it easier if i get a lawyer?

thanks

Simple.... NOOOO!

Not good advice especially when none of the OP's circumstances are known. I for one wouldn't like to take responsibility for telling someone an emphatic 'no' when they may indeed have circumstances that a lawyer can assist them with through the entire process in order to strengthen chances of a visa being issued.

To the OP

Whether you decide to use a lawyer or not, is totally up to you and your circumstances. At least a consult with a competent immigration lawyer, would not go astray. Regardless, you should still research the visa and immigration process, as it will assist you in understanding what's what, and any pitfalls that you may face depending on your circumstances.

Yes VJ is a wealth of information and experiences, but not everything applies to every case. Yes, the process can easily be done by ones self, but it doesn't guarantee smooth sailing either.

Edited November 5, 2006 by aussiewench