K-1 process with an attorney or not?

[VladS500 11]

Hello everyone my name is Vladislav just joined the site and saw a lot of helpful people on here. I just graduated police academy and decided to bring my girlfriend here to get married. I was able to go see her actually this July because her b-1 visa got denied and now we want to take the next step. My question is is it better to do it with attorney or not? My family has lots of friends that married on a K-1 from Russia and Ukraine but most of them told me not to use an attorney and just do it yourself. When they got their visa's it was in 1999 or 2001 so i know times changed and processing times are longer now. I just want some base knowledge and experience from people on here should i spend extra 1700 for my attorney or just file myself and for her?

[canadian_wife 1,822]

Unless your case is unusually complicated, this is a DIY site, not many people will recommend a lawyer

good luck

[Ryan H 3,812]

Look through the instructions for the required forms as well as the guides on this site. Then determine for yourself if you are comfortable filling out those required forms. If you are comfortable with filling out the forms and there are no issues in either of your backgrounds that could cause complications down the line, then most people here would recommend doing it yourself. On the flip side, if you are not comfortable filing out forms or there are issues that could complicate a case, then legal or professional assistance may be for you.

The decision is ultimately yours.

[VladS500 11]

Thank you very much will do!

[Warren and Vivian 10]

There have been people who have used a lawyer who were unhappy becuase the lawyer didn't send in the right forms, said some forms were not needed but were, etc.

The guides tell you specifically what forms to fill out and send it. There are even example forms on this site that show you how to fill them out. Look them over and see if you can do it.

If you think you can follow the examples, put the package together and send in what is needed. I would suggest you skip the lawyer and do it yourself. You'll use that money for the application and the AOS fee.

[Jay-to-the-ling 0]

I am using a lawyer, even though I'm sure I am capable of doing it myself. My lawyer has been extremely helpful and is charging a reasonable price. If your gonna use a lawyer I would shop around and yelp them or something. If your on some type of time limit for getting a fiance visa meaning like you would want to get it asap, recommend using a lawyer to avoid any chance of filing your application wrong or any set backs etc. Plus, the lawyers will have a better chance of understanding the terminology as well as understanding how to deal with changes any time the government decides to change any process of how applications are filed etc. For example, my lawyer just in formed me that the gov. on sept. 2 or 3rd changed the matter in which they are accepting forms concerning the paper work that is needed for my fiance to get his interview for his fiance visa, since we already received our no2. She told us that she needs to wrap in brain around the new changes before sending in our new paperwork so the fact that my lawyer needs to wrap her brain around the new changes, indicates that I made a wise decision to hire a lawyer to deal with these unexpected changes. However, there are obviously many people on this site who have filed themselves and received their visa successfully, I just didn't want to take a chance.

Best of luck with your decision and I hope everything goes smoothly!

[BeanCamp 28]

If your case is complex then use a lawyer. Otherwise, you landed in the right place. You can do it yourself and save the $$$ for when you really need it. Going the K1 route is expensive so save where you can.

[clairegie 265]

If you are not confident enough that you can explain facts about her previous visa denial, then go ahead with the lawyer. However, other people who got denied B1/B2 visas still got approved via K1 visa route. It all boils down to how well you present your petition.

Edited September 9, 2013 by iammrsregi

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Hello everyone my name is Vladislav just joined the site and saw a lot of helpful people on here. I just graduated police academy and decided to bring my girlfriend here to get married. I was able to go see her actually this July because her b-1 visa got denied and now we want to take the next step. My question is is it better to do it with attorney or not? My family has lots of friends that married on a K-1 from Russia and Ukraine but most of them told me not to use an attorney and just do it yourself. When they got their visa's it was in 1999 or 2001 so i know times changed and processing times are longer now. I just want some base knowledge and experience from people on here should i spend extra 1700 for my attorney or just file myself and for her?

Do it yourself.

It is not difficult. This is a 4 year process and you need to know what you are doing. The visa is the easy part. The visa process is less complicated (WAY less complicated) than a college application. It is about equal to a job application at Home Depot, takes about as long too.

There is nothing an attorney CAN do except fill in some forms for you with information you give him. Read instructions, read the guides, ask questions.

It is BETTER to do yourself, even if you make a mistake and get an RFE, than to not learn the process. Having an immigrant for a wife will pose many issues for you, not just the visa and you cannot run to an attorney for everything during the next 4 years.

This is NOT a legal case, there are no court appearances, motions, pleadings or anything of the sort. Just fill in forms with personal information and mail them.

You can get an answer here at this site in just a few minutes, FREE and 24/7/365

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

If you are not confident enough that you can explain facts about her previous visa denial, then go ahead with the lawyer. However, other people who got denied B1/B2 visas still got approved via K1 visa route. It all boils down to how well you present your petition.

B1 denials have nothing whatever to do with K-1s. Unless her denial was for some reason such as she is a criminal or something (which would also disqualify her for a K-1) she will likely not be asked. The OP (petitioner) does not have to explain any visa denials. The only person that may have to explain that is his fiancee at the interview, but it is very unliely they would ask since they are the same ones that denied it and they KNOW why it was denied. From Ukraine, it was likely not being able to show sufficient ties to the home country. Not an issue.

A lawyer could not possibly help with this. The lawyer will no tbe with her at the interview in Kiev.

After this very easy visa process, you have the AOS and later RoC and Citizenship forms to fill out. Those are more complicated. Will you use an attorney for that also? What abot getting her a drivers license? SSN? Enrolled in school? Student loans? Establish credit? None of those are immigration related and all are more complex than the visa...and the lawyer only wants your money to fill out forms. $1700 to fill out 3 forms with information YOU provide to his $12/hr. clerk? Seriously?

Do it yourself. You need to be fully aware of this process. Fortunately you found VJ.

[EdwigeH 0]

You don't need an attorney.

Follow the steps, read everything carefully and you'll make it by your own ;-)