Being contacted about the visa process

[dodgyJim73 6]

We used an immigration lawyer in the USA to help compile documents and forms and submit our application. I would have preferred to have done it myself but It helped my fiance to get everything organised.

Unfortunately, this lawyer is a bit useless in terms of keeping us updated.

We had our case number assigned to us from NVC sometime over the last few days as we called this morning and the gave us our number and the status is "In Transit". So it's on it's way to Sydney. Yay!

How is everyone else getting their updates? I'm seeing people receiving text messages or e-mails with status updates. Was this information that you gave when you originally completed the I-129F or was there another form? We've had absolutely zero contact from anybody about anything, all we received was our NOA2 in the post. I'm beginning to wonder if the immigration lawyer added herself as a contact instead of us?

I'm calling the embassy in Sydney and making sure they have my contact details so I at least start getting updates!!

Our NOA2 was August 30 and we've since been assigned our case number. If you are before or around our date then call the Department of State on 202 485 7600 and start chasing your case number. My fiance said they answer the phone straight away and are really friendly.

Cheers

[Loving_girl 38]

We used an immigration lawyer in the USA to help compile documents and forms and submit our application. I would have preferred to have done it myself but It helped my fiance to get everything organised.

Unfortunately, this lawyer is a bit useless in terms of keeping us updated.

We had our case number assigned to us from NVC sometime over the last few days as we called this morning and the gave us our number and the status is "In Transit". So it's on it's way to Sydney. Yay!

How is everyone else getting their updates? I'm seeing people receiving text messages or e-mails with status updates. Was this information that you gave when you originally completed the I-129F or was there another form? We've had absolutely zero contact from anybody about anything, all we received was our NOA2 in the post. I'm beginning to wonder if the immigration lawyer added herself as a contact instead of us?

I'm calling the embassy in Sydney and making sure they have my contact details so I at least start getting updates!!

Our NOA2 was August 30 and we've since been assigned our case number. If you are before or around our date then call the Department of State on 202 485 7600 and start chasing your case number. My fiance said they answer the phone straight away and are really friendly.

Cheers

Hello,

Just wondering if you happen to know the price of such legal assistance? Because a lot of people state that lawyer is not that much needed unless the case is very particular with issues that may make application process difficult....

Thanks in advance

[DebWa 26]

Go to uscis.gov and you can check your case status. You can also sign up to receive updates if you make an account which is basically just putting your info in so that you can sign in.

[slowlyman 118]

If you submit an G-1145 with your application, you will get an email and text when your paperwork is received. Most likely your attorney did not attach that form or they entered their contact info not yours.

The whole idea of using an attorney is to take you out of the process. Some attorneys are good with follow up, some are not. If you trusted this individual enough to put your cased in their hands, then you can only sit back and hope they do the job you paid them for.

As mentioned previously you can track your application to an extent, but the USCIS site is rarely accurate, We had our approved 129 in hand and USCIS still said it was in the initial phase.

[slowlyman 118]

Hello,

Just wondering if you happen to know the price of such legal assistance? Because a lot of people state that lawyer is not that much needed unless the case is very particular with issues that may make application process difficult....

Thanks in advance

A friend of ours just spent $3,000 for an attorney on a K-1 application. Keep in mind that was just the attorney fee. They still had to pay all fees associated with the process,

[slowlyman 118]

We used an immigration lawyer in the USA to help compile documents and forms and submit our application. I would have preferred to have done it myself but It helped my fiance to get everything organised.

Unfortunately, this lawyer is a bit useless in terms of keeping us updated.

We had our case number assigned to us from NVC sometime over the last few days as we called this morning and the gave us our number and the status is "In Transit". So it's on it's way to Sydney. Yay!

How is everyone else getting their updates? I'm seeing people receiving text messages or e-mails with status updates. Was this information that you gave when you originally completed the I-129F or was there another form? We've had absolutely zero contact from anybody about anything, all we received was our NOA2 in the post. I'm beginning to wonder if the immigration lawyer added herself as a contact instead of us?

I'm calling the embassy in Sydney and making sure they have my contact details so I at least start getting updates!!

Our NOA2 was August 30 and we've since been assigned our case number. If you are before or around our date then call the Department of State on 202 485 7600 and start chasing your case number. My fiance said they answer the phone straight away and are really friendly.

Cheers

Not sure about Sydney, but in Bangkok, they will not send out notifications. If you ask "has my application arrived" they will tell you yes or no, but they will not send you a message saying they received it. Pretty much it is up to you to chase the application.

[dodgyJim73 6]

Hello,

Just wondering if you happen to know the price of such legal assistance? Because a lot of people state that lawyer is not that much needed unless the case is very particular with issues that may make application process difficult....

Thanks in advance

The legal fees, which takes us right up to the K1 visa being issued and me entering the USA is USD $1000, this DOES NOT include visa fees, medical, police checks etc. I think the cost of legal fees for the second part was USD $1500, which takes me up to the issuance of my green card. Trust me when I say that we will be doing the second part ourselves.

There's enough material and support on here that you can get by doing it yourself.

Go to uscis.gov and you can check your case status. You can also sign up to receive updates if you make an account which is basically just putting your info in so that you can sign in.

Thanks! Would I still need to do this once it's gone from NVC to the embassy? Once I'm issued my K-1 am I right to assume that this is no longer valid or does it stay active right through until I'm issued the green card?

If you submit an G-1145 with your application, you will get an email and text when your paperwork is received. Most likely your attorney did not attach that form or they entered their contact info not yours.

The whole idea of using an attorney is to take you out of the process. Some attorneys are good with follow up, some are not. If you trusted this individual enough to put your cased in their hands, then you can only sit back and hope they do the job you paid them for.

As mentioned previously you can track your application to an extent, but the USCIS site is rarely accurate, We had our approved 129 in hand and USCIS still said it was in the initial phase.

I understand the 'taking us out of the process' part but I specifically asked her to keep us updated the whole time. She also confirmed that she has all the 'backdoor' contacts that normal users who apply without legal assistance don't have so get can get status updates before other people etc. Case in point...I have our case number and we still haven't heard from her. She never sent us a checklist of things to do in the meantime etc. If it wasn't for this site, my own organisation and a fair amount of OCD, I would still be sitting here not having completed anything. Instead I have everything ready as soon a packet 3 hits my inbox!

There's been other instances but I'm not going to turn this thread into an attorney bash, and I certainly won't name the firm, I guess she's just really bad at follow up...and organisation...and customer service

Edited October 24, 2013 by dodgyJim73

[slowlyman 118]

Thanks! Would I still need to do this once it's gone from NVC to the embassy? Once I'm issued my K-1 am I right to assume that this is no longer valid or does it stay active right through until I'm issued the green card?

USCIS is out of the picture as soon as they approve the 129. Nothing more will be updated from that point.

[slowlyman 118]

I understand the 'taking us out of the process' part but I specifically asked her to keep us updated the whole time. She also confirmed that she has all the 'backdoor' contacts that normal users who apply without legal assistance don't have so get can get status updates before other people etc. Case in point...I have our case number and we still haven't heard from her. She never sent us a checklist of things to do in the meantime etc. If it wasn't for this site, my own organisation and a fair amount of OCD, I would still be sitting here not having completed anything. Instead I have everything ready as soon a packet 3 hits my inbox!

There's been other instances but I'm not going to turn this thread into an attorney bash, and I certainly won't name the firm, I guess she's just really bad at follow up...and organisation...and customer service

Unfortunately, that is a pretty common story. There are a few folks on this site who actually help people through the process on a regular basis. They will tell you there is no short cut. No moving to the head of the line. You just need to let the process run it's course. But if the attorney told you that, you wouldn't be as willing to hand over that retainer fee.

In the end, you are paying someone to fill out the forms for you.

[Loving_girl 38]

A friend of ours just spent $3,000 for an attorney on a K-1 application. Keep in mind that was just the attorney fee. They still had to pay all fees associated with the process,

Lord......isn't this a bit tooo much for typing info into application forms?!!! we were also thinking of the contacting an attorney and after reading all instructions on USCIS web and over here, decided to do it ourselves.......i guess we made a right choice, cos this price is rediculous for people with no issues or waivers for K-1....maybe an attorney is worth to be involved if the couple had some law troubles, multi-marriages, breaking laws in other countries etc..

The legal fees, which takes us right up to the K1 visa being issued and me entering the USA is USD $1000, this DOES NOT include visa fees, medical, police checks etc. I think the cost of legal fees for the second part was USD $1500, which takes me up to the issuance of my green card. Trust me when I say that we will be doing the second part ourselves.

There's enough material and support on here that you can get by doing it yourself.

thanks for explaining!

[kitthekat 1,317]

Just to add, if you have your case number from NVC, you can key it in here (select Immigrant Visa) to see your case status. Typically it will say "At NVC", then "In transit" while it's being DHL-ed to the consulate, then "Ready" once they receive the actual file. You can also track your case status throughout the interview process.

[dodgyJim73 6]

Just to add, if you have your case number from NVC, you can key it in here (select Immigrant Visa) to see your case status. Typically it will say "At NVC", then "In transit" while it's being DHL-ed to the consulate, then "Ready" once they receive the actual file. You can also track your case status throughout the interview process.

I've checked it 4 times today...just a little bit excited

[kitthekat 1,317]

I've checked it 4 times today...just a little bit excited

Haha I'm waiting for mine to arrive in Singapore so I know just how you feel! DHL says my file is at the Hong Kong processing base now...fingers crossed it arrives in a day or so.

[rjbntsk 5]

Haha I'm waiting for mine to arrive in Singapore so I know just how you feel! DHL says my file is at the Hong Kong processing base now...fingers crossed it arrives in a day or so.

We seem to be on the exact same dates for NVC receiving and sending out our packets! DHL says ours landed in Sydney and was released by Customs today, so we are hoping it gets delivered Friday or Monday. Then it's on to the medical exam on the 30th and hoping to send Packet 3 in by 8 November!

I hope things go quickly for you too - are you all ready with your Packet 3 paperwork?

[dodgyJim73 6]

Haha I'm waiting for mine to arrive in Singapore so I know just how you feel! DHL says my file is at the Hong Kong processing base now...fingers crossed it arrives in a day or so.

Did you get an e-mail with a DHL tracking ID? Damn this immigration attorney we used...we've been completely kept in the dark!