Do It Ourselves or Get Help, Given the Circumstances?

[Temos 0]

Hi everyone,

My fiancé and I really need help and guidance in our journey for the K-1 visa. He is back in the states and I’m here in the Philippines. He’s really tied up with work that he doesn’t get enough sleep with one day off only. He is really working hard to make ends meet. He was thinking of getting a lawyer or a consultant over there but I’m opposed to the idea because we might end up spending a lot of money.

I read somewhere that it’s better to do it ourselves as long as there are no complications since this would really make the expenses much lesser. However, I found myself unsure and a little bit confused as I read the entire process and everything involved. I suddenly thought of going to an agency that provides full assistance on immigration or visa application to play things safe. I made an inquiry and just found out today that it was quite expensive. Now, we really need advise whether to this pursue this on our own with minimal cost or go an agency with full support and guidance with a considerable expense. Please help us. This has been our dream to never be apart for the last 7 years and now we’re finally able to this.

[missvrapter 9]

Hi everyone,

My fiancé and I really need help and guidance in our journey for the K-1 visa. He is back in the states and I’m here in the Philippines. He’s really tied up with work that he doesn’t get enough sleep with one day off only. He is really working hard to make ends meet. He was thinking of getting a lawyer or a consultant over there but I’m opposed to the idea because we might end up spending a lot of money.

I read somewhere that it’s better to do it ourselves as long as there are no complications since this would really make the expenses much lesser. However, I found myself unsure and a little bit confused as I read the entire process and everything involved. I suddenly thought of going to an agency that provides full assistance on immigration or visa application to play things safe. I made an inquiry and just found out today that it was quite expensive. Now, we really need advise whether to this pursue this on our own with minimal cost or go an agency with full support and guidance with a considerable expense. Please help us. This has been our dream to never be apart for the last 7 years and now we’re finally able to this.

Honestly, the process is all quite easy once you have done your research, and this forum also helps ALOT, you'll find all the answers and get all the help you need on here. Lawyers and agencies sometimes make mistakes also, and can't always be trustworthy. It's a decision only your fiance and yourself can make, but remember Visa Journey and its members always there to help!

[SparklePony 238]

I agree. I wasn't sure whether to use a lawyer or not either. They always make it sound like things are so hard and complicated and we won't make it through without their help, but after reading through the guides and a few threads on here, I became much more at ease with the whole process and comfortable about doing it on our own. The whole process is expensive enough already and we figured we save the money for more important things.

[clairegie 265]

We did this all on our own, no agency or lawyers. The information you can get here can be overwhelming at times.

But if you look at the whole process in clusters (example: initial filing to waiting for NOA2; noa2 to nvc, nvc to interview) it isn't really all that bad. Just focus on preparing all you need for the initial filing and the rest will fall into place. Everyone here is willing to answer your questions, don't worry.

And to be honest, the people who have more headaches on this website are the ones who hired lawyers because they have no idea whats going on with their petition

Edited November 6, 2013 by iammrsregi

[Neverdrift12 0]

I agree with ya on that, I hired a lawyer and honestly I've got help faster on this website. And I don't trust them. I paid for them to assembly my 129, but I almost would rather do it myself now. That way o known it's sent. Not having to wait for them to send it off.

[TBoneTX 44,864]

*** Several posts split from someone else's thread. Please avoid hijacking topics. ***

[jeandyan 1]

do it on your own! just so you know the entire process will add spice to your relationship! if youre confused/ or need answers just ask everything here. you will surely get an answer. also add the k1 group on facebook. add me i may help you

[Avery Cates 1,141]

Hi everyone,

My fiancé and I really need help and guidance in our journey for the K-1 visa. He is back in the states and I’m here in the Philippines. He’s really tied up with work that he doesn’t get enough sleep with one day off only. He is really working hard to make ends meet. He was thinking of getting a lawyer or a consultant over there but I’m opposed to the idea because we might end up spending a lot of money.

I read somewhere that it’s better to do it ourselves as long as there are no complications since this would really make the expenses much lesser. However, I found myself unsure and a little bit confused as I read the entire process and everything involved. I suddenly thought of going to an agency that provides full assistance on immigration or visa application to play things safe. I made an inquiry and just found out today that it was quite expensive. Now, we really need advise whether to this pursue this on our own with minimal cost or go an agency with full support and guidance with a considerable expense. Please help us. This has been our dream to never be apart for the last 7 years and now we’re finally able to this.

If he's working that hard to make ends meet, then you don't need to be spending money on a lawyer. Fact is, most don't need to spend money on a lawyer in the first place regardless.

A lawyer cannot speed up the process. All they can do is put information onto the forms for you. You still have to collect all the evidence and supporting documents and give them to the lawyer, and they just fill out the forms. That's literally all you'd be paying them to do. And they make mistakes and generally don't have much interest in the outcome of your case. You don't want to receive an RFE because of a lawyer.

Do it yourselves, I recommend, unless you as the beneficiary have some sort of criminal history or anything else that can cause a red flag to the embassy there.