Recently engaged, can I file k1 myself or should I get a lawyer?

[shay112 0]

Hello,

I am new to the forum. I was recently engaged by my boyfriend while I was abroad. He initially was going to go for a student visa, however I was advised that a fiance visa is better for my situation now that I am engaged. I am currently in medical school and so time and finances are a bit tight. I wanted to know if I could file for the visa myself, or is it better to get a lawyer to file for the visa instead.

I look forward to any suggestions and feedback.

Thank you so very much,

Shay

[Zach<3Katiuska 58]

Hi !!

You can file for a K-1 Visa yourself. You don't need a lawyer... I have a lawyer because my case really applied for one..I lived in the States my entire life since i was a little girl until i was 17 years old..and we needed a lawyer to provide all that information saying : was underage so i'm not banned from the States... Alot of people has filed their K-1 visas on their own..You can too

[Lena&Islam 9]

Hello,

I am new to the forum. I was recently engaged by my boyfriend while I was abroad. He initially was going to go for a student visa, however I was advised that a fiance visa is better for my situation now that I am engaged. I am currently in medical school and so time and finances are a bit tight. I wanted to know if I could file for the visa myself, or is it better to get a lawyer to file for the visa instead.

I look forward to any suggestions and feedback.

Thank you so very much,

Shay

Hi There! Welcome! I was in your shoes a couple of months ago too. One thing that I regretted was hiring a lawyer to help me file for my K1 Visa. I felt overwhelmed and it looked difficult or so it seems. If your case is a straight case meaning, no criminal records or complicated issues etc...then you most certainly are able to do it yourself by using the flow charts and guides on here. There are a lot of wonderful people here that can you help if you're not sure. Take it from me and other people who have straight cases that has had hired a lawyer...its not worth it! You will have to gather and do the work and all they do is put it into the forms and send it off to USCIS. You can get all of the forms from www.uscis.gov and also on here too...no need for a lawyer to give you those public forms.

It seems hard but its not. You're probably going to be a better job yourself anyways instead of waiting for a lawyer to get back to you or wasting money! The hardest part is how slow the process is, and of course missing him and waiting to be together! Good luck and let us know if you need help ok?

[shay112 0]

thank you so much guys. I'm motivated and will give it a go on my own.

[Zach<3Katiuska 58]

thank you so much guys. I'm motivated and will give it a go on my own.

You're Welcome! Don't hesitate to ask us more questions!

[jkelly07 120]

you can do it your self if you don't have any past issues with the immigration over stay read the guides on k-1 visa over and over down load some examples ask questions here. the lawyer charge you a lot of money for typing the information you gave to him so save your money do it your self

[Al422 221]

One flag I see though is your status as student. You need to show the embassy that you make sufficient income to support him, roughly $18,000 a year. Can you show that much income despite your status as a student?

[shay112 0]

Hey Al422, sadly I cannot show this unless loans count. I am a full-time medical student, so working is out of the question. I am looking to find a co-sponsor, however trying to find what the us consulate in nigeria needs as proof for the i-134 affadavit has been very difficult. Do you know of any threads that discuss this? also do you have any other suggestions in regards to my income and what i can do as a medical student to show that I am reliable financially?

thanks a bunch!

One flag I see though is your status as student. You need to show the embassy that you make sufficient income to support him, roughly $18,000 a year. Can you show that much income despite your status as a student?

[Al422 221]

I don't have specific knowledge on Nigeria as each consulate has its own rules. But I do know that loan money or your willingness to borrow to support him will not help. You need either income in your name, assets in your name or both. Failing that you need a co-sponsor in accordance with Nigeria consulate's rules.

[shay112 0]

Thanks I appreciate your help!

[fastrackn1 0]

Get a lawyer!

It is not worth possibly making mistakes that get you denied, or dragging the process out for a long time just to save a few bucks. Use a lawyer that specializes in immigration law. Search your area online for lawyers who do immigration and then interview a few (on the phone if they allow), then choose the one you feel is the best. Using a lawyer with a lot of immigration experience will make your chances much better of getting the visa. They will look at your evidence of your relationship and tell you if there might be problems, etc. I also believe that the people who approve visas and those at the consulates may believe a relationship is more likely to be genuine if the petitioner is paying for a lawyer. IMHO

You can file yourself, but for me I would never take a chance with something so important.

[Karam and Jamie 44]

Hello,

I am new to the forum. I was recently engaged by my boyfriend while I was abroad. He initially was going to go for a student visa, however I was advised that a fiance visa is better for my situation now that I am engaged. I am currently in medical school and so time and finances are a bit tight. I wanted to know if I could file for the visa myself, or is it better to get a lawyer to file for the visa instead.

I look forward to any suggestions and feedback.

Thank you so very much,

Shay

Get yourself a nice big binder and follow the instructions on here Put it all in order and make it neat

[Khev 5]

File it yourself not only will you save money but you will learn a lot about your fiance and the immigration process. You are going to have to get all of the information anyways, so why have a lawyer do it for you. It looks overwhelming at first, but it really is simple. Follow the guide to the letter. Complete each step them move onto the next step. I did mine for my fiance and I only got one RFE, which was because I overlooked a page. Quick fix only delayed me about two weeks or less. Where we DID get a lawyer was once she got her letter in the mail. My fiance does not have a printer at her house nor did she understand everything she had to do. She got a lawyer for about 100 US in the Dominican Republic to help her finish up her packet. Went to the Embassy and no problems at all. She picked up her Visa and Passport today. The biggest thing I can say is take a step back breathe then jump back into it.

[ds10 0]

I was nervous about filing on our own but we ultimately made the decision to do it! We sent everything in on 19 May 2014, received the NOA1 on 27 May 2014, and just now received our approved NOA2 on 10 June 2014...no RFEs, only 14 days after NOA1!

If we can do it, so can you! As long as your case is easy and straightforward and you can follow the directions here on the VJ guides - you'll be fine!

Best of luck!

Edited June 11, 2014 by DC&SC

[HHI123 0]

Hello,

I am new to the forum. I was recently engaged by my boyfriend while I was abroad. He initially was going to go for a student visa, however I was advised that a fiance visa is better for my situation now that I am engaged. I am currently in medical school and so time and finances are a bit tight. I wanted to know if I could file for the visa myself, or is it better to get a lawyer to file for the visa instead.

I look forward to any suggestions and feedback.

Thank you so very much,

Shay

Nope no need for a lawyer. All you need is internet connection, lots of ink on your printer and papers. Visit K1-visa.net (Robb and Ann's) Helped me a LOT. Good luck to you!

Read. Research.