Is this case straightforward enough or do I need a lawyer?

[Ortolan 381]

Do it yourself. This site has excellent guides and you can always ask questions here if you're puzzled about something. If you use a lawyer, you'll just be paying him to basically fill out forms. A lot of other documentation (birth certificates, travel records, financial info, etc.) you'll be digging up and collecting yourselves, and eventually you'll feel like YOU are doing all the work anyhow! Save money and do your research here. :-)

[raven52 233]

Do not waste your money..,.WE are here for you, got a problem, come here, do not waste money on attorney, unless you have bad circumstances, a K-1 is plenty of work.,.,.but not worth thousands of dollars for an attorney.

[waka1 28]

I did hire a Filipino/American immigration attorney in the US for various personal reasons, one of them being I knew nothing about this great website. It's true, you end up doing most of the leg work yourselves. As immigration laws are constantly updated, in the latter stages, I did have to correct him on a point or two, which did cause a few bruised 'legal beagle', ego dust-ups. In the end i could give him a seminar on his weak points...But thats going to cost him This is the place where it all falls into place

All the best,

Rob

[TBoneTX 45,870]

Unless people here know every detail of the OP's situation (which we do not), it's irresponsible and potentially perilous to state flatly "You do not need a lawyer."

[pushbrk 13,043]

Unless people here know every detail of the OP's situation (which we do not), it's irresponsible and potentially perilous to state flatly "You do not need a lawyer."

Exactly, AND, IMO, it is against the terms of service. To say somebody doesn't need a lawyer, is actually giving legal advice.

However, this is not a "legal process" unless there are actual legal issues. This is an administrative process, the CAN be done successfully by people with the necessary skill, time, motivation and dedication to do the extensive homework required to learn what needs to be learned, then follow detailed instructions.

An example of total silliness is to assert that pretty much anybody can do an I-129F. Even if that were close to being true, that's the "easiest" thing in the process and is not even a visa application. An approved I-129F only opens the door to apply for a visa.

[LibCampFireClub 635]

Exactly, AND, IMO, it is against the terms of service. To say somebody doesn't need a lawyer, is actually giving legal advice.

However, this is not a "legal process" unless there are actual legal issues. This is an administrative process, the CAN be done successfully by people with the necessary skill, time, motivation and dedication to do the extensive homework required to learn what needs to be learned, then follow detailed instructions.

An example of total silliness is to assert that pretty much anybody can do an I-129F. Even if that were close to being true, that's the "easiest" thing in the process and is not even a visa application. An approved I-129F only opens the door to apply for a visa.

Pushbrk,

The entire immigration process is a legal one. Lawyers are NOT required for any legal proceeding, but depending on the level of legal severity it may or may not be advisable to get one. As you know, most people prefer not using an attorney during the initial immigration process, but some find they may fall on unfortunate circumstances and find they need one down the line.

People who are not lawyers can speak until the cows come home on this website or at the water cooler. And, quite frankly they do. But, if they ever cross the line of inferring, or giving the impression that they are giving legal advice, then they would violate the VJ terms of service. I don't think any US courtroom would give credence to anyone ignorant enough to accept the advice of an online immigration website. Anyone ignorant enough to do so will learn a good life lesson.

[pushbrk 13,043]

The process of bringing a spouse to the USA through the immigrant visa process is not a "legal proceeding" unless the specific circumstances make it require one. It is an administrative process. To determine whether it is advisable for any party to do it themselves requires far more information and insight than to simply observe they found the same message board the royal "you" found.

I am capable of rebuilding a transmission. I can learn. I don't want to. That's why I paid somebody else to do it for me.

Edited June 22, 2014 by pushbrk