Tell me we can really do this thing without a laywer...

[Loki_Go 126]

My BF and I are getting ready to start this whole process to bring me from Ontario to Ohio next month. Every week I come to this forum to read as much as I can and just when I think I might have a handle on everything, ZOINK, something else pops up. Please reassure me that this really can be done without a lawyer... and just for an FYI how much would an immigration lawyer really cost us anyway?

We're both reasonably intelligent professionals but all this, from filing paperwork, to quitting my job, EI and health insurance... ACK.

The successful timelines are all great but I don't read too many stories where people have mucked it up. What happens then?

[Cody and Daisy 374]

My BF and I are getting ready to start this whole process to bring me from Ontario to Ohio next month. Every week I come to this forum to read as much as I can and just when I think I might have a handle on everything, ZOINK, something else pops up. Please reassure me that this really can be done without a lawyer... and just for an FYI how much would an immigration lawyer really cost us anyway?

We're both reasonably intelligent professionals but all this, from filing paperwork, to quitting my job, EI and health insurance... ACK.

The successful timelines are all great but I don't read too many stories where people have mucked it up. What happens then?

More information needed.

Don't know what you're asking.

Are you planning on going k1 (fiancé) or cr1 (marriage) or still thinking?

Unless you have a complicated case both are easily done yourselves.

You already know this is a DIY website.

99% of people on here do not use immigration lawyers, they cost thousands.

There are many guides and help on every step of each process.

Everyone will tell you not to get a lawyer, you don't need one and you'll save a lot of money.

There are many stories on here about denials, and mistakes.

Depends what you are asking.

Interview denials are usually because they don't believe a relationship is genuine or with a k1 that they are already married.

Mistakes are fixed with requests for evidence usually and can be from a missed signature to extra evidence on on going relationship.

[mallafri76 1,012]

My husband and I have a complex case but we are still doing it ourselves, no lawyer needed. All you need to know about the process can be found here, on this forum, or on USCIS' website, where they have a very good step by step flow chart.

You and your boyfriend can definitely do the visa process yourself. Good luck!

[Loki_Go 126]

Oh sorry... I guess my post was more of a general freak out. I was reading another thread about having to be put on my (new) husband's health insurance as soon as we were married and just thought OMG I wouldn't have even thought about that!

We're doing the K1. He wants to just hire a lawyer but I was certain we could do it ourselves. I just need a punch in the arm that we won't forget something along the way. :/

[Marco&Bettina 502]

Oh sorry... I guess my post was more of a general freak out. I was reading another thread about having to be put on my (new) husband's health insurance as soon as we were married and just thought OMG I wouldn't have even thought about that!

We're doing the K1. He wants to just hire a lawyer but I was certain we could do it ourselves. I just need a punch in the arm that we won't forget something along the way. :/

If you are looking this up on a laptop or desktop, section at the top. I highly recommend it. It will answer questions you don't currently know you have. It can provide you the punch in the arm that you won't forget something while going through this process without a lawyer.

Edit: If you're on mobile, you can't see the Guides section.

Edited February 10, 2015 by Marco&Bettina

[Loki_Go 126]

My husband and I have a complex case but we are still doing it ourselves, no lawyer needed. All you need to know about the process can be found here, on this forum, or on USCIS' website, where they have a very good step by step flow chart.

You and your boyfriend can definitely do the visa process yourself. Good luck!

Thank yooouuu! Like I said the bare bones timeline all makes sense, it's just the extraneous items that are starting to wig me out. Things like my line of credit; with just around 6 months left, when do I contact my bank to sort THAT out? I'm not specifically asking that here, it's just yet another thing to worry about. :/

My BF tells me I worry too much.

[Cody and Daisy 374]

Oh sorry... I guess my post was more of a general freak out. I was reading another thread about having to be put on my (new) husband's health insurance as soon as we were married and just thought OMG I wouldn't have even thought about that!

We're doing the K1. He wants to just hire a lawyer but I was certain we could do it ourselves. I just need a punch in the arm that we won't forget something along the way. :/

I might not be from Canada but I just recently moved to Ohio after successfully completing a k1.

My husband and I breezed through the k1 process.

I know it seems daunting but trust me it isn't, the initial form I29-f is very easy to complete, it's just information about yourselves, nothing you don't know.

You do more than a lawyer can do for you because 80% of that part is collecting proof of your relationship, pictures, calls, boarding passes etc.

Letters of your intent to marry each other from both of you, the USCs proof of employment and earnings.

There's more but it's easy and simple.

And after you are approved its gathering police certificates, doing the medical, completing a readiness form for the interview and having the interview.

AOS is very easy too, there's tons of help on here, I just completed mine and sent it a couple of months ago, without my husbands help! It was a tad scary doing that alone but in the end it was so easy, all I asked for help on here was my checklist, making sure I didn't forget anything, and people post those all the time so it's hard to forget anything.

What I'm trying to say is, you do not need a lawyer, everyone on here is willing and able to help with any questions even if they are silly.

And adding you to health insurance is easy, all I had to do was write my full name, birthday and signature on a form, and boom I have insurance.

Just relax, it's not as difficult as you think.

[Sunnyland 639]

Like somebody told you in previous post, if you don't have a complicated case then you guys can do it yourself and save 3000 dollars or more!

If you are gonna do the K1 visa then focus on that particular process first and then jump to whats going to happen after you get married.

I did it all by myself with the VJ guidelines. My husband (then fiance) had zero patience and I had to direct him like an orchestra director.

If you have specific questions, feel free to post them here or in another post. People here will always help.

[chiggins82 88]

I chose to not use a lawyer and while the process is overwhelming, I felt that in the end it is all about following instructions and submitting forms and I was capable of it.

Any mistakes that are made are usually not show stoppers, they just mean a delay so you can send in the missing pieces.

In the end the choice for Lawyer or not is up to you... but for me, I figured I can follow instructions, and I speak and read English and my case is straight forward, so it didn't seem worth the money for me.

Some things I did:

- Keep notes and lists on your own. Every time I come across new info I add it to my notes... and when if makes sense I put a timeline around it, like when it needs to be done by. I have a things to consider/do before I leave Canada and the stuff I need to do when I enter the US.

- Use the guides here and the form instructions on USCIS - very helpful, mostly straight forward

- When in doubt, ask. Whether on here or contacting a consulate...

Lastly, we are probably all having moments of doubt, freaking out, worrying. I know I am. It will all be OK.

[Loki_Go 126]

3000 for a lawyer eh? Yeah, that's a bit much. If it was 1K I think we might have considered it. So much is unknown and I don't like unknown; I like flow charts and pie charts lol.

I also have a house I need to sell before I go. Sigh.

Edited February 10, 2015 by Loki_Go

[mallafri76 1,012]

[quote name="Loki_Go" post="7471225" timestamp="

My BF tells me I worry too much.

My husband tells me the same thing. ? What helps me stay focused and not worry too much are lists. I make lists for the USCIS stage, the NVC stage, the moving over stage. That way, I feel confident we're not missing something in the process. ? Maybe that's something that can help you too?!

[Loki_Go 126]

My husband tells me the same thing. ? What helps me stay focused and not worry too much are lists. I make lists for the USCIS stage, the NVC stage, the moving over stage. That way, I feel confident we're not missing something in the process. ? Maybe that's something that can help you too?!

Oh totally. I need to see things like that too. I think that can be something I work on this week... and making phone calls to my bank and perhaps a real estate agent or two next week. I'm no spring chicken so I have a lot of ends that need tying up here.

On every list I make, the first step is always to freak out lol.

[Lemonslice 4,956]

The lawyer will not help you with opening a bank account, changing your health insurance, Canadian taxes, transfer of your Driver's licence or importing your vehicle, EI, etc. Yes, it is a lot of little things... but honestly, it is not much worst than moving to another province or changing jobs. If none of you have criminal or fraudulent charges in your history, and you feel confident, you can probably do it all on your own and save the money for a nice vacation [that's what we did]

Edited February 10, 2015 by Boston~Montreal

[Loki_Go 126]

Is there a checklist of those kinds of items anywhere?

EDIT: Also good to know about the lawyer part; that'd be the only reason I'd consider hiring one, to get all those other items taken care of at all the right times.

Edited February 10, 2015 by Loki_Go

[Lemonslice 4,956]

It will depend a lot on your situation (example, if you are in certain profession, you want to get accredited, etc.) - but you can start here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/347629-moving-to-the-us-summary-list-canadian-immigration-guide/