Lawyer costs

[BackWhereIBelong 2]

Before I ask my question I ask it with the caveat that the costs for the engagement of a lawyer will understandably vary widely depending on, among other things, the nationalities involved, where each person is living at the time of engagement and to where they are moving.

That said I think it can still prove useful to know what to expect by way of charges for specific services.

What is an acceptable range for a lawyer for a US citizen getting a long-time married spouse from Visa Waiver Program countries an Immigrant Visa and/or Green Card?

Edited June 27, 2016 by BackWhereIBelong

[Lemonslice 4,989]

First step is to evaluate your need for a lawyer. Most family-reunification immigrant do not need a lawyer.

I was quoted $3500 by a great lawyer who told me we didn't need him. Honeymooned for a month instead...

Edited June 27, 2016 by Lemonslice

[Kastrs 723]

Before I ask my question I ask it with the caveat that the costs for the engagement of a lawyer will understandably vary widely depending on, among other things, the nationalities involved, where each person is living at the time of engagement and to where they are moving.

That said I think it can still prove useful to know what to expect by way of charges for specific services.

What is an acceptable range for a lawyer for a US citizen getting a long-time married spouse from Visa Waiver Program countries an Immigrant Visa and/or Green Card?

You likely do not need a lawyer, additionally it seems you and your wife are currently living overseas. For foreign spouses from VWP countries or non VWP countries the process is the same. The correct process to obtain a green card would be to start with filing an I130 petition, which in the end if approved will grant you an IR1 visa. Upon arrival in the US that visa becomes a temporary green card, you will receive the official GC in the mail. Check the guides on this page using a computer for additional information. Expect this process to take about a year.

[Michael and Ganna 104]

Unless there are problems, for example visa infractions, criminal history and ect save the money you would use for a lawyer. This is a DIY website. If you are not sure about something....just ask, and you will get help. You will not have any problems filing IR-1 unless there are red flags...

[JFH 12,191]

I agree. Your case is very straightforward and you shouldn't need the help of a lawyer. Nothing to stop you using one if you can afford it and want someone else to handle paperwork for you.

We are not using one and we have a criminal history in the mix.

[BackWhereIBelong 2]

Thanks all for your responses.

For more information, while it is true that we are currently living overseas, and filing from here was an initial consideration, armed with some information it seems better to do this once we are out of Singapore next month.

I was quoted USD$4,500 for a lawyer in Japan which includes everything start to finish as well as document translation, which will be necessary for the Japanese health, police, birth certificate, and potentially other documents originating from there.

[Kastrs 723]

Thanks all for your responses.

For more information, while it is true that we are currently living overseas, and filing from here was an initial consideration, armed with some information it seems better to do this once we are out of Singapore next month.

I was quoted USD$4,500 for a lawyer in Japan which includes everything start to finish as well as document translation, which will be necessary for the Japanese health, police, birth certificate, and potentially other documents originating from there.

What do you mean by once we are out of Singapore? It is considered immigration fraud to enter the US with the intention to adjust status. Therefore, your best course of action is to file the i130 petition immediately. Your wife will be able to interview in Singapore or whatever country (Japan?) she is moving to.

[BackWhereIBelong 2]

What do you mean by once we are out of Singapore? It is considered immigration fraud to enter the US with the intention to adjust status. Therefore, your best course of action is to file the i130 petition immediately. Your wife will be able to interview in Singapore or whatever country (Japan?) she is moving to.

Thanks again for your reply. That is not what I intend to do.

It is disadvantageous to file now as we can't truthfully state that her home address is in Japan until after we leave Singapore, and, because having Singapore in the mix adds complexity, time and risk - this is covered in http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/599564-three-countries-involved-its-getting-confusing/page-2#entry8199273 Her trip to the US on VWP with my relocation there will be as a tourist and she will return to Japan after a brief stay in the US where i will file the i-130/g-325, etc.

Am just coming to terms with the need for a lawyer or not in this process.

[Kastrs 723]

Thanks again for your reply. That is not what I intend to do.

It is disadvantageous to file now as we can't truthfully state that her home address is in Japan until after we leave Singapore, and, because having Singapore in the mix adds complexity, time and risk - this is covered in http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/599564-three-countries-involved-its-getting-confusing/page-2#entry8199273 Her trip to the US on VWP with my relocation there will be as a tourist and she will return to Japan after a brief stay in the US where i will file the i-130/g-325, etc.

Am just coming to terms with the need for a lawyer or not in this process.

Thank you for the clarification. I still do not believe that you need a lawyer your case seems relatively straightforward. I have seen many times lawyers make mistakes and actually slow down the process.

[JFH 12,191]

I have seen many times lawyers make mistakes and actually slow down the process.

Exactly our reason for not using one!

[soulstriker 274]

not waste your time or money , i actually see posts about lawyers making mistakes , in the long run your still doing majority of the work ,save that money study this site and guides

[Adil & Jeanne 296]

My opinion I paid $3000 to a lawyer and he was a waste of money / he only copied and mailed in the information i gave him

unless like the others say, you have serious issues, you can do all this yourself

i did my own appeal after lawyer said " i have done all i can"

I did all the next steps myself and we got the visa

you can too

[Sukie 1,474]

Thanks all for your responses.

For more information, while it is true that we are currently living overseas, and filing from here was an initial consideration, armed with some information it seems better to do this once we are out of Singapore next month.

I was quoted USD$4,500 for a lawyer in Japan which includes everything start to finish as well as document translation, which will be necessary for the Japanese health, police, birth certificate, and potentially other documents originating from there.

I think your price is pretty spot on for Japan (I lived there, too). Our journey was about $3,500 (US attorney), but did not involve any translations as my spouse is Australian. We did use the VWP for her to visit while the visa was being processed. We had a clean slate - and it took exactly one year.

We could have done it by ourselves (in fact, I had to correct something the attorney tried to do - TWICE), but because we were a same-sex couple, and filed the day after DOMA was ruled unconstitutional, I was nervous about doing it ourselves. We ARE doing our ROC by ourselves.

You and your spouse will have to spend some time apart, as the VWP can get a little tricky if you use it too often and too close together.

Sukie in NY

[Miss M 54]

Like Adil & Jeanne said, you'd still be doing all the leg work yourself so having a lawyer is essentially paying someone to check your documents and mail them for you. Using a checklist off this site and asking for advice here too is just as useful, if not more so since you're talking to people who have first hand experience. A lot of people here have used a lawyer and the lawyer still messed up.

Obviously it's up to you but I (the immigrant) did all our paperwork and just showed my husband where to sign. I didn't even have the benefit of this site and found it much later - that's how simple it was.

[Bluey 2]

Seems like you case is pretty straight forward. Unless you want to be hassle-free otherwise lawyer is not needed.

Mine was $1,500. I hired lawyer because I had some issue with my case.