K1 Visa interview- should I use a lawyer for this?

[Claire.S 1]

Hi, 

 

We recently received our i-797 and are now waiting for NVC to contact us. We have an immigration lawyer who has informed us that we need to pay another large sum for the second part of the visa. I was just wondering if you guys used lawyers or if you did you prepare the evidence for the embassy interview without one?

 

Thanks!

[Ben&Zian 4,398]

Lawyers aren't needed. Everyone here for the most part has handled things themselves ot be honest.

[Mike E 11,742]

In hindsight I wished I used a lawyer for the I129-F filing and advice on the DS-160 and visa interview. 

 

My wife did not have a birth certificate and nor was her birth registered. The embassy wanted a statement from the Myanmar government that there was not record of birth. So we got one. And foolishly gave that original document to the embassy, not realizing that we would need it for AOS. 

 

When we we got a lawyer for the AOS, she told us we needed that record of no birth certificate. And that we also needed two relatives to sign statements stating they were around for the time of my wife’s birth. 

 

Getting these three documents from 12000 miles away was difficult and cost us two months before we could file for AOS. 

 

I also made a small small error on the I129-F that cost a month. 

 

If  you value time over money, a lawyer is indispensable. We will gladly pay for this lawyer to handle the removal of conditions and N-400. 

Edited April 29, 2019 by Mike E

[Dashinka 24,769]

Is this a US or SA based lawyer?  I cannot see a US based lawyer going to an interview, and honestly I don't remember any lawyers in the consulate back when my wife (then fiancé) was going through her K1 interview.

 

Good Luck!

[Dashinka 24,769]

5 minutes ago, Mike E said:

In hindsight I wished I used a lawyer for the I129-F filing and advice on the DS-160 and visa interview. 

 

My wife did not have a birth certificate and nor was her birth registered. The embassy wanted a statement from the Myanmar government that there was not record of birth. So we got one. And foolishly gave that original document to the embassy, not realizing that we would need it for AOS. 

 

When we we got a lawyer for the AOS, she told us we needed that record of no birth certificate. And that we also needed two relatives to sign statements stating they were around for the time of my wife’s birth. 

 

Getting these three documents from 12000 miles away was difficult and cost us two months before we could file for AOS. 

 

I also made a small small error on the I129-F that cost a month. 

 

If  you value over money, a lawyer is indispensable. We will gladly pay for this lawyer to handle the removal of conditions and N-400. 

How do you know a lawyer would not have made the same mistakes (sorry you had to go through those you mentioned)?  Heck, I read a post way back when that said make copies of all your submissions, so I made three and still have them filed for my wife's records just-in-case (K1, AOS, I765, ROC, and N400).  My point is, don't attach infallibility to a lawyer, there are too many stories otherwise.

 

 

Edited April 29, 2019 by Bill & Katya

[Claire.S 1]

35 minutes ago, Bill & Katya said:

Is this a US or SA based lawyer?  I cannot see a US based lawyer going to an interview, and honestly I don't remember any lawyers in the consulate back when my wife (then fiancé) was going through her K1 interview.

 

Good Luck!

It's a US attorney and no they don't go to the interview, they help with compiling and filing the paperwork. We still got an RFE with a lawyer for the 1-29F and we felt we paid so much money and basically fixed the lawyers mistakes. Thanks for the feedback, everyone!

[Scandi 4,180]

25 minutes ago, Claire.S said:

It's a US attorney and no they don't go to the interview, they help with compiling and filing the paperwork. We still got an RFE with a lawyer for the 1-29F and we felt we paid so much money and basically fixed the lawyers mistakes. Thanks for the feedback, everyone!

Generally no need for a lawyer at any stage of the immigration process, neither with the Visa, AOS, ROC or citizenship. Not sure why some people with straight-forward cases feel the need for a lawyer, but in the end it's up to each and everyone to decide if they want one or not.

 

Me and my husband have never used a lawyer and haven't received an RFE yet either.

[Greenbaum 12,259]

20 minutes ago, Claire.S said:

It's a US attorney and no they don't go to the interview, they help with compiling and filing the paperwork. We still got an RFE with a lawyer for the 1-29F and we felt we paid so much money and basically fixed the lawyers mistakes. Thanks for the feedback, everyone!

You know one of the best tools that is better then a lawyer are the people here in each of the threads answering question because they are the ones with boots on the ground. You pick a topic and there will be someone who has experience what you are going through.  Most lawyers have never stood in front of an interview.  They have no idea what your feeling, that your nervous, you stomach is tied in knots, your palms are sweating but there are hundreds here on VJ who have. Most are here because they want to do this on their own. You can do this too. 

[Mike E 11,742]

39 minutes ago, Bill & Katya said:

How do you know a lawyer would not have made the same mistakes (sorry you had to go through those you mentioned)?  Heck, I read a post way back when that said make copies of all your submissions, so I made three and still have them filed for my wife's records just-in-case (K1, AOS, I765, ROC, and N400).  My point is, don't attach infallibility to a lawyer, there are too many stories otherwise.

 

 

Here is the thing.

 

For certain legal or quasi tasks that I do repeatedly, like filing my taxes,  getting renewing global entry, renewing a 10 year green card,  etc., I am confident I will do as good or better a job that a professional.

 

I don't expect to go through a K-1 process (I-129F to 10 year green card) again. While a professional who has done it 100s of times can make a mistake, it is much less likely.

 

While I would very much love to hire Bill & Katya, et al to proof read everything I do, and advise me, Bill & Katya  et al aren't advertising their services.

[SalishSea 18,125]

1 hour ago, Claire.S said:

It's a US attorney and no they don't go to the interview, they help with compiling and filing the paperwork. We still got an RFE with a lawyer for the 1-29F and we felt we paid so much money and basically fixed the lawyers mistakes. Thanks for the feedback, everyone!

We have had no RFEs in any part of the process, and did not use a lawyer.  It simply is not necessary in most cases.  Save the money for the AOS fees.

[Shiran 1,134]

23 minutes ago, Mike E said:

I don't expect to go through a K-1 process (I-129F to 10 year green card) again. While a professional who has done it 100s of times can make a mistake, it is much less likely.

Here are my thoughts on it. Your tax preparer wants you to come back year after year, so he will try to do good job for you. The immigration "lawyer" (in most cases they are basically form fillers) know you probably ever will do it once, and really have very little skin in the game. From what I observed on this site, they seem to be just as likely, if not more likely, make a routine mistake (or not catch one made by the petitioner) Also, psychologically, they tend to lure people into a sense of complacency which has effect of increasing chance of mistakes.

 

Having said that, depending on your situation, having someone on the beneficiary side of things can be helpful, as the situation over there can be very unique like your case with birth certificate described, and having someone in your corner to be on look out for things like that should be helpful. By the way, I think all embassies request original birth certificate, or equivalents, BUT they are suppose to hand it back at the end of the Interview! Are you sure Embassy kept it? You might try retrieving it from them instead of getting new one.

[SanjaAlex 248]

OP, 

My honest opinion is that lawyer isn't needed for any part of the process. 

My fiance wanted to hire one as we were filling our I-129F and I'm so happy I convinced him we can do it on our own, with the help of this wonderful VJ family. And we did it! Lol No RFE, fast approval. Now we're approaching last stage which is the interview and I can't imagine why would you need a lawyer at this point. Embassy gives you the list of needed paperwork, you get them, follow the instructions and you're in for the last hurdle! I-134 is really simple to fill and I don't see anything else that would require lawyers assistance as that is the only form petitioner is filling, rest is on the beneficiary. I don't see the lawyer assisting you with pulling out birth certificate, police records or anything else from your country. I assume every embassy gives you detailed instructions and you just follow them. You got this! Save up the money for honeymoon. You have a lot of people here who will help you with any question you might have as you prepare for the interview. Good luck and speedy procces!