Immigration lawyer and interview question

[palilover 1]

salam/hello

I have recently gotten married and my husband and I decided it was better for him to go back overseas while I file here. I must mail my I130 but I am nervous to do it myself. Not because I am going to do it wrong as I am not afraid to hassle the USCIS for questions:) I have it filled out but what I am nervous about is if something is done wrong on it, they will send it back and make the process go longer. (after they sat on it for a month before sending it back to me I'm sure) I want things to go quick (ok as quick as immigration will allow). I'm wondering if it is to my benefit to hire a lawyer even though my husband is overseas or just go ahead and deal with it on my own?

What is everyone's experience with immigration lawyers? In the waiting process, I'd think they would know who to talk to to get answers more than the average person like me would. I have also been warned that they (immigration) hassle you at the interview as well but they are lighter on you if you have a lawyer. (although I assume my husband will have a seperate interview in the middle east and I will have one here)......What kinds of things do they ask at the interview? (I know it is early but at least my husband and I can take advantage of all the time we must wait and prepare ourselves)

Thanks

[Tarik 11]

salam/hello

I have recently gotten married and my husband and I decided it was better for him to go back overseas while I file here. I must mail my I130 but I am nervous to do it myself. Not because I am going to do it wrong as I am not afraid to hassle the USCIS for questions:) I have it filled out but what I am nervous about is if something is done wrong on it, they will send it back and make the process go longer. (after they sat on it for a month before sending it back to me I'm sure) I want things to go quick (ok as quick as immigration will allow). I'm wondering if it is to my benefit to hire a lawyer even though my husband is overseas or just go ahead and deal with it on my own?

What is everyone's experience with immigration lawyers? In the waiting process, I'd think they would know who to talk to to get answers more than the average person like me would. I have also been warned that they (immigration) hassle you at the interview as well but they are lighter on you if you have a lawyer. (although I assume my husband will have a seperate interview in the middle east and I will have one here)......What kinds of things do they ask at the interview? (I know it is early but at least my husband and I can take advantage of all the time we must wait and prepare ourselves)

Thanks

Hi.

Ok first I don't know alot about lawyers but I think the only thing they can help you with is to show you how to fill the papers and tell you what you should exactly send wich is not a big deal and you can do it yourself.

and about the interveiw,you will have one in the consulate in your countrey before you get the visa.and your spouse won't have any interviews unless they thought your marriage isn't real or fruad, in this case you will have an interveiw after you move to USA,and they will interveiw both of you but in seperate rooms and as I've heard they ask alooooot of questions about your relationship and anything that would proof your marriage isn't real.

Edited June 10, 2007 by Tarik

[LadyJane 1]

salam/hello

I have recently gotten married and my husband and I decided it was better for him to go back overseas while I file here. I must mail my I130 but I am nervous to do it myself. Not because I am going to do it wrong as I am not afraid to hassle the USCIS for questions:) I have it filled out but what I am nervous about is if something is done wrong on it, they will send it back and make the process go longer. (after they sat on it for a month before sending it back to me I'm sure) I want things to go quick (ok as quick as immigration will allow). I'm wondering if it is to my benefit to hire a lawyer even though my husband is overseas or just go ahead and deal with it on my own?

What is everyone's experience with immigration lawyers? In the waiting process, I'd think they would know who to talk to to get answers more than the average person like me would. I have also been warned that they (immigration) hassle you at the interview as well but they are lighter on you if you have a lawyer. (although I assume my husband will have a seperate interview in the middle east and I will have one here)......What kinds of things do they ask at the interview? (I know it is early but at least my husband and I can take advantage of all the time we must wait and prepare ourselves)

Thanks

First of all, congratulations on your recent wedding! May you have a long and happy marriage.

I would say to first read the guides here regarding the CR-1/IR-1 process. It is ONLY my opinion (and I'm so not a laywer) that if your situation is straightforward then the guides and the forums here will provide all the help you need. If you have specific questions that aren't answered in the guides, please ask us and we'll try our best to help you out. But, please remember that this is not legal advice.

The immigration process requires patience, a request for evidence (RFE) is never welcome! But remember that the only important thing is being reunited with your spouse.

A lawyer, despite some ads, cannot speed up the time it'll take for your husband to get his visa. If they claim this, run run run away from them!

But, a lawyer specializing in immigration may help you prepare your documents because they have had more experience. Overall, it's about how comfortable do you feel navigating the system, knowing all the specifics about your situation. We're all here for you too! Best wishes.

[Tarik 11]

salam/hello

I have recently gotten married and my husband and I decided it was better for him to go back overseas while I file here. I must mail my I130 but I am nervous to do it myself. Not because I am going to do it wrong as I am not afraid to hassle the USCIS for questions:) I have it filled out but what I am nervous about is if something is done wrong on it, they will send it back and make the process go longer. (after they sat on it for a month before sending it back to me I'm sure) I want things to go quick (ok as quick as immigration will allow). I'm wondering if it is to my benefit to hire a lawyer even though my husband is overseas or just go ahead and deal with it on my own?

What is everyone's experience with immigration lawyers? In the waiting process, I'd think they would know who to talk to to get answers more than the average person like me would. I have also been warned that they (immigration) hassle you at the interview as well but they are lighter on you if you have a lawyer. (although I assume my husband will have a seperate interview in the middle east and I will have one here)......What kinds of things do they ask at the interview? (I know it is early but at least my husband and I can take advantage of all the time we must wait and prepare ourselves)

Thanks

Hi.

Ok first I don't know alot about lawyers but I think the only thing they can help you with is to show you how to fill the papers and tell you what you should exactly send wich is not a big deal and you can do it yourself.

and about the interveiw,you will have one in the consulate in your countrey before you get the visa.and your spouse won't have any interviews unless they thought your marriage isn't real or fruad, in this case you will have an interveiw after you move to USA,and they will interveiw both of you but in seperate rooms and as I've heard they ask alooooot of questions about your relationship and anything that would proof your marriage isn't real.

Oh,I think I misunderstod.I thought your husband is the american citezen not you.sorry !

Edited June 11, 2007 by Tarik

[palilover 1]

Thanks !

I dont think I will go with a lawyer. I have been told (as well as by someone here) that it does not speed things up. I can do it myself....I just get paranoid because I don't want the forms to be sent back to me if I missed something. All it boils down to is that I want him back asap.

I did review the directions on this page on the cr1/r1 visa and they helped a lot. The checklist on what to pack was very good and I will be working on that this week.

One q though......my husband and I filled out the I130 before he left as it required his signature in arabic. However, one minute detail. It was filled out in blue ink, not black:( I have no objection to refilling out the form in black ink to make it more proper for USCIS but what about his signature? He's overseas so he cannot sign:(

[LvivLovers 39]

Thanks !

I dont think I will go with a lawyer. I have been told (as well as by someone here) that it does not speed things up. I can do it myself....I just get paranoid because I don't want the forms to be sent back to me if I missed something. All it boils down to is that I want him back asap.

I did review the directions on this page on the cr1/r1 visa and they helped a lot. The checklist on what to pack was very good and I will be working on that this week.

One q though......my husband and I filled out the I130 before he left as it required his signature in arabic. However, one minute detail. It was filled out in blue ink, not black:( I have no objection to refilling out the form in black ink to make it more proper for USCIS but what about his signature? He's overseas so he cannot sign:(

I had the same thoughts as you originally. But then, I stopped to think about just how incompetant the average person is. In the end, I trust myself much more to get it right rather than some lawyer. For me, it's my whole life and I will treat it as such. For most lawyers, it's just one more of many forms and much easier for them to overlook a mistake in my opinion. Best of luck to you on this process!