Jump to content

25 posts in this topic

Recommended Posts

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Turkey
Timeline
Posted

Visajourney is really helpful to submit K1 documents with straightforward cases. I think using lawyer/ online services are waste of money considering you introduce an additional step in the process while you will be the one who gathers the documents anyways.  In my opinion, they would give you the same list that is already here in Visajourney guide, and you will be ending up spending more time since you will not be sending out directly to uscis but to this additional service.

Removal of Conditions

02/06/2021: Filed and package sent

02/10/2021: Received by USCIS

03/18/2021: NOA 1

07/01/2021: Biometrics waived

09/27/2011: Case approved, no interview (K1 visa)

Service Center: WAC

 

 

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
Timeline
Posted (edited)

Using a lawyer or a service is a personal choice.  The main point is don’t just think they will do everything properly. Even with a lawyer or service, the petitioner and the beneficiary should be well versed in the process, as others have said they will still have to gather all the required information, and they review everything the lawyer or service is going to submit.

 

Good Luck!

Edited by Dashinka

Visa Received : 2014-04-04 (K1 - see timeline for details)

US Entry : 2014-09-12

POE: Detroit

Marriage : 2014-09-27

I-765 Approved: 2015-01-09

I-485 Interview: 2015-03-11

I-485 Approved: 2015-03-13

Green Card Received: 2015-03-24 Yeah!!!

I-751 ROC Submitted: 2016-12-20

I-751 NOA Received:  2016-12-29

I-751 Biometrics Appt.:  2017-01-26

I-751 Interview:  2018-04-10

I-751 Approved:  2018-05-04

N400 Filed:  2018-01-13

N400 Biometrics:  2018-02-22

N400 Interview:  2018-04-10

N400 Approved:  2018-04-10

Oath Ceremony:  2018-06-11 - DONE!!!!!!!

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Vietnam
Timeline
Posted

Vietnam has some special requirements that Rapidvisa probably won’t help with and may end up hurting you.  Everything you need to succeed is on this site and the Vietnam forum.

 

Realize that the K1 is only the beginning.  Preparing this for yourself will be excellent practice and help you organize records for the coming applications.  
 

 I know it seems daunting now, but with a little time and research you’ll find this really is not a difficult process.  If you have questions along the way, ask them here.  Many people have gone from K1 in Vietnam to preparing for citizenship (my wife included) without needing an attorney or professional help.

 

Good luck to both of you- Jason 

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Australia
Timeline
Posted (edited)

I liked using a lawyer. Was less than $1k. I’m a busy industry professional. I wanted this to go as professionally as possible with government forms. All information is available to do on your own as others have said. My decision was made for convenience, if I have a question I know right away and assisted me when it came to be a representative to request certain public records for me because I couldn’t do them in my local jurisdiction. That was a benefit. For sure.

Edited by yvonme
Posted

NOBODY has your best interest in mind better than yourself! Many folks DIY for the K1 all the way up to the N400 without any RFEs. I would rather check my own work as opposed to RV checking it. I do realize that it's a personal preference. Just because RV does your paperwork for you, YOU are still going to have to gather ALL the required documents and information! RV just collects the information from you slaps them together and sends it in, far from professional. Many horror stories here about what RV has done or failed to do. I highly recommend against using them, but again that's my own opinion.


4 years, 11 months, 2 weeks and 3 days

Citizenship Complete!

USCIS is like a box of chocolates, you never know what kind of answer you are going to get!!!!

 

 

                                    

 

 

 

 


                                                             

 

 

 

 

 

Posted (edited)

Agreed with all the others who recommend DIY, especially if your case is straightforward.

 

The forms and process can look overwhelming at the start, but it helps to frame it in terms of school curriculum at the start of the year: the list of reading materials and exams may look like a lot, but are manageable over time.

 

Here are some tools that helped us a lot: 

 

- Google Drive: create shared folders so you can work together on the files. We used Google Docs to create checklists, spreadsheets with timelines, and links to free resources like VJ

 

- Dual screens: if you work in any office job, you know how useful this is, especially when proofreading.

 

- Home scanner/printer: helps make your packet look much more professional and put together compared to smartphone scanner apps/photos.

 

- Time. No rushing submissions. After finishing the packet, we left it alone for a few days, did completely visa-unrelated things, then proofread it on a day when we were both fresh and relaxed. Saved us from sending in a packet that was missing a couple of signatures!

 

All this preparation took some time and effort, but was much much cheaper and gave us more peace of mind than going through a third party preparer.

Edited by Adventine
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline
Posted (edited)

I just read another post on one of FB groups for K1 visa support. A couple used a lawyer in a November of last year when they filed. Lawyer told them everything was good for them to submit the petition. 

 

After waiting three months for NOA1, they received a notice thst that the petition had been rejected because they failed to sign the I-129F. 

 

I see these types of posts daily. So use caution when and if using a lawyer or service like rapidvisa. 

Edited by NoMansLand2020
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline
Posted
On 2/24/2021 at 12:51 PM, Alytes said:

I called several actual lawyers (not online services) ahead of filing, when I was gathering information.  What I heard is that if your case is straightforward (no criminal issues, etc.) then filing the K1 is easy.  Support was recommended once we got to the Adjustment of Status step after we are married.  One of the lawyers offered a document review service prior to filing for a much reduced rate, but I didn't end up using it.  I bought the NOLO book Fiance and Marriage Visas which has examples of all the forms and ideas for supporting evidence, and spent time on this forum.  I did it all myself, the form are really straightforward - they are time consuming but not complicated.  We just got our approval yesterday (!) 1 year and 1 month after filing, which was definitely slowed down by Covid.  You can do it!

Even when you have criminal (petitioner) past its easy. Just answer the appropriate questions on the I129F and obtain the necessary documents. Police and court records.  If you have had expungements, then still obtain police and court records to show nothing exists. 

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Vietnam
Timeline
Posted
On 2/24/2021 at 5:01 PM, JasonGG said:

Vietnam has some special requirements that Rapidvisa probably won’t help with and may end up hurting you.  Everything you need to succeed is on this site and the Vietnam forum.

 

Realize that the K1 is only the beginning.  Preparing this for yourself will be excellent practice and help you organize records for the coming applications.  
 

 I know it seems daunting now, but with a little time and research you’ll find this really is not a difficult process.  If you have questions along the way, ask them here.  Many people have gone from K1 in Vietnam to preparing for citizenship (my wife included) without needing an attorney or professional help.

 

Good luck to both of you- Jason 

What kind of special requirements regarding Vietnam?

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Vietnam
Timeline
Posted
9 hours ago, Purigorotta8 said:

What kind of special requirements regarding Vietnam?

For Vietnam, there are documents that could/should be front loaded.  These include a listing of family members and addresses (sometimes called a genealogy) and  a narrative timeline of the relationship.  There were some other documents that I can't remember off the top of my head, but a Vietnam forum search will turn them up.  In 2017, I also included documents related to our Dam Hoi - the engagement ceremony that is  common in Vietnam but no longer EXPECTED by the COs - and statements detailing our residency for the previous 10 years (a longer time than requested on the USCIS forms).  Despite providing my divorce decree, I also brought a notarized statement from my ex-wife to the interview attesting to the completion of our divorce and her current address.  I wasn't asked for the statement from my ex, but a VJ member's fiance recently got a 221g for not having it.  The genealogy is also a common reason for a blue slip.  Even when members brought these documents to the interview instead of front loading, they received 221g's that the CO prepared earlier.

 

Some of these Vietnam-specific requirements are related to fraud schemes popular within the Vietnamese community, while other requirements just seem to be applied to applicants on the whims of the officers.  Again, members going through Vietnam should read the recent forum posts.  I don't know of any members who were approved at the first interview after supplying the bare minimum documentation required in the 129f instructions.  I am sure there are some,  but from what VJ members are posting from Vietnam, most who receive a blue slip get them for something they could or should have front loaded. 

 

The majority of couples can usually complete the immigration process from K1 to citizenship without professional assistance. If the price of hiring someone provides the piece of mind the original poster needs,  then they certainly should do that; however, they should verify that the person or company they hire has a track record of approvals in Vietnam.

 

Jason

 

 

 

 
Didn't find the answer you were looking for? Ask our VJ Immigration Lawyers.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
- Back to Top -

Important Disclaimer: Please read carefully the Visajourney.com Terms of Service. If you do not agree to the Terms of Service you should not access or view any page (including this page) on VisaJourney.com. Answers and comments provided on Visajourney.com Forums are general information, and are not intended to substitute for informed professional medical, psychiatric, psychological, tax, legal, investment, accounting, or other professional advice. Visajourney.com does not endorse, and expressly disclaims liability for any product, manufacturer, distributor, service or service provider mentioned or any opinion expressed in answers or comments. VisaJourney.com does not condone immigration fraud in any way, shape or manner. VisaJourney.com recommends that if any member or user knows directly of someone involved in fraudulent or illegal activity, that they report such activity directly to the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. You can contact ICE via email at Immigration.Reply@dhs.gov or you can telephone ICE at 1-866-347-2423. All reported threads/posts containing reference to immigration fraud or illegal activities will be removed from this board. If you feel that you have found inappropriate content, please let us know by contacting us here with a url link to that content. Thank you.
×
×
  • Create New...