Attorney needed after NOA2 to Interview?

[Kurt and Kristina 72]

First off.. mods, my apologies if this is posted in the wrong area. I'll learn eventually...

 

Circumstances: 

• K-1, Philippines, NOA1 was beginning of February
• G-28 filed based on attorney for petitioner and beneficiary 
• Attorney helped with the I-129f
• Attorney now wants $3K to go from this point to end of interview
• No criminal, Petitioner has had divorce, 20 yr age gap
• Not expecting RFE (like anyone does..)

 

My questions:

• Is an attorney a good idea to keep the same attorney and just pay it?
• Would replacing/removing the attorney introduce a delay in the I-129f?
• Is $3k too much for those services?

 

Like everyone, I want to keep this as streamlined as possible (path of least resistance) 
Any thoughts are appreciated.

Oh, and if this has been covered, please just the link and accept my apologies  

Thank you!!!

[JeanneAdil 6,491]

why an attorney now?

petition is filed and attorney does not go to interview 

he submits nothing for a K1 to NVC

so,  you will be the one getting tax returns and showing current income for the interview

 

there is no work for an attorney to do 

and u don't need him/her

[Kurt and Kristina 72]

Interesting. I felt the same way and I think there are a ton of resources here to understand the interview - especially in the Philippines..

I questioned the attorney, but they insisted on filing the I-134, banking, tax and such WITH the I-129(f) 

---I hope this won't matter...

(thanks for the reply btw)

[Dashinka 24,488]

In general, for a simple case, an attorney or one of their paralegals fill out the forms, but the issue that many fail to understand is that all the data/evidence for the forms has to be gathered by the petitioner or immigrant, and these folks also makes mistakes, so it is or should not be pay and forget.  That being said, some are more comfortable even for a simple case to have an attorney do the forms for them, but I agree with @JeanneAdil, at this stage, there is not much for an attorney to do.

 

Good Luck!

[JeanneAdil 6,491]

35 minutes ago, Kurt and Kristina said:

Interesting. I felt the same way and I think there are a ton of resources here to understand the interview - especially in the Philippines..

I questioned the attorney, but they insisted on filing the I-134, banking, tax and such WITH the I-129(f) 

---I hope this won't matter...

(thanks for the reply btw)

u don't file the I 134 and taxes with  the petition

u take them to the interview 

especially since the tax returns will be for the most recent year not the current year 

Examples:

say interview in 2022 after april  2021 returns needed until april 15, 2023

2023 after april 2022 returns 

[JonInCA 12]

I had a divorce and a larger age gap, but no lawyer. We made some mistakes along the way that caused delay, but there is really nothing difficult if you pay close attention. Is the lawyer in the Philippines? For $3K I think the answer is no. One of the mistakes we made was not bringing extra documentation to the interview for a late issued birth certificate. I suspect only a lawyer with experience handling Philippine K-1's would have caught that, and even then I have my doubts.

[Kurt and Kristina 72]

4 hours ago, JeanneAdil said:

u don't file the I 134 and taxes with  the petition

u take them to the interview 

especially since the tax returns will be for the most recent year not the current year 

Examples:

say interview in 2022 after april  2021 returns needed until april 15, 2023

2023 after april 2022 returns 

Thank you!

 

That is what I thought. I-134, bank and tax returns at interview along with original court stamped divorce papers.

You think sending the I-134 in with the I-129 will cause delay? Or they USCIS will just disregard?

 

My thought is that (for the Philippines) you:

• Get notice the embassy received packet: 
• Pay for interview (bank deposit)
• Schedule interview
• Get Cenomar (new)
• Get NBI clearance (new)
• Get updated relationship pics, letters, comms proof, original/certified copy of divorce decree
• I-134, bank statements, asset statements, tax returns, etc.
• Make book
• Get medical done
• Study packet and potential interview questions
• Go to interview
• Be brief, be brilliant, be done
• Get approved 

None of that says attorney to me..  

[RO_AH 1,659]

5 hours ago, Kurt and Kristina said:

First off.. mods, my apologies if this is posted in the wrong area. I'll learn eventually...

 

Circumstances: 

• K-1, Philippines, NOA1 was beginning of February
• G-28 filed based on attorney for petitioner and beneficiary 
• Attorney helped with the I-129f
• Attorney now wants $3K to go from this point to end of interview
• No criminal, Petitioner has had divorce, 20 yr age gap
• Not expecting RFE (like anyone does..)

 

My questions:

• Is an attorney a good idea to keep the same attorney and just pay it?
• Would replacing/removing the attorney introduce a delay in the I-129f?
• Is $3k too much for those services?

 

Like everyone, I want to keep this as streamlined as possible (path of least resistance) 
Any thoughts are appreciated.

Oh, and if this has been covered, please just the link and accept my apologies  

Thank you!!!

There is no reason at all for a lawyer. Make sure you regularly view the regional forum for Philippines.

https://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/129-philippines/

No1. That's where all the cool people hang out 😎

No 2. You will learn important things specific to the Philippines such as:

3 hours ago, JonInCA said:

One of the mistakes we made was not bringing extra documentation to the interview for a late issued birth certificate.

My wife had the same issue. If her birth certificate is marked "late registration" (fairly common especially if they are born in the more remote provinces) you will need to bring a few extra things to the interview, or they will give you a request at the interview and you will need to send it to them which delays the process. It's not really documented anywhere but people know from experience.

[Kurt and Kristina 72]

3 hours ago, JonInCA said:

I had a divorce and a larger age gap, but no lawyer. We made some mistakes along the way that caused delay, but there is really nothing difficult if you pay close attention. Is the lawyer in the Philippines? For $3K I think the answer is no. One of the mistakes we made was not bringing extra documentation to the interview for a late issued birth certificate. I suspect only a lawyer with experience handling Philippine K-1's would have caught that, and even then I have my doubts.

Attorney is in the US.... updated birth certificate?  I figured just a new (less than six months) NBI, Cenomar, and CFO

Thanks for the answers.. I really appreciate it!

[Kurt and Kristina 72]

1 minute ago, RO_AH said:

There is no reason at all for a lawyer. Make sure you regularly view the regional forum for Philippines.

https://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/129-philippines/

No1. That's where all the cool people hang out 😎

No 2. You will learn important things specific to the Philippines such as:

My wife had the same issue. If her birth certificate is marked "late registration" (fairly common especially if they are born in the more remote provinces) you will need to bring a few extra things to the interview, or they will give you a request at the interview and you will need to send it to them which delays the process. It's not really documented anywhere but people know from experience.

See... I figured that all the cool kids were there....

Great advice.. and I will follow that.  Thanks.. First round after interview is on me... ($3k goes a long way in the NCR)

[iwannaplay54 985]

6 hours ago, Kurt and Kristina said:

First off.. mods, my apologies if this is posted in the wrong area. I'll learn eventually...

 

Circumstances: 

• K-1, Philippines, NOA1 was beginning of February
• G-28 filed based on attorney for petitioner and beneficiary 
• Attorney helped with the I-129f
• Attorney now wants $3K to go from this point to end of interview
• No criminal, Petitioner has had divorce, 20 yr age gap
• Not expecting RFE (like anyone does..)

 

My questions:

• Is an attorney a good idea to keep the same attorney and just pay it?
• Would replacing/removing the attorney introduce a delay in the I-129f?
• Is $3k too much for those services?

 

Like everyone, I want to keep this as streamlined as possible (path of least resistance) 
Any thoughts are appreciated.

Oh, and if this has been covered, please just the link and accept my apologies  

Thank you!!!

You’re getting shafted dude.  5 bucks is too much.

Edited March 1, 2022 by iwannaplay54

[JeanneAdil 6,491]

Large age gap here but it was USC woman older than the man

immigration ,  along with the rest of the world,  seems to not have issues when the man is older

 

[Kurt and Kristina 72]

Thanks.. that is what I have usually found too. I appreciate all the replies! 

[Ian88 41]

Obviously people have different experiences, but I didn't use an attorney for any of it and I am now in the US married. This forum and youtube videos helped me with any questions I had and I actually got better, more accurate info from people here than I did on attorney websites.

[SalishSea 17,818]

On 2/28/2022 at 1:14 PM, Kurt and Kristina said:

I questioned the attorney, but they insisted on filing the I-134, banking, tax and such WITH the I-129(f) 

That is a complete waste of time (and money), and you will have to redo all of that for the interview.  It may also delay the adjudication of the petition.

 

Why are you using an attorney?  Most people on this site have done their entire processes as DIY.