Can I do the entire CR-1 process on my own?

[jasonlovesdogs 0]

Can I do this process on my own or do I need some type of assistance such as legal help? I will be the US citizen spouse. Getting married within a month. I'm retired and have plenty of time and there are no extenuating circumstances. The only possible issue is that I am temporarily overseas and going back and forth to the US from time to time. So the issue could be domicile. But I paid state and federal taxes, have voter registration, all bank accounts are in the US, have no foreign bank accounts, no foreign address (have been staying in Airbnb), etc. I think I can do the application from overseas where I will be staying with my spouse until the process is complete, minus a couple trips a year back to the US. 

[Boiler 45,427]

I do not know you, I do know most people can, not that difficult, you have a US base and visiting other countries should not be an issue, I assume you meet the I 864 requirements. 

[Verrou 1,961]

U can. Just do lotsa or research. VJ has forums specific for consular processing CR1/IR1. It really depend on ur comfort level. Some people don’t want to deal with it, so they hire law firm etc 

[Mike E 11,739]

 

[Devarj 45]

Yes, you can absolutely do it

I did it by myself while in Vietnam

filed direcly with the consulate

[Dashinka 24,466]

I echo the responses above.  In my case, K1 through AOS, ROC and N400 all done ourselves with no issues.

 

Good Luck!

[Crazy Cat 41,759]

19 hours ago, jasonlovesdogs said:

Can I do this process on my own or do I need some type of assistance such as legal help? I will be the US citizen spouse. Getting married within a month. I'm retired and have plenty of time and there are no extenuating circumstances. The only possible issue is that I am temporarily overseas and going back and forth to the US from time to time. So the issue could be domicile. But I paid state and federal taxes, have voter registration, all bank accounts are in the US, have no foreign bank accounts, no foreign address (have been staying in Airbnb), etc. I think I can do the application from overseas where I will be staying with my spouse until the process is complete, minus a couple trips a year back to the US. 

If your case is not complicated, and if you can carefully follow instructions, you should be able to do.  I can testify that attorneys sometime make mistakes. Our attorney failed to submit required documents, and it cost us a 3 month delay.  Wife and I did the I-751 and N-400 processes, ourselves, with no issues.  Visa Journey is the best source for free, accurate immigration information, and the handy guides are pretty good. 

The immigration process requires a great deal of knowledge, planning, time, patience, and a significant amount of money.  Study, study, study, and ask questions.  This is a great community eager to help.

Edited June 15, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[pushbrk 12,859]

4 hours ago, jasonlovesdogs said:

Can I do this process on my own or do I need some type of assistance such as legal help? I will be the US citizen spouse. Getting married within a month. I'm retired and have plenty of time and there are no extenuating circumstances. The only possible issue is that I am temporarily overseas and going back and forth to the US from time to time. So the issue could be domicile. But I paid state and federal taxes, have voter registration, all bank accounts are in the US, have no foreign bank accounts, no foreign address (have been staying in Airbnb), etc. I think I can do the application from overseas where I will be staying with my spouse until the process is complete, minus a couple trips a year back to the US. 

Nobody knows if YOU can do it alone.  If you can be a good student (A-Student of instructions and forms) and will put in the effort to do the homework, you probably can if your English language skills are in the range of "very good".  Aptitude and attitude are very important.  Anybody who doesn't know anything about you besides what you wrote above, is IMO, a fool to tell you you can do it yourself, because THEY don't know YOU.

[TexasRafael 134]

23 hours ago, jasonlovesdogs said:

Can I do this process on my own or do I need some type of assistance such as legal help? I will be the US citizen spouse. Getting married within a month. I'm retired and have plenty of time and there are no extenuating circumstances. The only possible issue is that I am temporarily overseas and going back and forth to the US from time to time. So the issue could be domicile. But I paid state and federal taxes, have voter registration, all bank accounts are in the US, have no foreign bank accounts, no foreign address (have been staying in Airbnb), etc. I think I can do the application from overseas where I will be staying with my spouse until the process is complete, minus a couple trips a year back to the US. 

Well, my experience for my K1 visa and for my Spousal Visa, (both of which were approved by USCIS,) is that I hired a company that basically reviews the contents of all your applications and they send to USCIS with guaranteed delivery.  I did not have the money to hire a lawyer, (in excess of $5,000.00 for a spousal visa,) so I went that route.  I was very pleased within the scope of clearly understanding what service they provide and nothing more.  They help you every step of the way to assure you that your paper work is flawless.   

[pushbrk 12,859]

The partner page here exists for good reason.  Not everybody can, should, or wants to do it themselves.

 

https://www.visajourney.com/partners/