eg76

Does anyone have any experience of using London based Law firms to help with I-130 immigration process. If so, can you recommend and give an idea on costs?

Noorah101

Your other post says you're moving based on your spouse's employment. Is her employer getting an employment- based immigrant visa for her and the family? If so, then the company lawyers will handle everything; you don't need your own.

Rene

Noorah101

Regarding your thread title, if you do use a lawyer, make sure it's a real immigration lawyer, not an "advisor".

Rene

Pulaski

And pay for it.

ian-mstm

Is your wife a US citizen or Permanent Resident (= green card)? If she's isn't, then this is not a viable way forward.

Ian

eg76

Sorry - should clarify. My wife is a US citizen, so I am eligible for I-130. She has been offerred a role in the US, but the company involved do not have London based immigration lawyers, so they are looking for us to pay for this and then get reimbursed. I am therefore looking for an immigration Lawyer with experience of this area to help and was wondering if anyone had any recommendations.

Pulaski

Unless you have issues such as a criminal record or drug habit there is no need for a lawyer, and while you don't care about the cost, a lawyer really isn't necessary for a straightforward spouse visa.

eg76

Thanks for coming in on this, but it looks like the costs of using a Lawyer will be swallowed by the relocation package, so would rather have someone else get everything perfect so as not to have any delays.

Was just really looking for a good recommendation of a Lawyer to use to ensure no delays etc.

eg76

She is a US citizen (as are my children), so they aren't as bothered about her status and annoyingly have no experience of spousal visas from the UK, so have asked us to sort it out and reimburse later. Just want to get a good recommendation of someone to talk to who is reputable and not a cowboy

MidAtlantic

A lawyer is more likely to be the cause of delays.

Pulaski

This.

A lawyer will be an extra step with everything sent to, and received from the consulate, an extra desk for the papers to sit on awaiting review, and there is no guarantee that they will get it all right and perfectly complete either. Worse, it isn't unheard of for a lawyer to louse up a visa application entirely.

ian-mstm

Lawyers usually cause delays rather than alleviate them. Unless you and your wife are incapable of filling out a few forms, the paperwork is pretty straight forward. Besides, even with a lawyer you are still responsible to ensure that they have the correct information, that they enter it correctly, that the correct fees are attached, and that they submit it correctly. All of that causes the delays that you hope to avoid. Further, most lawyers don't actually do the work themselves - they pawn it off on their assistants or paralegals... and those people are not lawyers! If money is not an issue and you have lots of time on your hands, sure... use one.

And if that isn't enough, a lawyer can't speed up the process for you at all.

Ian

eg76

Thanks guys - get the impression you are not fans of Lawyers entering the process!

scrubbedexpat099

There is a guy in Brighton that has a good rep.

Pulaski

Lawyers have their place and their uses. Completing routine paperwork is not one of them.