eg76

Do you have a name?

Rete

Confused. If your wife is coming on an L visa, why is the company not including you as an L2 recipient on her visa. I thought that was your plan and when you are finally in the US you would then apply for adjustment of status for yourself based on your marriage to a USC.

Are you now planning on letting your wife come to the US without you while you wait for the adjudication of the ILR-1 visa in London?

rpjs

Like most people we didn't use a lawyer, but we did happen to have an immigration lawyer friend who double-checked our paperwork for us before we submitted it. If OP feels more comfortable involving a lawyer and can get reimbursed for it, I'd suggest they consider using the lawyer to check what they do rather than do it all for them.

eg76

My wife is a US citizen. No need for a visa for her. I qualify through her.

Noorah101

The lawyer doesn't have to be in London. Take a look at AILA's Immigration Lawyer Search for a US based one.

Rene

Pulaski

Because using a US-based lawyer for what should be a DCF in London is bound to speed up the whole process.

Noorah101

No, I agree, a lawyer is not necessary. But the OP seems to want one, and I'm just giving more options. If the lawyer is just looking over the completed forms, they can do that from anywhere.

Rene

Pulaski

Right, I understand, but he also apparently wants speed, and using a lawyer stateside is going to add significant additional time to every step of the process.

scrubbedexpat099

Mr P is right, and to paraphrase him so is Google Steven D Heller, Director - US Immigration Lawyer in the UK

Probably did not come across very well.

Rete

He's stated previously that he is uncomfortable with forms. Some people are form phobic and need someone else to do it for them in order to feel secure. Nothing wrong with that at all.

Rete

Got you. Got your story confused with someone else's.

Look at the wiki up top for direct consular filing or some such name. It spells it out perfectly what you need to do, step by step. Also a search on the marriage-based forum will give you countless first hand experiences.

The most time consuming things are getting the correct documents, i.e. your long form birth certificate, marriage certificate, children's birth certificates, passports for the children, police clearance certificate, then finally your Knightsbridge medical to be done as close as possible to the time of your appointment for the interview, which you will make yourself when all the documents are ready for submission.

Since the wife is living in the UK, who will be your financial sponsor for the Visa?

Read the wiki and others experiences even if you retain the services of an attorney. You can find one by going to AILA - American Immigration Lawyers Association or search here on the marriage-based forum for London attorneys.

From the AILA website

Kehrela M. Hodkinson London, Hodkinson Law Group
Claire D. Nilson London, Faegre Baker Daniels LLP
Daniel J. Parisi London, TGL Shipley Parisi
Ioana Cristina Hyde London, American Immigration Law Office Ltd.
Katie C L Fitchett London, Fragomen LLP
Jonathan Davis London, Fragomen LLP
Shane Andrews London, NNU Immigration
Amanda Shipley London, TGL Shipley Parisi
Mackie Barham London, B&A Immigration
Melissa Chavin London, Chavin Immigration Law Office
Joan A. Squires-Lind London, Squires-Lind Law Offices
Susan Willis McFadden London, Gudeon & McFadden
Adefoyeke Abimbola Adedeji LONDON, LEGAL SERVICES OFFICE OF A ADEDEJI LTD
Janice A. Flynn London, US Visa Solutions

Noorah101

Since the OP's USC work will continue with her same employer in the USA, she can use that income on the I-864.

Rene

ian-mstm

Now, now... no need to disrespect the spouse!

Ian

Noorah101

I hate auto correct more and more each day.

Rene

ian-mstm

Y'know... you can turn it off!

Ian