British Expats
Page 2 of 3
1
2
3
Show 40 post(s) from this thread on one page

British Expats (https://britishexpats.com/forum/)
-   Marriage Based Visas (https://britishexpats.com/forum/marriage-based-visas-35/)
-   -   Using a lawyer (https://britishexpats.com/forum/marriage-based-visas-35/using-lawyer-825111/)

Pulaski Feb 15th 2014 4:56 am
Re: Using a lawyer
 
Originally Posted by kimilseung (Post 11131243)
It ain't rocket science for most of us with straight forward situations. I don't remember any real stumbling blocks if you encounter any, ask questions here For most people lawyer fees are money down the drain. Different if your case has peculiarities.
Agreed on all points. I completed the forms with my wife's assistance. I'm the immigrant, she's a USC, neither of us are lawyers. We had no problems at all, and in fairness it didn't even occur to us to hire an lawyer (how bad would completing forms have to be that paying a lawyer $2,000+ to help complete them is a sensible idea? :confused: ) .... And I hadn't even found BE, so we managed to complete the process with any on-line handholding. :ohmy:

ian-mstm Feb 15th 2014 5:10 am
Re: Using a lawyer
 
Originally Posted by rpjs (Post 11131235)
I'd suggest download the forms from USCIS.gov (start with I-129F and I-134) and have a look through them to see if you feel comfortable with filling them out yourselves.
FIFY! :)

Ian

ScousePete Feb 15th 2014 5:16 am
Re: Using a lawyer
 
If you have loadsa money, have a hard time filling in forms and are anxiety-ridden, then go ahead and pay for a lawyer.

However, you found this forum, so you're already halfway there...

markonline1 Feb 15th 2014 6:36 am
Re: Using a lawyer
 
Having been through the K1 route myself, I gotta say, it'll be the biggest waste of money going to hire a lawyer. The forms are really straight forward. You just have to take a bit of time to sit down and prepare what you need. Me and my wife actually used a different forum for the process. www.visajourney.com (mods, delete that if I'm not allowed to reference it here). You can download all the forms you need from there along with filled out examples. There's a wealth of info over there. From what I understand, all these lawyers do is just basically proof read your documents before you send them in anyway. Nice work if you can get it!
With regards to the interviews, if you have a genuine relationship, they are a breeze. Mine wasn't even really an interview, it was an informal chat. The impression I got was once you get to that embassy, it's virtually a formality anyway.

Smudger222 Feb 15th 2014 8:53 am
Re: Using a lawyer
 
Originally Posted by rpjs (Post 11131235)
Correct. I'd suggest download the forms from USCIS.gov (start with I-829F and I-134)
What si I-829F I cant find that one.

rpjs Feb 15th 2014 9:13 am
Re: Using a lawyer
 
Originally Posted by Smudger222 (Post 11131519)
What si I-829F I cant find that one.
My bad - I-129F - thanks also to Ian

ian-mstm Feb 15th 2014 9:29 am
Re: Using a lawyer
 
Originally Posted by markonline1 (Post 11131403)
You can download all the forms you need from there along with filled out examples.
People should never (never, ever, ever!) download any forms from any site other than www.uscis.gov or a US government Consulate/Embassy web site.


There's a wealth of info over there.
Sadly, many of the folks posting there give incorrect information - which is why people come here when they want accurate information.


From what I understand, all these lawyers do is just basically proof read your documents before you send them in anyway.
Unfortunately, many don't proofread - and that who do, don't often attempt to verify that the information on the forms is, in fact, accurate. It's always the applicant's responsibility - whether a lawyer is used or not - so it's often easier to simply do the forms yourself.


The impression I got was once you get to that embassy, it's virtually a formality anyway.
With respect, you received an incorrect impression. Getting a family-based visa is almost never a formality.

Ian

markonline1 Feb 15th 2014 10:23 am
Re: Using a lawyer
 
The links on visajourney take you to the USCIS site. I received nothing but top info from the site whenever I had any sort of questions during the process. Also I don't believe I said getting the visa was a formality. Impression and fact are two completely different things. ;)

Pulaski Feb 15th 2014 10:31 am
Re: Using a lawyer
 
Originally Posted by markonline1 (Post 11131581)
..... Impression and fact are two completely different things.
If you're acknowledging that your impression might be inaccurate, and therefore misleading, I am mystified as to why you posted it. :confused:

markonline1 Feb 15th 2014 10:42 am
Re: Using a lawyer
 
Originally Posted by Pulaski (Post 11131585)
If you're acknowledging that your impression might be inaccurate, and therefore misleading, I am mystified as to why you posted it. :confused:
I was at window 2 for 2 minutes. I was asked a couple of questions, mainly where did you meet, when and where are you looking to get married and how much money do you make in the UK. From the embassy reviews I've read, that is pretty standard for the majority of people. Therefor by the time you get to the embassy, to me the decision seems pretty much made, just crossing the t's and dotting the i's, or pretty much a formality. That's why I wrote that. Is that ok? :rolleyes:

ian-mstm Feb 15th 2014 10:52 am
Re: Using a lawyer
 
Originally Posted by markonline1 (Post 11131581)
The links on visajourney take you to the USCIS site.
Well, that's not quite the same thing as what you wrote originally, is it? Thanks for confirming!


I received nothing but top info from the site...
You were lucky!

Ian

RICH Feb 15th 2014 12:02 pm
Re: Using a lawyer
 
You only need a Lawyer if there is a problem in your situation. Otherwise it is a form filling excerise.

The real question is, do you qualify?

S Folinsky Feb 15th 2014 4:15 pm
Re: Using a lawyer
 
Originally Posted by ian-mstm (Post 11131191)
If he's the USC, then the criminal conviction is largely irrelevant (read = he's a USC, so US immigration doesn't really care about his background). If he's the immigrant, then it might be an issue. That'll depend on several things... including the nature of the conviction, the actual charge, whether or not it was a CIMT (hint = Google is your friend), and the punishment that he could have received (not the punishment he actually got, but what he could have received if they decided to throw the book at him).

Ian
The AmCit's criminal record can and often does have an effect on a case. The AmCit's ID is run through the database. It can get interesting to say the least.

hungryhorace Feb 15th 2014 4:17 pm
Re: Using a lawyer
 
Originally Posted by S Folinsky (Post 11131804)
The AmCit's criminal record can and often does have an effect on a case. The AmCit's ID is run through the database. It can get interesting to say the least.
Example?

S Folinsky Feb 15th 2014 4:29 pm
Re: Using a lawyer
 
I used to do my own taxes. I feel a lot better having a professional do it. I think the situation is analogous.

Does one "need" an immigration lawyer? Good question. Sometimes it like insurance - a good lawyer will keep it from blowing up if a problem raises its ugly head. Sometimes the simplest case runs into the officer from hell.

Bottom line - decision is yours.


All times are GMT -12. The time now is 5:22 pm.
Page 2 of 3
1
2
3
Show 40 post(s) from this thread on one page

Powered by vBulletin: ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.