I used the visajourney.com website and the book - "Finace $ Marriage Visas" which is part of the NOLO legal series. While I had no handholding that a lawyer woould provide - I would bet I received the visa as fast or faster than any attorney at the time could have produced it. And I save $1,500.
Hmmm.... I wonder if it was a Freudian slip that I accidently used a dollar sign ("$") instead of an ampersand ("&") between Finace and Marriage (above).
What's the problem? Even if you hire a lawyer you still have to gather up all the supporting documentation and provide all the correct information. So way not do it yourself? I am just now starting the process.
Officially, the papers are examined in queue according to when they were received. According to an attorney's website I viewed not long ago - they are left scratching their heads regarding the handling procedures as much as the rest oif us are. Of course your attorney my IMPLY that he can get faster service - but I'd call that salesmanship.
I don't have any hard data to back up my claim. I'm doubting that anyone would.
The time that you would save with an attorney? that would be the time spent viewing the website or reading the looking at the step-by-step procedures in the book. But most people, even with attorneys, look into the process procedure anyway.
The disadvantage of using an attorney? You gather the documents, put them into an envelope and send them to him. He waits for the mail to arrive and works the form filling into his schedule where it fits (what - maybe a weeks or so?). He decides at that point that perhaps you are missing a document so he calls you - you try to get the document and send it to him again. He workd the filling out of the form into his scehdule again while your precious application waits in a pile on his desk.
I had to go through Nebraska at a time when Nebraska was particularly slow. But those who submitted their applications, with or without an attorney, at the same time as I did all received approval on the same day or two. There were approximately eight of us who all submitted within a week or so communicating daily through the forum section of visajourney.com. And, as I said - those with attorneys seem to get the same service entirely based on the application date.
I will give this some serious thought, jet: you make very good point about the shit sitting on his desk instead of me filling out the stuff and expressing it to the gov. ctr for processing.
Ok Jet you knew I was going to chime in on this one didn't you :)))
I have had some SERIOUS dealings with INS and attorneys. Basically if you want a job done right and in a timely fashion do it yourself. You are nothing to them nothing at all. Your life is involved in this and it isn't a question of money. If an attorney can screw something up he/she will.
I got a 10 year exile from the USA because of the incompetence of an attorney. Those that are old hands in the forum know my story. I am not going to repeat it. It cost thousands and I should have listened to my own best judgement, my own common sense.
When I finally do my paperwork it will done by myself. I will have the satisfaction of knowing it was done right and it will be the right price.
They constantly kid you that they know best over matters tha are basically form filling exercises. Jet is absolutely right in everything he is saying. There are a whole bunch of guys here who have done this themselves and been successful.
I live in South Florida and I am surrounded by Latin Americans. The place is crawing with immigration attorneys. Yet is is surprising how many of these newcomers do their own paperwork.
My advice is that if you have the money and need to employ someone to do this sensd me the dough and I will do it for you. At least you will know I gave it my best shot. Unlike an attorney, they don't care that this is something so important a to screw with the rest of your life. It is just money to them.
This is one of those things in life like jury duty that it is best to just grit your teeth and deal with yourself.
I have a friend from Iran that did the paper work himself and brought a girl here from the Philippines. He said that he had no trouble with the paper work. I just thought I would throw this stuff out on the board and see what stuck to it. I sent my girl a copy of the outline by Roth so she could get an idea what is involved but she has had friends that went through the process. She didn’t think it would be that hard. My main concern was making the task easier for her. I can always get the documents that I will need and fill out paper work.