Do it yourself or hire attorney?

N

noincident

Registered Users (C)
I guess I"m the newest here. This is a great forumn!

I have two questions

I've been married to a USC for some time now. we are considering filing for a green card. I wanted to know your views on doing the filing myself or getting an attorney?? (I'm on a student visa)

My second question is I live in virginia(school) while my wife is in Texas. I wanted know the best place to file for the green card. (we got married in Texas)

Thanks
 
noincident said:
I guess I"m the newest here. This is a great forumn!

I have two questions

I've been married to a USC for some time now. we are considering filing for a green card. I wanted to know your views on doing the filing myself or getting an attorney?? (I'm on a student visa)

My second question is I live in virginia(school) while my wife is in Texas. I wanted know the best place to file for the green card. (we got married in Texas)

Thanks
Click to expand...
You might be the newest, however, your questions aren't... :)
If you have a straight forward case w/o any complications then you don't need a lawyer. You would have most, if not all, of your questions answered here.
Regardless of where you live, you need to send everything to Chicago lock box. The real question is where you want to be interviewed. And, that's up to you to decide, since both of you need to be present at the interview. You would specify the location of the district office in form I-130.
 
I am trying to decide the same thing. I used lawyer for my H1 Visas and my I-140 petition (GC through work) but did the N400 by ourselves. I've been coming here everyday and now I feel a little more confident.

I have a lawyer who'd do the GC process through marriage for $1000 who also helped my friend getting GC very quickly. But I really don't have that much money on top of all the fees that could add up to another 1000 bucks. I am going to ask the new laywer if he could help me review all the paperwork that I prepared. He would probably charge a little less for that.

I spent so much money on my previous lawyer but I was not very pleased. Once you pay, you are kind of stuck with him/her so just be careful who to choose...
 
One thing you should consider no matter where you file, is the burden of proof resides on you to prove your marriage is legitimate (reasons why you are living separately in 2 different states, its understandable to you and me, but it may not be as easy to USCIS). I know for school, but you need to have proof that you have a relationship, for example your e-mails sent back and forth, copies of your travel tickets visiting each other, copies of your travel trips taken together, many pictures together.
No matter which route you take, whether thru attorney or yourself, be prepared for submitting enough evidence of your relationship. You may want to read more on how marriage based applicants who were not living together submitted proof. There are some discussions somewhere on this board.
 
jasmine7103 said:
I am trying to decide the same thing. I used lawyer for my H1 Visas and my I-140 petition (GC through work) but did the N400 by ourselves. I've been coming here everyday and now I feel a little more confident.

I have a lawyer who'd do the GC process through marriage for $1000 who also helped my friend getting GC very quickly. But I really don't have that much money on top of all the fees that could add up to another 1000 bucks. I am going to ask the new laywer if he could help me review all the paperwork that I prepared. He would probably charge a little less for that.

I spent so much money on my previous lawyer but I was not very pleased. Once you pay, you are kind of stuck with him/her so just be careful who to choose...
Click to expand...

Jasmine:

If you are doing a straight-forward marriage-based I485, and there are no special circumstances, you should consider doing it yourself. An attorney cannot speed the process up in most instances ----- an attorney is like an insurance policy, particularly helpful to people who are not detail-oriented and may be completely clueless, or who may have complicated cases.

Even though I (obviously) support the industry, there are some cases where an attorney may very well not be needed. Best wishes.
 
noincident said:
This great! I came to the right place. anymore views??
Click to expand...

Hi:

The fact that you don't live together may complicate your case somewhat or it may not. What Ashin told you above is generally good advice. If you do it yourself, you would have to make sure to compile evidence like that. To be honest with you, that is exactly what an attorney would do.

So, are you meticulous enough to do that? Or do you prefer someone else to handle it? That is probably an important question. Good luck.
 
lawyers with connections?

Is it a myth about people saying that immigration lawyers have connections in the goverment and that they could get some things done quicker? My friend got married to a foreigner, he didn't use a lawer initially. He's very detailed oriented and says he had all the paperwork but it took over 2 years to get her a GC. He ended up hiring a laywer last minute. He believes that she got her GC soon because he knew people to 'talk' to. Now I am thinking maybe his wife was stuck on name check and it just happened to clear right about when he hired the laywer... :confused:
 
Jasmine,

It used to take more than 1 year to get GC just few years ago. It took 2 years for me. It was normal processing time then. My name was not stuck in name check at all. Things have improved in marriage based GC processing now a days. I am very surprised that now a days some of them are getting approved in less than 6 months, which is very good.

The attorney who wanted to do my paperwork wanted to charge 5000 for his fees, I just opted to do on my own, it was cheaper. For my employment based my company wanted me to pay 10,000 fee to the attorney. I said, no thank you and went on with my marriage based petition.
I really don't think, there is a connection between attorneys and immigration process getting done faster.

So, if you are comfortable with waiting, you can do it on your own.
 
I File My I130 My I485 And My I765 By Myself So Far Everything Is Going Perfect. Already Reach 65 Days In Processing.got Rfe Already Reply.
 
Inside connections: italian mythology...

jasmine7103 said:
Is it a myth about people saying that immigration lawyers have connections in the goverment and that they could get some things done quicker? My friend got married to a foreigner, he didn't use a lawer initially. He's very detailed oriented and says he had all the paperwork but it took over 2 years to get her a GC. He ended up hiring a laywer last minute. He believes that she got her GC soon because he knew people to 'talk' to. Now I am thinking maybe his wife was stuck on name check and it just happened to clear right about when he hired the laywer... :confused:
Click to expand...


Jasmine,

Inside connection within USCIS by lawyers is a myth, from an Italian mythological playbook. USCIS is like an island, works in its own way. If any attorney tells you that they have an insider within USCIS, be ready to bolt out of his or her office, you are about to be screwed big time. :rolleyes:

The case of your friend is just a coincidence, if not sheer luck for them. The USCIS seeks to ensure that all people are treated fairly, so when you file, your paperwork is processed in order it was received, if you believe this myth too. For people who have attorney,(might I add: GOOD LAWYERS), their advantages are numerous: any issues of harassment by USCIS officers register zero in the harassment meter of USCIS, being stuck in the name check could be met by a flurry of well-written "lawyery" lingo, and if a benefit is denied, issues of MTR are in good hands with their lawyer (A GOOD ONE).

However, when you file alone, you file with Bin Laden, as Bill maher said. :D If you are not detail-oriented and organized or good at following instructions, then a GOOD ATTORNEY is a worthy investment. Alternatively, your spouse could be of great help in most cases. If not, a good friend who possess these skills will be able to help you avoid mistakes which will make USCIS rip your heart apart....

Lawyers who have inside connection with USCIS are the ones who ends up going to jail... flee form such people.... :mad: After all, inside connections only work at Starbucks...when you want a grande mocha... :D
 
Thanks to you all. My name is on the lease of my wife's texas apartment, I hope that'll help with the living apart issue.
I'm devoting the whole of next week to read and fill out the forms myself. I know I'll have great suggestions here whenever the need arises.
 
proofs

Thanks Al for the input. I will keep that in mind :)


About the proof of marriage... I don't know if having your name on her lease is enough. Because that can be done even if that is fake. Here are some of the things I am trying to gather.

I am digging really old documents, letters and photos right now. My name is not on the morgage because we weren't married when we bought the house. It costs 250 - 1000 dollars to add my name on it, so I requested the morgage company explaining that. I am bringing lots of group photos, my graduation photos with him in it, family photos, not just photos of two of us. That's more beleavable. I have joint bank account statements for the last 3 years (I save everything...). They show the detailed spending like going to movies, eating at restaurants and buying furniture. I have copy of the old apartment lease contract, just added his name on utility company, filing tax together this year for the first time, adding his name on our dogs' registrations, letters from family member and close friends, his health insurance with my name added, joint auto insurance... I am probably gathering more than enough but since I have several months to wait, I thought I get as much as possible... So I'd suggest getting more evidence that your marriage is real.
 
jasmine7103 said:
Thanks Al for the input. I will keep that in mind :)


About the proof of marriage... I don't know if having your name on her lease is enough. Because that can be done even if that is fake. Here are some of the things I am trying to gather.

I am digging really old documents, letters and photos right now. My name is not on the morgage because we weren't married when we bought the house. It costs 250 - 1000 dollars to add my name on it, so I requested the morgage company explaining that. I am bringing lots of group photos, my graduation photos with him in it, family photos, not just photos of two of us. That's more beleavable. I have joint bank account statements for the last 3 years (I save everything...). They show the detailed spending like going to movies, eating at restaurants and buying furniture. I have copy of the old apartment lease contract, just added his name on utility company, filing tax together this year for the first time, adding his name on our dogs' registrations, letters from family member and close friends, his health insurance with my name added, joint auto insurance... I am probably gathering more than enough but since I have several months to wait, I thought I get as much as possible... So I'd suggest getting more evidence that your marriage is real.
Click to expand...



Thanks. I think it's always better to gather more than less! I've taken note and I've already started gathering stuff for evidence of our marriage; joint accounts, family pictures, wedding pictures , lease agreements, etc
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top