Filing AOS -do it myself or seek lawyer

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umd_mba

Registered Users (C)
Hi ,
I am relatively new to the forum . I have been going thru the postings by the members on AOS filing timelines and issues. Thanks to everyone for taking the time out to share their expeiriences.
To file AOS as the spose of a USC , I understand I would have to fill out the I130 , I131,I485 and I765 .
Does everyone do it themselves ? is is easier and better to go to a lawyer ?
If anyone can giving me an idea of the lawyer's fees for this type of filing, I would appreciate it.
Thanks
 
I did it without a lawyer, and so far everything is going swimmingly. For me a lawyer simply wasn't an option, over $1000 already spent on medicals and filing fees was pretty much the limit of how much I wanted to spend.

Its really up to you, whatever you feel comfortable. However I honestly believe that by being careful and reading and asking questions on forums such as these you can do it yourself.

However, a lot depends on one thing: How are you in the country in the first place. I.e. what visa do you have. This can make a big difference to how easy you will have it.
 
umd_mba said:
Hi ,
I am relatively new to the forum . I have been going thru the postings by the members on AOS filing timelines and issues. Thanks to everyone for taking the time out to share their expeiriences.
To file AOS as the spose of a USC , I understand I would have to fill out the I130 , I131,I485 and I765 .
Does everyone do it themselves ? is is easier and better to go to a lawyer ?
If anyone can giving me an idea of the lawyer's fees for this type of filing, I would appreciate it.
Thanks
Click to expand...

Just out of curiosity I asked the lawyer that all my companies used to process my previous (three) H-1B visas and I-129 petitions.
She asked $3000 + legal fees (between $600 and $900 depending on what you apply for).

Definitely worth a little research and doing it myself. And don't forget that you still have to spend time obtaining the documents (birth certificate, tax returns, etc etc) to give the lawyer.

But it's up to you. Unless you have a delicate complicated case, I suggest you to do it yourself.
I preferred spending those $3000 in a couple of nice caribbean vacations.
 
Depends on which you have more of... time or money. :D

Seriously though, I think it depends on your timeframe and your tolerance to risk that it might mean you don't work for a few months (if you currently can).

I am a Canadian that married a USC and who's current TN Visa expires on Oct 2nd. I sent in all my applications 90 days before my TN expires, which theortically should have been the longest it would take to get my EAD (or at least an interm EAD), but because I was not aware I needed to send in medical information (I-693 + Supplement) with my I-485, and that a delay on my I-485 can effect my ability to apply for an interm EAD, I now might be sitting on my butt for 2 months, not able to work because I cannot get an interm EAD until 90days after the receipt of my I-693.

This is most likely going to be a very expensive mistake for me, which makes the $2000-2500 I was quoted (in Texas) seem insignificant, especially if I don't have a job to go back to after those two months.

If I would have been smart, I would have renewed my TN Visa (lasts 1 year) just before we got married in March so I would have a full year to get my EAD instead of 3 months.

Good Luck.
 
Not wishing to sound too harsh MrMystery, but your mistake would have been easily avoided by actually reading the I-485 instructions, which are fairly clear on this point.

That said, the RFE should not stop you trying to get the interim EAD at T+90 days, many have tried this despite RFEs, and suceeded.
 
I believe you can do it yourself. I did not know anything about the process till I came to this site. With help from people on this board, we did this on our own with no problem. Please read the instruction thoroughly and make sure you run everything by people on this board before you submit. Why spend money on lawyer if you really do not have complicated situation?
 
Depending on the circumstances of your case mostAOS cases can be done without a LAwyer.

We spent less than 1000.00 and did it ourself!

See attached for a cost breakdown and sample cover sheets/ cover letter

Welcome and good luck
 
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