Lawyer

[rosyanne]

Hi,

 

We are looking for a lawyer now so if you had one and he/she works good, please recommend to us.

 

Timeline will be the major standard for us to see whether he/she is good. (Seem to everyone.)

 

Thanks for shareing.

Anne

[Jason+Joanna]

Hi Anne -

 

I have just started the process, but I looked around for a lawyer for about a month before hand. I decided on a local lawyer here in Orange County, CA. She is Chinese lady from Beijing. She has very attentive, very prompt, and easy to work with. The think I am most impressed with is that she does not give a line of BULL like some other lawyers I looked at. Since I just started the process, the timeline does not really speak for her. However, I do not have any issues what-so-ever to recommend her if you cannot find a local lawyer to hire.

 

Good luck, and good hunting

[leejcandle]

I used a lawyer, with relatively good results. My experience is different from others.

 

Mine seems to have processed the paperwork well; my time to approval through Texas Service Center was fast.

 

My reason for going with a lawyer was that my job situation keeps me from investing the time and attention to detail that I felt was necessary. This includes the time it might take to research the excellent help that can found on forums like Candle.

I had decided at the beginning that I would visit my fiancee in China every 3-4 months; and that if he saved me one more trip, his fee would pay for itself.

 

 

But he (and seemingly no one else) can't help what seems to be the big problem: Guangzhou.

 

After approval and being sent to Guangzhou, our package sat in customs for several weeks. Now even though all the clearances seems to be done, we're looking at December for the interview. So even though my lawyer did his job for the most part (maybe our TSC approval time was faster that others who filled out the paperwork on their own, or maybe had RFE's), he can't make Guangzhou speed up.

 

Don't misunderstand my conclusion; my lawyer may have made my overall timeline faster; but he can't control anything after the package gets forwarded to Guangzhou; and that's where we see will be the largest amount of time spent. YMMV.

[rosyanne]

Hi Anne -

 

I have just started the process, but I looked around for a lawyer for about a month before hand. I decided on a local lawyer here in Orange County, CA. She is Chinese lady from Beijing. She has very attentive, very prompt, and easy to work with. The think I am most impressed with is that she does not give a line of BULL like some other lawyers I looked at. Since I just started the process, the timeline does not really speak for her. However, I do not have any issues what-so-ever to recommend her if you cannot find a local lawyer to hire.

 

Good luck, and good hunting

Sounds good, maybe you can hand me some more informations??

My b/f is located in Van, Washington. (Few hours drive maybe?)

He has in touch with one lawyer there(found him online I believe) but we don't think he is very efficient coz took 2 weeks for him to mail Steve the informations we need to file K-1.

 

Thanks,

Anne

[rosyanne]

I used a lawyer, with relatively good results. My experience is different from others.

 

Mine seems to have processed the paperwork well; my time to approval through Texas Service Center was fast.

 

   My reason for going with a lawyer was that my job situation keeps me from investing the time and attention to detail that I felt was necessary. This includes the time it might take to research the excellent help that can found on forums like Candle.

   I had decided at the beginning that I would visit my fiancee in China every 3-4 months; and that if he saved me one more trip, his fee would pay for itself.

 

 

But he (and seemingly no one else) can't help what seems to be the big problem: Guangzhou.

 

After approval and being sent to Guangzhou, our package sat in customs for several weeks. Now even though all the clearances seems to be done, we're looking at December for the interview. So even though my lawyer did his job for the most part (maybe our TSC approval time was faster that others who filled out the paperwork on their own, or maybe had RFE's), he can't make Guangzhou speed up.

 

Don't misunderstand my conclusion; my lawyer may have made my overall timeline faster; but he can't control anything after the package gets forwarded to Guangzhou; and that's where we see will be the largest amount of time spent. YMMV.

Well, I've learned that it took LONG time before the interview coz one of my b/f's co-worker had his files in system and waited for interview almost a year now.

 

First is first, I would think about how to deal with the GuangZhou issue only after the file transferred to there. I heard that one expection is: you can be picked to upfront if the girl is perguanted. (Well,maybe there are some other expecption that we just didn't figure out?)

 

I've read on most members' sig here and I did notice it took less than 1 year for the whole proccess. (It only took 3 months for some people done for the package 3)

 

I've asked so many people about this proccess since the day 1 but answers are varied. Thus, we are hoping that lawyer will be a better option.

[Jason+Joanna]

Hi Anne,

 

I just sent you a PM of the lawyer info.

[turtle]

Most of the variation in timelines has to do with where you live. People who can file their application in Vermont can get to the p3 stage in just a few weeks. I'd be careful basing your decision on timelines alone, because they can be misleading.

[oregonknl]

Anne (and BF in Vancouver WA) ----

 

 

I don't know your exact cirumstances.... but unless you have been turned down for a visa before, or been associated with failed visa applications (former spouce, for instance) ---- I don't see the need for a lawyer...

 

Maybe you could tell us more about your perticular circumstance?

 

--Kim

[rosyanne]

Most of the variation in timelines has to do with where you live.  People who can file their application in Vermont can get to the p3 stage in just a few weeks.  I'd be careful basing your decision on timelines alone, because they can be misleading.

I am in Shanghai, and he is in Washington.

[rosyanne]

BTW,thanks for those who have PMed me for informations.

 

Well, this forum release my stress big time.

[keelec]

Steve & Anne,

 

Some couples who have used lawyers in the past swear by them. Some who have used them swear at them.

 

Many couples who have not used lawyers think they are a waste of money.

 

Many things depend on your time / financial situation.

 

A good lawyer will charge around $1,000 for putting together your paperwork. But, even lawyers make mistakes. And the lawyers really can not do anything to speed up the process.

 

That $1K could easily buy an extra trip to China. And, of course, the more the two of you are actually together, the better the application will look (not to mention preserving your sanity).

 

There are many free resources that you can use. People here on the CFL are always glad to answer any question that you might come up with. Of course all our answers are "opinions", but the collective group of several dozen active members have a lot of experience with the process.

 

And, there are always your congressmen and senators who are supposed to help if you run into problems dealing with government agencies.

 

---------

 

One other note. There is a rather large group of Candle for Love members living in the Northwest. I have managed to meet a couple of them who seemed to be very kind. Perhaps some of them actually live north of the river.

 

Look at some of these topics:

 

What happened to the Oregon Topic

http://candleforlove.com/forums/index....t=ST&f=1&t=3561

 

Oregon... How about another get-together

http://candleforlove.com/forums/index....t=ST&f=1&t=5275

 

Oregon Get Together

http://candleforlove.com/forums/index....=ST&f=15&t=5697

 

How many members living in Oregon

http://candleforlove.com/forums/index....t=ST&f=5&t=6006

 

Good Luck to both of you,

Clifford

[johnxiaoying]

What do you call 1,000 lawyers at the bottom of the ocean? A good start!

 

I hired a lawyer, paid him $1,000, we filled out the I-129F, I-130, 325's. He (his receptionist) slapped on a cover letter and omitted our marriage documents when submitting the I-129F. I was the one who caught the error while picking up my copy.

 

If you hire an attorney, hire one who is highly recommended to you. Don't take a shot in the dark with an "immigration specialist" like I did.

[rosyanne]

What do you call 1,000 lawyers at the bottom of the ocean?  A good start!

 

I hired a lawyer, paid him $1,000, we filled out the I-129F, I-130, 325's. He (his receptionist)  slapped on a cover letter and omitted our marriage documents when submitting the I-129F. I was the one who caught the error while picking up my copy.

 

If you hire an attorney, hire one who is highly recommended to you. Don't take a shot in the dark with an "immigration specialist" like I did.

Thank you so much for the tip.

 

BTW, thank you for all of you that responsed to my thread.

 

We've decided to take the risk again and go through everything by ourselves. We've done once and unforturnately missed something so would like to make sure that we don't miss anything this time.

 

Since lawyers are not speed up the proccess, there are less reasons for hire them. As long as the file goes in, we have time to worry about the next issue. I am not good at making things pretty but I will least give a try.

 

Once I get the #, I'll probobly bother them everyday and asking where is my file in the line??

[rosyanne]

It's a shame to lose the time already spent. Not sure if it can be slavaged or whether starting a new petition is the way to go. Since your fiance is in Washington state, he will have to file through Nebraska - the worst.

 

I'd suggest asking for opinions on how to proceed on britishexpats and/or visajourney. I know there are several immigration lawyers on britishexpats who offer up info to questions that they deem of interest. You should get a response on either forum in a few days and it will take at least that long to put another I-129F together. You have nothing to lose by asking.

 

I'd also contact the national visa info line and ask them about a way to respond to the RFE after the deadline. Maybe there is, maybe not. Another option may be to file a motion to reopen, but that may take as long as simply filing a new petition.

 

Your situation is very unusual. Sorry I can't help more.

Thanks!

 

That's great enough so far.

I believe putting another one is easier since the lawyer told him that we might have to go through many other issues if we continue the old one.

 

Right now, we just trying to collect all the right informations and file it in,see what happens. (Maybe anyone here can provid a COMPLETE list of what we should get for the file? )

 

You guys make me feel much better, I was helpless and so down for a while there.

 

Anne

[PatentAttorneyPTO]

When selecting a lawyer, you should determine whether or not that particular lawyer went to a first tier law school or one of the lesser law schools in the 2nd through 4th tiers. I have found that first tier law school graduates are exceptionally competent lawyers. The incompetent lawyers usually went to 3rd or 4th tier law schools. At the US Patent and Trademark Agency, we usually hire only graduates from first tier law schools.