Do you need a lawyer tor for Thai wife's CR1 visa to USA?

[My 2 baht]

We are thinking about moving to the US my home country.

 

If you have gone through the process of getting the marriage visa for your Thai wife, do you think it is hard and treacherous enough to warrant spending for an attorney to help with the process? 

 

I am retired so have to be cautious with my spending and an attorney, as you know, isn't cheap. I have plenty of time on my hands but having dealt with Thai immigration on my own I understand that immigration processes can be filled with landmines. 

 

To bring my Thai wife and her son to the US, I have to go through a 3 step process: Department of Homeland Security, State Department and the Embassy here.

 

Thoughts?

[beachproperty]

First I would talk to an immigration attorney. I'm an attorney myself and when I brought my English wife to the US I hired an immigration attorney. The US is not Thailand so the laws are different. 

[My 2 baht]

17 minutes ago, beachproperty said:

First I would talk to an immigration attorney. I'm an attorney myself and when I brought my English wife to the US I hired an immigration attorney. The US is not Thailand so the laws are different. 

I have spoken to several attorneys and thank I understand the prices now. Do you mean you would pay for an attornies services like you did? 

 

Is there an attorney you recommend? 

[bbko]

 

1 hour ago, My 2 baht said:

do you think it is hard and treacherous enough to warrant spending for an attorney to help with the process? 

 

I'm in the process of starting my wife's petition now for a IR1 visa, (I-130), I wouldn't say the questions are hard or treacherous but they are tedious. Pre covid I would bounce back and forth between the US and here working 3-6-9 months at a time, so gathering all the dates & addresses is time consuming.

With the online system they have now, you can start filling out the information, stop when need be and then come back at a later date and pick-up where you left off.

My suggestion would be to take a look at the online process, file what you can and if you get stuck, ask for help either here or through a lawyer. Or you could even DM me as I'm doing the process now.

Good Luck

https://www.uscis.gov/file-online/forms-available-to-file-online

Edited December 14, 2021 by bbko

[My 2 baht]

40 minutes ago, bbko said:

 

I'm in the process of starting my wife's petition now for a IR1 visa, (I-130), I wouldn't say the questions are hard or treacherous but they are tedious. Pre covid I would bounce back and forth between the US and here working 3-6-9 months at a time, so gathering all the dates & addresses is time consuming.

With the online system they have now, you can start filling out the information, stop when need be and then come back at a later date and pick-up where you left off.

My suggestion would be to take a look at the online process, file what you can and if you get stuck, ask for help either here or through a lawyer. Or you could even DM me as I'm doing the process now.

Good Luck

https://www.uscis.gov/file-online/forms-available-to-file-online

Thanks. I should have already checked the online forms out and appreciate the offer of my DMing you

[GinBoy2]

Hmm we did a CR-1 a few years back.

 

Wouldn't say the documentation is hard, but it's tedious and the backup paperwork needs work.

 

The problem I thought if you do it yourself is one stupid slip up, lack of documentation and you're back to the start.

 

Now we did it when the USCIS office was still open in BKK and local filing meant you could, as we did get it done in 100 days start to finish.

 

Now you have to file in the US lockbox and it takes a year. Don't f**ck that up and go back to the start all over the lack of some stupid document or translation.

 

So, I'd always say get a reputable company to help you prepare the package. Remember you are legally able to bring your spouse to the US, so it's just dotting and crossing the correct stuff.

 

But this is the Government and they can screw you wherever possible.

 

The other quirk to your situation will be your wife's son, who I'm assuming isn't your's and hence not a US citizen.

Assuming he's under 18 thats a whole other bunch of documentation that going to be needed, and again no margin for error

Edited December 14, 2021 by GinBoy2

[beachproperty]

10 hours ago, My 2 baht said:

I have spoken to several attorneys and thank I understand the prices now. Do you mean you would pay for an attornies services like you did? 

 

Is there an attorney you recommend? 

Yes I did pay for an attorney to get it done.

 

Recommend an attorney???? No Its been 20 years since I practiced and it depends on the area you live in or will be going to.

Edited December 15, 2021 by beachproperty

[GinBoy2]

This is my personal opinion, but it doesn't need an attorney but it does need a preparer.

 

There are many pretty reputable companies in Bangkok which can help you assemble all the documents.

 

If any of them say upfront they 'guarantee' a visa....RUN.

 

I would willingly send you contacts for the company we used. Pretty upfront about any pitfalls and the fact that nothing is a done deal until have that embassy interview.

 

Back in the day, I was sitting in the USCIS office in Bangkok with a package of docs prepared for me, The couple sat next to me had like 3 sheets of the A4 application.

 

Needless to say they were out of there within 2 minutes

[My 2 baht]

9 hours ago, GinBoy2 said:

This is my personal opinion, but it doesn't need an attorney but it does need a preparer.

 

There are many pretty reputable companies in Bangkok which can help you assemble all the documents.

 

If any of them say upfront they 'guarantee' a visa....RUN.

 

I would willingly send you contacts for the company we used. Pretty upfront about any pitfalls and the fact that nothing is a done deal until have that embassy interview.

 

Back in the day, I was sitting in the USCIS office in Bangkok with a package of docs prepared for me, The couple sat next to me had like 3 sheets of the A4 application.

 

Needless to say they were out of there within 2 minutes

Thanks. Please DM me with the name of the firm you used. Using a preparer makes sense. 

[My 2 baht]

13 hours ago, GinBoy2 said:

Hmm we did a CR-1 a few years back.

 

Wouldn't say the documentation is hard, but it's tedious and the backup paperwork needs work.

 

The problem I thought if you do it yourself is one stupid slip up, lack of documentation and you're back to the start.

 

Now we did it when the USCIS office was still open in BKK and local filing meant you could, as we did get it done in 100 days start to finish.

 

Now you have to file in the US lockbox and it takes a year. Don't f**ck that up and go back to the start all over the lack of some stupid document or translation.

 

So, I'd always say get a reputable company to help you prepare the package. Remember you are legally able to bring your spouse to the US, so it's just dotting and crossing the correct stuff.

 

But this is the Government and they can screw you wherever possible.

 

The other quirk to your situation will be your wife's son, who I'm assuming isn't your's and hence not a US citizen.

Assuming he's under 18 thats a whole other bunch of documentation that going to be needed, and again no margin for error

Please DM me with any recommendation you have for a preparer

[bbko]

I've always been a DIY kind of guy so for me to pay a lawyer or preparer to fill out forms written at an 8th grade reading level and where you'll need to provide all names, dates, address & documents anyway is "confusing", and that's putting it politely. Good Luck.

[My 2 baht]

15 hours ago, bbko said:

I've always been a DIY kind of guy so for me to pay a lawyer or preparer to fill out forms written at an 8th grade reading level and where you'll need to provide all names, dates, address & documents anyway is "confusing", and that's putting it politely. Good Luck.

My big roadblock that I have encountered is the requirement by usic to have a permanent mailing address. Did you have one

[jielwei]

On 12/14/2021 at 7:32 PM, bbko said:

 

I'm in the process of starting my wife's petition now for a IR1 visa, (I-130), I wouldn't say the questions are hard or treacherous but they are tedious. Pre covid I would bounce back and forth between the US and here working 3-6-9 months at a time, so gathering all the dates & addresses is time consuming.

With the online system they have now, you can start filling out the information, stop when need be and then come back at a later date and pick-up where you left off.

My suggestion would be to take a look at the online process, file what you can and if you get stuck, ask for help either here or through a lawyer. Or you could even DM me as I'm doing the process now.

Good Luck

https://www.uscis.gov/cinema hd/file-online/forms-available-to-file-online

Thanks for the help.

Edited December 29, 2021 by jielwei
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