Where would it be best to hire an Immigration lawyer -in the Philippines or in the United States?
My American fiance and I just got married here in the Philippines and he has left for CA already. I am left here in Manila and currently working on my papers and my VISA application for IR-1 (Spousal visa): waiting for my National Statistics Office Marriage and Birth Certs, authentication of documents in Department of Foreign Affairs, then in the US Embassy in Manila. My husband is thinking of getting an Immigration lawyer to speed things up– but we’re lost whether we/he should get one from the United States or here in Manila. Your thoughts please. Thanks in advance.
An immigration lawyer is a total waste of money in a case like yours. Any high school graduate can fill out the simple forms and submit them.
An immigration lawyer does NOT speed things up. All cases are processed in the order they are received.
Your husband files… I-130, I-864 and G-325A with the USCIS. The fee to file will be $355. You should fill out a G-325A and send it to him to submit along with his 3 forms.
In about 6 or 8 months you’ll get a packet of forms from the US Consulate in Manila. You’ll fill them out. You’ll get your physical exam from the St. Luke’s Extension Clinic. You’ll submit the forms, NSO and NBI documents, and sealed results from your physical back to the US Consulate.
You’ll be contacted by the consulate when they are ready to interview you. Make sure you have your passport. You’ll make an appointment and do your interview with a US Consular Officer. You’ll receive your passport with the CR-1 Visa by private courier service.
All the forms are here… http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=25fb1a3d215a3210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=25fb1a3d215a3210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD
