HOW LONG WILL IT ACTUALLY TAKE????

ColombianoGringo says on Dec 5, 2006, 09:37:

Check this site www.visajourney.com

They have some useful timelines for the processing of various visa applications.

If you plan to bring her here to get married, look at the K1 info. If you will marry in Colombia, then look into K-3 and CR-1.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

jetster7 says on Dec 5, 2006, 16:45:

Fiancee or CR1 ? If you do the Fiancee you should have her here between 6 to 9 months. If you do the CR1 it should take between 9 to 15 months. jetster7 at yahoo.com that is my email if you have questions about the process.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

RJQuilla says on Dec 7, 2006, 17:14:

I take it that you guys filled out all the paperwork yourself and that was the time frame. Can an immigration attorney get it done faster or cheaper? What is the fastest and cheaps route?

0 funny, 0 helpful.

FredGarvin says on Dec 8, 2006, 04:58:

Terrryman & RJ,

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?autocom=custom&page=guides

This is a very good page to review to understand the process for each visa type (K1, K3, CR1, etc...).

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/

This is a very good page to review the Timeframes for each of the visa types. What they have done is take VJ members timelines and created trendlines for the various visas. Essentially, it's a real-world statistic made up of actual visa petitioners.

"Can an immigration attorney get it done faster or cheaper? What is the fastest and cheaps route?"

Depending upon your particular case, it might be a good idea to use the services of an immigration attorney. Especially if there is history that might impede the process (difficult to know unless you discuss this).

Can an attorney get it done faster?

Totally depends on the petitioner. If you are proactive, have reviewed the process, and do not have complex case --- you and many others (including me) can do it without an attorney. The timeframe is irrelevent if you are an IA or not --- I seriously doubt that an IA "with a connection" in the USCIS/NVC/Foriegn Cosulate can do a damn thing about speeding up the process.

...If so, I'd love to know about it ;-)

Here is why I decided to not use an IA: Orginially, I paid $100 for an "information packet" from an IA. After reviewing it, I determined that I just wasted $100 because,

1. That same info (actually, more complete info) is found for free on VJ.
2. Essentially, an IA will just tell you to get this form, get these supporting documents, send it to this address.
3. If the IA "takes care of" the process by having you send the completed forms and supporting docs to them, you have no control over WHEN they might send it in. I have read several items where this had caused serious delays in their petition timeline.

Can an attorney get it done cheaper?

bbwwwwwwwwwwwhahahahahhahah!

Yeah. I'll just leave it at this: I refuse to pay thousands of dollars to someone who is going to TELL ME what forms to get and supporting documents to compile.

For what? I mean, there is so much information available to me, I just couldn't understand why I should pay someone (and alot) to do the work.

Anyway, of course I am a bit biased here. So, go see for yourself at VJ, review as much as you can, ask a bunch of questions --- there are good people there that have a ton of real-world experience.

...and it won't cost you a dime.


Take Care,

FG

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Crazy4Cali says on Dec 8, 2006, 13:11:

How long? It depends on the time and backlog, but, remember, this is something that (hopefully) will last a lifetime so waiting an extra month or two to do it right will seem like an eternity now, but in a couple of years, it'll seem like an eyeblink.

To reiterate much of the above.

a) do some homework. read through the procedures on Visa Journey and the USCIS site(s). It will sound like gibberish for the first couple of times you read this information but after a few passes you'll finally "get it." Then you can procedd to the next step. (don't rush, or you'll be sorry)

b) collect the required docs and start filling out the forms. Send your fiance a list of the docs that they need to provide as well. This is probably the easiest (and cheapest) way to speed up the process. If you have all the required docs ready and fill out all the forms correctly (and don't have any problems with your/their past or income) your application will go through the system like greased lightning.

c) Keep tabs on the process. Not that there's much information to keep tabs on until something happens but you want to be ready to jump when something does. The more you can prepare in advance the faster you can move to the next step.

In my case, I filed the I-129F Feb 1, 2005 and my fiance arrived in the U.S. Aug 5, 2005. Looking back it was only 7 months but it seemed like forever. It could have been a month or two faster but August worked best for both of us so we didn't push things. By Mar, 2006 she had her "green card." Not the fastest on record but fast enough.

The hardest part is the waiting to hear something so just be patient and let the wheels of government turn. From all I've heard, for "vanilla" cases, a lawyer will just slow the process down. OTOH, if you have some "issue" then a good lawyer can help you out.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

jetster7 says on Dec 9, 2006, 15:38:

Cost ??? In Miami attorneys usually charge no less than $1500.00 and some cases I have seen them vanish. I charge my applicant $500.00 plus the price of the forms I charge $250.00 up front and when the person arrives I charge the rest of the $250.00 . But thats the way I do it I don't know of anybody else who does it that way. If you have any questions you can contact me jetster7 at yahoo.com

0 funny, 0 helpful.

lpdiver says on Dec 11, 2006, 10:14:

The answer is The CHEAPEST route is to do it yourself. The fastest route is unknowable. A COMPETENT immigrations attorney MAY help you avoid getting a REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFE) or he may not. An attorney can only work with what you give him.

If it is an uncomplicated case you can DIY.

t

"cook some rice!"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Crazy4Cali says on Dec 11, 2006, 12:01:

The fastest way is to make sure everything is filled out correctly and the package is complete. If you need an attorney to do that for you, then using an attorney will be the fastest way. If you can read and follow the (sometimes confusing and conflicting) instructions, then doing it yourself will be the fastest.

In my experience, the biggest thing that slows down the process is requesting documents that take some time to retrieve and deliver or are incorrect and need to be corrected before you submit them. After that, missing documents or incorrectly submitted documents is the next reason for slowing things down. After that, and a distant third in the grand scheme of things, is dealing with a "problematic" history. How or if that will apply to your specific case is something only you can answer.

0 funny, 0 helpful.