Visa Agencies

[ARTILLARY]

Hello, I am new this this forum but a very good friend recommended I write and ask a few questions. I have been to Ukraine several times and have finally met a woman that I want to marry. I just returned recently and desire to start the process to bring her here with a K-1 Visa. I believe I begin with the I-129 form. What I am asking is, is it best to use one of the service companies I see advertised here such as Apex. Are they reputable or has anyone had any experience with them? Or, are there any other recommendations of other businesses that anyone has had success with? Many  companies express their success rate and I just don't know if I should try to file this document by myself. Any help from anyone here will be appreciated. Thanks, Arty.

[romachko]

... in response to Visa Agencies, posted by ARTILLARY on Nov 13, 2004

AFA offers a do-it-yourself package for about $100. A similar service can be downloaded free of charge from a few other web sites. I purchased one from AFA and found it very helpful. In addition, you are allowed to ask one question to an attorney, who specializes K1 business.

Members of this board are also very helpful by giving a lot of advice free of charge. Their advice is based on their recent experience, often more valuable than that of an attorney. This is the main purpose of this board, i.e., help each other.

One mistake I made in filing the petition was forgetting to fill out info about ex-wife (or lack of), resulting in a few weeks of delay in the process.

If you have specific questions, you might bring them out here. Some one sure will answer.

[tbirdjoy]

... in response to Visa Agencies, posted by ARTILLARY on Nov 13, 2004

Do youself a favor and go to the following website and purchase their fiancee visa service for $290.00.  Doing it yourself is a pain and not worth it if you can find someone professional to do it for you.  I agree with everyone else on the Board that hiring an attorney is a waste of money.  I used this agency and I've recommended it to other guys who have also had possitive results.  I am not affiliated with them so there's nothing in it for me.  They are very honest and they have a business partner in the US so you can use a credit card.  They'll do all the work for you and work closely with your fiancee and help and guide her.  It dosen't matter where in the Ukraine she lives.  They'll also arrange and escort her to Keiv for her physical and for the interview if you want to pay for those services (also very reasonalbe). They did a great job for my fiancee and I.  This process is stressfull for your fiancee and mine was very grateful that I had hired them.  They're agency is called  Alphadating and they're in Odessa.  Here is the website  http://www.alphadating.com/    If you want to call and talk to me send me an email and I'll get back to you.  Good luck.

Mark

[LP]

... in response to Visa Agencies, posted by ARTILLARY on Nov 13, 2004

[This message has been edited by LP]


...no need to use a visa service or immigration attorney, they're expensive and unnecessary. Just follow the simple directions on the 129. If you were on the ball you already brought a 235 Bio to UA and had her sign it and helped her filled it out. Same with the birth and divorce (if needed) docs and the photos, better to get it all done while there to avoid mailing back and forth.

I'm told the photos are now straight on, no longer the old quartering view but you need to verifiy that. Visit the website and make up the package the way they say. Don't send more or less than they ask for but make it neat and organized as per their instructions. Keep in mind you're dealing with gum'mint worker bees and they like every i dotted and t crossed. Translations of docs do not need to be by a specialist, anyone can do it as long as they attest to being competent in both languages.

I'm only giving you the basics, you'll need more details. It's been awhile and mine was handled in a different manner than most but the paperwork was pretty much the same. If I'm wrong about something I'm sure I'll be corrected. Feel free to ask further questions here or on "other" boards. There are also many K1 resources on the Net. Do your homework and everything will be fine, it isn't rocket science. The K1 is cake walk, the real hassles can come later during the AOS. Consider this endeavor as three distinct steps: The K1, her arrival and adjustment, then the AOS. You can pay someone if you wish but it's completely unnecessary. Good luck, no matter what you do I hope you're a patient man with a fat wallet.

[ARTILLARY]

... in response to Do it yourself...., posted by LP on Nov 13, 2004

Thanks for the comments and recommendation. You can understand my apprehension to do this myself as I don't want to make a mistake and have an unfortunate delay. I realize the attorneys are high priced so I had been thinking of using one of the services that charge much less and was wondering if they were or are reputable and thinking also that some one here may have used a service (ie APEX) with a good result. After all, I am dealing with gum'mint worker bees. BTW, I like that and will be sure to use it later. Thanks, Arty.

[LP]

... in response to Re: Do it yourself...., posted by ARTILLARY on Nov 14, 2004

[This message has been edited by LP]


...It's your call, do whatever you feel most comfortable with. If you do it yourself and screw it up (not likely if you follow the directions) all that'll happen is you'll get what's called a RFI (Request for Further Information) and you'll need to send them what they want. All it means is you'll be out a few weeks. No big deal.

Mine was handled is a way that required my participation. Also, some people just feel it's important enough to have 100% control. It's the old "if you want something done right" thing. Not to mention it's good to know how stuff works and knowledge is power.

A few comments. I mean no offense, it's simply the way I think. First, any guy serious about this endeavor will familiarize himself in depth with the visa process long before he makes a selection. It's part of the game plan and knowing how the system works will reduce your stress, not increase it. And any girl who can't handle her end of this (with the guy's help of course) makes one wonder how well she'll deal with greater obstacles down the road. Finding and getting her here is usually a cake-walk compared to what comes after.    

Second, as with many MOB men, you freely admit to a lack of confidence in doing something as simple as K1 paperwork while yet assuming with nary a doubt you possess more than enough to pull off a successful marriage to a foreign woman. You have far more control and a better chance of success over the former while the latter is a true crap shoot with huge consequences. I've never understood this logic and it's one reason I find MOB people so, err, interesting at times.

Have fun and good luck. And remember, you asked for this to happen. Lol, just be careful what you wish for...

[TimInUkraine]

... in response to Do it yourself...., posted by LP on Nov 13, 2004

...if you can read an write, you can file your petition yourself. The hard part is keeping on top of your fiancee's paperwork and processes at this end. But an $1800 attorney won't help you with that anyway.

Spend the money you would have spent on attorney buying her extra luggage allowance.......

[Bobby Orr]

... in response to I agree...., posted by TimInUkraine on Nov 14, 2004

Visit the websites posted in the archives as well as the US government website.  Order or download the forms.  Fill them out yourself.  It is very simple if you follow instructions.

[Oatmeal]

... in response to Also agree, posted by Bobby Orr on Nov 14, 2004

The attorney's will have you do all the information gathering anyway.  Why pay someone to fill in the blanks.  Most people are intelligent enough to do it themselves.  It is very self-explanatory