Filing The Paperwork

[thundernco]

Gents,

I was thinking about filing the paperwork to bring my wife over to the US.  Has anyone done this on their own without the help of a lawyer?  If so, any minefields I should watch for? I'll check the archives but sharing of any recent experiences would be a great help in my decision.  Thanks, Thundernco

[cancunhound]

... in response to Filing The Paperwork, posted by thundernco on Jun 2, 2003

Seriously, get 2-3 times as many copies of each required document - it will eventually seem like your filing the same paperwork over and over again with different agencies.  Dot the i's and cross the t's - follow the instructions - the paperwork and process is a cakewalk.  The paperwork requirements will surface in the future when processing future residence status changes and citizenship - so anytime you go the the Colombian notary, for example, get several more copies than you think you need.  I did it without a lawyer no problem - I'm not sure that a lawyer could do anything but compile everything for you and put it in a folder - you'll still have to collect the appropriate documents.

[thundernco]

... in response to Just get lots of copies, posted by cancunhound on Jun 2, 2003

Thanks, how recently did you do this?

[cancunhound]

... in response to Re: Just get lots of copies, posted by thundernco on Jun 2, 2003

Initially filed back in '97.  Constantly dealt with INS thru citizenship a year or so ago.  Filing centers and couple of things have changed but process is still basically the same (granted takes longer now).  2 friends of mine have recently filed also - only one had a problem and it was a simple mistake on his part - very stupid (fiance was in the states on tourist visa - he did not say NO to question about if she had been working - she'll be in Colombia for a long time now)!  One little mistake will really setback the process.