Paul Ronald

Good morning;



Paul here, I have been reading the posts here at the forum. I also
have been reading from an immigration book that I purchased. My
book is called "fiance visas, a couples guide to immigration" I am
not sure if I have a question at this point, but I will try to
frame my thoughts here for you.

It would seem that there are some waiting periods that I wasn't
prepared for. I am a little sad about what I am reading here. I had
not planned on going to visit May, my fiance again, but now I think
I will re-visit my plans.

I am reading on the internet, but I just wanted to ask here. Is it
possible to file a Direct Consular Filing in Manila? I don't seem to
locate the answer. I probably can just ask the embassy, but perhaps
someone here knows the answer.

My other thought, is now I am wondering if I should just go back to
Manila and marry May. Would it be a better route to follow. I see
that there is a k-3 option now.

Thank you for your patient in answering my questions. I am a little
taken aback by the waiting periods for the k-1. Unfortunately, I
probably know the answer. We just have a long wait ahead. I just got
back from Manila, and I already miss her so much. I can't imagine
waiting over 200 days, as some are doing here. This is something of
a shock to my system right now.

My last general thought, is the lawyer question. Did some of you
here apply without the assistance of an attorney? I think I would
like to know if I am getting in over my head.

Hypertweeky

Originally posted by Paul Ronald

    > Good morning;


    > Paul here, I have been reading the posts here at the forum. I
    > also have been reading from an immigration book that I purchased.
    > My book is called "fiance visas, a couples guide to immigration"
    > I am not sure if I have a question at this point, but I will try
    > to frame my thoughts here for you.

    > It would seem that there are some waiting periods that I wasn't
    > prepared for. I am a little sad about what I am reading here. I
    > had not planned on going to visit May, my fiance again, but now I
    > think I will re-visit my plans.

    > I am reading on the internet, but I just wanted to ask here. Is it
    > possible to file a Direct Consular Filing in Manila? I don't seem
    > to locate the answer. I probably can just ask the embassy, but
    > perhaps someone here knows the answer.

    > My other thought, is now I am wondering if I should just go back
    > to Manila and marry May. Would it be a better route to follow. I
    > see that there is a k-3 option now.

    > Thank you for your patient in answering my questions. I am a
    > little taken aback by the waiting periods for the k-1.
    > Unfortunately, I probably know the answer. We just have a long
    > wait ahead. I just got back from Manila, and I already miss her so
    > much. I can't imagine waiting over 200 days, as some are doing
    > here. This is something of a shock to my system right now.

    > My last general thought, is the lawyer question. Did some of you
    > here apply without the assistance of an attorney? I think I would
    > like to know if I am getting in over my head.



BUMP!!

Charlies

Paul,



I think we all reel a little with shock when we start to understand the
whole immigration process and the potential timeframes involved, so
certainly don't think you are alone there.



The lawyer route is a question that seems to come up very frequently on
here. If you do a search of the forum for lawyer based posts you will
find much food for thought.

My own personal view is that, if you have a straight forward case with
no irregularities (overstays, criminal history) then the process is
certainly very possible to complete on your own. Sometimes the peace of
mind a lawyer can offer is in itself worth investing in, on the basis
that it is a good lawyer.

If you have any uncertainty then consult with a lawyer and seek their
perspective. Most will do a 1-hour consultation for a reasonable fee,
and explain what is in store for you.

If there are any irregularities at all, then positively do consult
with a lawyer, you may be saving yourself a whole lot of heartache in
the future.



Good luck and I hope you have a smooth journey through this.

.

My fiance and I are going through the AOS process right now. It took us ten
months to get her here in the State through K1 process. I have been telling
people that marriage base visa is better because there would be less deal
with BCIS once she/he is here in the state. It may take a little longer to
obtain the visa with US Embassy. I strongly believe that it's better to deal
with Embassy than BCIS.


"Paul Ronald" <member18807@british_expats.com> wrote in message
news:...
    > Good morning;
    > Paul here, I have been reading the posts here at the forum. I also
    > have been reading from an immigration book that I purchased. My
    > book is called "fiance visas, a couples guide to immigration" I am
    > not sure if I have a question at this point, but I will try to
    > frame my thoughts here for you.
    > It would seem that there are some waiting periods that I wasn't
    > prepared for. I am a little sad about what I am reading here. I had
    > not planned on going to visit May, my fiance again, but now I think
    > I will re-visit my plans.
    > I am reading on the internet, but I just wanted to ask here. Is it
    > possible to file a Direct Consular Filing in Manila? I don't seem to
    > locate the answer. I probably can just ask the embassy, but perhaps
    > someone here knows the answer.
    > My other thought, is now I am wondering if I should just go back to
    > Manila and marry May. Would it be a better route to follow. I see
    > that there is a k-3 option now.
    > Thank you for your patient in answering my questions. I am a little
    > taken aback by the waiting periods for the k-1. Unfortunately, I
    > probably know the answer. We just have a long wait ahead. I just got
    > back from Manila, and I already miss her so much. I can't imagine
    > waiting over 200 days, as some are doing here. This is something of
    > a shock to my system right now.
    > My last general thought, is the lawyer question. Did some of you
    > here apply without the assistance of an attorney? I think I would
    > like to know if I am getting in over my head.
    > --
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Leslie66

I wanted to add to Charlie's post. If you're going to hire one, do it
before you start the process and potentially make a mess of it. Lawyers
don't like to get stuck with a DIYer who has botched things up and then
expect them to fix it. I'm not saying you'll do that. I just think
they like to have the case from the beginning.

Good luck.



Leslie



Originally posted by CharlieS

    > Paul,


    > I think we all reel a little with shock when we start to understand
    > the whole immigration process and the potential timeframes involved,
    > so certainly don't think you are alone there.


    > The lawyer route is a question that seems to come up very frequently
    > on here. If you do a search of the forum for lawyer based posts you
    > will find much food for thought.

    > My own personal view is that, if you have a straight forward case with
    > no irregularities (overstays, criminal history) then the process is
    > certainly very possible to complete on your own. Sometimes the peace
    > of mind a lawyer can offer is in itself worth investing in, on the
    > basis that it is a good lawyer.

    > If you have any uncertainty then consult with a lawyer and seek their
    > perspective. Most will do a 1-hour consultation for a reasonable fee,
    > and explain what is in store for you.

    > If there are any irregularities at all, then positively do consult
    > with a lawyer, you may be saving yourself a whole lot of heartache in
    > the future.


Good luck and I hope you have a smooth journey through this.

Karen D

Originally posted by Leslie66

    > I wanted to add to Charlie's post. If you're going to hire one, do it
    > before you start the process and potentially make a mess of it.
    > Lawyers don't like to get stuck with a DIYer who has botched things up
    > and then expect them to fix it. I'm not saying you'll do that. I
    > just think they like to have the case from the beginning.

    > Good luck.


Leslie Hi!



.. and to add to Leslie's post, if you do hire a Lawyer, search for
several experienced AILA lawyers (recommendations would be better) get
quotes from each and if you do decide to use a Lawyer, ensure that you
get some sort of contract with the fee quoted IN WRITING to you.
Also, make sure that it states EXACTLY what will and will not be
covered for that fee.



Good luck and welcome

Leslie66

Originally posted by .

    > My fiance and I are going through the AOS process right now. It took
    > us ten months to get her here in the State through K1 process. I have
    > been telling people that marriage base visa is better because there
    > would be less deal with BCIS once she/he is here in the state. It may
    > take a little longer to obtain the visa with US Embassy. I strongly
    > believe that it's better to deal

    > with Embassy than BCIS.


    >



Are you saying that K3 is better than K1? I wasn't really clear on what
exactly you meant.



Leslie

Marilou920

Paul, Manila doesn't have direct consular filing. It's just normal petition ,
then wait for approval then the embassy sends the packet to the beneficiary.



    >Subject: I see that my service center is Nebraska
    >From: Paul Ronald member18807@british_expats.com
    >Date: 12/11/2003 11:02 AM Central Standard Time
    >Message-id: <>
    >Good morning;
    > Paul here, I have been reading the posts here at the forum. I also
    > have been reading from an immigration book that I purchased. My
    > book is called "fiance visas, a couples guide to immigration" I am
    > not sure if I have a question at this point, but I will try to
    > frame my thoughts here for you.
    > It would seem that there are some waiting periods that I wasn't
    > prepared for. I am a little sad about what I am reading here. I had
    > not planned on going to visit May, my fiance again, but now I think
    > I will re-visit my plans.
    > I am reading on the internet, but I just wanted to ask here. Is it
    > possible to file a Direct Consular Filing in Manila? I don't seem to
    > locate the answer. I probably can just ask the embassy, but perhaps
    > someone here knows the answer.
    > My other thought, is now I am wondering if I should just go back to
    > Manila and marry May. Would it be a better route to follow. I see
    > that there is a k-3 option now.
    > Thank you for your patient in answering my questions. I am a little
    > taken aback by the waiting periods for the k-1. Unfortunately, I
    > probably know the answer. We just have a long wait ahead. I just got
    > back from Manila, and I already miss her so much. I can't imagine
    > waiting over 200 days, as some are doing here. This is something of
    > a shock to my system right now.
    > My last general thought, is the lawyer question. Did some of you
    > here apply without the assistance of an attorney? I think I would
    > like to know if I am getting in over my head.
    >--
    >Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Hypertweeky

Originally posted by .

    > My fiance and I are going through the AOS process right now. It
    > took us ten

    > months to get her here in the State through K1 process. I have
    > been telling

    > people that marriage base visa is better because there would be
    > less deal

    > with BCIS once she/he is here in the state. It may take a little
    > longer to

    > obtain the visa with US Embassy. I strongly believe that it's
    > better to deal

    > with Embassy than BCIS.



    > "Paul Ronald" <member18807@british_expats.com> wrote in message

    > news:"]news:1111427.1071162-
    > [/url]...

    > > Good morning;

    > > Paul here, I have been reading the posts here at the forum.
    > I also

    > > have been reading from an immigration book that I
    > purchased. My

    > > book is called "fiance visas, a couples guide to
    > immigration" I am

    > > not sure if I have a question at this point, but I will try
    > to

    > > frame my thoughts here for you.

    > > It would seem that there are some waiting periods that I
    > wasn't

    > > prepared for. I am a little sad about what I am reading
    > here. I had

    > > not planned on going to visit May, my fiance again, but now
    > I think

    > > I will re-visit my plans.

    > > I am reading on the internet, but I just wanted to ask here.
    > Is it

    > > possible to file a Direct Consular Filing in Manila? I don't
    > seem to

    > > locate the answer. I probably can just ask the embassy, but
    > perhaps

    > > someone here knows the answer.

    > > My other thought, is now I am wondering if I should just go
    > back to

    > > Manila and marry May. Would it be a better route to follow.
    > I see

    > > that there is a k-3 option now.

    > > Thank you for your patient in answering my questions. I am a
    > little

    > > taken aback by the waiting periods for the k-1.
    > Unfortunately, I

    > > probably know the answer. We just have a long wait ahead. I
    > just got

    > > back from Manila, and I already miss her so much. I can't
    > imagine

    > > waiting over 200 days, as some are doing here. This is
    > something of

    > > a shock to my system right now.

    > > My last general thought, is the lawyer question. Did some of
    > you

    > > here apply without the assistance of an attorney? I think I
    > would

    > > like to know if I am getting in over my head.

    > > --

    > > Posted via http://britishexpats.com/"]http://britishexpat-
    > s.com[/url]



When taking the K3 route you have to deal with USCIS too!!!

Lpdiver

Paul,

The Philipines does not do direct consular filing for non residents. So
you have three options that I am aware of.



You could try to find a third country that will do DCF for you. I doubt
that this is a viable option for you but it has worked for some. Also, I
cannot help you with information about doing so.



You can then go either K-1 or K-3 route. Study the davehollis timeline
site carefully and also the Asawa site (specificalliy for Philipines).



In my case it seems that I will save about three months by going the K-3
route...time will tell. You must also learn what is necessary to marry
in your brides country. In my case Colombia it was fairly simple but did
take about a month to accomplish the preceding paperwork. AlsoI wanted
to meet my wifes family.



In the end you will only be able to learn how long it takes by jumping
in and doing it. Probably not what you want to hear but it is reality.
Virtually every case is different.



If you do decide to retain legal council get someone experienced with
YOUR consulate. Also; do your homework and study as though you were not
going to use an attorney, it will help you in choosing wisely.





Good Luck







Originally posted by Paul Ronald

    > Good morning;


    > Paul here, I have been reading the posts here at the forum. I
    > also have been reading from an immigration book that I purchased.
    > My book is called "fiance visas, a couples guide to immigration"
    > I am not sure if I have a question at this point, but I will try
    > to frame my thoughts here for you.

    > It would seem that there are some waiting periods that I wasn't
    > prepared for. I am a little sad about what I am reading here. I
    > had not planned on going to visit May, my fiance again, but now I
    > think I will re-visit my plans.

    > I am reading on the internet, but I just wanted to ask here. Is it
    > possible to file a Direct Consular Filing in Manila? I don't seem
    > to locate the answer. I probably can just ask the embassy, but
    > perhaps someone here knows the answer.

    > My other thought, is now I am wondering if I should just go back
    > to Manila and marry May. Would it be a better route to follow. I
    > see that there is a k-3 option now.

    > Thank you for your patient in answering my questions. I am a
    > little taken aback by the waiting periods for the k-1.
    > Unfortunately, I probably know the answer. We just have a long
    > wait ahead. I just got back from Manila, and I already miss her so
    > much. I can't imagine waiting over 200 days, as some are doing
    > here. This is something of a shock to my system right now.

My last general thought, is the lawyer question. Did some of you
here apply without the assistance of an attorney? I think I would
like to know if I am getting in over my head.