K-1, lawyers or third parties

[Son of Clyde]

As I indicated in the other thread, I did my AOS and had no problems.

I am thinking of some part-time job possibilities and was wondering if it is legal for a third party (not a lawyer) to prepare a K-1 application and charge maybe one fourth what an attorney might charge.

I would think if a person is capable, keeps on top of the laws and regulations and is licensed it might be an option.

There was the company that took visa applications for Americans and sent them priority mail. I used them twice.

[William3rd]

PREPARING a form and packet is what most of these agents are doing as paralegals or immigration consultants. When it becomes discussing the legalities of the applications or interpreting regulations, the line is crossed.

I saw one of the major violators move out of their home state to another state a couple years back when the state passed strict immigration regulations against immigration paralegals.

See what your state requires- CA requires a bond, a disclaimer sign in the office, and other requirements on immigration consultants. Enforcement is not by the feds.

[I/O]

If you can fix something yourself, then do so, but when or if you need a doctor, pay a bloody doctor and get on with life. Too many half arsed wannabees out there IMO.

I/O

[Son of Clyde]

Sorry I/O but some people are too unsure of themselves to do the K-1 without a lawyer's help. I was one of them. Now I am seeing it is not so difficult in most circumstances and not many people want to spend $1,000.00 for a lawyer to do it. 

[jb]

Clyde,

Let me get this straight in my head,,, you had to hire a lawyer to do your K-1 and now you are thinking of starting a business helping others do the same paperwork that you couldn't do???

What's wrong with this picture?

[Son of Clyde]

What is wrong with your picture mister Rickles?

[Bruno]

...some people are too unsure of themselves to do the K-1 without a lawyer's help...

Sorry Dan... i think that the best place, maybe better that a laywer, for a K1 and paperwork is the forum "visajourney"... for paperwork, they are better "armed" that RWD... both forum complement each other...

[Son of Clyde]

jb has me labeled as incompetent when actually I just was new at this and did not want to make any errors. Both lawyers made errors of omission. The forms are self explanatory, visa journey is a huge help giving step by step instructions.

My problem with the K-1 was communication, obtaining the documents, translating the documents and possible problems with her ex husband not wanting to sign for his son to leave the country. Everything was resolved.

The AOS is more involved, more paperwork and I pulled it off without a major problem.

If you want to do the K-1 yourself go to www.visajourney.com

[I/O]

Sorry I/O but some people are too unsure of themselves to do the K-1 without a lawyer's help. I was one of them. Now I am seeing it is not so difficult in most circumstances and not many people want to spend $1,000.00 for a lawyer to do it. 

No need to be sorry, because you didn't seem to get my point.  When you need a doctor, call a DOCTOR.  They are similar to Lawyers, they are available for a fee, so if you need one, hire one and get on with life. If you need help in this pursuit and you havn't got $1000 to buy that help with then you seriously need help.........................of another kind.

I/O

[Son of Clyde]

I/O I understand what you are saying. Some day you will need to start the process and I hope the Austrailian government does not use the same stupid forms. Some people don't want to deal with the bull sheet so they hire a lawyer. I thought with my stepson I might have a problem. I did not.

I actually know several guys who are just not good with filling out forms and the forms we need to complete are very repetitious.

[I/O]

SOC Immigration forms are tedious wherever you live.  My country happens to have about the strictest regs in the world (generally speaking) and of course the paper trail that goes with it.  BTW our application was lodged in Nov 06.

What you don't seem to be catching here or at least steadfastly refusing to recognise is that you came into this thread with some harebrained idea of starting a part time business completing documents for other people when by your own admission, you don't have anything like a complete knowledge of the subject. 

Further you don't even know if it is legal within your country to offer such a service.  I wonder how you will go finding "Professional Indemnity Insurance"? 

BTW, "Forms" are NOT stupid.  Often the people who write on them are.  I am surprised you didn't start another of those dreamy threads wanting to change the whole visa process so the "Simple" people could complete the documents also.

You may well be a nice enough guy, but your business plan is totally "Off the wall" to say the least.  I suggest you rethink and leave legal matters to the lawyers, after all, it is they who usually need to clean up the mess after people who don't know what they are doing frigg it all up.

I/O

[Bruno]

BTW, "Forms" are NOT stupid.  Often the people who write on them are.

And don't forget these who work in Administration and encode them in computer... these are stupid too... and some of them don't know recent regulation...

Perfect example was about the document needed for my cohabitation visa... my city hall was without the needed form and not knowing it... excuse given was that these law was new... law from 2004 and we was in 2007... 3 year is not enough for administration people to adapt... some have problem for encode data on computer since the computer form is not 100% similar to the paper form...

From my previous marriage, Belgium administration have know a lot of problem with the Russian middle name from my ex wife... no place was planned for this on the form...

When you need deal with the stupidity of administration, a lawer can help... 

[Son of Clyde]

I am telling you the AOS I filed had no RFA's and no hold ups. I did it on my own. What are you not understanding about this? I work in a very technical job with regs just like the USCIS has regs. I am saying I made a mistake in hiring a lawyer when I could have done it myself. I left no mess with my AOS the two lawyers I hired for the K-1 both made mistakes. I think RWD should be made into an Aussie board as you all seem to have taken over the last few months. Damn, I am sounding like jb.

[jb]

I think RWD should be made into an Aussie board as you all seem to have taken over the last few months.

Feelin' a little left behind, are we?

[Kuna]

I think RWD should be made into an Aussie board as you all seem to have taken over the last few months.

   Cool idea! 

Many of you would be welcome downunder!!!

[I/O]

I think RWD should be made into an Aussie board as you all seem to have taken over the last few months. Damn, I am sounding like jb.

SOC Gaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwd, what an insult to RWD if you honestly think a couple or half arsed Aussie cynics can take over the board it would be rating the board fairly lowley. The point is here, you didn't even know if the service was legal when you came to this thread and it took.....shock horror..."A lawyer" to wise us up on that point. 

It seems that some "One Application wonders" are a bit like "One trip wonders", that is they consider themselves experts.  But then again, what is the definition of an expert?  "X" being the unknown quantity and a "Spurt" being a "Drip" under pressure.

Your continued refference to the "Stupidity" of various aspects of the system kinda speaks volumes to me.  I am no lover of some of the systems or administration either, however, systems are systems and we simply have to live within them or find something else to do.

I/O

[Son of Clyde]

Don't you Aussie's ever sleep? 

[I/O]

Don't you Aussie's ever sleep? 

Very well, thankyou kindly for enquiring.  BTW it happens to be the middle of the day here right now. 

I/O

[Son of Clyde]

I need to get out my "Men at Work" album.

[jb]

It seems that some "One Application wonders" are a bit like "One trip wonders", that is they consider themselves experts.

My point exactly.  I would even go farther and say there probably aren't enough men out there who need assistance with filling out these forms to keep a handful of lawyers busy.  Considering the size of the fees listed for this K-1 service, I have to think it's more of a sideline, not a speciality.  I imagine the real bread and butter for an Immigration Lawyer is probably geared more towards those with real problems with the USBCIS, such as illegals being sorted out as deportees, or companies looking to keep visas current on high value H-1B holders.  The odd K-1 case wouldn't make the monthly payment on the light bill.

[William3rd]

Actually JB, I made a pretty good living doing about 90% K visas for about 9 years. My max in a month was about 40 cases. With low overhead and only running an internet law office, it can be a good living. Not very challenging but it definitely paid the bills

It can get mind-numbing, though. The amount of telephone time was staggering. The numbers of relationship failures were completely disconcerting. After a couple of thousand cases, I could almost see what was going to work and what wasnt when the case first came in the door.

[catzenmouse]

I need to get out my "Men at Work" album.

Midnight Oil would be a better choice. 

[I/O]

Midnight Oil would be a better choice. 

I was going to bed, but that, Catz, really got up my nose.  That tree hugging, do gooding, arse kissing useless blight on the Australian culture had no right to get a mention here.  I am seriously pissed with you now.  Redemption will be hard earned for you now.

BTW, the lead singer from thatgroupwhoIrefusetoname launched a political career sometime back and needless to say it wasn't with my support.

I/O

[William3rd]

Ahhh yesss- Midnight Oil- reminds me of my first trip to Bangkok in Superstar a go go..... still have a cassette in my van.

Helped me to appreciate Australian culture

[catzenmouse]

I/O,

 If I let politics get in between my enjoyment of movies or music I would have a very, very limited variety of things to watch and listen to. Have a good sleep!

Ken