Q: I am an American Citizen and I just got married to an European Citizen from Portugal. She entered to US legally...
I am an American Citizen and I just got married to an European Citizen from Portugal. She entered to US legally on July 28, 2015 and we got married on August 04. I would like to begin the process so my wife can get a work authorization and a green card. What should I do now? Can I do it myself? If so, how long it will take the paperwork process? And if I have to get a lawyer, do you have any idea how much should I pay for this service? Thanks a lot!
A:
Congratulations,
What should I do now? - You should file three applictions I-130, I-485, I-765.
Can I do it myself? - You can do it by yourself, but if you want to do it properly without any mistakes, get an attorney to do it, they have loads of experience and will get it right in the first attempt.
If so, how long it will take the paperwork process? - It might take anywhere from 6 to 10 months if done properly without any mistakes.
And if I have to get a lawyer, do you have any idea how much should I pay for this service? - We are not allowed to quote clients on this forum, but to give you a general idea, most lawyers charge a flat fee meaning you only pay a pre determined fee some lawyers charge hourly which will be more/less depending on your situation. Since you are going to apply for her green card only once I highly recommend investing in a lawyer so you can be stress free. All the best.
"15 years of successful immigration law experience. The answer above is only general in nature cannot be construed as legal advice, given that not enough facts are known. It is your responsibility to retain a lawyer to analyze the facts specific to your particular situation in order to give you specific advice. Specific answers will require cognizance of all pertinent facts about your case. Any answers offered are of a general nature only, and are not meant to create an attorney-client relationship."
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
