Our Repatriation

My how things change! 

My husband suddenly has 2 companies trying to hire him in the US, one of them being the US parent branch of his current company. They both want him in the States ASAP on specific jobs. His company is willing to sort out an L-1 visa for us, but we're going to pass on that one. The plan is that we are going through a lawyer in London to process our DCF, and (in theory) we get our visa in 6-8 weeks so we can move to the US and start his job ASAP. We have a consult with the lawyer next Thursday, and we'll probably start the process then. I'm hoping we can be transferred with his company rather than taking the other job, because the other job is less stable.

So I guess we're kind of cheating on this whole visa thing! We already made the application for his police records last Monday, so that ball is rolling. The only reason we're going through the lawyer is because he guaranteed us we could get the visa in 6-8 weeks rather than the 3-4 months it could take on our own, and that - for our circumstances - makes all the difference in the world because they want him in the States ASAP, and we have to take this opportunity while it still exists. If it ends up that he can't get us pushed through quicker, we'll just do it on our own. Speed is important here.

So! I'm in complete denial about it all, that it's really happening. We still don't know which job we'll be going over for, but we're definitely going over. My guess is we'll be moving sometime in August, perhaps September if they want him to finish the project he's on at the moment, the one in England.

So AAAAAAHHHH!
Now I'll start missing everything about England, before I even leave! It's silly to think I'm really leaving England though. I've got an English husband, and an English son & extended family, and we'll still be flying over here all the time - so how is that really leaving? It's the best of both worlds, if you ask me.

Hiya!! Congrats on the job offer from your Hubby's currrent company! thats the kind of stuff we like to hear!

Now about your lawyer supposedly "guarenteeing" you that he could push your visa through in 6 - 8 weeks rather than 3 - 4 months. Im sorry to say that IT ISNT POSSIBLE. Your lawyer has no control over how fast the embassy deals with your papers and his gaurentee is most likely a sales pitch so you'll use him.

Filling our your papers clearly, providing exactly what the embassy want the first time they ask for it, and having everything assembled and ready ahead of time is the BEST way you can speed up your visa processing. The rest of it is COMPLETELY up to the EMBASSY, NOT your lawyer. As a matter of fact it's probably quicker if you do everything yourself because you wont have to take time to relay information and documents between yourself and your lawyer. Instead you'll be dealing directly with the Embassy. Middlemen never cut down on time.

In all the cases that Ive read Ive never once heard of lawyer's being able to ACTUALLY push a visa application through more quickly than the client could have managed on his or her own. Infact Ive heard loads of cases where having a lawyer actually caused serious and unnecessary delay.

If time is what youre worried about - get your papers sorted and get them in yourself ASAP or wait til after your holiday next month and then do it AS SOON as you get back. Its possible to perhaps get your interview date a bit quicker if you can show that the company in the US wants your husband to join them ASAP. But its totally at the embassy's discresion.

Personally, I would be EXTREMELY warry of this Lawyer. The promise of a quick visa is always alluring but the fact of the matter is, he wont be able to process your visa any quicker than you can. Once your in with him and he's submitted your papers, you'll have to pay him for his services weather you get the visa in 6 weeks or 6 months. Lawyers are salesmen - they say they'll do something special for you just like every other of their 100 clients. Lawyers are working on multiple cases and can easily shove your case to the background because they have no personal investment in it. Always keep in mind that NOBODY in the world cares more about your visa than YOU. If the case is in your hands YOU have direct control over how long it takes to fill out forms, get documents, and send them out.

Just my two cents. I hope your meeting is fruitful but definatly take his sales pitch with a pinch of salt. A big one.

Good luck,
Sarah

PS: if ANYONE has heard of a genuine case or has been on the recieving end of a lawyer actually being able to push a visa through quicker than normal, let us know! Id love to hear the story!

Thanks for that post Marsbar, you've got a lot of good points, points that David & I have beenchewing over for a long time. We're definitely keeping our consultation with us on Thursday, but our plan is to have all the initial paperwork filled out, bring it there, ask all the questions we can possibly think of (including can we travel, what the implications of his job offer are etc), and then unless he can give us a guarantee that includes *getting money back*, we'll file on our own. But we definitely need the legal advice.

PLUS - David got a phone call from the US branch today saying that they are hoping for him in September, which means time is less important. We were thinking we'd have to be there in weeks, hence the lawyer - but if we file the paperwork next Thursday, right after visiting him and asking him our questions, then 3.5 months later, that puts us in September, which is perfect.

This whole situation seems to change by the day! But I must say I'm much happier knowing they'd be willing to wait until September for us, because that means we don't have to worry about rushing things, and we save loads of money, only hiring the lawyer for a one-off consultation!!

Glad to hear that youre feeling a lot less rushed! I hope your meeting with your lawyer goes well and Im also glad to hear that youre going to make him work for his money!! Let us know how things go and best of luck!!

Good news on the job stuff, I havent even started looking for a job yet  I also have to second MarsBar, at least from what I have read there is no way of speeding up the visa process. Getting a lawyer, telling them you're pregnant, telling them you're dying etc wont cut it. Each time you fill out a set of forms and send them off they have to arrive at the embassy then be processed along with perhaps hundreds of other applications before you get a reply, then you have to do more form filling and such so there is no way it can be done any faster than the 2-3 month+ time. Unless you have a relative working at the embassy that can cut you a quick deal Wish I had!

OMG Sara!!! CONGRATS - it doesn't seem like long ago you were just starting to talk about this!!! You have got to be so excited!!! BTW - I started missing England the moment we made the decision to go home

Even though you're in a whilrwind now, I know it doesn't seem to be happening fast enough...but September is going to be here awfully quick. Wow! This is all so exciting!