help needed

[geenees]

My application was denied. I found this out when I went to immigration to talk to someone about how my application was filed.
Let me start from the begining.....
I decided to use a lawyer to file my case. Long story short... the layer finally files my case 3 months from when I first went into see them. I had to fight with them. I should have ran out of the office the first time I started having a hard time with them. I was affraid to find a new lawyer and I had already paid them. Well.... the lawyer didnt do the papers, his wife or assistant did them. She filed an I129f without an I130 and along with my papers sent a copy of my marriage certificate and pictures of our wedding and all that kind of thing. I wasnt worried until I started doing some research into how people file. I remember they had told me there was two papers they would file. and when I recieved the NOA1 I immediatly called the lawyers office to tell them I had recieved it.
Ok now... I go to immigration to ask about my case and to see if they can tell me if it was filed wrong and what to do to fix it. It was denied that day as she was looking it up.... she applogized to me as I broke down in tears right there in the immigration office. Currently I am waiting for the notice to arrive telling me it was denied.
I dont know what I need to do now. I read that I can appeal it. Can I do it myself? I dont think I can afford to pay a lawyer.
Do I have to start all this process from the begining? I feel like such a fool. Help. Thnx ~geenee

[Laura]

Hi Geenee -

Can you give us a little more detail?

It sounds like you filed the I-129F before the I-130 after you were already married. It should have been I-130 first. But it seems like you should be able to just file an I-130 now and then wait again.

Are you the USC or the immigrant? Whichever half of the couple is the immigrant, are they here legally? How did they enter? We need more detail to help you.

Don't worry -

[geenees]

I am the USC I was filing for my husband. I didnt kno the lawyer was filing my papers wrong they had explaind everthing and how they were going to do it and then they filed an I129F for my husband who is in Jordan. I got the rejection letter telling me it was rejected cuz it was filed wrong.. lovely right? No chance for appeal. I fought with the lawyers office about this and I intend to take tham a copy showing them what they did wrong.
I found out I have to reapply which really makes me angry but what else can I do... right? Im trying to take my time and get it right... I dont want to mess it up and I cant afford another lawyer

[Laura]

Geenees - I think you just need to start over and file the I-130 - it's not as bad as it sounds, although if I were you I would try to get the money back from the lawyer. That was an obvious stupid mistake.

You cannot appeal, because it wasn't their fault, it wasn't a matter of them unfairly denying, it was the wrong form. The I-130 is a simple form. You should be able to file it yourself.