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Comparison

welcomeUSA vs. hiring an immigration lawyer

Both get you to a filed petition. The difference is what you pay for: legal advice, or paperwork. Most cases need careful paperwork. Some genuinely need legal advice, and this page lists the situations where a lawyer is worth it.

Side by side

How the two models differ

What it is

Self-help software. You prepare and file your own petition; the software puts your answers on the official forms and checks the packet for completeness.

A licensed professional who takes responsibility for your case, gives legal advice, and files for you.

Typical cost

A flat technology fee, shown before you pay. USCIS fees are paid to the government, never to us.

$3,000–$8,000 is what private attorneys typically charge to prepare a family-based green card petition.

Legal advice

No. Not a law firm, and no result is guaranteed. If your case needs advice, we connect you with an independent licensed attorney.

Yes — that is the product. Advice, strategy, and representation.

Who does the repetitive work

Software: filling forms, building the document checklist, checking every field and signature.

The attorney’s staff, at billable rates — which is most of what the fee pays for.

Languages

English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

Varies by practice.

When to choose them

When the lawyer is the right choice

A removal order or deportation in your history

These cases carry risk that deserves representation, and we recommend a lawyer, even where our software can help you draft the forms.

Criminal history, prior denials, or fraud findings

Anything that raises inadmissibility questions needs legal advice, not just paperwork.

Employer-filed and investor cases

H-1B, L-1, and PERM are filed by the employer. EB-5 is complex enough that we recommend counsel.

You want someone accountable for strategy

If what you are buying is legal advice and reassurance, buy that. A packet checked for completeness still helps: an independent attorney can start from ours.

Your case

See what your case needs. It costs nothing to find out.

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