Anyone applying for NIW (National Interest Waiver) or EB1A (Extraordinary Ability Immigrant Visa) should ask themselves an important question: "Should I hire a law firm, or can I handle this on my own (DIY)?"

The USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) does not require that applications for NIW, EB1A, or any immigration petition be submitted through a lawyer. This means applicants have the option to prepare and file their applications on their own without hiring an attorney.

The Earlier You Apply, the Sooner You Get Your Green Card:

Submitting your application early ensures a more favorable position in the green card queue. Filing early can reduce waiting times caused by retrogression or visa number exhaustion, which are determined by the immigration system's priority date and visa bulletin mechanisms. Keep in mind that even a day's delay in submitting an application could result in waiting an additional six months or more. For example, from October 2022 to July 2023, the EB2 priority date remained stagnant. An applicant with a later priority date could face a long wait and even risk retrogression.

With these points in mind, I will briefly analyze three options—hiring a law firm, DIY, or using the QuickFiling toolkit—based on three key factors: cost💰, time⏰, learning curve📖.

1. cost💰：Law firm fees are typically high, starting at around $4,000 and can even go up to tens of thousands of dollars. On the surface, DIY might seem cheaper since you only need to pay the USCIS fees. However, the lack of professional guidance means that if you receive a Request for Evidence (RFE), you may need to hire a lawyer to handle it, making the hidden costs of DIY difficult to predict. The QuickFiling toolkit offers a cost-effective middle ground, with fees falling between those of hiring a law firm and DIY. It allows access to legal services at a more reasonable price. The petition letters (PL) generated by QuickFiling can also be reviewed by a law firm before submission, ensuring both affordability and professionalism. Even if you encounter a strict immigration officer and receive an RFE, you can still hire a lawyer to draft the RFE response at a more affordable cost.

2. Time⏰：Law firms often serve multiple clients, leading to delays of several days for email communication back and forth. Moreover, applicants still need to prepare a significant amount of documentation themselves in the initial stages. On the other hand, with DIY, you need to search for templates and manually organize all the materials, which is both time-consuming and labor-intensive. In contrast, QuickFiling can instantly generate petition letters (PL) and recommendation letters (RL) based on the applicant’s uploaded background documents and allows for multiple revisions. It also provides approved PL examples relevant to the applicant's field as references, greatly enhancing efficiency.

3. Learning Curve📖：In a green card application, only the applicant truly understands their own background and field. Law firms often rely on templates to handle most applicants’ materials, and because lawyers may not be familiar with the applicant's specific expertise, they could overlook critical evidence. While DIY offers greater control, it lacks the reference materials for petition letters (PL) and recommendation letters (RL). Coupled with the demanding workload and academic responsibilities applicants face during the day, preparing a complete application in a short time is challenging. QuickFiling, however, provides an experience similar to a "building guide" with LEGO. It offers applicants approved PL and RL samples as references, and by following a standard step-by-step process to upload documents, applicants can easily generate their own personalized filing package.

Let's now take a closer look at the pros and cons of each option: hiring a law firm, DIY, and using the QuickFiling toolkit.

When applying for a U.S. NIW (National Interest Waiver) or EB-1A (Extraordinary Ability) visa, some applicants choose to go through a law firm to ensure a high level of professionalism.

First, law firms have the necessary professional qualifications and extensive experience to provide comprehensive legal services. Large firms often have well-established templates and processes, making them especially suitable for first-time applicants. For newcomers, the green card process can seem complex and unfamiliar, so having a law firm to consult with at any time can offer peace of mind. Additionally, law firms can provide personalized legal advice based on each applicant’s specific situation, ensu...
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However, while hiring a law firm has several benefits, there are also some drawbacks that cannot be ignored.

However, the strict selection criteria of law firms can limit opportunities for many applicants. Academic applicants, especially those with a lower number of citations, may be directly rejected by large firms. Large law firms typically accept only cases with high citation counts to ensure a high success rate because handling these cases without charging extra for RFEs (Request for Evidence) or NOIDs (Notice of Intent to Deny) would be financially unviable. For researchers with few citations but significant potential, this could mean missing the opportunity to obtain an NIW. After all, the NIW criteria do not specify a required number of citations to qualify for application.
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Even if a law firm is hired, the applicant's involvement remains significant. Applicants typically need to write a 30-40 page Summary of Contributions (SoC) for the law firm to fully understand their background. The SoC requires the applicant to summarize 2 to 3 projects, clearly describe the technical contributions in their papers, and explain them in layman's terms for the immigration officer, while also highlighting contributions relevant to national interests. Writing the SoC is entirely the applicant's responsibility, making it almost a semi-DIY effort. For those with busy work or academic schedules, drafting the SoC could take several months or even up to a year. In such cases, every day of delay in submitting the application could increase the greencard waiting time by six months to a year.

Another often overlooked but crucial drawback is that law firms typically communicate with clients via email, and a single lawyer often handles multiple cases. As a result, each inquiry could take several days to receive a response. For time-sensitive applicants, this wait can be very frustrating because timing is critical in immigration applications; any delay could impact the priority date and overall application progress. Throughout the application process, time is the applicant’s most valuable resource, and the high workload and communication delays at law firms can severely waste this resource.

Moreover, the assembly-line approach and templated handling by law firms can overlook an applicant's unique achievements. Most lawyers are not experts in the applicant’s specific field, so they may lack a deep understanding of the technical details, making it difficult to fully showcase the applicant’s accomplishments. While lawyers excel in legal procedures and document preparation, they may not be able to present the applicant's unique contributions as accurately and comprehensively as the applicant could themselves.
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The advantage of using a law firm for NIW/EB-1A applications lies in its professionalism and systematic management. However, there are also issues such as strict client selection, heavy client involvement, and a lack of personalization due to standardized processing. Applicants should choose the most suitable application method based on their specific situation, particularly in terms of time, resources, and expertise in their field. With proper time and effort management, applicants can write their own Summary of Contributions and thoroughly highlight their achievements, making it entirely possible to successfully obtain a green card without the help of a lawyer.
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To recap, USCIS does not require NIW/EB-1A or any immigration application to be submitted through a lawyer. As an outstanding researcher, an applicant is fully capable of filing the immigration petition independently.
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Applicants know themselves best. While DIY applications for NIW/EB-1A may seem like a lot of work, for those willing to invest time and effort, this approach offers great autonomy and flexibility. Unlike relying on a law firm, DIY applicants have full control over the entire process, ensuring that every document accurately reflects their achievements. However, this high level of autonomy also comes with various challenges and risks.

The DIY process for applying for NIW/EB-1A involves several key steps. First, the applicant needs to thoroughly research the USCIS application requirements, understand the standards for a successful application, and be familiar with relevant regulations. Next, applicants should have reference templates. This involves joining immigration forums, Telegram groups, WeChat groups, or Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book) to gather shared experiences and template materials from others. Then, the applicant must write a detailed Summary of Contributions (SoC), outlining their 2 to 3 most significant projects, clearly describing their technical contributions, and explaining how their work aligns with national interests. Following this, they need to identify influential people in their professional field and convince them to provide recommendation letters (RLs).

Once these materials are written, the applicant must also collect and organize supporting documents, including published papers, citation records, patents, and conference presentation records, ensuring that these materials effectively support the application. Afterward, they need to fill out all necessary USCIS forms, pay the application fees, and compile all materials into a complete application package for submission.

After submitting the application, the applicant needs to regularly monitor the status. If a Request for Evidence (RFE) is received, the applicant must promptly prepare and submit the required additional materials. Throughout the entire process, the applicant is in control of every step, ensuring that every document accurately reflects their achievements and contributions to U.S. national interests. With careful preparation and meticulous execution, DIY applicants can successfully obtain approval for their NIW/EB-1A application.

The greatest advantage of DIY is the applicant's deep understanding of their own situation. After all, no one knows the applicant’s research, contributions, and professional achievements better than the applicant themselves. By writing their own application materials, applicants can ensure that every detail accurately reflects their unique value. Additionally, DIY applications give applicants complete control, allowing them to flexibly adjust content and strategies to better meet application requirements. For those who like to have full control over the process, this approach maximizes their strengths.

The time required for a DIY application is difficult to estimate. Applicants need to invest significant time to gather information, find suitable templates, study legal requirements, and, amidst their demanding work and academic schedules, prepare all the necessary materials. This process is not only time-consuming but can also be exhausting. Even experienced applicants may struggle to find templates or advice that perfectly fit their situation, requiring repeated consultations with others and substantial self-study and research.

The learning curve for DIY applications is very steep. Applicants need to learn the entire application process from scratch, and it is easy to get lost in the sea of information. Each platform is filled with a lot of misinformation and advertisements, requiring applicants to spend considerable time filtering through the content. More seriously, blindly pursuing a DIY approach may lead to application materials that do not meet USCIS's specific requirements, potentially triggering a Request for Evidence (RFE). If an RFE is received, applicants must either respond on their own or contact a lawyer for additional assistance, which not only increases time costs but also raises the risk of application failure.

The advantages of DIY applications are deep understanding and complete autonomy, but the disadvantages are equally significant, including a long time commitment, limited resources, a steep learning curve, and how to handle the risk of an RFE. Applicants should evaluate whether they have enough time, energy, and resources to face these challenges before choosing this route. If they can manage their time effectively and invest enough effort, DIY can be an effective option. However, they must also recognize the high risks involved and be prepared to handle potential issues.

QuickFiling not only offers a highly autonomous DIY toolkit but also combines it with professional legal services at a more reasonable price. QuickFiling’s system provides access to professional law firm services. The generated petition letters (PLs) can be reviewed by a professional law firm before submission to ensure quality, while the cost remains more affordable. Additionally, if faced with a tough immigration officer and an RFE (Request for Evidence), QuickFiling can use its partner lawyers to draft an RFE response at a more reasonable price. Overall, the QuickFiling toolkit offers great value for money, costing far less than traditional law firm fees while allowing applicants to fully explore their background and maintain a high level of autonomy during the DIY process.

Law firms typically handle multiple cases and rely heavily on email communication. Under normal circumstances, it may take several business days to receive a reply to an inquiry email, which can be unacceptable for time-sensitive applicants. Particularly when visa bulletin dates are unstable, submitting even a day late could mean a longer wait, delaying the application progress.

QuickFiling’s customized immigration AI model allows for instant document generation and multiple revisions, significantly improving the efficiency of the application process. Applicants don’t need to wait several days for responses; with QuickFiling, they can quickly modify documents and ensure their application is filed as soon as possible, effectively responding to priority date changes.

Law firms usually use standardized templates and processes that, while professional, lack personalization. Since lawyers at law firms may not be well-versed in the applicant's specific field, the final submitted materials often fail to deeply showcase the applicant’s unique achievements. Additionally, applicants typically cannot make substantial changes to the documents provided by the lawyers, limiting their control over the application materials.

Every person is unique, and every case deserves customization. Applicants can flexibly adjust and modify their application materials based on their specific situation. Moreover, the templates provided by QuickFiling are highly personalized, allowing applicants to refine and customize the generated documents to ensure they fully reflect their personal background and achievements.

The fees for law firms are typically very high, especially for complex cases. While law firms can provide comprehensive legal support, they usually only accept applicants with high citation counts. For those with fewer citations or more complex backgrounds, a law firm may not be a viable option.

The costs associated with QuickFiling are more reasonable compared to law firm services, while offering comparable or even more efficient services. Applicants can receive high-quality support at a lower cost, significantly improving the value of their application process.

When preparing an NIW or EB-1A application, many applicants face a significant challenge: how to effectively organize and manage a large number of documents, especially when it comes to cited papers and supporting materials (exhibits). During my first DIY attempt for an EB-1A application, I lacked the skills to efficiently manage numerous PDF files. Files were often scattered in the Downloads folder, and I would search for them as needed. This approach was barely manageable, and as the number of files increased, managing them became increasingly chaotic. It wasn’t until later that I realized the importance of categorization, but by then, a lot of valuable time had been wasted.

QuickFiling offers an efficient and all-in-one solution. Through QuickFiling, applicants can easily manage various documents, avoiding the headache of disorganized files. This tool significantly simplifies the entire process, making document management orderly and efficient, saving time, and greatly improving the efficiency of application preparation.

QuickFiling's "Organize Research" module allows applicants to easily set different research topics and organize related papers. This categorization not only helps clarify thoughts but also serves as a pre-organization of the 2 to 3 projects for the Summary of Contributions (SoC), making the application logic clearer. QuickFiling’s SoC toolkit free trial can also quickly generate an SoC, saving a significant amount of time and effort for writing Recommendation Letters (RLs) and Petition Letters (PLs) later. Compared to the tedious process of manually organizing folders, QuickFiling provides tremendous convenience, eliminating the hassle of chaotic document management.

Managing a large number of references is a common challenge for applicants when writing papers. The same challenge arises when preparing for NIW and EB-1A applications, and QuickFiling’s automated reference management system becomes a helpful assistant. With traditional DIY or law firm applications, applicants often spend a lot of time manually downloading cited papers, which is not only time-consuming but also complicated by access restrictions from publishers. QuickFiling automatically scans and downloads accessible PDF documents and highlights those that need to be manually downloaded, providing an automatic download script. This minimizes the applicant's workload, allowing them to focus on key content rather than wasting time on downloading references.

QuickFiling’s automated highlighting feature for references impressed me the most. In the traditional DIY process, applicants need to manually search for and highlight notable citations in the cited papers—a tedious process prone to errors. QuickFiling’s highlighting feature completely simplifies this process by intelligently identifying and marking key information in the references. Applicants only need to print these already-highlighted documents to serve as strong supporting materials in the exhibit section of the petition letter. This automated process not only enhances efficiency but also reduces the risk of errors, ensuring the professionalism and completeness of application materials.

In DIY NIW or EB-1A applications, receiving a Request for Evidence (RFE) is something applicants hope to avoid. RFEs not only extend the application process but also bring tremendous stress and uncertainty. In comparison, traditional DIY methods often leave applicants at a loss when facing RFEs. Non-professionals lack the experience and expertise to accurately understand USCIS requirements, leading to further delays or even application failures. At this point, seeking legal assistance would not only increase time costs but also add expenses. This is a significant blow to DIY applicants who have already invested a lot of time and effort. The shortcomings of traditional DIY in handling RFEs are particularly evident.

If the unwanted RFE does occur, QuickFiling offers RFE response services written by lawyers. This timely and professional support greatly reduces the risk of DIY applications failing due to insufficient or non-compliant materials, making the entire application process safer and more reliable. For applicants who wish to DIY but are worried about RFEs, QuickFiling undoubtedly provides a strong guarantee.

When preparing for an NIW or EB-1A application, time and learning difficulty are two key factors that directly affect the applicant's experience. Choosing the right application method can significantly reduce the stress and burden during the application process. QuickFiling's DIY toolkit is like a detailed "Building Instructions" guide for applicants, making the entire process smoother and more manageable.

Using the QuickFiling toolkit to DIY your application is like following LEGO’s “building instructions” to complete a complex model step-by-step. QuickFiling simplifies the cumbersome application process into clear, actionable steps that applicants can quickly follow. When QuickFiling generates a personalized PL, it also provides approved petition letter examples related to the applicant’s field as references. This streamlined process not only significantly reduces application time but also ensures the quality of the submitted materials. Like assembling LEGO according to the instructions, every step is precisely executed. QuickFiling makes the application process no longer mysterious and complicated but as orderly as building blocks. This structured guidance significantly lowers the learning curve and greatly enhances application efficiency, especially for applicants who wish to complete their applications efficiently in a short time.

In contrast, a fully DIY approach is like assembling a complex LEGO model without any “building instructions.” The learning curve for traditional DIY is much steeper, requiring applicants to start from scratch, search for petition letter examples on forums or Xiaohongshu, without knowing if these PLs have been approved, and spend a lot of time discussing in various groups. Without the help of a "building manual," applicants are easily confused and lost. Every step requires figuring out and trial and error, which is not only time-consuming but can also lead to materials not meeting standards, affecting the success rate of the application.

QuickFiling also provides convenient services for applicants, including payment, receiving addresses, printing, and mailing. Considering the time required to print and assemble hundreds of pages of materials, QuickFiling’s service greatly reduces the applicant’s burden, saving them from wasting an entire day on these tedious tasks and allowing them to focus on other key aspects of the application.

QuickFiling offers various usage options, allowing applicants to choose based on their specific needs. Here are some interesting combinations, analyzed as follows:

For those who prefer to work with a large law firm but do not want to draft their own Summary of Contributions (SoC), QuickFiling’s SoC Toolkit is an excellent choice. This tool can automatically generate SoC templates that meet the requirements of large law firms. This greatly reduces the time and effort needed to write the initial draft of the SoC, allowing applicants to focus on refining the content rather than starting from scratch.

If you plan to submit your application independently, you can use QuickFiling’s NIW/EB1A Toolkit to complete the entire application process, including document management and generating the Petition Letter (PL) and Recommendation Letters (RLs). The generated documents serve as a framework; applicants can verify the details and use ChatGPT to adjust specifics, thereby customizing their PL to their situation. Applicants can then use QuickFiling's assembly and printing services to compile all the materials and submit them to USCIS, ensuring that the content is both professional and tailored to their personal situation.

If you prefer to have a law firm submit your application, you might want to try QuickFiling’s application service. Law firms generally offer a flat fee that includes potential costs for RFEs (Request for Evidence). If you don’t receive an RFE, you end up paying more than necessary. QuickFiling breaks the entire application process into several core modules: Ready-to-file petition package preparation, legal review and attorney filing, printing and mailing, and RFE response. You have complete freedom to choose only what you need, reducing costs and speeding up the submission of your application materials. Moreover, QuickFiling has an out-of-pocket limit, ensuring that the overall cost will not exceed a law firm’s flat fee.

If you plan to DIY, QuickFiling provides free resources that can greatly simplify the process. You no longer need to scour forums for advice or search for templates. QuickFiling currently offers a free NIWKIT DEMO, which serves as an excellent educational resource. You can prepare your application by simply following the materials generated by the demo. QuickFiling also provides free NIW DIY templates, a free smart form-filling tool, a free recommendation letter generation tool, a free Proposed Endeavor generation tool, and free educational resources (QuickFiling Help Center), among other tools.

Each of these options offers flexibility and convenience, allowing applicants to choose the most suitable approach according to their needs and preferences.

I specialize in systems research within the field of computer science, rather than the popular ML/AI domain. I completed both my Master's and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Science in the United States. My journey of applying for NIW (National Interest Waiver) and EB-1A was quite challenging, involving experiences with both law firms and DIY approaches, and I became deeply familiar with the pain points of each option.

When applying for NIW, I chose the most well-known law firm on a particular forum. At the time, I had three publications and about 60 citations, and my NIW application was approved successfully. However, the same law firm refused to help me apply for EB-1A, believing that my background was too weak for approval. When my citation count increased to around 80, I wanted to attempt EB-1A. After consulting with many law firms, I decided to work with a U.S.-based law firm, but the experience was very disappointing. I ended up receiving a denial and had a prolonged and fruitless dispute with the firm.

After completing my Ph.D. and settling down, I reflected on my previous frustrations with law firms and realized that no one understands my situation better than I do. So, I decided to DIY my EB-1A application. I thoroughly researched forum materials, joined multiple Telegram and WeChat groups, and browsed Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book) to deeply explore my notable citations. I submitted my second EB-1A application to the Texas Service Center (TSC) and opted for premium processing, but after receiving an RFE (Request for Evidence), I immediately withdrew. Eventually, I submitted my third EB-1A application, chose premium processing again, and finally got approved. At the time of approval, I had fewer than 10 publications, around 100 citations, and had conducted several dozen peer reviews.

My experiences highlight the challenges of both law firm and DIY approaches, and I hope my insights can help others navigate their own application journeys more smoothly.