You can file every US immigration form yourself. The question is whether the downside of getting it wrong is recoverable.
There is no requirement to be represented in a US immigration matter. Plenty of people file successfully without a lawyer.
The useful question is not "can I do this myself" but "what happens if I get it wrong, and can I undo it".
In these, the forms are the process, USCIS's own instructions are adequate, and the fee is the main cost.
Anything with a criminal record, however minor, however old, however resolved. Immigration consequences of criminal convictions do not track criminal severity — a misdemeanour can be an aggravated felony for immigration purposes. Do not file anything without advice.
Any prior immigration violation. Overstay, unlawful presence, removal proceedings, a previous denial, a prior misrepresentation. Unlawful presence bars in particular are technical, and a misjudged filing can trigger one.
Anything discretionary. EB-2 NIW is the clearest example — the adjudicator is weighing your evidence, not ticking boxes. Approval rates on NIW have fallen sharply since the January 2025 guidance, and the petitions that succeed are the ones built as arguments rather than assembled as paperwork.
Anything where a denial has consequences beyond the fee. If a refusal means losing status, triggering a bar, or separating a family, the cost of a lawyer is small against what is at stake.
Anything with a deadline you cannot miss — a status expiring, a priority date becoming current.
Removal or deportation proceedings. Always.
Understanding this makes the fee legible.
Strategy before forms. Which route, filed when, in what order. Getting that wrong is more expensive than any form error.
Evidence, assembled as an argument. In discretionary cases this is most of the value — the difference between sending USCIS a pile of documents and sending a petition that explains what the documents prove.
Anticipating the Request for Evidence. Experienced counsel knows what triggers one and addresses it pre-emptively. Avoiding an RFE saves months.
Responding to an RFE or a denial where one arrives anyway.
Filing Form G-28, which makes them your formal representative of record and means USCIS corresponds with them.
Worth stating because it is where unrealistic expectations start.
They cannot speed up a visa bulletin, guarantee an outcome, influence an adjudicator, or make you eligible for something you are not eligible for. Anyone promising any of that is not a lawyer you want.
These are ranges from published fee schedules, not quotes, and not a market average. No 2026 AILA or bar-association survey exists. Fees vary by complexity, city and firm.
| Matter | Indicative range |
|---|---|
| EB-2 NIW petition | $6,800 – $14,500 |
| H-1B petition | $2,000 – $5,500 (usually employer-paid) |
| Marriage green card, adjustment of status | $2,500 – $4,000 |
| Family green card, consular processing | $3,000 – $3,500 |
| I-130 petition alone | ~$2,000 |
All exclude government filing fees, biometrics, medical examinations, translations and credential evaluations.
More detail in what an immigration lawyer costs.
Some firms offer limited-scope representation — a consultation to check your strategy, or a review of a petition you have prepared yourself, at a fraction of full representation.
For a borderline case, an hour of paid advice before you file is the highest-value money in this entire process. It either confirms you can proceed alone or catches the thing that would have sunk you.
Check they are licensed. Only two categories of person may lawfully represent you before USCIS: attorneys in good standing with a US state bar, and DOJ-accredited representatives working for a recognised nonprofit.
"Immigration consultant", "visa consultant" and "notario público" are not among them. See how to choose an immigration lawyer for how to verify.