Do it yourself, or talk to an attorney?
Some filings are routine paperwork. Others are not. Here is an honest way to think about which one yours is — because filing the wrong way costs far more than any preparation fee saves.
Self-filing tends to fit when…
- You are RENEWING something you already have (DACA, a work permit, a green card) and nothing about your situation has changed since it was granted.
- Your history is straightforward: no arrests or convictions, no immigration-court or removal proceedings, no long unexplained trips outside the U.S.
- You can read the questions, and your honest answers are simple facts — dates, addresses, names.
- You have your documents (or can get them), and you have time to file within the recommended window.
Talk to a licensed attorney or DOJ-accredited representative when…
- You have ANY criminal history — even an old, minor, or expunged case. What seems small can have serious immigration consequences.
- You are or have ever been in removal (deportation) proceedings, or have received a notice to appear.
- You have a prior denial, a long lapse in status, or you are not sure what your current status actually is.
- Your case involves things a form cannot capture: complicated family situations, past misrepresentation, or anything you are afraid to write down.
- Anything on the form makes you think "I hope they don't ask about this." That instinct is the signal.
Where MiVisaGuide fits
We are the middle option for the routine cases: our software prepares the official USCIS forms with your answers for a flat fee, and you review, sign, and file them yourself. We are not a law firm, we do not give legal advice, and our screeners are built to point complex situations to a lawyer instead of taking their money.
Run the free self-check →Free and low-cost legal help
These directories are free to use. Nobody pays us to be listed — we list them because they are the right doors to knock on.
Where to find help (free or low-cost)
- CLINIC — Catholic Legal Immigration Network →Directory of nonprofit legal aid providers nationwide.
- AILA — American Immigration Lawyers Association →Find an immigration attorney in your area.
- EOIR Pro Bono List →Department of Justice list of free legal aid providers by state.
- Informed Immigrant →Spanish-language directory of free legal help.
MiVisaGuide is a private document-preparation service — not a law firm, and not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency. This guide is general information, not legal advice, and it does not evaluate your case. Only a licensed attorney or DOJ-accredited representative can advise you on your specific situation.