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Compare Before You Choose

Three real options for your I-130: do it yourself, use ImFiled, or hire a full-service immigration attorney. Here's how they stack up.

DIY (self-file)
Our service · $145
Immigration attorney
Cost
DIYFree
Our service$145 flat
Attorney$2,500–$5,000+
Government (USCIS) fees
DIYYou pay USCIS directly
Our serviceYou pay USCIS directly — never through us
AttorneyYou pay USCIS directly
Forms completed
DIYYou
Our serviceGuided
AttorneyAttorney
Checks blank fields, form edition, signatures
DIYOn your own
Our service✓ Built in
Attorney✓ Included
Attorney review
DIYNone
Our serviceNone
Attorney✓ Included
Legal advice
DIYNone
Our serviceNone
Attorney✓ Included
Time investment
DIYHigh
Our serviceLow
AttorneyLow
Best for
DIYSimple, confident filers
Our serviceMost filers
AttorneyComplex cases

If your case is complex — criminal history, prior removal orders, or prior denials — we'll route you to an attorney at prescreening.

What our software is and isn't

Self-help software — not legal representation

ImFiled is self-help software. You assemble your USCIS I-130 package from your answers: the right forms, a personalized document checklist, and step-by-step filing instructions, organized as a single PDF you can mail in.

We do not represent you or take on your case. We do not advise you on outcomes, interview answers, or how to handle complications. If you need any of that, you need to hire a lawyer directly — and we'll tell you when that's the case.

So why is document prep worth $145? Because the most common reasons USCIS rejects or delays an I-130 are administrative: missing signatures, missing documents, wrong edition of the form, internal inconsistencies. Our automated completeness review catches those before you send anything in — and you get the package back in minutes, not weeks.

When to choose which

Who each option is actually for

DIY (self-file)

For filers who are confident the case is simple, have the time to read USCIS instructions carefully, and are comfortable organizing the supporting documents themselves. Free, but the time and rejection-risk cost is real.

ImFiled — flat $145

For filers who want the time-savings and structure of guided preparation, plus an automated completeness review before submission. Straightforward family petitions, predictable pricing, package ready in minutes.

Full-service immigration attorney

For complex cases: criminal history, prior removal orders, denied prior petitions, pending court matters, or any situation where you need a licensed attorney and full representation. Typically $2,500–$5,000+.

Ready to get started?

Answer a few questions. We'll assemble your USCIS-ready package in minutes. You file.

Flat $145 · Document prep, not legal advice · USCIS-ready package