David Fatih Gallant

I hired this law firm after attending their webinar for academics. After reviewing my case, the firm recommended that I pursue the EB-1A extraordinary ability category and emphasized that my case was very strong. I was also assured that my case would be personally handled by the attorney. Based on th...ese assurances, I paid more than $12,000, including fees. However, throughout the process, I had direct communication with the attorney only regarding the RFE and the subsequent denial. Most of my communication was with other members of the team. The process also raised several concerns. Although I was initially told that there were no deficiencies in my file, I later discovered issues involving missing reference letters and translation deficiencies, page-layout problems in the application, and the sharing of sample reference letters intended for EB-2 NIW rather than EB-1A. I received an RFE concerning all five criteria relied upon in my application, and the case was ultimately denied. The USCIS decision also stated that the bylaws of the associations on which my application relied did not establish the required “outstanding achievement” criterion. This gave me the strong impression that this aspect of my case had not been adequately evaluated before filing. After the denial, I shared my concerns and requested either a partial refund or that the amount already paid be applied toward an EB-2 NIW filing. I did not receive a response to these requests. I understand that the final decision in an EB-1A case rests with USCIS. My criticism is therefore not simply about the outcome, but about the preparation, review, communication, and management of my case. Based on my experience, I would not recommend this firm, particularly to academics considering an EB-1A application.