Foreign-born founders who want to start up in the United States are forced to deal with an immigration industry that’s long treated delays and lack of transparency like business as usual.
Even highly accomplished entrepreneurs face a number of obstacles during the immigration process:
- Standard immigration channels are slow and unpredictable, with no guarantee of approval.
- Some immigration law firms hand cases off to paralegals, assistants, and offshore teams, leaving clients without the expert legal guidance their cases demand.
- Many firms advertise flat fees but charge extra for steps like responding to requests for evidence (RFEs) from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), or for speeding up case timelines.
Even law firms that offer to refund legal fees if your visa is denied have their downsides. For instance, their pricing often excludes responses to RFEs, so while they might offer a 50% refund, cutting corners on quality almost guarantees an RFE, letting them earn the refund back through add-on fees.
Such firms might also take on less qualified applicants, even borderline cases, which can lead to higher denial rates and wasted time for clients who are counting on a timely and successful outcome.
For those who can’t afford delays or risky bets, half-measures aren’t enough. That’s why we built a solution tailored to the needs of startup founders.
At Alma, we prioritize speed, certainty, and attorney involvement at every step. Our process:
- Delivers results in weeks, not months.
- Centers on clarity and trust with flat pricing (no hidden fees), direct access to attorneys, and full visibility into every stage of your application.
- Maintains a 99% approval rate for visa applications.
We hold ourselves to a higher standard: faster timelines, clearer communication, and complete transparency — so startup founders can focus on building their companies, not navigating bureaucracy.
This standard comes from my experience securing a U.S. work visa, which gave me firsthand insight into the frustrations, delays, and anxiety many face.
Below, we’ll explore the biggest challenges startup founders face when establishing themselves in the U.S. and explain how Alma solves them with speed, transparency, and clarity.
Problem #1: Uncertainty, Stress, and Slow Processing Times
Processing times for entrepreneur-related visas are notoriously lengthy.
On the one hand, USCIS can impose long and uncertain timelines for some types of founder-related visas like the O-1A. The U.S. immigration system’s backlog of petitions waiting to see the light of day is a well-known fact, and adjudications can take years.
This creates a baseline expectation of slow processing for almost all applicants, forcing many potential founders to delay their ambitions until they can secure permanent residency. Such delays can also be a source of frustration and impact business plans.
On the other hand, USCIS sometimes also responds with RFEs, which are formal notices to provide more evidence or clarification regarding certain points in the application. These can lead to uncertainty and delays in the application process, along with extra costs.
Although RFEs are sometimes due to USCIS error, most arise from:
- Incomplete or missing supporting documents.
- Inaccurate or incomplete responses.
- Failure to meet specific eligibility criteria.
In other words, if the immigration firm fails to do proper due diligence or doesn't file the application to USCIS’s satisfaction, an RFE becomes much more likely.
On top of that, some firms employ paralegals or offshore teams to prepare applications with only cursory attorney review. This can lead to errors, weaknesses in the application, and a greater chance of an RFE. It can also stretch out timelines.
For example, many of our clients first tried to get a visa with another immigration firm. One client was quoted a total O-1A visa processing time of three to four months, but it ended up taking eight. Another well-known firm assigns one attorney per 800 cases, slowing the process even more.
Uncertainty also stems from the fact there's no visa designed specifically for startup founders. Instead, they must retrofit their unique experiences and qualifications to existing USCIS requirements, which makes applications tricky to prepare.
For example, securing funding is a major achievement for any founder. What we've found effective is not listing VC funding under the Awards section of the O-1A extraordinary ability criteria, but placing it elsewhere.
Alma's Solution: Efficient Application Process with Results in Weeks
We prioritize efficiency and ensure every application receives personalized, detailed attention from attorneys — not paralegals or offshore teams. This makes our process faster and more thorough.
The O-1A visa process typically takes just four to six weeks, from document submission to a final USCIS decision.
We’re able to achieve this timeline for three key reasons:
- Two-week petition prep: Once clients submit their paperwork, we commit to preparing and filing petitions within two weeks.
- Premium processing: We recommend USCIS premium processing, which delivers a decision within 15 business days.
- In-house platform: Our platform eliminates the back-and-forth of email by centralizing communication, document submission, and case tracking.
Problem #2: Applicants Bear the Burden of an Inefficient Process
Outcomes in the U.S. immigration system are never 100% certain. Long processing times, unpredictable hurdles like RFEs, and the lack of a dedicated visa pathway for careers such as startup founders all add to the ambiguity.
A visa denial or a lengthy delay isn’t just inconvenient — it can derail business plans. In many cases, delays and denials stem from incomplete applications or insufficient evidence of eligibility.
Alma's Solution: Selective Case Acceptance and Personalized Attention
We've achieved a 99% approval rate for visa applications and Green Cards, while many firms charge extra for RFEs or outsource cases to junior lawyers.
This success rate rests on two interconnected pillars:
- A highly selective client intake process.
- A hands-on, attorney-led case management system.
From the initial consultation, we’ll tell you whether there's sufficient evidence to move your case forward and identify the strengths and weaknesses in your profile. After that, your information is reviewed by one of our senior attorneys who makes the final decision on whether to file your application.
This approach saves applicants time and money by assessing their chances up front, rather than taking them on simply because they can pay.
This differs from many traditional law firms in that:
- Accepted cases are managed directly by experienced attorneys, not passed off to paralegals.
- Our attorneys work closely with clients to build strong, compelling cases with the highest chance of success.
Problem #3: Unpredictable Pricing and Hourly Billing
The legal services industry is notorious for opaque pricing, with many firms charging by the hour and driving up legal bills with significant, unexpected costs. They’re also known for charging extra fees for things like expedited services or for replying to RFEs without prior disclosure, while invoices often include vague descriptions like "Met with client" or "Did legal research."
Even the term "retainer" can be misleading: some firms treat it as a deposit toward services, while others use it as a non-refundable entry fee that does not cover actual legal work.
All of this creates anxiety around the true financial commitment required to see a case through to approval, especially for entrepreneurs still building financial stability alongside their ventures.
Alma's Solution: One Flat, All Inclusive Fee
Alma charges a single flat fee from the start, giving clients price certainty with no hidden surprises. That fee covers responses to USCIS requests for information and includes refiling if an application is denied.
You’ll receive this fee quote during the initial consultation, so you know exactly what to expect moving forward.
While some competitors advertise blanket refund guarantees, these often come with trade-offs like slower timelines or mass processing. Alma balances transparency and protection by offering refiling at no extra cost. Combined with our 99% success rate, clients get both financial predictability and confidence in the strength of their application.
Problem #4: Lack of Direct Attorney Access and Impersonal Communication
Many clients in the legal industry face poor communication because they don't have direct access to an attorney handling their case.
This often means complex legal questions or strategic concerns are met with delays or go unanswered entirely, since paralegals are limited to administrative tasks and cannot provide legal advice.
Several of our clients who previously worked with other firms have expressed frustration with this slow, impersonal approach, especially when navigating time-sensitive processes like immigration.
Alma's Solution: Direct and Unlimited Access to Your Attorney
We provide direct attorney access via email and our in-house platform, which gives clients a real-time view of their case status, pending requirements, and all communications. Clients can also schedule as many calls as needed with their attorney.
We understand immigration is a deeply personal and often stressful journey. Our attorneys take the time to understand each client's story and create an application that reflects both their impact and aspirations. Many clients have shared how much they value this responsiveness and guidance through such a complex process.
Skip the Bureaucracy and Focus on Building
Immigration shouldn’t slow down your business. With Alma, you’ll work directly with experienced attorneys, pay one flat fee with no hidden costs, and get results in weeks, not months.
Schedule a free consultation today to learn how we can move your application forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Aizada Marat is the CEO and Founder of Alma, a technology-driven immigration law firm based in Palo Alto, California.
In her practice, Aizada partners with startups, growth-stage companies, and global enterprises to deliver fast, compliant, and outcome-focused immigration solutions. With an emphasis on risk mitigation, policy interpretation, and employee experience, she and her team guide clients through the complexities of the U.S. immigration system while setting new standards of transparency and excellence.
Before founding Alma in 2023, Aizada built a career at the intersection of law and business. She practiced at Cooley LLP in Palo Alto, advising high-growth technology companies, and later served as an Associate at McKinsey & Company, where she worked on strategic projects for global clients. Earlier in her career, she was a lawyer at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London and Deputy Dean at the Law School of Kyrgyz National University. She is admitted to practice in New York, California and Kyrgyzstan.
A Harvard Law graduate and immigrant herself, Aizada's personal experience with the challenges of the U.S. immigration system inspired her to start Alma. She is also the founder and host of SV Icons, a Silicon Valley speaker series that has featured leading thinkers and innovators.
Outside of her professional work, Aizada cherishes time with her young family, draws inspiration from her Kyrgyz heritage, and enjoys hosting conversations that connect culture, technology, and human potential.
Jihan (Jina Hassan) Merlin is an Immigration Attorney and Head of Immigration Strategy at Alma, where she leads efforts to build smarter, faster, and more human immigration solutions. With over a decade of experience advising individuals, startups, and Fortune 100 companies, she combines legal expertise with technology to design scalable immigration programs. A graduate of Boston College Law School, Jihan is passionate about innovation in process and improving every stage of the immigration journey.
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