- Alma publishes standardized flat-rate legal fees for standard individual cases, including H-1B cap filing at $3,500, O-1 new petition at $8,000, and EB-1A at $10,000. Fragomen and Chugh LLP do not appear to publish a comparable public fee schedule.
- Alma guarantees a 2-week case-preparation turnaround once evidence collection is complete. Fragomen and Chugh LLP do not appear to publish a comparable preparation-time guarantee across visa types.
- Alma publicly reports a 98%+ approval rate, 99%+ SLA adherence, and an 86 NPS. Fragomen and Chugh LLP do not appear to publish a firmwide approval rate or a firmwide NPS.
- Alma's contractually binding SLAs live on the platform with a full audit log, visible to clients in real time.
- Alma connects with 60+ HRIS and ATS systems through its AI-powered platform, including Workday, ADP, BambooHR, and Rippling.
- Fragomen is an established global immigration law firm serving predominantly enterprise clients.
- Chugh LLP is a full-service law and tax firm with a U.S. immigration practice.
- Alma includes RFE responses, administrative costs, and up to 3 attorney consultations in its case fee. Fee inclusions at other firms are set by each firm's own engagement terms.
When high-skilled professionals and fast-growing companies need U.S. employment-based immigration support, choosing the right legal partner becomes a defining decision. Alma, Fragomen, and Chugh LLP represent fundamentally different approaches to immigration legal services. Fragomen is an established global immigration law firm founded in 1951 that serves predominantly multinational and enterprise clients. Chugh LLP is a full-service law and tax firm established in 1992 that runs an immigration practice alongside its other practice areas. Alma is a modern immigration law firm, attorney-led and supported by an AI-powered platform and case intelligence engine, delivering a guaranteed 2-week case-preparation turnaround once evidence collection is complete, published pricing, and a 98%+ approval rate. This comparison outlines why Alma's attorney-led, technology-supported model delivers standout value for startups, mid-market companies, and individual professionals focused on U.S. employment-based immigration.
Understanding Each Firm's Core Positioning
Alma is a modern immigration law firm, attorney-led and supported by technology. Founded in 2023 by Aizada Marat (Harvard Law), Alma pairs seasoned attorneys with a proprietary AI-powered platform and case intelligence engine. The company raised a $5.5 million seed round from Bling Capital, Forerunner, Village Global, NFX, and NEA. Alma now serves over 300 clients. Alma's core values of Speed, Excellence, and Care drive every engagement, with a mission to transform an industry historically marked by opacity and delays.
Fragomen (formally Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP) is an established global immigration law firm founded in 1951, serving predominantly multinational corporations and enterprise clients with large immigrant workforces, along with individual visa services. Fragomen operates a global office network spanning multiple countries.
Chugh LLP is a full-service law and tax firm established in 1992, with immigration and legal services beginning in 1997. Its immigration practice sits among the firm's other legal practice areas. Chugh operates a U.S. office network with international affiliates and serves corporations and individuals.
The fundamental difference lies in philosophy: Fragomen is organized around multi-country programs for enterprise clients, Chugh LLP situates its immigration practice within a full-service legal and tax firm, and Alma is an attorney-led firm built specifically for U.S. employment-based immigration with published pricing and guaranteed turnaround.
Service Offerings Reflect Distinct Strategic Focuses
Alma's service portfolio centers on U.S. employment-based immigration for high-skilled talent:
- H-1B visa processing (Cap, Cap-Exempt, Extensions, Transfers, Amendments)
- O-1A and O-1B visas for extraordinary ability professionals
- L-1A and L-1B visas for intracompany transferees
- EB-1A, EB-1B, and EB-1C green cards for outstanding individuals
- EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) petitions
- PERM labor certification and I-140 processing
- TN, E-2, E-3, and H-1B1 visa categories
Alma covers both temporary work visas and employment-based green cards for high-skilled talent.
Fragomen's immigration service offerings include:
- U.S. employment-based immigration
- Work permit and work authorization services in multiple jurisdictions
- Corporate immigration program support for enterprise clients
Chugh LLP's immigration services include:
- Business immigration (H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN, E-2)
- Employment-based permanent residence (EB-1, EB-2, EB-3)
- I-9 compliance support
- Corporate immigration support for companies and individuals
Chugh's immigration practice sits within a full-service firm, which is outside the scope of this immigration-focused comparison.
For companies concentrated on U.S. employment-based immigration, Alma's specialization supports deep familiarity and fast execution in these high-impact visa categories. Every past approval and RFE informs the next case across the firm.
Pricing: Published Flat Fees vs. Quoted Engagements
The pricing structures reflect each firm's approach to client relationships.
Alma's published pricing for standard individual cases, listed in full on the pricing page:
- H-1B Lottery Registration: $500
- H-1B Cap/Cap-Exempt: $3,500
- H-1B Extension/Change of Employer/Amendment: $3,000
- O-1 New Petition: $8,000
- O-1 Extension: $3,000
- L-1 Initial/New Office: $6,000
- EB-1A/EB-1B/EB-1C: $10,000
- EB-2 NIW: $10,000
- PERM Labor Certification: $8,000
What Alma includes in every fee:
- RFE (Request for Evidence) responses at no extra charge
- Administrative costs (FedEx, printing, copying, postage)
- Up to 3 free attorney consultation calls per matter
- Platform access with real-time case tracking
- Bi-weekly status calls with lead attorney and immigration manager
- Software subscription for compliance monitoring
Alma does not bill separately for RFE responses, assessments, or complexity fees. Published legal fees are distinct from USCIS filing fees and other third-party costs such as education evaluations or translation services, which vary by matter. For businesses and enterprise programs, Alma offers predictable pricing with no billing surprises, along with a 50/50 payment plan and volume discounts for larger foreign national populations.
Fragomen and Chugh LLP pricing. Neither firm appears to publish a public fee schedule. Fee structures, RFE coverage, consultation allowances, and administrative charges at those firms are governed by each firm's applicable engagement terms.
The practical difference is visibility. Alma's published flat-rate fees and stated inclusions make the legal-fee component of a standard individual case knowable in advance.
Technology Platform: Innovation and Traditional Practice
Alma's technology supports attorney-led work at every step:
- AI-powered case preparation with case form prefill and an AI completeness check before filing
- Contractually binding SLAs live on the platform with a full audit log, visible to clients in real time, backed by 99%+ SLA adherence
- Real-time dashboards showing case status, deadlines, and milestones
- 60+ HRIS/ATS integrations including Workday, ADP, BambooHR, Rippling, UKG, Gusto, Greenhouse, Lever, and Ashby
- Automated compliance tracking with LCA manager, visa expiration alerts, and I-9 monitoring
- Secure document vault, SOC 2 Type II compliant, with source-linked records traceable to the underlying document on demand
- Self-serve reporting across status, spend, approvals, and compliance, plus natural-language reporting through MCP for Claude and Cowork
- Employee-facing portal for document submission, in-app comments, and communication
- Case intelligence engine that applies prior approvals and RFEs across the firm to strengthen individual case strategy
Fragomen provides Connect, a proprietary platform with case management and status tracking. The firm uses its immigration data for benchmarking against processing times and does not appear to use prior case data to strengthen individual case strategy. Fragomen does not appear to publish contractually binding SLAs or real-time SLA visibility for clients.
Chugh LLP offers technology for handling high case volumes. The firm does not appear to describe a client-facing platform with real-time case tracking, SLA visibility, or self-serve reporting.
For businesses managing immigration programs, Alma reduces manual data entry, syncs directly with existing HR systems, and supports the compliance automation that modern HR teams rely on.
Performance Metrics: Published Results and Reputation
Alma publishes specific performance data:
- 98%+ approval rate
- 99%+ SLA adherence
- 86 NPS
Alma's case-preparation turnaround:
- Guaranteed 2-week case-preparation turnaround once evidence collection is complete
- 4-week typical O-1 filing timeline (from engagement to filing)
- Fastest O-1A approval reported by a client: 12 days
These timelines cover case preparation by the legal provider and do not guarantee USCIS adjudication or visa issuance. USCIS processing times are separate, are reported uniformly rather than by named service-center location for forms handled through Service Center Operations, and may change.
Fragomen does not appear to publish a firmwide approval rate, a firmwide NPS, or a comparable preparation-time guarantee across visa types.
Chugh LLP does not appear to publish a firmwide approval rate, a firmwide NPS, or a comparable preparation-time guarantee across visa types.
Client testimonials speak to Alma's turnaround. A client reported completing the filing process in 4 weeks after expecting a substantially longer timeline. Another described their Alma attorney as the most dedicated immigration lawyer they had worked with. These are individual client experiences rather than market-wide benchmarks of industry preparation times.
Client Experience: Delivery Models Compared
Alma's client experience model:
- Licensed attorneys own each case end to end, with direct attorney access for every client
- Dedicated account management for Growth and Enterprise plans
- Always-on communication via platform and email
- Bi-weekly status calls with lead attorney and immigration manager
- Free consultation to explore options before engagement
- Access to guides and case studies
- 86 NPS, with client testimonials highlighting responsiveness and dedication
Fragomen's client experience:
- Teams of immigration professionals assigned to corporate accounts
- Connect portal access with case management and status tracking
Chugh LLP's client experience:
- Attorney-led immigration practice group staffed by attorneys and professional staff
- Coordination across a U.S. office network with international affiliates
For individual professionals and growing companies, Alma's model gives every client direct attorney ownership, standardized workflows, and SLAs they can see in real time.
Specialized Solutions: Startups to Enterprise
Alma offers tiered plans designed for different company stages:
Startup Plan (0-25 foreign nationals):
- Flat-rate, per-visa pricing
- Fast onboarding and guided workflows
- Preferred rates for Y Combinator, Techstars, and Pear VC portfolio companies
- Guaranteed 2-week case-preparation turnaround once evidence collection is complete
Growth Plan (26-250 foreign nationals):
- Predictable pricing with no billing surprises, including volume discounts
- Structured workflows and role-based task management
- Automated compliance and amendment alerts
- Dedicated attorney and account manager
- 1 free refile in case of initial denial or comprehensive RFE
Enterprise Plan (250+ foreign nationals):
- Enterprise-grade compliance and audit-ready logs
- Role-based access controls
- Real-time analytics and dashboards
- Integration with enterprise HRIS and SSO
- Implementation, including white-glove migration from an existing vendor
- 1 free refile in case of initial denial or comprehensive RFE
Fragomen serves predominantly multinational corporations and enterprise clients, along with individual visa services.
Chugh LLP serves corporations and individuals, with an immigration practice supported by a U.S. office network and international affiliates.
Why Alma Stands Out for U.S. Employment-Based Immigration
For startups, tech companies, and individual professionals focused on U.S. employment-based immigration, Alma offers a distinct set of published commitments.
Published pricing creates clarity from day one. Alma publishes flat-rate pricing for standard individual cases, with inclusions covering RFE responses, administrative costs, and attorney consultations. Alma applies no separate charges for assessments or complexity work. USCIS filing fees and third-party costs sit outside the legal fee. Fragomen and Chugh LLP do not appear to publish a public fee schedule.
A turnaround guarantee reduces timeline uncertainty. Alma guarantees a 2-week case-preparation turnaround once evidence collection is complete, with a 4-week typical O-1 filing timeline. Neither Fragomen nor Chugh LLP appears to publish a comparable preparation-time guarantee across visa types. Guarantees apply to provider-controlled case assembly and do not cover USCIS adjudication, which is reported separately by USCIS.
Published performance metrics reflect confidence. Alma reports a 98%+ approval rate, 99%+ SLA adherence, and an 86 NPS. Neither Fragomen nor Chugh LLP appears to publish a firmwide approval rate or NPS, so Alma's published figures give prospective clients an additional data point.
Binding SLAs make progress visible. Alma's contractually binding SLAs live on the platform with a full audit log, visible to clients in real time, so cases move by system design rather than manual follow-up. Neither Fragomen nor Chugh LLP appears to publish contractually binding SLAs or real-time client-facing SLA visibility.
Technology amplifies attorney expertise. Alma runs on an AI-powered platform and case intelligence engine with 60+ named HRIS integrations, which reduces manual data entry, automates compliance tracking, and provides real-time visibility into case status. Attorneys lead every case, and the technology gives them more time for strategy and advocacy.
Startup partnerships reflect an innovation focus. Alma's relationships with Y Combinator, Techstars, and Pear VC provide preferred rates for portfolio companies, aligning the firm with the startup ecosystem it serves.
Alma publishes its pricing, guarantees a 2-week case-preparation turnaround once evidence collection is complete, makes its SLAs contractually binding, and reports its outcomes publicly. For U.S.-focused employment-based immigration, that combination represents the modern, attorney-led approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
Alma is a modern immigration law firm where licensed attorneys own each case end to end, supported by an AI-powered platform and case intelligence engine, focusing exclusively on U.S. employment-based immigration with published flat-rate pricing for standard individual cases and a guaranteed 2-week case-preparation turnaround once evidence collection is complete. Fragomen is an established global immigration law firm founded in 1951, serving predominantly multinational and enterprise clients along with individual visa services. Chugh LLP is a full-service law and tax firm with an immigration practice, a U.S. office network, and international affiliates. In short: Alma emphasizes speed, published commitments, and direct attorney ownership for U.S.-focused matters, Fragomen is organized around multi-country enterprise programs, and Chugh LLP runs immigration within a full-service legal and tax firm.
Alma provides AI-powered case preparation with form prefill and a completeness check before filing, real-time case tracking, contractually binding SLAs with a full audit log visible to clients, self-serve reporting, and 60+ HRIS/ATS connections including Workday, ADP, BambooHR, Rippling, Greenhouse, and Lever. Compliance automation covers LCA management, visa expiration alerts, and audit-ready records. Fragomen provides Connect, a proprietary platform with case management and status tracking, and does not appear to publish contractually binding SLAs or real-time SLA visibility for clients. Chugh LLP offers technology for handling high case volumes and does not appear to describe a client-facing platform with real-time case tracking or self-serve reporting.
Alma publishes flat-rate pricing for standard individual cases: H-1B lottery registration at $500, H-1B cap filing at $3,500, O-1 new petition at $8,000, and EB-1A or EB-2 NIW at $10,000. These fees include RFE responses, administrative costs, and up to 3 attorney consultations, with USCIS filing fees and third-party costs separate. For businesses, Alma offers predictable pricing with no billing surprises. Fragomen and Chugh LLP do not appear to publish a public fee schedule, and fee scope at those firms is governed by their applicable engagement terms.
Alma gives every client direct attorney ownership of the case, always-on communication via platform and email, and bi-weekly status calls with the lead attorney and immigration manager. The firm reports an 86 NPS, with client testimonials highlighting responsiveness and dedication, and clients can see every SLA with its owner, due date, and live status. Fragomen assigns teams of immigration professionals to corporate accounts and provides Connect portal access. Chugh LLP supports clients through a U.S. office network with international affiliates and an attorney-led immigration practice group.
Yes. Alma serves individual professionals seeking O-1, H-1B, and other employment-based visas as well as businesses managing immigration programs from 5 to 5,000+ cases. The Startup plan serves companies with 0-25 foreign nationals with flat-rate per-visa pricing. The Growth plan serves organizations with 26-250 foreign nationals with predictable pricing and dedicated account management. The Enterprise plan serves companies with 250+ foreign nationals with enterprise-grade compliance, role-based access controls, and HRIS integration. Each tier includes Alma's core commitments: a guaranteed 2-week case-preparation turnaround once evidence collection is complete, contractually binding SLAs with 99%+ adherence, and a 98%+ approval rate. Case-preparation turnaround is separate from USCIS adjudication timelines, which USCIS reports uniformly.
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