When high-skilled professionals and companies evaluate immigration platforms, understanding the fundamental differences between providers becomes essential. Alma and Migrun represent two distinct approaches to immigration services, but they serve different primary geographic markets. Alma's immigration legal services for individuals focus on U.S. employment-based visas (H-1B, O-1, L-1, EB-1, EB-2 NIW, TN, E-2/E-3), while Migrun concentrates primarily on European immigration pathways like digital nomad visas and D7 permits. For anyone pursuing work authorization in the United States, Alma stands as the clear choice, offering attorney-led representation, guaranteed processing speed, and a 99%+ approval rate in the U.S. market.
Alma positions itself as a technology-enabled U.S. immigration law firm, combining seasoned attorneys with AI-powered workflows to streamline complex employment-based immigration. Founded in October 2023 and headquartered in Palo Alto, Alma has secured $5.1 million in funding from investors including Bling Capital, Forerunner, Village Global, and NFX. The platform serves 300+ clients across both individual applicants and businesses, maintaining a relentless focus on speed, excellence, and care as core values.
Migrun operates as an immigration platform primarily focused on European relocation, helping individuals move to Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, and the UK. According to its current About page, Migrun describes itself as a European company based in Cyprus with headquarters in Lisbon, Portugal, having launched in 2022. The platform reports having processed 10,000+ cases, and TechCrunch reported 3,900+ customers as of September 2023. Migrun also advertises corporate team relocation services and claims to work with 70+ companies worldwide. Its guide platform attracts thousands of monthly users seeking European residency through digital nomad visas, D7 passive income visas, and EU Blue Cards.
The primary distinction is geographic: Alma handles U.S. employment immigration, while Migrun is primarily focused on European and UK immigration, though Migrun also advertises broader international relocation services.
Alma's U.S. employment immigration services include:
Migrun's European immigration services include:
Migrun does not currently present itself on its public site as a dedicated U.S. employment-immigration platform. For professionals or companies focused on U.S. work authorization, Alma provides the attorney-led representation designed for H-1B sponsorship, O-1 petitions, and U.S. green card applications.
Alma's commitment to speed sets it apart in the U.S. immigration market. The platform offers a guaranteed 2-week document processing turnaround, which it describes as the fastest in the industry. Alma maintains a 99%+ approval rate across all employment-based visa categories. RFE (Request for Evidence) responses are included in base fees at no additional cost.
Migrun's European immigration services operate on different, country-specific timelines. Current Migrun Spain materials indicate residence permits are typically obtained within roughly 1 to 2 months, with the note that exact timelines cannot be guaranteed. UK pages show approximately 2 to 3 months for Global Talent and 1 to 6 months for Skilled Worker routes. Migrun reports a 98% success rate across all countries and visa types.
Note that USCIS now presents many service-center employment-petition processing times under Service Center Operations (SCOPS), rather than by named service center, because casework may be handled across multiple locations. Published processing times for U.S. employment-based petitions are uniform and no longer vary by specific service center location. For the most current processing time estimates, refer to the USCIS processing times page.
The speed difference matters significantly for U.S. employment immigration. When a tech company needs to onboard an engineer before a project deadline, or a startup founder must secure work authorization before a funding round closes, Alma's guaranteed 2-week turnaround provides the certainty that business decisions require.
Alma's transparent U.S. immigration pricing uses a flat-rate, per-visa model. Representative attorney fees include: O-1 New at $8,000, O-1 Extension or Amendment at $3,000, H-1B Lottery Registration at $500, H-1B Cap/Cap-Exempt at $3,500, H-1B Extension or Amendment at $3,000, L-1 Initial/New Office at $6,000, L-1 Extension at $3,000, TN New (USCIS or Border/Consulate) at $3,000, TN Extension at $2,500, E-3 (USCIS or Consulate) at $3,500, E-3 Extension at $3,000, EB-1A/EB-1B/EB-1C at $10,000, EB-2 NIW at $10,000, EB-1/EB-2 NIW with an approved O-1 at $7,000, PERM Labor Certification at $8,000, I-140 (PERM-based) for EB-2 or EB-3 at $4,000, and Adult AOS bundle (I-485, I-765, I-131) at $2,000. Additional visa categories and services are listed on Alma's pricing page.
What's included in Alma's fees: full attorney and paralegal representation, response to RFE (Request for Evidence), administrative charges (FedEx, printing, copying, postage), up to 3 free consultation calls between attorney and employees per matter, platform access with case tracking and compliance tools, implementation including white-glove migration from an existing vendor, bi-weekly status calls with lead attorney and immigration manager, software subscription, and one free refile in case of initial denial or comprehensive RFE (Growth and Enterprise plans). USCIS government filing fees are separate, as they vary by visa type. Third-party costs such as education evaluations or translation services are billed at cost.
Migrun's European immigration pricing for Spain currently shows a Check-up Package at €530, Standard Assistance at €1,090, and Premium Assistance at €3,790.
While Migrun's prices appear lower, the comparison is not apples to apples, as these platforms serve entirely different visa systems with different complexity levels. U.S. employment-based immigration is generally more employer-driven and compliance-heavy than many European remote-worker routes, though European digital-nomad visas also require formal legal eligibility and documentation.
Alma's business immigration platform provides enterprise-grade tools: real-time dashboards with case status, compliance tracking, and approval trend analytics; HRIS/ATS integrations with Workday, ADP, BambooHR, Rippling, Greenhouse, and Lever; role-based access controls for HR teams, employees, and legal administrators; automated compliance alerts for LCA management, visa expirations, and status monitoring; a secure document vault with audit-ready records and exportable logs; and spend projection tools integrating legal fees, USCIS fees, and premium processing costs.
Alma's platform scales from startups with 1 to 25 foreign nationals to enterprises managing 250+ employees. The Growth plan serves companies with 26 to 250 foreign nationals, offering custom pricing with dedicated attorney and account manager support.
Migrun provides personal dashboards for individual applicants with task lists and deadline tracking. Migrun also appears to have both individual-facing and corporate relocation offerings, though its public materials do not show U.S.-style HRIS/compliance tooling. The platform says 30,000+ people have joined its communities, which include Discord groups for peer-to-peer advice.
For U.S. tech companies managing H-1B petitions, green card sponsorships, and compliance requirements, Alma's enterprise platform delivers the infrastructure that business immigration demands.
Alma maintains partnerships with leading venture capital firms and accelerators, including Y Combinator portfolio company discounts, Techstars startup program pricing, and Pear VC preferred partner rates. Special pricing is available for accelerator portfolio companies more broadly.
These partnerships reflect Alma's deep understanding of startup immigration needs. Founders pursuing O-1 visas, companies sponsoring H-1B engineers, and startups filing L-1 petitions for transferring executives all benefit from Alma's specialized startup immigration plan.
Based on publicly available information, Migrun does not appear to maintain similar startup or VC partnership positioning in the U.S. tech ecosystem, consistent with its primary European focus.
Alma's attorney-led model features full licensed attorney representation on every case. The firm was founded by a Harvard Law attorney with personal immigration experience. Attorneys "respond in minutes" according to customer testimonials. Each matter includes up to 3 free consultation calls between attorney and client, along with bi-weekly status calls with the lead attorney and immigration manager.
Migrun's marketplace model draws on a network of 100+ immigration professionals across European countries, with average expert experience of 6+ years. Migrun offers 15-minute free introductory calls, and services range from document proofreading to full representation.
For U.S. employment immigration, where legal strategy, petition strength, and USCIS adjudication standards directly impact outcomes, Alma's in-house attorney team provides the consistency and expertise that complex cases require.
Alma is designed for those who need: H-1B specialty occupation visa sponsorship or transfer, O-1 extraordinary ability visa petitions, L-1 intracompany transfers for executives or specialized knowledge employees, EB-1 or EB-2 NIW Green Cards through employment, PERM labor certification processing as part of EB-2/EB-3 green card cases, TN visas for Canadian or Mexican professionals, enterprise immigration management for a U.S. workforce, or startup-friendly immigration with VC partnership discounts.
Migrun is designed for those seeking: Spain Digital Nomad visas for remote workers, Portugal D7 passive income visas, EU Blue Cards for Germany employment, European student visas, general EU residency pathways, or corporate team relocation focused primarily on European destinations.
The decision framework is straightforward: if the destination is the United States and the need is employment-based immigration, Alma is the platform built for that purpose. Migrun does not currently present itself as a dedicated U.S. employment-immigration provider.
For a tech company sponsoring 10 H-1B employees through Alma, the legal fees would be approximately $35,000 (10 cases at $3,500 each for H-1B Cap/Cap-Exempt petitions). USCIS government filing fees would apply on top of that and vary based on petition type and employer profile. The current government fee structure for H-1B petitions can include the I-129 fee, Asylum Program Fee, ACWIA fee, Fraud Prevention fee, and where applicable, other fees. Note that USCIS fee requirements for new H-1B petitions changed materially after September 2025, so companies should review the latest USCIS fee schedule before budgeting. Premium processing, if elected, is now $2,965 per qualifying Form I-129 or I-140 filing as of March 1, 2026. Platform and implementation costs are included in Alma's attorney fees.
Alma's value proposition includes predictable budgeting through flat-rate, per-case pricing, cost dashboards projecting legal fees, government fees, and premium processing, Stripe integration for seamless ACH or credit card payments, and volume discounts for companies managing larger foreign national populations.
Traditional U.S. law firms typically charge $400 to $800 per hour with unpredictable total costs. Alma's transparent pricing eliminates this uncertainty.
For professionals and companies pursuing U.S. employment-based immigration, Alma provides distinct advantages. Speed of execution comes through a guaranteed 2-week document processing turnaround versus industry-standard timelines of months. Approval excellence is reflected in a 99%+ approval rate backed by attorney expertise and thorough case preparation. Pricing transparency means published flat-rate fees with RFE responses, administrative costs, and platform access included. Technology integration delivers enterprise-grade compliance tools, HRIS connectivity, and real-time case tracking. Startup alignment is evident through partnerships with Y Combinator, Techstars, and Pear VC for emerging companies.
Migrun serves European immigration needs within its market. But for anyone whose path leads to the United States, whether an engineer seeking H-1B sponsorship, a researcher pursuing EB-1B status, or a founder needing O-1 authorization, Alma represents the attorney-led, technology-enabled partner that U.S. immigration demands.
Ready to begin your U.S. immigration journey? Get started with Alma to explore your options with a free consultation.
Migrun is primarily focused on European immigration, serving countries like Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, and the UK. The platform handles digital nomad visas, D7 passive income visas, and EU Blue Cards, and it does not currently present itself on its public site as a dedicated U.S. employment-immigration provider. For U.S. employment-based visas such as H-1B, O-1, L-1, TN, E-2, and E-3, or for green card routes such as EB-1 and EB-2 NIW, as well as the PERM labor certification process used in many EB-2/EB-3 cases, Alma provides the attorney-led representation designed for successful petitions.
Alma guarantees a 2-week document processing turnaround, significantly faster than traditional law firms that may take months to prepare petition materials. This speed advantage becomes critical when companies need to onboard talent quickly or when visa deadlines approach. Customer testimonials frequently cite rapid case completion, with some O-1 visas filed within just weeks of engagement. Migrun's European services have varying timelines by country and route: Spain materials cite roughly 1 to 2 months, while UK pages show 1 to 6 months depending on the pathway, and exact timelines are not guaranteed.
Alma's published pricing includes full attorney and paralegal representation, RFE responses, administrative charges (FedEx, printing, postage), up to 3 free consultation calls between attorney and employees per matter, platform access with case tracking, implementation including white-glove migration from an existing vendor, bi-weekly status calls with lead attorney and immigration manager, and software subscription. USCIS government filing fees are separate, as they vary by visa type. Third-party costs like education evaluations or translations are billed at cost. Growth and Enterprise clients also receive one free refile if an initial denial or comprehensive RFE occurs.
Yes. Alma maintains partnerships with Y Combinator, Techstars, Pear VC, and other accelerators, offering preferred pricing for portfolio companies. The startup immigration plan serves companies with 1 to 25 foreign nationals, providing fast onboarding, guided workflows, and flat-rate pricing. Founders frequently use Alma for O-1 extraordinary ability visas, while their companies sponsor engineers through H-1B petitions or L-1 transfers.
Alma maintains a 99%+ approval rate across employment-based visa categories. This success rate reflects the platform's attorney expertise, thorough case preparation, and technology-enabled workflows. By comparison, Migrun reports a 98% success rate for European immigration, though the visa systems, adjudication standards, and case complexity differ substantially between U.S. and European immigration.
Yes. Since Alma and Migrun serve different primary geographic markets, professionals exploring multiple destinations may engage both platforms. For example, a tech professional might use Alma to secure U.S. O-1 status initially, then later engage Migrun for a Spain Digital Nomad visa if relocating to Europe. The platforms can complement each other, but for U.S. immigration specifically, Alma remains the essential partner.
