Why is this free and open

Why

Talent visa preparation has turned into a closed market. Middlemen charge thousands of dollars for what is, in essence, knowledge: which criteria are needed, how to gather evidence, how to prepare a petition, what the officer wants. That knowledge itself is not secret - the entry fee makes it secret.

We believe it should not be that way. A person with real achievements should not have to pay for the right to understand the process. That is why we put everything in one place and share it for free:

• Step-by-step checklists for O-1 and EB-1 - what to do and in what order.
• Interactive criteria - choose yours, collect evidence, track progress.
• Knowledge base - dozens of articles on criteria, the petition, portfolio, RFE, interviews.
• Tools - readiness check, cost and timeline estimate, document list, media check, journal and award directory.

How much it costs

Nothing. The project itself is free: checklists, tools, and articles are open to everyone. You only pay the required USCIS filing fees when you get to the petition stage - you can estimate the real amounts in advance with the cost and timeline estimator.

We do not take payments, sell services, or ask for your documents. Your progress is stored in your browser; an account is only needed if you want sync across devices.

The sickle and hammer

The project emblem - the sickle and hammer - is not about politics here, but about freeing labor. It is a symbol of the idea that tools should belong to the people who do the work. Your achievements are your labor; the knowledge of how to turn that labor into a visa should be in your hands, not behind a paywall.

Openness

The project is open by design: it can be studied, checked, and improved. The more people share what worked in their cases, the more accurate and useful the material becomes for those who come next. The community is stronger than any single consultant.

This is a base from everyone for everyone: anyone can suggest a checklist item, an article, a fix, or share a link - right on the site by highlighting text. How to do that is on the How to contribute page.

Fair disclaimer

This is informational material, not legal advice, and it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Immigration rules and fees change - check the current USCIS guidance and, if needed, consult a qualified professional. But first, figure it out yourself. It is free.

Where to start

Frequently asked questions

Related materials

• How to Contribute

Next stepField guideWhere people in your field publish, win and belong.

From community discussions

• «Based on YC you can prove the other criteria: Membership - show the low acceptance rate; Awards - $500k of investment; Media - get PR publications about your startup; Original Contributions - if there's traction, show how important it is for the industry (testimonials, LoIs, MRR); Critical Employment - show the key role; High remuneration - depends on the startup.»

  Egor · from public community chats

• «When I filed my EB-1A case on my own, I included materials for Leading or Critical Role, but by mistake I merged them with Original Contributions and didn't break them out separately. Only after getting the RFE did I realize this was wrong. Can I add this criterion separately when responding to the RFE?»

  Ainur · from public community chats

• «For the EB it's all the same as for the O-1, but with increased weight. For developers you need major projects where you were indispensable and can prove it; work at very large and well-known companies; talks at specialized conferences; judging at IT contests; several interviews about you in media at the RBC level; recommendation letters from weighty figures; a job offer in the US.»

  Sergey · from public community chats

Personal opinions of community members from public discussions, not legal advice.

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