Our Technology

We have invested heavily in cutting edge technology in order to provide better, faster, and more secure service to our clients. Our technology allows us to spend more time on the two most critical components of any case: thoughtful analysis and drafting on the one hand, and client contact on the other. We are an all-electronic office. We do not keep paper files.

Pricing is a function of the amount of time required to properly prepare and handle a case. By substantially reducing the amount of time required for the more routine aspects of a case (for example data collection and tracking), we can spend more time on the more important parts - careful drafting of documents and dealing with your individual concerns as they arise. Our technology allows us to keep our flat fee guaranteed rates competitive while providing demonstrably superior service.

This allows us to secure your data and prevent unauthorized access to it. It also allows us to provide you with complete copies of all documents in your file, as they are created.  Let us take you through the process we use so that you can better understand what we mean.

Intake

We need to gather detailed information in order to prepare your forms. We can do this by sending you paper forms, or we can take in your data electronically. We prefer to have you enter your information electronically so that we can minimize the possibility of transcription errors if we have someone enter your information from a paper worksheet into our database. Unlike other firms that use overseas production centers, our system minimizes the opportunity for identity theft by limiting access to you information to our trusted staff in our office here in California.

We have a Verisign® certified secure Internet client portal that we use to receive information from our clients as well as provide them with information about their cases. While we use state of the art network and computer security, the client portal server is physically separated from our data server in order to prevent any possibility of hackers using it as door into our secure data server. Our data server is not connected to the Internet.

One of the first things we do when we open a new case is activate a user account and send our new client their username and password. Using our client portal, our clients are able to enter their personal information on electronic worksheets. Once you have entered required information, you do not have to re-enter it on any other worksheet unless the information has changed and you wish to update your file. When you submit a completed worksheet, it is delivered to us immediately for action.

Our clients are able to track the progress of these cases in our office by logging into their accounts and viewing detailed information about the processing status of their cases.

Preparation

After we set up your user account and enable questionnaires for you to complete, we will send you a comprehensive list of required supporting documents. We prefer that you scan and e-mail them to us for inclusion in your file, but if you can't do that, you can fax them to our e-fax number or even mail us the physical copies, which we will then scan.

After we receive all required supporting documents and questionnaires, we generally turn cases around in three days or less. This means that we will complete the filing package and send it to you electronically for your review, approval, signature, and return to our office for filing.

Filing

In almost all cases, we file your petition or application with the government the same day we receive the signed documents back from you. We always use private delivery services so that we can track the progress of the delivery on line and also make sure that someone from the government agency signs a receipt for it. When we file, we will e-mail you a copy of the filing package and provide you with the tracking number for the delivery service.

Monitoring

We track your pending application or petition automatically. Our system compares your filing date against the current cycle time for that type of matter with the office where it is pending and alerts us if it is pending longer than the expected processing interval. Our system alerts us and begins generating automatic inquiries for us to edit and submit.

Throughout this process, we will send you regular e-mail updates whenever any significant step is taken in your case. These e-mails will provide you with PDF copies of all documents sent or received by us in connection with your case. They will explain the significance of each step and the likely timing of the next step.

Of course, e-mail correspondence is not a substitute for direct communication, nor do we intend it as such. You are welcome to call us whenever you wish to discuss your case. Since all of your work is done in our office, you will always have the opportunity to speak directly with whomever is working on your case. You have the right to speak with the attorney, the paralegal, or both and you do not have to justify or explain why you wish to speak with us. That is your absolute right. Period.

Post approval

When we receive your approval notice, we will send you a PDF copy immediately, with the original to follow shortly. We will send you detailed information concerning your rights and anything that you may need to do following receipt of the approval. Again, you are welcome to call or e-mail us at any time with any questions you may have.

As mentioned previously, we maintain all-electronic records. We will provide you with PDF copies of all documents, as well as the originals of all approval notices. If you ever lose your records, we can provide you with replacement copies immediately.

If, following the approval of the matter we file for you, you wish to engage us to do additional work for you, all of your data and supporting documents remain available for the new matter and it won't be necessary for you to do anything more than update that information.