I'm buildingan open-source way to fill U.S. immigration forms without fighting clunky PDFs

Github: https://github.com/athos2113/fillvisa-os

Demo: https://fillvisa.com/demo/

US Immigration still relies on outdated XFA PDFs - you can't fill them on your browser. Most immigrants end up printing the form and fill it manually.

So, I converted the PDF forms into smart web forms. They are replica of the official USCIS forms and follow conditonal logic. In the output, you get the official USCIS pdf form filled.

I was stuck unable to fill out a PDF I-864 for immigration because the required fields were non-editable. And opening the PDF in a PDF editor or Photoshop would require a password that was not available. So I had to create a PDF-to-JPG-to-PDF pipeline:

https://github.com/whyboris/PDF-to-JPG-to-PDF

Interesting approach.

How would turning the PDF into JPG allow you to edit/write inside?

Resort to Photoshop / editor at that point. I still prefer that over printing, writing, and then scanning.

I hope this becomes obsolete by no longer being necessary

USCIS is working towards turning it's forms into web-forms. Some forms are available to file online : https://www.uscis.gov/file-online/forms-available-to-file-on...

But, I'm guess it'll take some time

Interesting. I downloaded some PDFs for the adjustment of status forms recently and most of them were editable but only partially - the conditional fields couldn't be edited it seemed.

Yup. Those fields are dynamic, encoded in XFA -> JS. But, you can only access them via Adobe

Apple preview and the add text button got me through all the USCIS forms. You can use AI computer control to do this stuff now, right?

> You can use AI computer control to do this stuff now, right?

Speaking as someone who had to do a lot of immigration work to move to Japan, I can think of no work I would want to have a close eye on than immigration paperwork. One error is all it takes for a clerical rejection or similar. I had a professional lawyer working on mine and still cross checked every detail, and found errors!

That's cool. How are you gonna get it in the hands of people that would need it?

Thanks!

Primarily by sharing the web version (fillvisa.com) on subreddit and FB groups. People complain about the USCIS PDF regurlarly, so, I just pitch them the website

I think if you are building SaaS: specifically, a self-serve SaaS (no sales/demo call), then you can build a scalable 1-person company

My solo SaaS just hit $400k ARR after about 15 months, and I've sold 99% of the customers via a sales call. So it can be done, but I have to say, it's pretty grueling. And my sales calls are basically a dream come true: ~50% of them have the customer giving me their card for a trial in less than 10 mins. Another 10-20% sign up within the following few weeks.

Despite the success, I'm trying to pivot to self-serve now, because I'm definitely the biggest growth bottleneck, and I honestly dread every single call.

All that said, I think there's another HUGE reason to do sales calls: you learn a ton. I've talked with hundreds of customers and potential customers over the last year, and I've learned so much about their businesses and the niche, I think it would have been really difficult for me to do this with self-serve from the start.

Yep. Scalable is the key while Uber driver can't scale up their service.

But saas is dying, right?

for 1 person making a product, there has never been a better time to make a saas product that can make a living.

but the saas unicorns, or 100 person, 10 person saas company are def. under threat.

Not exactly what you're looking for, but I'm working in legal immigration tech on an early-stage product.

https://github.com/athos2113/fillvisa-os

Always happy to connect with others building in legal tech - feel free to reach out.

Great idea. Neat execution!

Interesting project. Kudos!

thank you! :)

I built a free DS-160 filler - the only one I could find thats 100% free

https://fillvisa.com/form/usa-ds160/

The State Department's CEAC portal times out constantly. Session expires, you lose progress. Every tool that solves this charges some money, or bundles you into an attorney service.

So I built a free interface to fill your DS-160 comfortably at your own pace - then a one-click bookmarklet autofills the CEAC portal for you. No account. No data leaving your browser. 100% free.

~10M+ nonimmigrant visa applicants file this form every year.

I understand the frustration with dealing with the constant log outs, but I am too paranoid to try anything automated in case they have bot detection.

For some people, getting a US visa denied can ruin their lives (job loss).

kudos. great idea, great execution

Thank you

I'm building free immigration software for DIY applicants [1]

It's a free USCIS form-filling web-app(no Adobe required). USCIS forms still use XFA PDFs, which don’t let you edit in most browsers. Even with Adobe, fields break, and getting the signature is hard.

So I converted the PDF form into modern, browser-friendly web forms - and kept every field 1:1 with the original. You fill the form, submit it, and get the official USCIS PDF filled.

I found out SimpleCitizen(YC S16) offers a DIY plan for $529 [2]

So, a free (and local-only) version might be a good alternative

[1] https://fillvisa.com/demo

[2] https://www.simplecitizen.com/pricing/

I'm building free immigration software for DIY applicants [1]

It's a free USCIS form-filling web-app(no Adobe required). USCIS forms still use XFA PDFs, which don’t let you edit in most browsers. Even with Adobe, fields break, and getting the signature is hard.

So I converted the PDF form into modern, browser-friendly web forms - and kept every field 1:1 with the original. You fill the form, submit it, and get the official USCIS PDF filled.

I found out SimpleCitizen(YC S16) offers a DIY plan for $529 [2]

So, a free (and local-only) version might be a good alternative

[1] https://fillvisa.com/demo

[2] https://www.simplecitizen.com/pricing/

Wow! I'm not in the target audience, but this is exactly what I love to see :-) Thanks for doing this!

:)

Nice work.

As others mentioned, I couldn't hear the sound.

There is a dire need for a good quality arabic learning app.

Hi, can you tell me on which page you can't hear the sound, and which browser and OS you're using? I'll look into it. Feel free to email me about errors at help@abjadpro.com. Thanks!