I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.
See all posts Frank GogolSimple Citizen Review
When you are looking to obtain your green card, the amount of paperwork that you have to do and go through can be quite overwhelming. There are so many visas to choose from, so many forms to complete, so many addresses to send everything to – all which can seem very confusing. The last thing you want is to realize that you got the address wrong and that some other stranger has your application paperwork.
To avoid this kind of trouble and confusion, applications are now made easier with Simple Citizen. Known as the TurboTax for immigration, Simple Citizen was perfected by a team of innovators to ensure that everyone goes through the green card process smoothly.
What Is Simple Citizen?
Think about this: if you are not a citizen of the United States, then you will have to apply for a green card. In order to qualify for this visa, there are three ways for you to apply. The first is to obtain sponsorship from a family member. The second is to obtain sponsorship from one that has employed you. The third is to obtain a visa through asylum status or refuge.
In the past, green card applications used to be very meddlesome and time-consuming. The average processing time for a green card can take from 7 to 33 months – and the less informed you are, the more it will take. This is mainly because people do not exactly know where to go with their paperwork and what to do with it.
Mistakes would be made, lines would be held – and because of this, it would take quite some time for the applicants to get their hands on their green card. This is precisely the reason why green card services have raised so much in popularity.
Simple Citizen has only been around the market since 2014 – but throughout this time, they have managed to make quite a name for themselves. Referred to as the Turbo Tax for Immigration, this service takes the application for your green card and takes you through an online interface.
There, you will be walked through a series of questions and asked to upload your sorting documents, after which your application will be passed along to an immigration attorney. It’s a process that can help you save a lot of time and money, as the service will take care of all the formalities for you. All you have to do is submit them at the end because everything prior to that will be taken care of.
Services Provided by Simple Citizen
The services provided by Simple Citizen are broken down into three different packages: the basic, the standard, and the premium package. Each will have its own price to pay, but they will also differ in terms of features included. Here is what you may expect:
- Basic: Priced between $99 and $199, it includes the PDF download of forms necessary for the application, as well as the instructions for USCIS form submission.
- Standard: With a fee going from $224 to $249, this package will include the downloaded PDF forms, the USCIS submission instructions, the application printing, and shipping, along with the Simple Citizen application review.
- Premium: Priced between $298 and$349, this one is likely the most detailed package. It includes the downloaded PDF forms, the green card submission instructions for USCIS, the printing and shipping of the application, the Simple Citizen application review, the translation of the supporting documents, the immigration attorney review, and the text/email status updates from USCIS.
The application for the service is very simple and straightforward. First, you will have to click on “Let’s Get Started,” and you will access the screen that allows Simple Citizen to decide exactly what kind of green card you need for your particular situation.
After that, you will be asked whether you are applying from the inside or outside of the United States – and if you applied for a green card renewal from the inside, what visa you used upon entering the country (e.g. if you have a family member that is a U.S. citizen, etc.) Depending on the case, you might need some preparation time to complete the application – but on average, it should not take more than two hours.
What Are the Reviews Saying?
Many customers have left reviews talking about the services provided by Simple Citizen. Most reviews are positive, which is why the service also has such a high rating. However, in order to determine whether any service is worth your time or not, you will need to read all the goods and bads that are said about it. Here is what most reviews are saying.
The Good
Most reviewers praise the service as being excellent, calling it fast and efficient. They can help the users through every step of the green card application process, answering questions, and also giving them tips in regards to how to approach the green card interview.
According to most reviewers, once you obtain a response, they are highly attentive to details. Happy customers say that the complete package would take very little time to arrive – and many of them claim that it only took about 4 months for them to obtain their visa.
The clients are also raving about the responsiveness of the service representatives. Many of these users were nervous about their application – afraid that they would do something incorrectly – and Simple Citizen was the hand that they could hold to for support. One customer said, “I can’t thank these guys enough for helping me every step of the way through my Green Card application. They answered all my questions, gave me tips, and was very transparent with how the process goes. They also followed up with me regularly and they respond very quickly to any queries I had.”
They are also praised for their document translation services. For example, if you have to include a birth certificate from India, Simple Citizen will make sure to add a translated document of the certificate. They have various speakers that are fluent in multiple languages, making the process easy to deal with.
The Bad
Many people generally have no problems with the services provided by Simple Citizen – and in most cases, they manage to get their green card in about 4-5 months. However, there are still those that complain about the disorganization and the occasional slow response: “Started off with fast replies, then no replies. Didn’t even check my emails until I called 3 weeks later.”
This is generally caused by the fact that the demand is high – but they do not have enough representatives to take down the orders. The efficiency, however, remains once an application is accepted. It is because the service proved its worth and now more and more people are lining up to obtain their help.
Pros and Cons of Simple Citizen
If you aren’t yet convinced whether you should opt for the services of Simple Citizen or not, here are some pros and cons that you might want to keep in mind:
Pros
- Simplifies the green card application process
- Quick responsiveness
- Affordable price and money-saving service
- Informative and helpful
- Excels in document translation services
- Ensures that every detail is added to the package
Cons
- Sometimes slow in response due to demand
- The premium packages are rather expensive
- Difficult cases might take longer to process
- The staff is small, considering the demand
Wrap Up
Simple Citizen is indeed a service that can offer you the aid that you need to get your green card. When you do not have the knowledge or connections, it might take you a lot of time to sort through things yourself – but with the help from this service, you can efficiently cut down the waiting time.