Alma vs Manifest Law

For a new O-1 visa, Alma lists one legal fee of $8,000 and Manifest Law lists four tiers from $6,999 to $12,500. Alma lists RFE and NOID responses as included; Manifest Law includes all RFEs and NOIDs only in its top tier. Both make guarantee claims, set out below. USCIS fees are extra at both.

Last updated 2026-10-20

This is not legal advice.

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Every fact is taken from the firm's own website, an official register or the press report linked next to it, checked on 20 October 2026. Prices can change.

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Alma or Manifest Law: the short answer

Choose Alma if you want one fixed O-1 price that it says covers RFE and NOID responses and a free refile, with a published fee list for other visas. Choose Manifest Law if you want to pick a tier, from a lower $6,999 entry price up to plans with a former USCIS officer review and larger refunds.

Both say they work with founders and startups (Alma, Manifest Law).

Side by side

Both are US immigration services with flat fees. The biggest structural difference is that Alma says it is not a law firm and works through a partner professional corporation, while Manifest Law describes itself as a law firm.

	Alma	Manifest Law
What it does	US work visas and employment-based green cards, including O-1A, H-1B, L-1, EB-1A and EB-2 NIW. Source	US immigration law, including O-1, H-1B, TN, L-1 and green cards. Source
Who it serves	Startup founders, early employees and tech professionals; plans for startups (0 to 25 foreign nationals), growth companies and enterprises. Source	Founders, professionals, families and companies, with a page for early-stage startups. Source
Country	US. Office in San Francisco. Source	US. Offices in Phoenix and New York. Source
Pricing model	Standard flat fee per visa; custom fee schedules for high-growth startups. Source	Flat fee per case, in tiers. Source
New O-1 legal fee	$8,000. Extension $3,000; change of employer $5,000. Source	Silver $6,999; Gold $8,500; Platinum $10,500; Diamond $12,500. Source
RFE and refile terms	Alma lists responses to RFEs and NOIDs and one free refile after an initial denial under "What's included". Source	Gold lists a 60% refund or free refile; Platinum adds an ex-USCIS officer review and up to 100% back; Diamond, for eligible clients, includes all RFEs and NOIDs. Terms apply. Source
Guarantee and refunds	Its startup page says "We win, or you don't pay". Its pricing page says service fees are refundable only if a refund is requested before the case is filed. The two statements differ, so ask Alma which applies to your case. Startup page Pricing page	Gold: 60% refund or free refile. Platinum and Diamond: free refile and up to 100% back. Its O-1 page says a 100% refund is available only on select plans. Terms apply and vary by tier. Source
Legal structure	Says it is not a law firm. Alma says all legal services are provided by Alma Legal Services, P.C. Its site's structured data also describes Alma as "a modern immigration law firm". Source	Manifest Law says it is an association of lawyers and legal entities, including Manifest Law PLLC and Manifest Legal Services LLC, an Arizona ABS regulated by the Supreme Court of Arizona. Its technology comes from Manifest OS, a separate company. Source
Funding	$17M Series A led by Bling Capital, per Law.com (September 2026). Source	Manifest OS, the technology company behind it, raised a $60M Series A at a $750M valuation; investors include Menlo Ventures and Kleiner Perkins. Source
Founded	Its site's structured data lists 2023; Law.com reported it was founded in 2024. Alma Law.com	Not stated on the pages we checked.

How they differ

Alma charges one O-1 price that it says includes RFE and NOID responses. Manifest Law starts lower at $6,999, and the guarantees and RFE coverage grow with each tier.

Manifest Law puts USCIS filing fees at a few hundred dollars to just over $1,000 depending on the employer, plus $2,965 for optional premium processing (source). Alma says USCIS filing fees are not included in its case fee (source).

On guarantees, Alma's startup page promises "We win, or you don't pay" (source), while its pricing page says service fees are refundable only if a refund is requested before the case is filed (source). Manifest Law's refund and refile terms depend on the tier and its terms and conditions (source).

Alma also says it offers preferred rates to portfolio companies of partners such as Y Combinator, Techstars and Pear VC (source).

Who each one fits

Alma fits a startup that wants one predictable O-1 fee covering RFEs and plans other visas from the same published fee list. Manifest Law fits an applicant who wants to choose how much review and refund protection to pay for.

For other visa prices, Alma publishes a full schedule, for example H-1B cap petitions at $3,500 and EB-1A at $10,000 (source). Our O-1 visa attorney cost guide compares more firms.

FAQ

How much does an O-1 visa cost at Alma vs Manifest Law?

Alma lists $8,000 for a new O-1. Manifest Law lists $6,999 (Silver), $8,500 (Gold), $10,500 (Platinum) and $12,500 (Diamond). USCIS fees are extra at both (checked 20 October 2026).

Is Alma a law firm?

Alma says it is not a law firm and that all legal services are provided by Alma Legal Services, P.C. Its site's structured data describes Alma as "a modern immigration law firm".

Does Alma offer a guarantee?

Alma's startup page says "We win, or you don't pay". Its pricing page says service fees are refundable only if a refund is requested before the case is filed, and lists one free refile after an initial denial. Ask Alma which terms apply.

Does Manifest Law include RFE responses?

Manifest Law lists all RFEs and NOIDs as included in its Diamond tier, for eligible clients.

Sources

Accessed 2026-10-20