Structure
Who signs, and why this is in the menu
Most sites in this industry answer this in the footer, if at all.
The division
Meritus is a brand of Brown Lima LLC. It does case preparation and assessment: reading a record against the standard, deciding which pathway it fits, assembling the evidence and writing the argument that ties the two together.
The petition itself is reviewed and signed by a U.S.-licensed immigration attorney, who files Form G-28 and becomes counsel of record before USCIS. Meritus is not a law firm, does not give legal advice, and does not appear on the G-28.
You will know who the attorney is, by name and bar number, before anything is filed in your name.
Who does what
Four stages, two sets of hands, no ambiguity about which is which.
The assessment
Your record read against the criteria that apply, with a written answer — including when the answer is that the record is not there yet.
The evidence record
Collecting, organising and documenting the proof, and drafting the argument that connects each exhibit to the standard it is meant to satisfy.
Review and signature
An independent licensed attorney reviews the file, decides the legal strategy, signs the petition and files the G-28.
Filing and USCIS
Filing, correspondence with USCIS, and any RFE response are handled as counsel of record. Meritus prepares the material that goes into them.
Why we lead with this
Because the separation is what makes the arrangement legitimate, and because an outfit that is vague about who signs is telling you it would rather you did not ask.
It also answers the question that actually matters to you. Credentials are a proxy; what you want to know is who is accountable before the government. That is the person on the G-28.
On the structure
Is Meritus a law firm?
No. Meritus is a brand of Brown Lima LLC and does case preparation and assessment. Legal services are provided by the independent licensed attorney who signs the petition.
Who is the attorney on my case?
You are told the name and bar admission before the engagement is signed, and the attorney appears on the Form G-28 filed with USCIS.
Can I speak to the attorney directly?
Yes. The attorney is counsel of record on your matter once the G-28 is filed, and the engagement with them is yours.
Does this structure cost more?
The attorney's fee is a separate cost, paid directly to them, with no margin added by Meritus. The amount is told to you before you commit to anything.
Who is responsible if something goes wrong?
Preparation and assessment are our responsibility; legal strategy, the signature and the filing are the attorney's. Both are written into the engagement, rather than left to be worked out later.
Find out where your record stands
The assessment is free and reads your record against the standard USCIS applies. You get a written answer — including when the answer is that this is not your pathway yet.