USCIS Lawsuit — Paid Consultation on Challenging a Denial in Federal Court
A paid, one-hour consultation with Sherrod Seward, Esq. for athletes, coaches, agents and clubs holding a denied O-1, P-1 or EB-1A petition.
$500, one time.
One hour with the attorney. Credited 100% toward your legal fee if you engage this office within 90 days. Government filing fees payable to USCIS are separate.
Suing USCIS is not the answer to every denial, and anyone who tells you otherwise has not read your decision. Sometimes the appeal is better. Sometimes refiling is faster and cheaper than both. Bring the denial notice and the petition that was filed. You will leave the call knowing why it was denied, which of the routes actually fits, and what federal court would realistically cost and take if that is the right one.
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Book the consultation
Six fields. About a minute.
Sherrod Seward, Esq. — what this consultation is, in 45 seconds
Who books this call
Agents, managers, clubs and promoters
If you are bringing someone in, the question is usually the petitioner structure. A U.S. agent petitioner can support engagements across multiple clubs, academies and events instead of tying an athlete to one employer. That structure is a large part of what this office does.
Coaches, trainers and support staff
Coaches are the single largest group that contacts this office. A coaching record is evidenced differently from a competing record, and the category that fits a head coach is often not the one that fits the athlete they coach.
Athletes and competitors
You compete professionally or at national level and you need to be in the United States to train, compete or sign. Whether that is a P-1 or an O-1 is usually the first thing we settle.
What the hour covers
- Which category your facts support: O-1A, O-1B, P-1A or EB-1A — or none of them yet, and why.
- A candid read on the evidence you already have: rankings, titles, contracts, press, earnings, national-team selection — and the gaps that draw an RFE.
- Who the petitioner should be, and whether an agent petitioner structure fits how you actually work.
- Realistic timing, including whether premium processing changes anything for your deadline.
- What it costs to do properly: legal fees, and government filing fees, which are separate.
- If you have already been denied or have an RFE in hand, what your options are now.
The fee
The consultation fee is $500 USD, one time. It covers the consultation itself — the assessment, the recommendation, and the answers to your questions on the call. It credits 100% toward your retainer if you engage this office within 90 days. Government filing fees payable to USCIS are separate and are never included in a legal fee.
If you are on a deadline
Say so on the form. A season start, a fight date, a signed contract, a status about to expire, or an RFE with a response deadline all change what is realistically available. It is better to know in an hour than to find out in six weeks.
Case summaries, narrated by the attorney
These are case summaries narrated by the attorney about matters this office worked on. They are not client testimonials and no client is speaking in them. Every case is decided on its own record by a government officer. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome, and nothing in these videos predicts what will happen in any other case.
Interviews from the industry
An interview, not a client testimonial and not an endorsement. Taking part in a conversation implies no affiliation between this office and any promotion, league, federation or management company, and no view about any case.
Questions people ask before they book
Do I need to know which visa I need before I book?
No. Working that out is the main thing the call is for. Most people arrive knowing they need to be in the United States and not much more than that.
USCIS denied my petition without sending a Request for Evidence. Is that allowed?
Under the policy USCIS announced on 5 August 2026, officers have discretion to deny without first issuing a Request for Evidence or a Notice of Intent to Deny where the filing did not establish eligibility or omitted required initial evidence. It took effect immediately and applies to petitions that were already pending. Whether it was correctly applied to yours is a different question, and it is the one worth asking.
Has this office actually sued USCIS, or just written about it?
Actually. Two P-1 matters for combat-sports athletes, both on the same issue — that an independent fighter should not have to name opponents, dates and locations years in advance. One was filed against the California Service Center in 2022. In the other, a P-1 denial from the Vermont Service Center, USCIS reopened the case in March 2023 after suit was filed, which is a reopening and not a ruling on the merits. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome and every case is decided on its own record.
My petition was denied, or I have an RFE. Is it too late?
Not necessarily, and it is worth a proper look. Bring the denial notice or the RFE to the call.
How long does the process take?
It depends on the category, the service center, and whether premium processing is available and worth using. Timing is one of the things the call is for — and no honest answer to that question exists before someone has looked at your facts.
Is the $500 refundable?
It credits 100% toward your retainer on an engagement signed within 90 days. It is not otherwise refundable — it pays for the attorney's time on the call.
Not ready to book yet? Score your evidence first with Xtraordinary Scoring — xtraordinaryscoring.com. It is a scoring tool, not legal advice.
Book the call
One hour with the attorney. $500, credited toward your legal fee if you engage this office within 90 days.
Request Consultation — $500