A legal labyrinth awaits immigrants looking to make the United States their home — a veritable eternity of unexplained acronyms, siloed government agencies and baffling official forms and document requests. And there are few incentives for the system to change itself: the federal government continues to add new layers of complexity, while lawyers make a tidy profit as the only people capable of navigating it successfully.
But a Seattle startup has found a tech-driven solution to the problems facing would-be immigrants, and today announced a $7.8 million funding round to expand its suite of services and scale out operations.
The startup, called Boundless, currently has two solutions at play. One helps couples apply for green cards through marriage, while the other, released earlier this year, guides eligible green card holders through the naturalization process on the path to U.S. citizenship. Boundless charges a $750 flat rate for its marriage green card service, and $395 for its help with acquiring citizenship.
When my parents immigrated to the United States... they spent five months’ worth of rent on legal fees so we could live in this country legally.”
The company — one of last year’s 50 Startups to Watch — sends applicants web-based questionnaires in their own language, and uses the answers to fill out immigration forms on their behalf. Independent immigration attorneys then vet the materials, which are packaged and sent to the applicant with instructions on how to submit correctly.
“When my parents immigrated to the United States from China 30 years ago, they spent five months’ worth of rent on legal fees so we could live in this country legally,” co-founder and CEO Xiao Wang said in a statement. “I started Boundless believing that immigrants are vital to America’s culture and economy, and we’re committed to making the immigration process faster, easier and more affordable.”
“I’m proud that Boundless has supported thousands of families over the past two years,” he went on. “This round of financing will enable us to help even more families achieve their American Dream.”
In the statement, Wang said he hopes to use the funding to make his company the go-to solution for the more than two million people who take on the family-based immigration system each year. Last year, Wang told Built In Seattle that over 5,000 people had started their immigration applications through Boundless.
Foundry Group led the Series A round, with participation from existing investors like Trilogy Equity Partners, Pioneer Square Labs, Two Sigma Ventures and Founders’ Co-Op. The funding brings Boundless Immigration’s total to $11.3 million.
