JustiGuide Uses AI to Simplify U.S. Immigration for Individuals and Startups
The U.S. immigration system is often criticized for being complex, time-consuming, and costly. Startup JustiGuide aims to tackle these challenges with an AI-powered platform designed to help immigrants navigate the process more efficiently.
The platform is built to assist immigrants in understanding eligibility for visas, exploring legal options, and connecting with immigration attorneys—making the entire process both faster and more affordable.
“I think the more we make the technology accessible, I think people will be empowered to try and fill their own forms and understand what their options are and that they will be able to use lawyers for just the review process,” said JustiGuide founder Bisi Obateru in an interview with TechCrunch.
Founder’s Personal Experience Drives Mission
Obateru, originally from Nigeria, drew inspiration from his own journey through the U.S. immigration system. After completing his studies, he navigated the process to secure an H1-B visa for tech professionals and eventually a permanent residency green card.
“Immigrants can come in and basically speak in their native tongue and understand what their immigration journey can be,” he explained, highlighting the platform’s multilingual approach.
The startup recently won Best Pitch in the Policy + Protection category at TechCrunch’s Disrupt conference, further validating its innovative approach.
Who Uses JustiGuide
JustiGuide’s user base, currently 47,000 strong, includes startup founders seeking to hire international talent, individuals on H1-B visas exploring new options, international students planning businesses, as well as lawyers and law firms. Obateru also envisions a future where government institutions may license the technology.
How the Platform Works
The system is powered by Dolores, an AI legal research assistant trained on over 40,000 court cases sourced from the Free Law Project, a nonprofit offering free access to legal materials. Dolores can translate into 12 languages and helps match immigrants with lawyers. The platform also streamlines document preparation tasks traditionally handled by paralegals, allowing attorneys to focus on review and guidance.
Initially, Dolores was programmed to scan subreddits, Facebook groups, Instagram, and LinkedIn posts for immigrants seeking help, reaching out with relevant advice based on keywords.
Privacy and Security
JustiGuide emphasizes data privacy. All platform data is encrypted and stored on-premises, with personal information shared only when a user connects to a lawyer. Some user information is anonymized to further protect privacy.
The startup is also registering as a law firm, which will allow it to directly connect users with in-house immigration lawyers, streamlining legal support even further.
With its combination of AI technology and practical legal support, JustiGuide is positioning itself as a transformative tool for immigrants navigating one of the world’s most complicated immigration systems.
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