No software fee
Use the public open-source core without paying for a preparation package. Keep government fees, any professional help, and optional hosting in your budget.
FILLVISA OS VS SIMPLECITIZEN
An open-source SimpleCitizen alternative. 100% free.
Beautiful forms. Your own hosting. Open code.
Prepare supported immigration forms at your own pace with software you can inspect and self-host. Fillvisa OS gives individuals and families a free browser-based starting point, without buying an application service package.
100% free software Self-hostable AGPL-3.0
IS FILLVISA OS A SIMPLECITIZEN ALTERNATIVE?
Yes—for preparing supported forms yourself.
Fillvisa OS is a 100% free, self-hostable, AGPL-3.0 alternative to SimpleCitizen for supported immigration form preparation. It gives you the software and source code. You decide how to prepare, review, and submit your application.
SimpleCitizen combines application preparation with service options. Fillvisa OS does not include attorney review, a case manager, or a managed application package. The right choice depends on how much help you want beyond filling forms. Fillvisa OS documentation · SimpleCitizen’s process
YOUR PAPERWORK. YOUR PACE.
Start with free tools.
Choose additional help on your terms.
If you already know the forms you need and want to prepare them yourself, a focused tool can be a useful starting point. You can still seek professional advice separately when you need it.
An approachable form experience
Work through readable questions and clear sections, then review the result. Try a sample form to see whether the interface suits you before preparing real paperwork.
Code you can inspect
Explore how the tool works or host your own copy. You do not need to self-host just to try the public demo; deployment is an option for people who want that control.
Software and support solve different problems. A clean interface helps you work through a form. It does not establish eligibility, select a legal strategy, or replace an attorney’s review. Our design perspective is not a measured usability comparison.
UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PRICE COVERS
Fillvisa OS vs. SimpleCitizen pricing
Fillvisa OS costs $0 for the software. SimpleCitizen’s prices depend on the application type and service level. The example below uses its published marriage-based green card packages, not a universal price for every application.
| Product / package | Listed price | What is being compared | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fillvisa OS | $0 software fee | Supported form-preparation software | No bundled professional review |
| SimpleCitizen Essentials | $599 | DIY application preparation | Marriage-based green card example |
| SimpleCitizen Enhanced | $899 | Application preparation with legal review | Check current package terms |
| SimpleCitizen Professional | $1,299 | Application preparation with professional legal support | Check the included support scope |
Sources: SimpleCitizen marriage-based green card packages, application-specific pricing, and Fillvisa OS. These are software-versus-service comparisons, not equivalent packages. Confirm current prices and inclusions before purchasing.
Free software is not a free filing.
Government filing fees are separate from preparation software. Budget for any required third-party services, documents, professional advice, and optional self-hosting costs.
Compare the help you actually need.
Decide whether you want software alone or assistance reviewing and organizing an application. A lower software price does not reproduce the services in a paid package.
A SIMPLER PREPARATION WORKFLOW
Open a form. Work through it. Review the result.
Try a supported form before changing your process. Check the exact release and output you plan to use.
- 01 / CHOOSE
Find your supported form
Check the form directory and repository. Confirm that your chosen release includes the workflow and form edition you need.
Browse forms → - 02 / PREPARE
Work in your browser
Complete the questions and review the guidance. Local browser progress does not automatically sync across devices; plan how you will preserve your work.
Try the demo → - 03 / REVIEW
Check the final output
Review supported PDF outputs or online autofill results. Form preparation and autofill do not replace your final review or the official submission process.
Check supported capabilities →
A FAIR SIDE-BY-SIDE VIEW
Free preparation tools or a supported application service?
The difference is more than price. Compare the level of responsibility you want to keep with the help you want someone else to provide.
| Need | Fillvisa OS | SimpleCitizen |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Prepare supported forms yourself. | Prepare an application with service options. |
| Software or package cost | 100% free software; external costs are separate. | Paid packages vary by application and support level. |
| Attorney review | Not included. Arrange professional advice separately. | Available through independent network attorneys; confirm your package. |
| Application assembly | You organize supporting evidence and review the complete filing. | Describes questionnaire-driven form generation and application assembly. |
| Printing & delivery | You handle printing, signatures, and submission as appropriate. | Delivery options and assistance depend on the package. |
| Account & saved progress | Local browser workflow; no automatic cross-device sync. | Online account and save-as-you-go questionnaire. |
| Open source & hosting | Public AGPL-3.0 code; self-hostable static frontend. | Hosted service; no self-hostable open-source edition identified in reviewed sources. |
| Form coverage | Check the forms and outputs included in your release. | Check the application types offered by the service. |
| Who handles the final check? | You, with any professional help you separately arrange. | Follow your selected service’s review and finalization process. |
| Moving your work | No direct SimpleCitizen import promised. | Confirm access, export, and cancellation terms before leaving. |
References: Fillvisa OS repository, SimpleCitizen workflow, and package features. Some SimpleCitizen overview pages describe services broadly; confirm what your chosen package includes.
FILLVISA OS MAY FIT WHEN
You want to manage the preparation yourself.
- You know which supported forms you intend to prepare.
- You are comfortable checking answers and organizing documents.
- You want free software and access to the code.
- You can work with locally saved browser progress.
- You will arrange any advice or review separately.
A SERVICE MAY FIT WHEN
You want more help along the way.
If you want assistance with application assembly, feedback, or legal review, evaluate the service scope rather than choosing only on software price.
Uncertainty about eligibility or your legal situation is a reason to seek qualified help. Neither a form tool nor a product comparison determines which immigration pathway is right for you.
SELF-HOSTABLE. AGPL-3.0 LICENSED.
Your copy. Your deployment. Public source.
Fillvisa OS is a static frontend. The open-source core does not require a backend. Start with the repository instructions and verify your deployment before using it for real work.
01 / GET THE CODE
Start with the project.
Choose a repository release, review its included forms and documentation, and keep a record of the version you deploy.
View the repository →02 / HOST YOUR COPY
Serve the static files.
Use a static web server and test the form workflow, asset loading, downloads, and saved progress. Your deployment remains your responsibility.
Read setup documentation →03 / UNDERSTAND THE LICENSE
Built on AGPL-3.0.
Review the license before adapting, distributing, or operating a modified version for others. The repository’s license text is the authoritative reference.
Read the license →Control comes with responsibility. Plan updates, access controls, device security, and backups. Self-hosting a static frontend does not create a shared client database or cloud sync. Source availability alone is not a security certification.
BEFORE YOU CHANGE TOOLS
Keep your application organized from the start.
Try Fillvisa OS on a sample before moving work in progress. Avoid assuming that a different tool will recreate an entire application package.
List the forms and help you need
Identify the documents and outputs you plan to prepare. Separate software needs from advice, review, translations, and other services you may want.
Check coverage in your release
Use the directory and repository to verify each supported form. Test the actual output with fictional data, including repeated fields or extra sections.
Preserve your existing work
If you have started with SimpleCitizen, confirm how to retain your answers and documents. There is no promised one-click import into Fillvisa OS.
Plan storage and review
Local browser progress does not automatically follow you to another device. Check export and backup options, keep your documents organized, and decide who will review the completed work.
Check any existing service commitment
Before cancelling a package, review its terms and the help you would lose. Verify your alternative process end to end and follow the relevant official filing instructions.
DIRECT ANSWERS
Fillvisa OS vs. SimpleCitizen: frequently asked questions
Is Fillvisa OS a free SimpleCitizen alternative?
Yes, for supported immigration form preparation. Fillvisa OS is 100% free software under AGPL-3.0 and can be self-hosted. It does not include the professional services or legal review available with some SimpleCitizen packages.
Is Fillvisa OS really 100% free?
Yes. The public open-source core has no software subscription or per-user license fee. Government fees, professional services, and any self-hosting or maintenance costs are separate.
How much does SimpleCitizen cost?
Prices vary by application and service level. Its marriage-based green card page lists Essentials at $599, Enhanced at $899, and Professional at $1,299 as reviewed on October 29, 2026. Government fees are excluded. Check the price and scope for your own application.
Does Fillvisa OS include an attorney review?
No. Fillvisa OS is form-preparation software, not a legal service. You are responsible for reviewing your answers and can arrange qualified professional advice separately.
Can Fillvisa OS prepare my entire green card application?
Do not assume that supporting an individual form means the software covers an entire filing package. Check every form and output you need. Evidence, signatures, supporting documents, and final filing steps remain your responsibility.
Do I have to self-host Fillvisa OS?
No. You can explore the public demo and supported free forms in your browser. Self-hosting is an option if you want to operate your own copy of the open-source project.
What does AGPL-3.0 mean for this project?
AGPL-3.0 is the license used by Fillvisa OS. Read the repository LICENSE for the exact permissions and obligations before modifying, distributing, or operating a modified version for other people.
Where does Fillvisa OS save my progress?
The open-source workflow uses local browser storage. Progress does not automatically sync between devices, and clearing browser data can remove it. Test the backup and export options available for your selected form.
Can I transfer my SimpleCitizen application to Fillvisa?
No direct migration or one-click import is promised. Preserve your answers and documents, check supported import options, and review any transferred information. An application package may contain more than form answers.
Will Fillvisa OS submit my application or guarantee approval?
No. Fillvisa OS does not submit an application on your behalf or guarantee an immigration outcome. Review the final materials and follow the appropriate official submission process.
Which forms should I check before choosing?
Start with the exact forms your application needs and check the current directory and repository release. Availability, supported outputs, and features can differ across releases and hosted editions.
Is this a comparison of Fillvisa Plus?
No. This page covers Fillvisa OS, the free, self-hostable open-source edition. Paid hosted products are separate and are not included in the software-versus-service comparison here.
Sources & comparison methodology
Published by Fillvisa, not an independent review site. We reviewed first-party documentation on October 29, 2026. This page compares Fillvisa OS software with SimpleCitizen’s application services; it does not claim equal support or outcomes.
- Fillvisa OS repository and AGPL-3.0 license — code, supported workflows, and self-hosting.
- SimpleCitizen pricing — application types and service levels.
- Marriage-based green card packages — the specific price example on this page.
- How SimpleCitizen works — preparation and service workflow.
Package scope and prices can change. Confirm current terms directly with the provider. We have not performed a controlled usability study, tested a direct migration, or assumed identical form coverage.
SimpleCitizen is a trademark of its respective owner. Fillvisa is not affiliated with or endorsed by SimpleCitizen.
FREE TO USE. OPEN TO EXPLORE.
Make the workflow your own.
Get Fillvisa OS. Inspect the code. Host your copy.
100% free software, licensed under AGPL-3.0.