OpprovalWHO WE ARE
DAVID ZHANG
CEO & FOUNDER AT APPROVAL
David earned his J.D. from Columbia Law School and a B.A. in Political Science from Amherst College. He advises corporate and individual clients on immigration matters across a range of industries, including fine art, design, life sciences, finance, technology, fashion, and academia.
David’s practice focuses on achievement-based immigration categories such as O-1, EB-1A, and NIW. He enjoys working with driven, accomplished individuals. Before becoming an attorney, David worked in college admissions counseling, helping students gain admission to selective institutions including Yale, Stanford, Oxford, and Columbia.
Prior to founding his own immigration firm, David practiced in the Asset Management group at a top-ranked global corporate law firm. He has provided pro bono legal services to organizations such as the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG), New York County Lawyers Association (NYCLA), and Legal Services NYC.
David is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and serves on multiple committees within the AILA New York chapter.
WHAT WE OFFER
U.S. immigration law is complex, technical, and stringent. We know this—and so does anyone who has navigated the system firsthand. To better serve our clients, we focus exclusively on the achievement-based visa categories of O-1, EB1-A, and EB2-NIW.
Our specialization has allowed us to develop deep expertise in this field. We stay current with adjudication trends, including evolving evidentiary standards, shifting RFE patterns, and emerging scrutiny in consular interviews.
We take an expansive view of legal representation. Unlike many firms that only take on cases when they are ready to file, we often begin working with clients much earlier. Many are still in F-1 status, preparing to file for O-1 after graduation. Much like a corporate law firm that advises start-ups from their earliest funding through IPO, we guide our clients through the full arc of their immigration goals, offering long-term strategy, profile development, and timing advice from the ground up.
We hold ourselves to a high standard in both legal judgment and execution. Our internal review processes are rigorous, and we take on cases only when we believe in their merits. To reflect that commitment, we offer a timeliness guarantee as well as a free refile or partial refund in the event of a denial.
Expert Guidance on Retainer
We support clients up to a year before filing, offering ongoing advisory on a flexible retainer model
Fast 2-Week Turnaround
Once materials are in, we deliver your petition within two weeks—no delays, no surprises
50% Refund or Free Refile
If your case doesn’t go through, we either refile at no cost or refund 50% of our fee
REVIEWS
I had a delightful experience with David during my application for the O1B Visa. He has consistently demonstrated a level of responsiveness and clarity in answering my queries about my process. He was instrumental in my decision-making, guiding me through the process. All the professionals in my field who recommended me for my case were deeply impressed by the letters that David advised.
David is a trustworthy immigration lawyer. He has thorough professional knowledge of immigration law and attention to constantly changing immigration policy. He is very responsive to his emails, and any inquires I had during the process. I received a RFE during my first petition with another lawyer. I was very unsatisfied with the petition the previous lawyer drafted and my materials were not made use of in a full extent. I chose not to respond to the RFE but withdraw the petition and decided to work with David for my second petition. He successfully helped me with getting my O1 visa in this difficult time.
David is an exceptionally dedicated and patient immigration attorney who provided me with invaluable guidance throughout my process. His constructive advice was always clear, thorough, and tailored to my unique situation. Thanks to his expertise and attention to detail, I felt confident and well-supported at every step. I highly recommend David to anyone seeking reliable and compassionate legal assistance in immigration matters.
I had a delightful experience with David during my application for the O1B Visa. He has consistently demonstrated a level of responsiveness and clarity in answering my queries about my process. He was instrumental in my decision-making, guiding me through the process. All the professionals in my field who recommended me for my case were deeply impressed by the letters that David advised.
David is a trustworthy immigration lawyer. He has thorough professional knowledge of immigration law and attention to constantly changing immigration policy. He is very responsive to his emails, and any inquires I had during the process. I received a RFE during my first petition with another lawyer. I was very unsatisfied with the petition the previous lawyer drafted and my materials were not made use of in a full extent. I chose not to respond to the RFE but withdraw the petition and decided to work with David for my second petition. He successfully helped me with getting my O1 visa in this difficult time.
David is an exceptionally dedicated and patient immigration attorney who provided me with invaluable guidance throughout my process. His constructive advice was always clear, thorough, and tailored to my unique situation. Thanks to his expertise and attention to detail, I felt confident and well-supported at every step. I highly recommend David to anyone seeking reliable and compassionate legal assistance in immigration matters.