EB2-NIW Self-Petition: Need advice on obtaining independent expert letters

[dunesurfer 0]

 

Hi everyone,

I'm preparing to file my EB2-NIW self-petition and could use some guidance on the expert recommendation letters. I've done my research on the Dhanasar framework and have most of my documentation ready, but I'm stuck on the letter strategy.
 

**My Background:**
- 30 years in enterprise architecture/technical infrastructure
- Currently Senior Technical Position
- Masters
 

**My Challenge:**
I need 5-7 recommendation letters total, with at least 3-4 from independent experts (people who can assess my work but haven't collaborated with me).

I have 2-3 possible letters from former employers/colleagues, but I need the independent expert letters and I'm hitting cost shock with the commercial services.
 

For 3-4 letters, that's potentially $1,800-$8,000 just for expert assessments.
 

**My Questions for Those Who've Been Approved:**

1. Did anyone successfully connect with university professors or independent experts directly, without using commercial EOL services? If so, how?

2. What outreach methods actually worked? (Cold email to university departments? LinkedIn? Professional associations? Something else?)

3. For those who used commercial services, which ones provided good value? Any you'd specifically recommend or avoid?

4. What's a fair compensation range if approaching professors directly? I'm happy to pay for their professional time, just trying to understand appropriate rates.

5. Were there specific academic fields or types of experts that were more responsive? (For example, did computer science professors respond better than business school professors?)
 

**What I'm NOT looking for:**
- 'Cheap' services (I understand the risks)
- Anything that could be considered fraudulent
- Template letters with no real assessment
 

I want to do this right and maintain full USCIS legitimacy while finding the most cost-effective path.

Really appreciate any insights from those who've successfully navigated this part of the process. Thanks in advance!