It's been so long (almost 10 years since my first application), but I think i filed again 2 years later due to financial reasons, document gathering, etc. I was unprepared with my first submission with the attorney so i took my time to research the process in its entirety, read multiple denial cases and write a solid declaration that covered those gaps (20-pages), and thankfully got approved on my own without any legal help. I must say that my approval took approx. 4+ years the second time. I even sought help from my congressman in Oregon for assistance and sent additional good moral character letters from new people I met along the way.