A final round-up of what I'd tell someone starting this process today

Closing out my posting here with a consolidated version of what I'd actually tell someone just starting, pulling together threads from a lot of what's been discussed across this community. Start by honestly mapping your evidence against the real criteria, using actual regulatory text and real decisions, not secondhand impressions. Build evidence-gathering and organization habits early, and keep them consistent rather than sprinting and stalling. Request anything depending on other people (letters, translations, authentication) as early as possible, since that's the least controllable part of the timeline. Get real outside review, not just encouragement, before you file. And pace yourself for a genuine marathon, not a sprint — the process rewards sustained, patient, well-organized effort more than any single dramatic achievement. None of this is legal advice, and every case is different — but if any of it saves someone starting out some of the confusion and wasted effort I went through figuring it out myself, that's exactly what this space is for.