Comprehensive legal support for individuals with extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, including evidence collection and strategic case building.
Expert assistance for immigrants of extraordinary ability seeking permanent residency, with tailored strategies for researchers, innovators, and professionals.
Guidance on National Interest Waiver applications for advanced degree holders or exceptional ability individuals, emphasizing national impact.
Personalized profile evaluations and pathway planning to determine the best visa options based on client goals and backgrounds.
Detailed legal responses to Requests for Evidence from USCIS, ensuring strong rebuttals and case reinforcement.
I had my NIW approved years ago and came to Stelmakh & Associates for an EB-1A profile evaluation. With my background as a technical lead, IoT tele researcher, PhD candidate, and patent holder, I thought I would receive an RFE—but my case was approved directly. Katya is a true expert in EB-1A,Niw,O-1 and Marina understood every detail of my profile and drafted the case extremely well. Their work gave me confidence and clarity, and the approval had a huge positive impact on my immigration journey. I am extremely thankful to Katya and Marina and strongly recommend them to experts in their field. I very very very strongly recommend😁
I joined my company, Maximor AI, with a requirement to be a full-time AI engineering lead at the company’s NYC location. Since I was primarily based out of India, my company and I needed help securing a work-authorized U.S. visa. Katya and her team evaluated my profile in depth quite early on, and suggested applying for an O-1A petition even before I had officially joined Maximor. This gave us great insight into the feasibility of the whole arrangement. Their early evaluation helped us gain confidence in their process and expertise. The attorneys from Stelmakh & Associates - primarily Sanjana and Samriddhi - drafted my O-1A petition. We proceeded by claiming 6 out of 8 O-1A criteria, so the petition was going to be quite large and dense. Sanjana did a great job collecting all the evidence from me and my company, and compiling it into one coherent petition. She also showed great attention to detail on every piece of evidence submitted, which I truly appreciated. The team was receptive to all feedback and changes requested until the very last moment. My O-1A petition was successfully approved under premium processing at the USCIS California Service Center on January 9, 2025. Katya and her team were prompt with timely updates throughout. This O-1A-based work authorization will now allow me to work out of my company’s New York office, enabling the team to use my expertise to its fullest extent. It will also be a new experience for me to work out of one of the best cities in the world, and I’m grateful to the team at Stelmakh & Associates for their support in making this possible.
Working with Katya and her team on my O-1A petition has been a rewarding experience. As a founder and medtech entrepreneur preparing to move operations to the U.S., I needed a firm that could navigate the legal complexity and understand the complexity of my professional background: international grants, academic research, patents, and innovation in point-of-care diagnostics. Katya brought clarity and strategic insight. Maddalena’s dedication to building a detailed and compelling petition was remarkable. She patiently worked through my evidence and crafted a thorough case that truly reflected the breadth of my work. What I appreciated most was their care, support, and responsiveness throughout the process, especially as I was juggling timelines from abroad. Thanks to their expertise, my O-1A petition was approved. I recommend Katya and her team to fellow founders and scientists seeking serious, experienced immigration counsel who understand both legal complexity and innovation.
When my wife and I first reached out to Stelmakh & Associates, we were trying to figure out the best long-term path for staying in the U.S. I was on an H-1B visa that would expire in a couple of years, and we were exploring whether O-1A, EB-1A, or EB-2 NIW would be the right choice. Katya walked us through both options in detail and helped us decide to move forward with the EB-2 NIW, based on our current goals and timeline. Even with a strong profile, including a Master’s from NYU, work in machine learning, published patents, peer-reviewed articles, and judging experience, we received an RFE. It was disappointing at first, but Karen was incredibly responsive and reassuring throughout. The legal team worked closely with me to craft a detailed response that clarifies the national importance of my future ML consulting business and reinforces my qualifications. Thanks to the team’s guidance and hard work, the case was approved. This process is not easy, and every detail matters. We’re very grateful to have had a legal team that understood both the immigration landscape and how to present our case with clarity and care. Katya and her team helped us take a big step forward. We absolutely recommend this firm.
I'm truly grateful to Katya and her team (Jessica & Sanjana) for their exceptional work on my EB1A petition. Their expertise and dedication resulted in my petition being approved on the first attempt, without any RFE. The quality of the petition was incredibly impressive. Katya and her team crafted compelling arguments that strengthened my case significantly. Their attention to detail and thorough approach made all the difference in achieving a successful outcome. If you're looking for top-notch immigration attorneys who can handle complex cases like EB1A petitions, I highly recommend this firm. Their professionalism, knowledge, and ability to present a strong case are truly outstanding.

Expert Immigration Counsel for Innovators and Professionals
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Stelmakh & Associates is a premier immigration law firm in Seattle, WA, specializing in complex visa petitions for entrepreneurs, scientists, and high-achieving professionals. With a 4.9/5 rating from 129 reviews, our team, led by Katya Stelmakh, provides strategic guidance for O-1A, EB-1A, EB-2 NIW, and other immigration cases. We combine legal expertise with deep understanding of innovation fields to craft compelling petitions, ensuring clarity, support, and successful outcomes for clients navigating the U.S. immigration system.
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