I have practiced law for over fourteen years and am certified to practice before the state and federal courts in Illinois. I have handled hundreds of different types of family based immigration matters, successfully advocating on behalf of my clients primarily with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as well as the Department of State and U.S. consulates abroad. I have presented and successfully argued hundreds of extreme hardship waivers of different types (unlawful presence, fraud, smuggling, criminal) with USCIS. I continue expanding my knowledge in immigration law and am an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois. As the daughter of a Mexican immigrant and having personally experienced the immigration process from an immigrants perspective, I am extremely dedicated and committed to assisting the immigrant community in a compassionate and professional manner while providing quality legal representation.
My current caseload is focused on handling family based immigration matters including residency cases, adjustment of status and consular processing, marriage based and fiancee visas, visas for victims of domestic violence (VAWA), U visas for victims of certain crimes, citizenship and naturalization, deferred action, waivers for unlawful presence, fraud, smuggling, and criminal, provisional waivers, motions to reopen, and appeals.
Practice areas
Family based immigration matters including: residency; consular processing; marriage based and fiancée visas; U visas; citizenship and naturalization; VAWA petitions for victims of domestic violence; deferred action; waivers - for unlawful presence, fraud, smuggling, and criminal; provisional waivers and appeals,
20 years
Languages spoken
Spanish, English
State | Status | Acquired | Updated |
---|---|---|---|
IL | Active And Authorized To Practice Law | 2003 | 03/03/2022 |
Legal answers | 7 |
Legal guides | 0 |
Title | Company name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Owner and Attorney at Law | Law Office of Christine Contreras | 2014 - Present |
Supervising Attorney/ Vice President | Mid Size Law Firm | 2008 - 2014 |
Associate Attorney/ Junior Partner | Calmec Global Law Group | 2007 - 2008 |
Attorney | Lora, Chanthadouangsy andCastellanos LLC | 2006 - 2007 |
Associate | Law office of Mary L. Sfasciotti | 2003 - 2005 |
Association name | Position name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois | Member | 2014 - Present |
Illinois State Bar Association | Member | 2008 - Present |
American Immigration Lawyers Association | Member | 2003 - Present |
School name | Degree | Graduated |
---|---|---|
DePaul University College of Law | JD - Juris Doctor | 2000 |
DePaul University | BA - Bachelor of Arts | 1997 |
Case name | Outcome |
---|---|
Unlawful presence waiver | A client's waiver was approved by USCIS (Immigration) and I successfully proved that his wife would face extreme emotional, social, familial, financial and medical hardship without him here in the US. |
Posted by Angelica
September 23, 2019
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January 11, 2019
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June 12, 2018
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March 27, 2017
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December 11, 2015
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December 19, 2014
Posted by Cynthia
December 18, 2014
Dedrick Gordon, Immigration Attorney on Dec 17, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer. She is a highly skilled immigration attorney, and provides the upmost dedication and professionalism in representing her clients.
Angela Spalding, Immigration Attorney on Dec 10, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer. I have known Christine since law school, and have known her to be ethical and hardworking. She is smart and can be trusted to do a fanstastic job for any matter she works on. I refer immigration clients to her knowing that she has the expertise to succeed and provide a positive client experience.
Dedrick Gordon, Immigration Attorney on Dec 17, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer. She is a highly skilled immigration attorney, and provides the upmost dedication and professionalism in representing her clients.
Angela Spalding, Immigration Attorney on Dec 10, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer. I have known Christine since law school, and have known her to be ethical and hardworking. She is smart and can be trusted to do a fanstastic job for any matter she works on. I refer immigration clients to her knowing that she has the expertise to succeed and provide a positive client experience.
Lisa Nosek, Immigration Attorney on Dec 10, 2014
Relationship: Co-worker
I endorse this lawyer. Christine is knowledgeable and thorough. She is meticulous and diligent in her work.
Jeffrey Middlesworth, Immigration Attorney on Dec 4, 2014
Relationship: Worked for lawyer
I strongly endorse Christine Contreras. She is extremely knowledgable and does not make mistakes. She is one of the top immigration attorneys in the Chicagoland area. Christine takes on, and wins, complicated cases that other attorneys cannot handle.
Ana Guzman, Immigration Attorney on Oct 23, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I have known this attorney professionally for over 10 years, and I consider her to be an excellent immigration attorney. She provides excellent legal representation and counsel, and also practices law with the highest levels of integrity and professionalism.
Bradley Schencker, Immigration Attorney on Nov 1, 2012
Relationship: Co-worker
I endorse this lawyer because of her high level of professionalism she displays and her depth of knowledge. If I were not an American by birth I would demand someone as exceptional as Christine Contreras advocating for me.