Dayna Wheatley
About Dayna
Biography
I have been an immigration lawyer for over 16 years and have experience with every facet of immigration law, from credible fear interviews to PERMs. I practice before U.S. Citizenship & Imigration Services, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs & Border Protection, Immigration Courts, the Board of Immigration Appeals, the Northern District of Illinois and the Fourth and Fifth Circuit Appellate Courts. I have practiced law as a sole practitioner and as an attorney in prestigious, high-paced, high-volume firms. I have also represented clients in several immigration courts throughout the South and Midwest.
Practice Areas
1
Practice Area
23 years | 1,250 cases
Fees and Rates
Cost
Always
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Illinois for 22 years
State: Illinois
Acquired: 2003
No misconduct found
Location
Wheatley Immigration Law, LLC
1100 Poydras Street, Suite 2900, New Orleans, LA, 70163
Wheatley Immigration Law, LLC
5420 Corporate Blvd., Suite 308, Baton Rouge, LA, 70808
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Dayna Wheatley's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
6 Client Reviews
Showing 1 - 1 of 1 review | Communication Style
Posted by Nina | April 04, 2016 | Hired Attorney | Immigration
I highly recommend Dayna Wheatley
I was not looking forward to the bureaucratic process of becoming a USA citizen but Dayna was efficient and professional that it all seemed so simple. She is able to explain the law in terms I can understand. I am grateful for her thorough understanding of immigration law. She addressed all my con...
Dayna Wheatley's Lawyer Endorsements
"I have the good fortune of having become acquainted with Dayna Wheatley when she practiced in the Chicago area. Since that time, I've called her whenever an immigration matter arises. Her knowledge and experience in this area is phenomenal. I recently referred a close friend who was engaged to marry a woman from another country. My friend was grateful to me because he received such great advice and service from Dayna. I have also greatly admired the lengths she will go to fight for her clients' rights at all levels of the immigration court system. Dayna is not just a fantastic lawyer, she is a genuine human being with the highest of values."
"I strongly endorse Dayna Wheatley in the area of immigration law. She is very knowledge in the topic of the immigration and cares about the clients she works with. Our office has worked with Dayna Wheatley on immigration cases with complicated issues that required a great deal time and research. She has great grasp of complicated issues and working through the issues to reach a strategy that got the best result for the client."
"Dayna is a superb lawyer. She deeply cares about her clients. She thoroughly researches each issue. And last but not least, she consistently wins very difficult and challenging cases."
Immigration lawyer
Immigration lawyer
Landlord or tenant lawyer
Immigration lawyer
Immigration lawyer
Personal injury lawyer
Immigration lawyer
Experience
Honors
2020
Very Good Rating, Avvo
2003
CALI Award, Chicago-Kent College of Law
Work Experience
2016 - Present
Owner, Wheatley Immigration Law, LLC
2014 - 2016
Attorney, Rose Immigration Law Firm, PLC
2013 - 2014
Attorney, Community Law Group, PLLC
2007 - 2013
Paralegal Instructor, DePaul University
2004 - 2013
Attorney, Dayna Wheatley, LLC
2003 - 2004
Associate, Law Office of MaryLu Cianciolo
2003 - 2003
Judicial Extern, Chicago Immigration Court
Associations
2018 - Present
American Bar AssociationMember
2018 - Present
Fifth Circuit Bar AssociationMember
2018 - Present
Fourth Circuit Bar AssociationMember
2016 - Present
Federal Bar AssociationMember
2016 - Present
Federal Bar AssociationImmigration Committee Law Member
2003 - Present
American Immigration Lawyers AssociationMember
2016 - 2017
American Immigration Lawyers AssociationLiaison
2003 - 2013
Chicago Bar AssociationMember
2003 - 2013
Illinois State Bar AssociationMember
Sample of Legal Cases
Appeal Sustained
Obtained asylum for the wife and children of an accused war criminal (genocidaire) from Rwanda after a lengthy appeal and remand process.
Obtained withholding of removal for a Burmese refugee woman, despite strong public opinion against her.
Obtained asylum for a woman who was genitally mutilated as a child in Africa.
Obtained asylum for a woman who was tortured for refusing to marry her tribal chief in Africa.
Obtained asylum for a Syrian man who ran for political office in opposition to the ruling regime.
Obtained asylum for a homosexual man who had previously been married to three different women.
Assisted a man in getting a pardon from the governor for his crimes (enabling him to vacate his criminal convictions and avoid deportation) due to very strong evidence of rehabilitation.
Assisted a house church in getting a religious worker visa for an employee.
Obtained a holding on an appeal for a minister who had not yet completed his ordination requirements, reversing a decision by the USCIS.
Education
2003
JD - Juris Doctor
1995
MA - Masters
1989
BA - Bachelor of Arts
Speaking Engagements
2019
What is a Bona Fide Marriage
2019
Immigration in the News
2008
I-9 Compliance
Publications
Languages
English
Spanish
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Guides
Legal Answers
I am planning to apply for citizenship on the basis of being permanent resident for more than 5 years.
26 Jan 2018
TPS application for pending AOS
26 Oct 2016
Consequence to cutting off ankle monitor while being an illegal immigrant?
21 Oct 2016