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Marie C. Puertollano

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Avvo Rating8.3
  • San Diego, CA
  • Licensed for 6 years
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About Marie

As immigrant in the United States, I experienced first hand the hardship and stress that the immigration process can be. My practice is entirely dedicated to U.S immigration law. With hundreds of cases approved from 40 different countries in a high volume immigration firm, I was named Top 40 Immigration Lawyers under 40 in California for 2018.

I represent clients in removal before the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the BIA and immigration courts. I file employment based (H-1B, H-3, TN, R-1, L-1, PERM), family based (marriage, fiancé, I-751), and investment based petitions (E-2), as well as naturalization, DACA, F-1 reinstatement, visas based on extraordinary abilities (O-1, NIW and EB-1A), athlete visas (P-1), I-360 Victim of Violence Visas (VAWA) and asylum cases. I prepare the clients for their marriage first or second (fraud) interviews, I-751 and citizenship interviews and attend the interview with them. I also deal with complex motions to reopen as well as I-601A and 212(d)(3) waivers.

 I was born and raised in France. I earned two Master Degrees in Law; one in France in Public Law and one in the United States in Comparative Law (LL.M). And I am fluent in French, English and Spanish. While being a social worker in Gainesville, GA, I developed a passion for the protection of immigrants' rights. I attended California Western School of law in the United States with the sole purpose of becoming an immigration lawyer. 

In my free time, I am a motivational speaker and I mentor High schoolers. I enjoy swimming, and biking. I regularly serve food to the homeless. I also love spending time with my friends and family.

Practice areas

Immigration
  1. Immigration: 100%

    Work and Investment visas, extraordinary abilities, Family, and Naturalization. Representation in court including the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

    7 years, 800 cases

Languages spoken

English, French, Spanish

Photos and videos

4240116 1540839582

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Contact

1502 6th Ave
address map

Law Offices of Jacob Sapochnick

1502 6th Ave
San Diego, CA, 92101-3216

Resume

License
StateStatusAcquiredUpdated
CAActive201204/02/2019
We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.
Avvo Contributions
Legal answers42
Legal guides0
Awards
Award nameGrantorDate granted
Top 40 Immigration Lawyers under 40 in California for 2018The American Society of Legal Advocates2017
2015 Pro bono awardABA Immigration Justice Project2016
Appreciation AwardLaw Offices of Jacob Sapochnick2014
Wiley W. Manuel AwardSDVLP2012
Academic Award Achievement: Legal SkillsCalifornia Western School of Law2011
Work Experience
TitleCompany nameDuration
Managing AttorneyLaw offices of Jacob Sapochnick2016 - Present
AttorneyLaw Offices of Jacob Sapochnick2012 - 2016
Law ClerkAmerican Bar Association Immigration Justice Project2011 - 2011
Law ClerkSan Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program2011 - 2011
Associations
Association namePosition nameDuration
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of CaliforniaAdmitted to Practice2019 - Present
U.S. District court for the Central District of CaliforniaAdmitted to Practice2019 - Present
American Immigration Lawyers AssociationMember2016 - Present
U.S Court of Appeal for the 9th CircuitAdmitted to Practice2015 - Present
State Bar of CaliforniaMember2012 - Present
American Society of Legal AdvocatesMember2017 - 2018
Publications
Publication nameTitleDate
BlogWhat to Do If Your Green card is Approved But Never Received2014
BlogWhat happens at the Green Card Marriage Interview at the USCIS office?2014
Education
School nameDegreeGraduated
California Western School of LawLL.M - Master of Laws2011
University of BordeauxMaster 22007
University of Paris Pantheon AssasBachelor2006
Speaking Engagements
Conference nameTitleDate
Engaged EncounterA wedding is a day, a marriage is a lifetime2018
Legal cases
Case nameOutcome
NIW and AOS for Lead Scientist with almost no citationsApproved
NIW and AOS for very young entrepreneurApproved
EB-1C Executive of a small US companyApproved without RFE
Petition for review with the 9th Circuit Court of AppealApproved
5th I-130 marriage petitionApproved
Abused spouse VAWAApproved
E-2 for start upApproved
F-1 reinstatementApproved
P-1 for MMA fightersApproved
H1B motion to reopenApproved

Reviews

(46)
5 Star
100%
4 Star
0%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Review Marie Puertollano

my perfectly partner

Posted by CindyThu Sep 05 2019

Marie is a very professional lawyer with my H1B visa. She helps a lot. Timely respond! Knowledgeable and reliable. Thank you, Marie!
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

Excellent Lawyer

Posted by JonathanTue Jul 09 2019

Marie took on our Green Card case very late in the game. Our original lawyer had left us on the brink of deportation as our H1B and H4's were expiring and we were running out of time to get our applications submitted. Marie took on our case with very short notice, familiarized herself with all the information and miraculously had everything filed with literally 1 day to spare. That was in August 2018. It is now July 2019 and we have our Green Cards! We are incredibly grateful and indebted to Marie for all her hard work and professionalism and for making what was a hugely stressful experience into nothing more than a waiting game. I also have to mention Linda Parrish, a Senior Paralegal at the firm working with Marie. She was excellent with communication and extremely helpful nd pleasant to work with. I cannot recommend them more highly!
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney
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Attorney endorsements

(12)
Are you an attorney? Endorse this lawyer

Camille Keppi, Immigration Attorney on Nov 29, 2016
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

Marie is an honest, dedicated and incredibly knowledgeable lawyer. I would recommend her to anyone seeking an Immigration Attorney. I endorse her without hesitation.

Rayana Thomas, Immigration Attorney on Sep 23, 2016
Relationship: Worked together on matter

Marie is an honest and hard working attorney. I have had the pleasure to work with her and have seen her dedication towards her clients. She is fluent in French and Spanish and is a great attorney.

Begum Benchimol, Immigration Attorney on Apr 20, 2016
Relationship: Co-worker

Marie is a great attorney. She is experienced and cares for her clients. I confer with her almost daily about a wide variety of legal issues. Her breadth of experience and professional judgment are great assets for her clients.

William Markham, Antitrust and trade law Attorney on Dec 12, 2015
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

Marie really cares about her clients and is conscientious, absolutely reliable, knowledgeable, and committed to helping her clients. She is also honest, forthright, and completely trustworthy. I highly recommend her services.

Yi-Hung Chung, Family Attorney on Jun 17, 2015
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I endorse this lawyer. Marie is very capable at handling immigration cases; she is mostly handling H1B, E,P,R, and marriage immigration cases. She is very passionated about her work and she cares clients very much.

Yingfei Zhou, Immigration Attorney on Jun 11, 2015
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

Marie Puertollano is an experienced immigration lawyer who is diligent, brilliant, knowledgeable in both family and business immigration, and truly caring about her clients. I highly endorse this lawyer to anyone seeking quality services.

James Voeller, Estate planning Attorney on May 20, 2015
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

Marie has what is sorely lacking in much of the legal community - a kind heart. Marie genuinely cares for her clients and is an excellent communicator. Having emigrated to this country herself, she has a special understanding of the process. You won't be sorry if you hire Marie. I endorse this lawyer.

Mark Young, Bankruptcy and debt Attorney on May 15, 2015
Relationship: Other

I endorse this lawyer. Marie is a caring, family-oriented person who happens to be a great immigration lawyer.

Douglas Borthwick, Family Attorney on Jan 4, 2015
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I endorse this lawyer.

Nadia Galash, Immigration Attorney on May 6, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I endorse this lawyer. Marie is a very passionate attorney. She is very knowledgeable in family visa petitions, H-1B visas, R-visas, N-400 applications, and I-751 petitions.

Ekaterina Powell, Immigration Attorney on Apr 29, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

Marie Puertollano is one of the most hardworking and dedicated attorney I know. She makes her clients a priority and goes above and beyond what is expected from an attorney providing exceptional level of legal service and personable attention to each case. I highly recommend Marie Puertollano to anyone seeking quality legal assistance.

Habib Hasbini, Immigration Attorney on Aug 29, 2013
Relationship: Co-worker

I endorse this lawyer.

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