Katya Stelmakh

Katya Stelmakh

also known as Kate Stelmakh

4.9
Rating: 7.8

Licensed for 20 years

Immigration Lawyer at Seattle, WA
Practice Areas: Immigration

12535 15th Ave NE, Suite 218, Seattle, WA

About Katya

Biography

Practice Areas

1

Practice Area

Immigration 100%

Katya Stelmakh represents a broad variety of domestic and international clients ranging from individuals to Fortune 100 companies and startup businesses. Focus on work, transfer, and investor visas for tech, real estate development & services firms.

20 years | 163 cases

100%

Fees and Rates

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer


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Licenses

Licensed in Pennsylvania for 20 years

State: Pennsylvania

Acquired: 2006

Active

No misconduct found

Licensed in New Jersey for 20 years

State: New Jersey

Acquired: 2006

Administrative - Not Authorized to Practice

No misconduct found

Location

Stelmakh & Associates, LLC

12535 15th Ave NE, Suite 218, Seattle, WA, 98125

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Katya Stelmakh's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.9 /5.0

94 Client Reviews

Showing 6 - 10 of 10 reviews | Character & Conduct

Posted by anonymous | May 15, 2025 | Hired Attorney

Strongly Not Recommended – a Complete Waste of Time, Money, and Peace of Mind

I spent a long time debating whether to leave this review, but ultimately decided that if my experience can spare even one person from going through the same disappointment — then it’s worth it. When you pay a substantial amount for legal services, you naturally expect professionalism, responsiven...ess, and work that matches the fee. Unfortunately, in my case, I received none of that. What I experienced was complete neglect, lack of communication, and the clear sense that no one actually cared about my case. They would ignore emails for weeks or even months — and seemed to consider this perfectly normal. Multiple staff members were included in email threads, and yet none of them would follow up. When signing the agreement, I emphasized that time was critically important to me. They assured me the case would be prepared within two months. The reality? Seven months, even though I provided all supporting documents and evidence from the very beginning. During this time, I had to chase them through every possible channel — email, phone, messages — just to get any kind of reply. And when I did get responses, they were rare, vague, and unhelpful. In the end, I did most of the casework myself. Around 95% of the documents were prepared by me personally — and to this day I don’t understand what exactly I paid for. The final petition was weak, poorly written, lacked strategic focus, and didn’t include any additional documents to strengthen the case. As I later discovered, there were numerous weaknesses that they simply failed to address. When I received an RFE, it became clear: if I didn’t take full control, the case would be lost. I ended up preparing almost the entire response on my own. Had I waited for them, I would have lost several more months and probably the case altogether. Interview preparation was a disaster as well. These attorneys clearly do not understand the specifics of EB1/O1 visas, and from what I experienced, they don’t seem to know why consulates deny applicants. Everything related to interview strategy, key talking points, and proper preparation was either ignored or handled superficially, without any understanding of what truly matters. In conclusion: If you're looking for genuine legal support from a team that truly understands their area of practice — look elsewhere. With this firm, you’ll lose time, money, and peace of mind, and be left with a result you’ll regret.

Posted by Shubham | January 02, 2025 | Hired Attorney

Exceptional Service and Support from Stelmakhlaw

I recently had the pleasure of working with Stelmakhlaw to file my EB1A petition, and I cannot express how grateful I am for their exceptional service. Initially, I faced uncertainty and anxiety about my immigration journey, having consulted with several law firms that left me feeling overwhelmed. Ho...wever, Stelmakhlaw stood out due to their clarity, confidence, and proven track record with cases similar to mine. I had learned about them during an EB1A session led by a previously approved client, which further solidified my decision to choose their firm. Once I joined their program, the onboarding process was seamless. I quickly uploaded all required documents and met with their extended team to discuss my case in detail. I appreciated their flexibility in using tools like Google Drive for communication and document sharing, which made the entire process more efficient. The team was always available for online meetings and maintained timely, clear communication throughout. Even when my assigned attorney changed, the new attorney quickly got up to speed on my case without any disruption. Katya, the founder, played a crucial role in drafting my petition. Her dedication was evident as she went above and beyond to strengthen my application, even working on Thanksgiving and responding to my queries during weekends and holidays. Her commitment made a significant difference in my experience. I was thrilled when my petition was filed during the holiday schedule and approved in less than 15 days. The professionalism and clear communication from Stelmakhlaw highlighted their commitment to their clients. Working with them was hassle-free, and securing my EB1A visa has provided me with the peace of mind and security I needed to continue my life in the U.S. I highly recommend Stelmakhlaw to anyone seeking immigration assistance.

Posted by Nikhil | May 24, 2024 | Hired Attorney

Exceptional Service and Fast Results: Highly Recommend Stelmakh and Associates

I recently had the pleasure of working with Stelmakh and Associates again, and I couldn't be more satisfied with the experience. Initially, we faced the challenge of navigating the complex visa application process for a crucial hire at our startup. Given our previous positive experience with Stelmakh... and Associates on a similar matter, choosing them again was a no-brainer. Once again, Katya and her exceptional team stepped up to the plate and handled our visa application with the utmost professionalism and efficiency. They guided us through every step, ensuring that all our documents were in order and addressing any concerns we had promptly. Their dedication to going above and beyond is truly commendable. Thanks to their expertise and diligent work, we achieved a successful visa application with remarkably fast results and at an affordable price. This success has had a significant impact on our business, allowing us to bring a super talented engineer on board, which is crucial for our growth and innovation. I highly recommend working with Katya and her team at Stelmakh and Associates. Their commitment to excellence and client satisfaction is unmatched. Thank you for making this process smooth and successful once again!

Posted by Yury | May 23, 2024 | Hired Attorney

O1 and EB2NIW

I received a job offer from a large, established financial technology company in the US but did not win the lottery for an H1B visa. I had two options: wait another year or apply for an O-1 visa, trying to leverage extraordinary skills and abilities. Wanting to begin working in the US quicker, I cho...se to pursue the O-1 route. After conducting quick research on several law firms offering support services for O-1 petition preparation, I found that most were not very enthusiastic and seemed hesitant about my ambition, citing that O-1 visas are typically for academic representatives. However, with a background in strategy consulting and business development, I knew my petition would need to focus on these fields to demonstrate extraordinary achievements and abilities. Eventually, I was recommended by another immigration lawyer from Europe to Katya Stelmakh, who was known for her deep expertise in O-1 and similar immigration cases. Katya and her team worked tirelessly, developing a comprehensive petition for an employer-sponsored O-1 visa in the field of strategy and business development. This petition was approved, allowing me to relocate with my family to the US and commence employment with the US company. Subsequently, Katya assisted in developing all necessary documents and applying for an EB2-NIW immigration visa, which was also approved based on meticulously gathered documentation. In the next phase, with Katya's guidance, I successfully changed jobs while in the US and established my own consulting company. Katya also facilitated the reapplication for an O-1 visa as a small business owner. Katya's assistance was invaluable, as she helped me navigate immigration questions in the US on three separate occasions and find a path to launching my own business. I am deeply grateful for her and her team's professional advice, commitment, rigor, and the quality of the developed documentation. Most importantly, I am grateful for the successful results in each endeavor. I wholeheartedly recommend Katya Stelmakh as an immigration attorney, especially for sophisticated cases.

Posted by Olena | April 15, 2020 | Hired Attorney

Благодарю и рекомендую Адвоката Катерину Стельмах

Хочу выразить благодарность высококвалифицированному адвокату Катерине Стельмах за проделанную работу с получением иммиграционной визы и гражданства в США. Катерина очень профессионально проделала работу, вежлива и терпелива. Всегда отвечала на звонки и держала в курсе дела. Очень довольна результ...атами . Спасибо за добросовестное отношение к делу.

Katya Stelmakh

Replied last April 15, 2020

Спасибо за отзыв, Олена! Было приятно работать с Вами и Вашей семьей.

See All Client Reviews

Katya Stelmakh's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Katya
Maxim Alexandrovich Voltchenko headshot
Maxim Voltchenko

Immigration lawyer | May 06

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Jonathan Agins Grode headshot
Jonathan Grode

Immigration lawyer | Mar 07

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"Katya and I have worked together on many cases. She is a professional in the truest sense of the word. She is a great lawyer, honest, caring and dedicated. She has a vast knowledge of business immigration and family immigration law. I fully recommend and support her work in the community and on behalf of immigrants across the country."

View All Endorsements
Michael B Galletch headshot
Michael Galletch

Corporate and incorporation lawyer

Jonathan Agins Grode headshot
Jonathan Grode

Immigration lawyer

Experience

Rating:  7.8 (Very Good)

Honors

2021

Top 10 Emerging Immigration Law Firms, Manage HR Magazine

2004

CALI Award for Excellence in Comparative Employment Law, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law

2003

John M. Adams Award for Excellence in Constitutional Law, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law

2001

Winner - Belarus national round, Oralist - international round, The Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition

Work Experience

2008 - Present

Owner and Managing Director, Stelmakh & Associates, LLC

2008 - 2008

Contract Attorney, Keker, Van Nest & Peters LLP

2005 - 2007

Attorney, Marks & Sokolov

2004 - 2004

Legal Intern, World Bank

2003 - 2003

Legal Intern, Bailey Cavalieri, LLC

Associations

2008 - Present

American Immigration Lawyers Association

Member

Education

2005

Ohio State University Moritz College of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

N/A

University of Geneva – Duke Law School in Switzerland

Certificate

Speaking Engagements

2024

International CleanTech Meets U.S. Capital Conference EMPOWERING CLEANTECH. Immigration Strategies for Global Innovators

2012

ANNUAL RSPN BUSINESS TRENDS FORUM Entrepreneurship in 2012: Survival or Growth?

Publications

Languages

Russian

Ukrainian

Belarusian

English

Avvo Rating

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