Katya Stelmakh

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.

I'm thrilled to share my positive experience with Stelmakh Law regarding my EB1A petition. After consulting with several lawyers, Stelmakh Law stood out by thoroughly explaining which criteria were the strongest, convincing me of their expertise in identifying a strong candidate for EB1A. I am deeply... grateful to Dmitry and Katya for their strategic approach in presenting each criterion. They requested various pieces of evidence and guided me in strengthening my petition, ensuring that each criterion was clearly and effectively communicated in the support letter and final merits argument. The process took six months, during which every item was meticulously reviewed multiple times. They skillfully crafted my final petition letter, connecting all the dots with great technique. Ultimately, my efforts were rewarded with the approval of my petition in just 11 working days. I highly recommend the Stelmakh Law team for anyone seeking an effective petition.

Going through the EB-1A process felt overwhelming at first. I knew I had significant accomplishments in my field, but organizing everything into a legal case was challenging. I’m glad I chose to work with Katya and her team. They took the time to understand my work and mapped out a clear strategy ...that brought out the full depth of my experience and contributions. From my enterprise software systems for the public sector to my academic publications and peer review work, they helped shape every piece of evidence into a persuasive petition. What stood out to me was how they connected my work's technical aspects—whether in blockchain, machine learning, or government software systems—to its broader value and significance. My petition was approved! I continue growing in the U.S. and contributing to technology that makes a difference. If you’re looking for a firm that takes your career seriously and knows how to present it with precision and care, Stelmakh & Associates is an excellent partner in the immigration process.

As a Senior Staff Software Engineer specializing in IoT, distributed systems, and cloud computing, I knew I had a strong technical background, but I wasn’t sure how to structure reasonable arguments for EB-1A approval. Katya and her team provided clear guidance highlighting my leadership in the field..., my impact at my current and previous employers, and my contributions to major industry advancements. Despite the thorough initial filing, we received an RFE, which was a very stressful moment. However, the legal team was incredibly proactive: they addressed USCIS’s concerns by strengthening the evidence around my original contributions and my recognition in my field. Their expertise and structured approach turned what could have been a setback into a successful approval. They didn’t charge extra to respond to the RFE. Thanks to the Stelmakh & Associates team's hard work, my EB-1A was approved. I highly recommend Katya and her team to anyone pursuing an EB-1A or other complex immigration case. They are knowledgeable and strategic and genuinely invested in their clients’ success.

I wanted to get my O1 visa and Katya showed incredible confidence and speed in helping me build my application. I chose Katya because she was the one who answered all my questions patiently and I felt she had a lot of experience throughout the years to closely understand the immigration process a...nd various profiles of people coming from different backgrounds. Her team felt honest, reliable, and trustworthy. Katya and her colleague Maddalena not only suggested parameters to build my O1 profile but spent a lot of time painstakingly reviewing every nook and corner of it to make sure the evidence is watertight for my case. She compiled the most extensive petition allowing no room of doubt to the USCIS that I was a worthy O1 candidate - consequently she got my visa approved in the first go without any hassle. I am a startup founder and this has a huge impact on my company's roadmap, allowing me to access the US market, raise funds, and hire top talent extremely quickly. Made me extremely happy to hear the amazing news!