Katya Stelmakh

I retained Stelmakh & Associates to handle my change of status from F-1 to H-1B. My immigration history dates back to 2018, and my case was far from straightforward. During the process, USCIS issued a Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID), and my application was thoroughly reviewed. The legal team caref...ully prepared my response and guided me through every stage of the process. I especially want to thank **Samriddhi Upadhyaya**, who worked directly on my case. She was professional, knowledgeable, and always willing to explain the next steps. As with any lengthy immigration case, there were times when I had questions and concerns. Whenever an important issue arose, the team made themselves available, including scheduling phone calls when necessary. I always felt that my concerns were taken seriously. One thing I learned from this experience is that clients should stay actively involved in their own cases—keep track of deadlines, review documents carefully, and ask questions whenever something is unclear. Having a legal team that is willing to listen and provide guidance makes a significant difference. In the end, my H-1B petition was approved, and my children received H-4 status. After years of navigating the U.S. immigration system, this was an outcome that changed our lives. I appreciate the professionalism and dedication of Stelmakh & Associates and would recommend them to anyone facing a complex immigration matter.

It was a pleasure working with the Stelmakh & Associates team. They handled my application with exceptional diligence, professionalism, and efficiency, ultimately securing approval in a timely manner. A special thank you to Katya, Vanessa, Vikas, and the entire team for their support throughout th...e process. From start to finish, everything was seamless. Their organization, attention to detail, and deep understanding of each client's case truly set them apart. Vikas, thank you for your continued guidance throughout the process and for always responding promptly to any questions or concerns. Your support was greatly appreciated. The entire experience was smooth, transparent, and stress-free. I would not hesitate to work with Stelmakh & Associates again in the future and highly recommend their services to anyone seeking knowledgeable, reliable, and professional immigration counsel.

Before finding Katya and her team, I had been working with another attorney who essentially put my case on hold. Months passed, nothing moved, and I was left searching for someone who would actually do the work. A friend who had their EB-1A approved through Stelmakh & Associates referred me to them.... I have been waiting for this day for a long time: my I-140 is approved! This achievement would not have been possible without Katya's leadership, Jessica’s well-thought-out draft, and Sam’s efficient oversight. This is a lifetime milestone for my family and me, and we are extremely grateful to you and your entire team. While client-attorney relationships can often feel transactional, this team's dedication has been a true blessing for us. If you are a data science or technology professional considering EB-1A and want a team that will truly show up for you, you just found them.

I met them after 4 denials with my previous attorney. I was skeptical going in. Olga took over my case, and it was approved on the first attempt, in 4 days after filing. To your point about feeling rushed... there's a difference between a firm that's sloppy and fast vs. one that's efficient becaus...e they actually know what they're doing. If you have concerns, raise them directly. Their attorneys are always honest and responsive. Hope that helps, and good luck with your case!

I joined my company, Maximor AI, with a requirement to be a full-time AI engineering lead at the company’s NYC location. Since I was primarily based out of India, my company and I needed help securing a work-authorized U.S. visa. Katya and her team evaluated my profile in depth quite early on, and... suggested applying for an O-1A petition even before I had officially joined Maximor. This gave us great insight into the feasibility of the whole arrangement. Their early evaluation helped us gain confidence in their process and expertise. The attorneys from Stelmakh & Associates - primarily Sanjana and Samriddhi - drafted my O-1A petition. We proceeded by claiming 6 out of 8 O-1A criteria, so the petition was going to be quite large and dense. Sanjana did a great job collecting all the evidence from me and my company, and compiling it into one coherent petition. She also showed great attention to detail on every piece of evidence submitted, which I truly appreciated. The team was receptive to all feedback and changes requested until the very last moment. My O-1A petition was successfully approved under premium processing at the USCIS California Service Center on January 9, 2025. Katya and her team were prompt with timely updates throughout. This O-1A-based work authorization will now allow me to work out of my company’s New York office, enabling the team to use my expertise to its fullest extent. It will also be a new experience for me to work out of one of the best cities in the world, and I’m grateful to the team at Stelmakh & Associates for their support in making this possible.