I have mixed opinions after working with the attorney and the staff on my eb1a case, which was ultimately approved. There are things they do very well. Namely, Katya is a very witty and strategic attorney. She knows how to craft the story of your case. She can read between the lines very well and kn...ow exactly what the case needs work on. That kind of intuition is developed through years of experience and a multitude of cases. The other positive is that the junior attorneys, --- I worked with Sanjana -- are very hard working and actually put a lot of work into writing the case. If given the right context and information, they will make a very strong case for you. You just need to work well with them, which they are open to. Ultimately, no one knows your background and experience as much as you. However, the concern expressed by other people regarding timelines and communication is real. They have a very rusty communication system. They fail to be transparent about when things are delayed, overpromise on deadlines, and agree to timelines they know they cant hit. This erodes the attorney client trust. I have had a long journey until my approval, and it took a huge toll on my mental health. Them being unresponsive, falling behind on attorney reviews of the petition, saying they will email me in 30 min and not doing it after repeated followups and silent treatments added to the stress significantly. Look, no attorney can promise you the success of your case. Katya is brilliant and she knows how to put your mind to rest and divise a clear plan. However, she is overworked and her team is not being managed to use a proper communication system in place. Something as simple as weekly progress updates, or case step tracking (that actually works), notifying on delays and being transparent about it, rather than ghosting people when they inquire on it --- is a very simple but highly impactful practice. Hire more people to do that. Just having someone managing client communication and updates so that clients are not probing and harassing junior attorneys while they work on the case -- would be life-changing.

Katya and her team especially Maddalena Baker did an exceptional job in preparing my case for EB1A application. I was delighted to see their professionalism in every step of the process. They were upfront with what they can do and cant and advise me along the way. I was confident of the success after... hiring them for my EB1A petition. Highly recommend.

I had the pleasure of working with Katya Stelmakh on my EB1A petition, and I can confidently say she is one of the most knowledgeable and strategic immigration lawyers I’ve encountered. From our very first conversation, I was struck by her deep understanding of both immigration law and the nuances of... the tech industry. Her ability to grasp the technical aspects of my background and translate them into a compelling legal case gave me immediate confidence in her approach. Katya’s and her junior attorney Sanjana Bellam’s guidance was clear, thorough, and always tailored to my specific profile. They anticipated potential challenges, addressed them with precision, and helped craft a strong petition that ultimately led to my EB1A approval. Their professionalism, responsiveness, and commitment throughout the process were outstanding. I highly recommend Katya to anyone looking for an attorney who not only understands immigration law but also knows how to present complex technical achievements effectively.

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.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Katya Stelmakh and her team at Stelmakh & Associates delivered exceptional service that exceeded my expectations. Their expertise was instrumental in helping me successfully navigate the complex O-1A visa application process. From our first consultation, Katya demonstrated exceptional knowle...dge of immigration law and provided clear guidance on what would be needed to build a strong case. Throughout the process, her team was responsive, professional, and thorough. They helped me organize my documentation effectively, prepared me for potential challenges, and kept me informed at every step. What impressed me most was their attention to detail and commitment to presenting my qualifications in the best possible light. Thanks to their dedicated work, my O-1A visa was approved, and I've been able to pursue my professional goals in the United States. If you're looking for immigration legal support, especially for specialized visas like the O-1A, Stelmakh & Associates should be your first choice.