"100% confident my case is in the best hands."
My experience with The Law Firm of Shihab and Associates has been nothing short of outstanding. Even though Attorneys Kozyra and Shihab primarily handled my case, everybody that I interacted with (from the receptionist to their accountant) were exceptionally nice and professional.
I found out about Attorney Shihab’s firm through a common acquaintance that used their services in the past. I was in a very desperate situation, with my J-1 visa expiring within a year and subject to the Two-Year Foreign Residence Requirement 212(e). I planned to request a waiver to the two-year rule and later apply for a Green Card since I am married to a US citizen. At the time, I had already met with a different immigration lawyer. However, I felt very uncertain with the counseling I was receiving. After talking with Attorney Shihab for 15-20 minutes, I realized how oblivious my first lawyer was, at least regarding my case in particular. Needless to say, I switched law firms that very same day and my journey with Shihab and Associates started.
The next couple of meetings, Attorney Shihab, introduced me to Attorney Kozyra and together we designed the best action plan based on my situation/needs. Something that I really appreciate is that since the beginning they were always very honest, straightforward and patient. They covered the pros and cons of every possible route and answered all my questions while we were trying to come up with the plan. Also, they were very kind; our meetings will always start with some small talk, and they always reassured me when necessary. They also worked super fast; the time that it takes them to create and submit a case depends almost completely on how long it takes the client to submit the necessary paperwork. There are specific requirements (e.g., medical/physical exams, physiological opinions, among others) that might delay your submission time since it will depend on how fast you can request an appointment. But as soon as I gave them everything that was requested, they called me within days to sign the forms and submit the case. Even after submission, they always stayed in touch with me either following the status of the case or answering questions.
Finally, actions speak louder than words. My first lawyer told me my chances of obtaining the waiver were close to zero, and he even went to the extent of telling me that I was “lying to the US government” since I got married and planned to stay in the US. Today, I can say that my waiver was GRANTED thanks to the time and expertise Attorneys Shihab and Kozyra dedicated to my case. We just finished working on my Green Card application, and I am 100% confident my case is in the best hands.
- Joany
