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Latest News
The office is striving to be COVID compliant. We see clients outside. Only the staff works in the office and remotely. Everyone wears masks and observes social distance when meeting with clients.
03.08.2021 When our wonderful legal assistant, Zeynoon Elassal, whose family owns the much loved, Felafel Cafe http://www.falafelcafecleveland.com/ becomes the subject of the immigration story we tell. https://www.msn.com/.../lolas-legacy-how.../ar-BB1e891E... This is why we do what we do!
03.01.2021 We just got a U visa approved for a person who was a victim of menacing incident. He was sitting in a car with 3 other people, when a stranger came up to the car and smashed the car with a baseball bat. We successfully argued to the Immigration Service that the attack on the car with a bat was the same as being threatened with a bat, and hence threatened with assault with a weapon. The case was approved. A person who is a victim of a crime in the US can file for a U visa, if the police certifies that the victim cooperated with the police in the investigation of the crime and the crime is a qualifying crime under that statute. An felonious assault is defined as an assault with a weapon. A person has to maintain U visa status for 3 years, after which they can apply for a green card.
02.24.2021 Biden Revokes Trump’s Pause on Green Cards
- The bill allows undocumented individuals to apply for temporary legal status, with the ability to apply for green cards after five years if they pass background checks and pay their taxes.
- Dreamers, TPS holders, and immigrant farmworkers who meet specific requirements are eligible for green cards immediately under the legislation.
- After three years, all green card holders who pass additional background checks and demonstrate knowledge of English and U.S. civics can apply to become citizens.
- Applicants must be physically present in the United States on or before January 1, 2021.
- The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may waive the presence requirement for those deported on or after January 20, 2017 who were physically present for at least three years prior to removal for family unity and other humanitarian purposes.
- Lastly, the bill further recognizes America as a nation of immigrants by changing the word “alien” to “noncitizen” in our immigration laws
02.09.2021 Syrian beneficiaries of approved I-130 Petitions for Alien Relative may apply directly for consideration under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program without a referral by UNHCR. Beneficiaries may also include their derivatives on their refugee case. Derivatives are defined as spouses and unmarried children who were under 21 years of age on the date the I-130 petition was approved by USCIS. Refugee processing under this program is currently available in the following locations: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates If a beneficiary is interested in pursuing refugee resettlement through this program, either the beneficiary or petitioner should complete the required forms in accordance with the instructions on the forms. Beneficiaries must be physically present in their selected location of processing before submitting their EOI forms. Regardless of whether an eligible beneficiary elects resettlement as a refugee under this program, his/her approved immigrant visa petition will continue to be processed by the National Visa Center. The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program is free of charge to applicants.
02.09.2021 Syrian beneficiaries of approved I-130 Petitions for Alien Relative may apply directly for consideration under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program without a referral by UNHCR. Beneficiaries may also include their derivatives on their refugee case. Derivatives are defined as spouses and unmarried children who were under 21 years of age on the date the I-130 petition was approved by USCIS. Refugee processing under this program is currently available in the following locations: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates If a beneficiary is interested in pursuing refugee resettlement through this program, either the beneficiary or petitioner should complete the required forms in accordance with the instructions on the forms. Beneficiaries must be physically present in their selected location of processing before submitting their EOI forms. Regardless of whether an eligible beneficiary elects resettlement as a refugee under this program, his/her approved immigrant visa petition will continue to be processed by the National Visa Center. The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program is free of charge to applicants.
02.03.2021 Biden signs immigration executive orders and establishes task force to reunite separated families
01.21.2021 Biden administration to pause deportations, curtail arrests
01.21.2021 Biden’s day one immigration bill, explained - Vox
01.19.2021
Joe Biden’s immigration plan lays out path to citizenship
The Biden/Harris plan, if it becomes law, will have an eight-year pathway to actual citizenship, not just green card. It will put millions of qualifying immigrants in a temporary status for five years and then grant them a green card once they meet certain requirements such as a background check and payment of taxes. They would then be able to apply for citizenship three years later.
12.10.2020
DACA has been reinstated.
USCIS announced that in response to the December 4, 2020, court order reinstating DACA, USCIS announced that it will accept first-time requests for consideration of deferred action under DACA and USCIS will also accept DACA renewal requests; applications for advance parole documents; extend one-year grants of deferred action under DACA to two years; and extend one-year EADs under DACA to two years.
If you have questions, please call our office. We are happy to assist.
12.09.2020
TPS has been extended to 10/4/21
Department of Homeland Security and CIS issued notice that there is an automatic extension of TPS designations for El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua, Sudan, Honduras, and Nepal through 10/4/21. If you are currently on TPS, your current documentation showing prior approval of TPS is automatically extended to 10/4/21. (85 FR 79208, 12/9/20).
If you have questions, please call our office. We are happy to assist.
10.29.2020 Our office can report another U visa success. We have to thank Vivian in our office for her meticulous and thorough preparation of these applications. This is another individual with a deportation order who has been permitted to wait for the approval of his U visa in the US. Immigration has been fairly generous in allowing people with pending U visas to stay in the US, despite a Removal Order. ICE puts people under supervised release, which allows us to also get them work authorization while waiting for the approval of the U visa. The approval of the U visa allows the victim and his immediate family members to receive the same benefit. Our client is now permitted to stay in the US lawfully and work and in 3 years will be able to get his green card. More importantly, his wife who is also illegal and his son who is 20 years old will also get U visas and then be able to file for their green cards.
10.28.2020 We proudly share another immigration win. In this anti immigration environment, each win gives us huge reason to celebrate. Today we were able to obtain a U visa in a very difficult case. The U visa is available to a person who has been the victim of a qualifying crime. The crimes include Abduction, Abusive sexual contact, Blackmail, Domestic violence, Extortion, False imprisonment, Female genital mutilation, Felonious assault, Fraud in foreign labor contracting, Hostage, Incest, Involuntary servitude, Kidnapping, Manslaughter, Murder, Obstruction of justice, Peonage, Perjury, Prostitution, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual exploitation, Slave trade, Stalking, Torture, Trafficking, Witness tampering, Unlawful criminal restraint, Other related crimes, including attempt, conspiracy, or solicitation of any of these offenses, or similar activity where the elements of the crime are substantially similar. Our client was the victim of such a crime and he was able to get his immigration case approved, even though he had a previous deportation order. In fact this visa overcomes many immigration bas, including claim to citizenship. Our client had a host of obstacles to getting any kind of immigration relief. In fact without this visa, he would never be able to return to the US or get a green card. However, this visa will after 3 years make him eligible to apply for his green card. He is now legally allowed to live and work in the US until his green card application is filed and adjudicated.
09.10.2020 Many years ago, a Mennonite family showed up In our office. When I walked out into the waiting room, I saw the mother, father and 15 adult children, ranging in age from 18 to 35, quietly waiting to see me. I was surprised and explained that there must be some mistake because we are an immigration office, and it seemed unlikely that they would be facing immigration problems. However, I was wrong. They did have enormous immigration problems, as the family had come from Mexico a few years earlier, and their previous lawyer’s application for extension of their visas was denied. They had been living illegally since that time. Their case was compelling, but their immigration situation hopeless, unless we were able to reopen their visa denial. We are zealous advocates and when we put our full force into an immigration case, we can be quite convincing. Still, I did not believe that we could prevail. Not with a 2 year lapse. Ultimately, as part of our immigration strategy, we were able to convince their Congressman to help us champion their case, and through our work, his advocacy and possibly a lot of prayer from the family, we succeeded in reopening their immigration case. I can report that today they have their green cards and are living happy, quite, prosperous lives.
08.15.2020 We were hired to file an immigration appeal for a client from Lithuania. His case was lost by his previous attorney and he wanted us to try to get a reversal. We knew that the immigration appeal was not likely to succeed and we made certain recommendations, primarily to start working on getting his green card through his marriage. When the appeal was denied, he did not listen to us, acted imprudently, resulting in his removal. However, he came back to us and asked us to complete his immigration case. We are happy to report that the immigration case is nearly complete and he will return to the US within the next 6 months with a green card.
01.27.2020
This is an opportunity to brag. It reminds us that we do a lot of good work (time to pat ourselves on the back). Five of our clients will become citizens on 2/7/20 because of our hard work.
In one instance, a lovely woman who had been brought to the US by an abusive husband and then abandoned, had a deportation order when she came to our office. By proving that she had been the victim of domestic violence, we were able to reopen her immigration case, and continue her fight till her VAWA case was approved. After, we continued to fight very long and very hard to get her a green card. Now she is getting her citizenship. We are so pleased. She is lovely and well deserving.
In another case, a gentleman who was well in his 70’s, a Vietnam veteran, an arch conservative, found himself in the crosshairs of immigration law and realized that he had never become a US citizen. He was totally unaware that his green card did not automatically bestow citizenship. He had never traveled outside the US, other than in combat and hence had never needed a passport. We were also able to fix his situation, and he too will take his citizenship oath on 2/7/20, 47 years after nearly sacrificing his life for this country.
In yet another case, we were able to get the immigration service to accept the application of an 81 year old woman who had long ago given up the hope of ever learning English. Dementia and other factors often impact on older persons ability to pass the citizenship test, and make the ineligible for citizenship. This can be overcome with proper argument.
Our Nigerian client who had done each step of her marriage greencard case with our office, will also be sworn in as a citizens on the 7th.
Lastly, our Albanian client will join his spouse, also our client, who became a US citizen earlier this month. They will both be US citizens after a lengthy immigration struggle.
We are so proud!!
01.13.2020
We were so grateful to succeed in obtaining a green card for our client, who was in removal proceedings. His case went to trial before the Immigration Judge. To win, or to get a green card for our client and to stop his deportation, we would have to Our client had sustained a head injury in a work related accident and his US wife was diagnosed as schizophrenia, diabetes and dementia. The client was not able, due to the memory challenges to prove that he had entered the country more than 10 years ago. Although we were confident that the Judge would find that the requisite extreme and unusual hardship existed in this case, we were uncertain that our client could prove presence in the US for the requisite 10 years. We were able to find a witness who was able to confirm the date of arrival and we were successful in obtaining a green card for this client.
01.17.2020
We are overjoyed to report that a family of 5 children who were here undocumented for 15 years were granted U visa, which gives all the undocumented members of the family the right to remain in the US and work for the next 3 years. 3 of the 5 children are US citizens, but 2 are still outside of the US. The grant of the U visa applies to them as well and will make them eligible to come to the US on a U visa. After maintaining U visa status for a period of 3 years, each of them will be eligible to file to their green card. This U visa application stemmed from injuries caused to the husband who was forced to work without pay. The US Department of Labor accepted the complaint and then certified the case.
01.05.202
We were approached by a very nice couple and asked for help. They have been married for 10 years and have 2 children. Both have a very good employment situation, but they are out of status, and thus undocumented. The wife had come to the US on a J visa, which allowed her to stay here for 3 months. She never left. Until August of 2018, people who came to the US on a J visa did not accrue illegal presence, which triggers penalties if you leave the US. The employer of both spouses was willing to sponsor either spouse for a greencard. However, for the process to complete, the beneficiary would have to leave the US and have their green card interview at the Consulate. In this case, only the wife was eligible to leave the US because she was on the J visa, which meant that when she left the US she did not trigger the penalties associated with staying in the US illegally. However, in August of the 2018, the Attorney General issued a rule ending the protected status of J visa holders, giving them 6 more months to stay in the US before accruing such penalties. We convinced our client to leave the US in January of 2019 and protect her ability to complete the greencard process. She followed our advice and will be returning to the US with a green card within a year after leaving. While we had hoped the process would be faster, we are delighted.
12.17.2019
We are continually amazed how undocumented immigrants who have lived in the US for more than 20 years, never sought immigration assistance until they heard about us. Recently, one of our clients, who himself had a very complicated case and who was told by other lawyers that there was no immigration solution, but is now a US citizen brought us his family member who was in jail facing deportation. First we were able to get his person released on bond and then had to create a strategy to get her a green card. And this is where we are different from other lawyers. We approach even the most hopeless cases by collecting all the immigration information to see if there are other solutions. In the instant case, our client had several adult children in the US who could apply for a visa on her behalf. However, she has to consular process to get a green card, and when leaving, will trigger a 10 year bad time bar. Unless we find a way to get her a waiver from that penalty, she cannot immigrate to the US . We learned that her husband has a parent with a green card. That indicated that we should try to get a green card for the husband, and if we succeeded, then she would have a qualifying relative for her green card. So we proceeded to get the husband his green card. That process is almost finished. As soon as he becomes a lawful permanent resident, he will become a qualifying family member for a green card application and for an application for 10year cancellation. His green card will give her two avenues to a green card. This is an excellent outcome.
12.05.2019
One of our clients had come to the US on a summer travel work program, which allows qualifying foreign students to work and travel during their summer vacation. This person had at some point married a US citizen. The marriage had not worked out and his marriage based green card was denied. He was now illegally in the US. He then was offered an excellent job. His new employer offered to do an H1B visa for him, which is available to people who are doing professional work. We advised him to go to his home country to obtain his visa. He had to as he was completely out of status but had not yet triggered the bad time bars. He had consulted with numerous lawyers who had advised against leaving the US, worrying that he would not be issued the visa because of his failed marriage. We thought otherwise and strongly encouraged him to consular process. He was successful, and returned to the US. We were all very grateful.
11.22.2019
We are so happy to report that one of our clients who went back to Mexico to consular process his green card application after he missed an immigration hearing due to inclement weather was able to overcome the 5 year "in abstentia" bar, due to our advocacy at the consulate.
11.21.2019
Due to our proactive and intense advocacy at the US consulate in DVet Nam, one of our client's green card petition based on marriage was approved. The Consulate was questioning the validity of the marriage, even through the I130 was previously approved. We avoided a rescission and succeed with an approval by submitting a voluminous package containing proof of bonafidetness of the marriage.
11.19.2019
Although not necessarily an immigration matter, it may be of immigration interest. Our office has had a long personal and professional relationship with Chef's Garden. So it was particularly significant when we brought the famous Israeli actor, Sasson Gabai, currently starring in the play, The Band’s Visit, to the Chef's Garden to meet owner Bob Jones. And doubly significant to be given a tour of Chef's Garden Culinary Vegetable Institute and meet Executive Chef Jamie Simpson. Each a star in their own right! What an honor. You never know when any one of these three people may need an immigration lawyer or a greencard, for that matter.
09.24.2019
A Brazilian pastor arrived in Cleveland as a tourist and was invited by a Portuguese church to stay on as a pastor to serve the Portuguese speaking community. The Boston church opened a branch in Cleveland. We were able to get the religious worker visa approved for our Brazilian pastor. We hope that the Church will continue to sponsor him for his green card.
09.20.2019
Many of our clients enter the US by crossing the desert or river at the southern border. Such individuals have to return to their home country to get their green card if they are married to US citizens. If these people have been here for more than one year, they trigger a 10 year penalty to returning to the US. In such cases, we have to file a waiver to forgive the penalty. To succeed we have to prove hardship to the USC spouse. This is often difficult. However we have done this numerous times with a great rate of success. Most recently we were able to have the husband of a close friend of the office return to the US after being stranded in Mexico for 4 months. We were so happy.
09.18.2019
The U visa is our favorite right now. It is available and will eventually result in a green card, for people who have been victims of certain crimes which they reported to the police. We were able to get our client released from jail, where he was held without bond pending his appeal. His wife had been the victim of a qualifying crime and had U visa approved. After the I visa is approved, you have to wait 3 years before you can apply for a green card. Our client is a derivative on his wife’s U visa, which according to recent guidelines allowed him to be released from Immigration Detention. He is now back to work and back to his family.
In another U visa case, our client was granted a green card numerous years after commencing his/her case.
09.10.2019
In the current anti immigration environment, it is so nice to be able to report a good immigration result. We were deeply disappointed when we were unable to assist a close friend of the office who had married the love of her life, a foreigner. His visa was denied at the Consulate on Public Charge grounds. This recent anti immigration move by the Administration has created new obstacles for poorer people. All of a sudden it appeared to us that only rich people could marry and bring their spouses to the US. In our case, our US sponsor was deemed not to make enough money to sponsor her foreign spouse. A qualified joint sponsor was never a problem until now. Much to our chagrin, the Service refused to recognize our highly qualified joint sponsor. After an ardent fight with the consulate and with the assistance of Senator Portman, we were able to reverse the determination. The Consulate also changed its position on requiring us to refile the waiver. They have issued the immigrant visa. The foreign spouse is returning to the US within a week as a green card holder and the newly weds will live happily ever after.
08.12.2019
The entire office celebrated the issuance of a bond to a client who was in Immigration custody for more than 4 months because of false criminal allegations. He has 5 children, one of whom is autistic. We were fortunate to have present at our trial one of the social workers overseeing the autistic child’s education. She cried during her entire testimony in support of our client’s extraordinary relationship with the autistic child. At the conclusion of the hearing, the Judge gave us a bond. His case is not yet finished but he is at home with his wife and children.
07.16.2019
The U visa is an immigration path to green card, available to people who have been the victim of a crime. It requires that the crime be reported to the police and the police has to certify the incident, prior to the filing of the immigration papers work. It takes about 5 years from filing to approval of visa. After approval, the immigrant has to stay in U visa status for 3 years prior to filing for green card. I was on the phone with a Mexican girl the other day who told me that she was raped when she was 16 by a boy from school. She was invited to a party. The boy spiked her drink, took her out to his car, asked her to help him look for his home in the back seat. She was naïve. He locked the back doors with the child lock so she could not escape then raped her. She passed out, woke up in the hospital and was told what happened. So horrible. The U visa is a long immigration path, it takes roughly 8-10 years for a person on U visa to get a green card. In this case, we are able to get this person a green card through marriage so we don’t have to pursue the U visa. But I cannot imagine the permanent scars that this child bears as a result of a boys inhumanity. The U visa is a very good immigration path for those who were victims of crime.
01.16.2019
One of our immigration lawyers was able to win a removal case, where the alien had divorced his Jordanian wife and married a US citizen, but then learned from CIS that his divorce was fraudulent. His immigration case was made more complicated by the fact that he was now accused of misrepresentation. We had to get him a proper US divorce and refile his immigration case. In the end, the immigration attorney was able to persuade the immigration Judge that this alien was innocent of any intent to defraud the government. The failure to register the divorce was the misfeasance of his foreign lawyers. He now has a green card and his deportation case was permanently closed.
01.16.2019
In a recent immigration case, one of our clients had a disorderly conduct conviction after we filed his citizenship. One of our attorneys was able to successfully argue that this disorderly conduct conviction and his prior criminal convictions did not constitute bad moral character and his citizenship application was approved. Sometimes hiring an immigration lawyer will make all the difference in the world.
01.15.2019
In Grace vs. Whittaker, the Federal Court ruled that former Attorney General Sessions efforts to eradicate asylum claims based on gang violence and domestic violence violated existing immigration laws. The Government has to bring back to the US anyone deported based on the Sessions decision. This is a huge victory for immigration practitioners and for victims of domestic and gang violence
01.15.2019
Sometimes, it appears, I do more than immigration. In this case, I introduced two guys, both immigration clients who lived in the same city. I thought they had a lot in common and could become friends. One of them was married, the other one, the loner, had simply worked since he got to the US and not built any meaningful ties other than his extremely successful business. These guys met. The married fellow introduced the other one to his sister. She is a green card holder. It was love at first sight. They came to see me, madly in love. Neither one of them had had much luck in love before and this meeting was euphoric. They live together and even have a dog. They are getting married, and while at it, my client will resolve his immigration situation and will be able to get his green card. So all will end well, and they will live happily ever after, I am sure!!
01.14.2019
In one of our cases, we have an immigration client who filed for her green card through an immigration law known as The Violence Against Women’s Act. This client was married to USC with significant mental health issues. She was terrified by him. She stayed in the marriage because she was afraid to leave the marriage when she had no immigration status in the US. Her husband was institutionalized several time for suicidal inclinations and violent outburst. Despite that she, like many similarly situated people felt hopeless and desperate. Her choice seemed to be to stay in the abusive marriage in which her life was threatened, especially when her husband slept with a hatchet under his bed, or leave the marriage and save her live, but most likely never get immigration status and be deported. After consulting with us, she learned that she could file under VAWA. She did so, and we succeeded in not only getting her a green card, but most likely saving her life. Sadly this brings to mind a similar situation in which a potential client, contacted me from Chicago to ask for immigration assistance in a situation in which she was married to an abusive husband. She was a talented and highly educated person. Her husband became more and more possessive and jealous and abusive. The police prosecuted him and confiscated his guns. When she called me, she assured me she would she would move away from Chicago to a safe place. I told her TPO’s cannot protect you from someone who wants to kill you. She moved with friends to Milwaukee. When we didn’t hear back from her for a few weeks, I googled her name, to learn that her husband found her and hacked her to death with a hatchet. If you are an illegal immigrant and are in an abusive marriage to a US citizen or green card holder, be sure to consult a lawyer about leaving that marriage and filing for a green card under this wonderful law that seeks to protect you. This applies to both men and women seeking immigration status.
Our stories
07.31.2018
For the past 15 years I have both the honor and privilege of working with immigration clients from around the globe. It is through my immigration work here at Svetlana Schreiber & Associates that I have come face to face with the hardships, trials, and tribulations that our immigration clients and their families face on a daily basis. Their escape from terrible sufferings in their home countries, to being hounded in the US while all they are looking for is a chance to live safely and hopeful to obtain green cards, or some other form of permission to stay here permanently, safe from the harrowing dangers of their own countries.
The recent immigration raid in Sandusky, Ohio was no exception. A news story which only existed in print for most folks, directly affected me in my work and tragically showed me again, the direct impact of such raids on our clients, and on their families.
One such client’s father was arrested by ICE two days after his High School graduation. He is only 18 years old and on DACA. When he and his family came crying into our office we immediately set out to help them. His future of going to college in August was in limbo. The family used all his college savings to help pay his father’s bond and help support his mother and two younger siblings. He started working 17 hours a day to make sure he was keeping up with their monthly bills. His family, friends, pastor and local church members worked hard to get us the documents needed to get the father out on bond. This was a community that came together to help each other. This is the American way. As I sat with him in my office I reassured him that we would get through this together and his dream of going to college was in reach. Our office was successful in getting his father a bond. We hope that we will be able to help this family immigrate and get green cards.
Vivian Gambino-Holly
Law Clerk
Svetlana Schreiber & Associates
Latest Testimonials
10.10.2018
Hi Svetlana.I just wanted to let you know that since yesterday I’m in American citizen , it’s been a long time but I finally made it, so I just wanted to thank you for all the help and let you know that you are a big part of this. Thank you with all my heart!!
From Mircea
07.24.2012
Svetlana Schreiber and her staff are my heroes! I adopted two undocumented teenagers at age 12 and 14. Little did I know it would be so complicated to get their legal status here! After talking to another lawyer who told me I would have to have the adoption recognized by the Mexican government ("and good luck with that," she said!), I spoke with Svetlana who impressed me with her knowledge and expertise ...
04.16.2012
The moment I met Atty Schreiber , I found a new ray of hope and positiveness. She has pointed me to a direction where others have failed to even mention. It is through her vast experience and knowledge that has gotten me where I could not imagine possible. Years of waiting and pitfalls finally produced a success that I could only dream of ...
01.24.2012-
I had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Svetlana Schreiber in an appointment scheduled throughout the phone. First i would like to thank her. I have been advised by a large number of attorneys over the years regarding my immigration status and absolutely none of them has been really trying to understand my problem and most importantly to find a solution for it ...
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- About Immigration
Lawyer Svetlana Schreiber interviewing a couple at Palomares Social Justice Center.
We are a law firm with expertise in all areas of immigration law, ranging from business and family based immigration to asylum and deportation.
Immigration Attorneys at Svetlana Schreiber and Associates - help immigrants and employers across the world obtain work visas (H-1B, H-2B, B-1, H-1C, H-3, L-1), visitor visas (B-2, J-1), family visa (H-4, F-2, J-2), student visas (F-1, M-1, J-1), healthcare visa (h3B, h3C, O-1, or TN).
We also prepare green card applications including PERM labor certifications, I-130, I-140, I-370, I-485, and handle U.S. citizenship applications, Asylum/Refugee, BCIS Representation and Consular Practice.
The office of Svetlana Schreiber & Associates announces that the recent Supreme Court decision, striking DOMA, has resulted in allowing same sex couples the privilege to pursue all the immigration benefits available to heterosexual couples. So if you are in a long term relationship and plan on getting married, please contact us to discuss your immigration options. You may also be able to use your same sex relationship to qualify for other immigration benefits, such as visa based on domestic abuse, or waivers proving hardship to your US spouse, or U visa, if a family member was victim of a crime. Call us for a free conference.
Remember, we are in Painsville Tuesday and Thursdays and on Saturdays by appointment. Call 216-621-7292 to get more information.
We have Arabic, Romanian, Spanish, German, French, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, Russian, Hindi, Urdu, Maithili, Bangla, Macedonian, Serbo Croatian, Albanian and Hebrew speaking staff.
We also have offices in Cleveland Ohio, New York , Toronto Canada, Bucharest Romania, Tel Aviv Israel.
Firm Profile
The firm of Svetlana Schreiber & Associates, LPA is committed to the practice of Immigration and Nationality Law. With an office in Cleveland, Ohio, and associates in Toronto, Ontario and Bucharest, Romania, the firm is well on its way to becoming one of the premier firms practicing exclusively in the area of immigration law.
The scope of the firm's clientele varies from students, investors, executives, managers, researchers and professors, to companies interested in hiring highly technical and professional personnel. The firm's corporate clientele ranges from small businesses to large multi-national corporations. Svetlana Schreiber & Associates, LLP provides a variety of immigration services for these businesses, including H-1B temporary work visas for professionals, L-1 visas for intracompany transfers, labor certifications and I-9 compliance.
The firm also represents individuals and families in seeking political asylum, aliens in deportation proceedings, and individuals interested in obtaining lawful permanent residency (ie. "green cards") for themselves or family members.
Immigration law is highly specialized and technical and is constantly changing. We stay abreast of these changes and provide creative solutions to assist individuals and companies with all their immigration needs.
The attorneys at Svetlana Schreiber & Associates, LPA maintain the highest standards of quality and ethics. It is the firm's goal to remain accessible and forthright to all its clients, and the firm gains the respect of its clients through the diligence and hard work of its attorneys.
We care deeply about our clients. The staff is constantly reminded that our clients have "placed their lives in our hands" and "our work is to save our clients' lives". Simply put, "we are a law firm with heart". We are more like a team, and like a team each member has a special realtionship and role to play in regards to each file. If one team member makes an error, the entire team suffers. Most importantly, each and every staff member was hired and became part of this team because they have the special quality of "compassion". The staff is encouraged to work overtime to make sure that each client's file gets the time and attention necessary to bring their case to a successful conclusion.
Attorney Svetlana Schreiber has been awarded an 
® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5 from Martindale-Hubbell®.
"It is our honor to share this distinction with Svetlana Schreiber & Associates LPA."
AV Peer Review Rating - shows that a lawyer has reached the height of professional excellence. He or she has usually practiced law for many years, and is recognized for the highest levels of skill and integrity.
- A - Very High to Preeminent Legal Ability Rating
- V - Very High General Ethical Standards Rating
Attorney Svetlana Schreiber Esq. has been awarded an AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5 from Martindale-Hubbell® for 2009.
Attorney Svetlana Schreiber Esq. has been awarded an AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5 from Martindale-Hubbell® for five years 2005-2010.
For nearly 135 years, Martindale-Hubbell has been the most respected source of authoritative and dependable biographical information on members of the legal community in the United States, Canada, and worldwide.
In the letter sent to our Office, congratulating us on the recognition, Martindale-Hubbell explains:
"The AV rating, which identifies a lawyer with very high to preeminent legal ability, is a reflection of your expertise, experience, integrity and overall professional excellence. Our ratings, established by attorneys for attorneys, clearly indicate you demonstrate the highest professional and ethical standards."
"Considered an important tool in the practice of law, the ratings are an invaluable resource for engaging the services of an attorney. They represent a widely regarded measure of esteem for which attorneys strive.
Read more about the ratings ...
Svetlana Schreiber is a member of the following organizations:
American Bar Association with approximately 370,000 members is the world's largest voluntary professional association. The Association has long served a dual role as advocate for the legal profession and for the public. With the growing complexity of society and our legal system, the Association's public role has gained both emphasis and breadth. The ABA is comprised principally of practicing lawyers, judges, court administrators, law teachers, public service attorneys and many non-practicing lawyers who are business executives, government officials, etc. The ABA represents state and local bar associations as well as practitioners in specialized areas of the law. It represents affiliated, law-related organizations and groups with specialized interests or needs such as administrative law judges, lawyers in the armed forces, and minority and women's bar associations.
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) is the national bar association of over 3,900 attorneys who practice immigration law. AILA Member attorneys represent tens of thousands of U.S. families who have applied for permanent residence for their spouses, children, and other close relatives to lawfully enter and reside in the United States. AILA Members also represent thousands of U.S. businesses and industries which sponsor highly skilled foreign workers seeking to enter the United States on a temporary or permanent basis. AILA Members also represent foreign students, entertainers, athletes, and asylum seekers, often on a pro bono basis. Svetlana Schreiber and Michele Norton are both members of AILA.
The Ohio State Bar Association is the state organization of the legal profession. It is comprised principally of practicing lawyers, judges, court administrators, law teachers, public service attorneys and many non-practicing lawyers who are business executives, government officials, etc. The OSBA represents practitioners in specialized areas of the law. It also represents affiliated, law-related organizations and groups with specialized interests or needs such as administrative law judges, lawyers in the armed forces, and minority and women's bar associations. Svetlana Schreiber, Michele Norton and Tom Gilbert are all members of the Ohio State Bar Association.
The New York State Bar Association is comprised principally of practicing lawyers, judges, court administrators, law teachers, public service attorneys and many non-practicing lawyers who are business executives, government officials, etc. The OSBA represents practitioners in specialized areas of the law. It also represents affiliated, law-related organizations and groups with specialized interests or needs such as administrative law judges, lawyers in the armed forces, and minority and women's bar associations. Svetlana Schreiber has been admitted to practice in New York State and is an active member of the New York State Bar Association.
Versión en Español 
Versiune româna How the client should contact the firm for details about consultation (fees, schedule, etc.)
- Call the office: 216-621-7292 or Toll-free: 866-553-4643
- Website:www.immigration-greencards.com
- Schedule online consultation
Consultation-what does it mean?
A consultation is a meeting between an attorney(s) and potential client(s) for the purpose of examining their situation, and discussing what the best possible course/option to take is. Consultations are completely confidential, and the attorney cannot disclosure any information given. Along with confidentiality, there is no obligation for the potential client to hire the firm after the consultation.
Why a consultation is important?
- It is absolutely necessary for anyone with an immigration issue in the U.S. to discuss what possible directions they can take.
- It establishes position of potential client, different options, and examines each individual case.
- Allows attorney to gain knowledge/facts to suggest best course of action to take.
- Allows for any questions the potential client might have to be answered by attorney
- Can be a place to establish a client/attorney trust relationship
What forms of consultations are available?
- In office consultation: FREE
- Over the phone: $100 paid in advance. The conversation can take anywhere from 30-60 min. or as long as needed for attorney to get substantial information
How to prepare for a consultation?
- Potential client should be completely honest and forthcoming about their individual situation. Remember the firm is here to help you, and confidentiality protects you from attorney disclosing information. Any piece of information may be beneficial to your case.
- Please bring any documents that may be involved with your case; immigration forms, current status, paycheck stubs, etc.
- If the client does not speak English, although we have employees in the office that do speak other languages, it might be helpful for them to bring along someone who can translate for them.
(we have Arabic, Romanian, Spanish, German, French, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, Russian, Hindi, Urdu, Maithili, Bangla, Macedonian, Serbo Croatian and Albanian speaking staff.)
- In office consultation: FREE
- Over the phone: $100 paid in advance. The conversation can take anywhere from 30-60 min. or as long as needed for attorney to get substantial information
How to prepare for a consultation?
- Potential client should be completely honest and forthcoming about their individual situation. Remember the firm is here to help you, and confidentiality protects you from attorney disclosing information. Any piece of information may be beneficial to your case.
- Please bring any documents that may be involved with your case; immigration forms, current status, paycheck stubs, etc.
- If the client does not speak English, although we have employees in the office that do speak other languages, it might be helpful for them to bring along someone who can translate for them.
(we have Arabic, Romanian, Spanish, German, French, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, Russian, Hindi, Urdu, Maithili, Bangla, Macedonian, Serbo Croatian and Albanian speaking staff.)
(we have Arabic, Romanian, Spanish, German, French, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, Russian, Hindi, Urdu, Maithili, Bangla, Macedonian, Serbo Croatian and Albanian speaking staff.)
Lawrence O'Donnell On Immigration
Why we do what we do ?
by Michele Norton Immigration Attorney at Svetlana Schreiber and Associates
Everyone,
I know how frustrated and stressed out we all get over our work, especially as it seems to be never ending and more and more complicated.
Every once in awhile I get a good reminder as to why I have chosen to practice immigration law and these reminders keep me going.
Today, I received a call from Monica. She is a young girl that was brought here from Mexico by her mother when she was only 2 years old. She has lived her entire life in the United States. Her mom remarried a USC when she was a small child and, while he tried, he did not know how to solve his wife or stepdaughter's issues.
The family came to us after Monica and her mom were placed in proceedings. Unfortunately, I could not help the mom. However, I was able to help Monica. Her dad adopted her and filed an I-130 petition on her behalf. The I-130 was approved (after fixing a blunder by the Service) and I had Monica take voluntary departure before she started accruing bad time in the United States.
She left and obtained her immigrant visa in Mexico at the end of 2010. While in Mexico, she missed a semester of her senior year of high school.
Monica made up her missed time in one semester and graduated with her high school class today. She called to thank me and to tell me she graduated and to also tell me that she got accepted to Xavier College with scholarships. She also is getting her driver's license and has a job lined up for this summer.
Monica is so thankful to have her life here as it is the only life she has ever known. Moreover, her life is going in the right direction. Monica is a sweet, smart girl and I wish her the best for her future.
And, Monica is why I do what I do and why we should all do what we do.
Michele
How can our Immigration Attorneys help you?
U.S. Immigration lawyers deal with issues relating to foreign nationals who come to this country either temporarily or permanently, including the associated legal rights, duties, and obligations of aliens in the United States. Immigration attorneys also deal with the application processes and procedures involved with naturalization of foreign nationals who wish to become U.S. citizens, as well as deal with legal issues relating to people who are refugees or asylees.
Our attorneys routinely support clients in the matters of non immigrant visas especially for workers coming to the United States to perform temporary service or labor. We assist clients on several other visa matters like, students and trainee visas, visitors for business, visitors for pleasure, exchange visitors, and trainee visas. We routinely communicate with various agencies specially State Workforce Agencies, J agencies, Department of Labor, USCIS, Department of State etc.
Also our lawyers deal with VAWA matters and Religious Workers visas and also assist clients in adjustment of status applications, asylum applications, removal defenses, 10 year and 3 year cancellation applications and other related matters.
If you or a family member is interested in living in the United States, you may need someone who can help you understand U.S. immigration laws and who can help you to apply for legal status .
