A 97 to 99 percent USCIS approval rate, maintained over seventeen years of practice, is the number that defines Stelmakh & Associates before any other description applies — a figure that reflects not just individual case outcomes but a systematic approach to building the kind of evidence packages that immigration officers approve.
Overview
Stelmakh & Associates LLC is a Seattle-based immigration law firm founded in 2008 by Katya Stelmakh (Katsiaryna Stelmakh), a Belarus-born attorney whose own trajectory through international law school, a U.S. government scholarship, the World Bank, and international law firm practice informs every aspect of how the firm operates. The firm practices primarily in business immigration: O-1 visas for individuals with extraordinary ability, EB-1A extraordinary ability green cards, EB-2 National Interest Waivers, H-1B visas, L-1 visas, PERM labor certification green cards, and other employment-based pathways. It also handles family-based immigration, asylum, and other immigration matters.
The firm was originally founded in Silicon Valley and subsequently relocated to Seattle, where it now serves clients primarily in the Pacific Northwest — but its representation extends to all 50 states and to international clients appearing before U.S. immigration agencies. That national reach is possible because U.S. immigration law is federal law: an attorney admitted to practice immigration law anywhere in the country can represent clients before USCIS regardless of where the client lives.
Each client matter is staffed with a three-person legal team: managing attorney, associate attorney, and experienced paralegal. That structure is unusual for a practice of this size and reflects a deliberate quality-control architecture. The firm also provides a client portal for matter transparency.
Katya Stelmakh is an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), the professional organization that sets practice standards in the immigration bar. She has practiced in this field since 2006.
Practice Areas
O-1 Visa (Extraordinary Ability). The O-1 visa is for individuals who have risen to the top of their field — in science, arts, education, business, or athletics. Making a successful O-1 case requires assembling evidence of extraordinary ability across specific regulatory criteria: awards, publications, critical roles, high salary, and peer recognition, among others. The firm has built its practice substantially around this visa category, serving scientists, researchers, entrepreneurs, and technology professionals.
EB-1A (Extraordinary Ability Green Card). The EB-1A is the immigrant visa equivalent of the O-1 — a green card category for individuals with sustained national or international acclaim in their field. It does not require an employer sponsor, which makes it an attractive path for startup founders, independent researchers, and others who do not have a traditional employment sponsorship relationship. The evidentiary requirements are demanding, and the firm’s 97-99% approval rate is most directly relevant to this category.
EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW). The NIW allows individuals whose work is in the national interest of the United States to petition for a green card without going through the PERM labor certification process or securing a job offer from a U.S. employer. It is frequently used by researchers, scientists, and entrepreneurs whose work has broad societal implications. The firm has significant experience with NIW petitions.
H-1B Visas. The H-1B is the most common work visa for specialty occupation professionals. The firm handles H-1B petitions for employers and employees, including cap-subject and cap-exempt filings.
L-1 Visas. For multinational companies transferring employees from foreign offices to U.S. locations, the L-1 visa is the appropriate vehicle. The firm handles both L-1A (managers and executives) and L-1B (specialized knowledge) petitions.
PERM Labor Certification. For employer-sponsored green cards in the EB-2 and EB-3 categories, the PERM process requires demonstrating that no qualified U.S. worker is available for the position. The firm manages this complex administrative process.
Family-Based Immigration. The firm handles family-based petitions, spousal and immediate relative applications, and related family immigration matters alongside its business immigration practice.
Asylum. For individuals with well-founded fear of persecution, the firm handles affirmative asylum applications before USCIS and defensive asylum claims.
Attorney Profiles
Katya Stelmakh (Katsiaryna Stelmakh) is the founding managing attorney of Stelmakh & Associates LLC. She earned her Master’s in International Law summa cum laude from Belarusian State University, a Certificate in Transnational Law from the University of Geneva in partnership with Duke Law School, and her J.D. from Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law, where she received a CALI Award for Excellence in Comparative Employment Law. She won a U.S. government scholarship at age 19, which brought her to the United States. Before founding Stelmakh & Associates in 2008, she served as a business immigration practice manager at an international law firm with offices in Philadelphia, Moscow, and Kyiv, and as a researcher for the World Bank in Washington DC, where she drafted loan agreements with Russia and CIS countries. She has practiced immigration law since 2006 and is admitted to the Ohio (2005), Pennsylvania (2006), and New Jersey (2006) bars. She is authorized to practice immigration law in all 50 U.S. states. She is an active member of AILA.
Her language capabilities include English, Russian (fluent), Belarusian (fluent), Ukrainian (working knowledge), German (working knowledge), French, and Spanish.
Location and Service Area
12535 15th Avenue NE, Suite 218, Seattle, WA 98125. Phone: (206) 605-0550. Website: https://stelmakhlaw.com/
The firm serves clients throughout Washington State and nationwide, as well as international clients appearing before U.S. immigration agencies. It is authorized to represent clients in all 50 states before USCIS and other immigration bodies.
Client Focus
The firm’s primary client profile is technology professionals, startup founders, academic researchers, investors, and individuals with extraordinary ability in their fields — people navigating employment-based immigration pathways that require detailed, evidence-heavy petitions. The three-attorney-plus-paralegal staffing model and the client portal reflect a service approach calibrated to professional clients with complex matters.
Secondary to business immigration, the firm also serves family-based immigration clients and asylum seekers, reflecting a broader immigration practice beneath the business immigration specialization.
Language capabilities across English, Russian, Belarusian, Ukrainian, German, French, and Spanish cover a wide range of clients’ native languages, which is a practical asset for clients whose first language is not English.
FAQ
What does a 97-99% USCIS approval rate mean in practice?
It means that out of all petitions and applications the firm submits to USCIS — the agency that adjudicates immigration benefits — between 97% and 99% are approved. That rate reflects a systematic approach to case preparation: choosing the right category, building complete and well-documented evidence packages, and presenting arguments clearly. In categories like EB-1A and EB-2 NIW, where overall approval rates are lower, the firm’s figure is particularly significant.
What is the difference between the O-1 visa and the EB-1A green card?
Both require evidence of extraordinary ability, but the O-1 is a nonimmigrant (temporary) visa that must be renewed, while the EB-1A is an immigrant visa that results in lawful permanent residence (a green card). The O-1 requires employer sponsorship; the EB-1A does not. Many clients pursue both: the O-1 first to establish lawful status while building the record needed for the EB-1A.
Why does the firm staff three people on each matter?
The three-person team — managing attorney, associate attorney, and experienced paralegal — is a quality-control structure. In immigration law, petitions require both legal analysis and detailed document management. Having dedicated support for each layer reduces the risk of error and maintains consistency across a high volume of cases.
Can the firm represent clients outside of Washington State?
Yes. U.S. immigration law is federal, and Katya Stelmakh is authorized to practice immigration law and represent clients before USCIS in all 50 states. The firm regularly represents clients nationwide and internationally.
What is an EB-2 National Interest Waiver?
The EB-2 NIW is a green card category for individuals whose work is in the national interest of the United States. Unlike most employer-sponsored green cards, the NIW does not require a job offer or labor certification. It is frequently used by researchers, scientists, physicians, and entrepreneurs. The evidentiary requirements involve demonstrating the significance and impact of the applicant’s work.
Closing
Seventeen years of business immigration practice with a documented 97-99% USCIS approval rate, led by an attorney who personally navigated international legal education across three countries before founding the firm, gives Stelmakh & Associates a track record and professional depth that is difficult to replicate in a field where case preparation quality determines outcomes.