ABOUT BONNIE
As a Seattle immigration lawyer, I am privileged to help change people’s lives for the better by uniting families and helping employers hire skilled global talent. Immigration is what makes our country innovative, diverse, interesting, and forward thinking. I am in this business because I enjoy meeting people from different countries, walks of life, and cultures. Immigration attorneys are dream-makers! We help people achieve their goals of family unification, new career and business opportunities, or finding freedom and safety in America.
For more than 30 years, I have worked hard and passionately for my clients resulting in long lasting relationships with many of them. My business is largely based on their referrals. During these difficult anti-immigrant times in our country, we immigration lawyers know that we are on the right side of history. Our clients deserve dignity, justice, fairness, and opportunity to thrive in the USA.
Why Hire the Law Office of Bonnie Stern Wasser?
Fundamentally, my clients are real people with real world challenges and opportunities, who deserve time, attention, respect, and to be treated with dignity. All people deserve to thrive in their communities, not just try to survive. Immigration and citizenship law is complex and fast changing. Many of our clients are fearful and anxious in the current anti-immigrant climate. ICE is even attacking US citizens and others with legal status. Even businesses are finding it harder to lawfully hire foreign workers. With many years of experience in this area of law, I can be your guide helping you navigate a complex and often frustrating system.
U.S. immigration can be stressful and time consuming in many ways. I see my role as helping to relieve some of that stress from your daily life. Your matter is important and deserving of more than a high volume cookie-cutter service. The goal is to help solve your most difficult issues quickly and effectively so that you can get on with your life or business. My mission is to provide you with the highest quality and personal VIP service. Your feedback is welcome every step of the way so that we can serve you better. As your voice, I zealously advocate for you before government agencies about why you qualify for a given benefit. I also advocate for fair and just immigration reform locally and nationally, and can teach you to do the same. I will be honest with you about any potential problems with your case, the likelihood for success, or if I cannot do anything for you. I try to anticipate all possible issues that can arise. I abide by the highest ethical standards.
How We Differ from Other Firms
Many years of immigration practice expertise: I started my career as a government Trial Attorney handling deportation cases working for the former Immigration and Naturalization Service in Los Angeles, California. In addition, as an American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) member, I attend government-bar association liaison meetings and frequent continuing education programs, as a student and speaker.
Leadership: I served for two years as Chapter Chair of the AILA Washington Chapter (AILAWA). I served on the AILAWA Executive Committee for four years, and I chaired a number of its committees. As a leader of this specialty bar association, I promote fairness in the immigration system, continuing education for immigration lawyers, and the highest ethical standards for attorneys in this field. I have encouraged attorneys to do pro bono work and helped to formulate an AILAWA partnership with OneAmerica, an immigrant rights organization, to provide pro bono Citizenship Days around the State of Washington. I am active in various national coalition groups, which helps me to better represent my clients.
Advocate for immigration reform: Working tirelessly with AILA colleagues and immigration advocacy groups, we have demanded that Congress, DHS, DOJ, and our state legislature enact just and fair immigration laws, as well as for consumer protections for our immigrant communities. In addition, I comment on proposed regulations and try to encourage my clients to do so, too. I educate my clients how they, too, can advocate for immigration reform. I have testified several times before the Washington state legislature on immigration related matters and have met with members of Congress to advocate for reform to our immigration laws and sufficient funding to reduce backlogs, among other issues.
Now for the deets………
Personal Interests:
Travel, photography, fiddle/bluegrass music, walks in the beautiful parks of Seattle, great sunsets, being with family and friends.
Education:
JD Southwestern University School of Law, Los Angeles
MA Urban Planning and Architecture, UCLA, Los Angeles
BA Social Ecology, UC Irvine (including junior year at Université de Bordeaux, France)
Bar admissions:
Washington State Supreme Court
California Supreme Court (inactive in California)
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
U.S. District Court, Central District California
Organizations:
American Immigration Lawyers Association (“AILA”) (member), AILA Washington Chapter (AILAWA) (member and former Chapter Chair; Member, Washington State Bar Association. Member, AILA National USCIS Benefits Policy Committee; AILAWA Advocacy and Congressional Liaison Committee.
