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Beata Leja
Beata Leja
Principal
Beata Leja is a Principal attorney at the law firm of Minsky, McCormick & Hallagan, P.C. Beata’s practice includes both employment-based and family-based immigration law, with a particular passion for tackling complex immigration cases and helping undocumented and documented immigrants seek relief through employment-based options. She was inspired to practice immigration law based on her own immigration story, which was featured in Super Lawyers Magazine.
In 2018, she was recognized by the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin as one of the top 40 Under 40 attorneys in Chicago, the only immigration attorney to be listed that year. She has also been recognized as a Leading Lawyer, a Super Lawyer, and a Best Lawyer in the field of immigration law. She is an active member of the Chicago Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, where she currently serves as the Co-Chair of the USCIS District Director Liaison Committee, and has previously served on other governmental liaison committees, including Customs & Border Protection (CBP), Social Security Administration (SSA), and Department of Labor (DOL). She also speaks regularly on various topics related to immigration law to university and law students, professional organizations, and employers.
She is admitted to practice law in the State of Illinois and in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. She is fluent in Polish and conversant in Spanish.
Practice Areas
- H-1B and Other Temporary Work Visas (B-1/B-2/VWP, E-1/E-2, F-1, H-1B1, H-3, I, J-1, K-1/K-3, L-1, O-1, P, Q, R-1, TN)
- Extraordinary Ability and National Interest Waiver
- Employer and I-9 Compliance
- Green Card Through Consular Processing or Adjustment of Status
- Family-Based Immigration
- PERM (Labor Certification)
- Investors and Entrepreneurs
- Waivers of Inadmissibility
- Citizenship and Naturalization
- Deferred Action and DREAMers
- Employment-Based Immigration
- Federal Litigation and Immigration Delays
- Asylum and Humanitarian Relief
Languages
- Fluent in Polish
- Conversant in Spanish
Education
- J.D., Loyola University Chicago School of Law, 2007
- Master of Education, Curriculum & Instruction, National-Louis University, 2003
- B.A., Spanish, University of Southern California, 2001
- B.A., International Relations, University of Southern California, 2001
Admissions
- Bar of the State of Illinois, 2007
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 2008
Professional Associations and Memberships
- American Immigration Lawyers Association
- Polish American Chamber of Commerce (PACC)
- Advocates Society (The Association of Polish-American Attorneys)
- National Immigration Litigation Alliance
Pro Bono
Professional Accomplishments
- Recognized as Leading Lawyer by Leading Lawyers (2018 to the present)
- Recognized as Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers Magazine (2019 to the present)
- Recognized as Best Lawyer by Best Lawyers (2020 to the present)
- Member of Board of Directors, The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights (2018-2024)
- Presenter, Employment-Based Immigration 101, Lake Forrest College, September 30, 2024
- Presenter, Effective Communication Strategies, AILA National Conference 2023
- Author, 212(d)(3) Nonimmigrant Waiver for Your O-1 Clients: What Do You Have to Lose?, Immigration Lawyers Toolbox Magazine (Summer 2021)
- Adjunct Professor, Business Aspects of Immigration Law, John Marshall Law School (2018-2019)
- Recipient, 2018 40 Under 40 Attorneys, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin
- Presenter, Current Issues in H-1B Visas, Lorman Education Services, February 20, 2020
- Presenter, Weird Waivers, Chicago Bar Association’s Impassioned Advocacy During the Trump Administration Conference, January 23, 2020
- Presenter, The Changing H-1B Standards, AILA Chicago Fall Employment-Based Conference, November 8, 2019
- Presenter, H-1B for Foreign Professionals in Specialty Occupations, Halfmoon Seminars, July 31, 2019
- Guest, Polvision Monitor nightly news program on ICE raids, July 19, 2019
- Presenter, Most Commonly Used Nonimmigrant Visas, AILA Fundamentals Online Course
- Presenter, Advanced H-1B and NIV Issues,” AILA Midwest Regional Conference, March 12, 2018
- Presenter, “Strategies for Oversubscribed Countries,” AILA Webinar, February 23, 2017
- Presenter, “EB1, NIW and O Visas For Professors, Scientists and Researchers,” Chicago Bar Association, Beyond the Business Immigration ABC’s, January 7, 2016
- Moderator, “Getting Incorporated: An Introduction to Hiring Nonimmigrants for the Newer Practitioner,” AILA Chicago Chapter Fall Conference, The Business of Doing Business Immigration, October 16, 2015
- Quoted in Medill Reports Chicago: “Obama Still ‘Optimistic’ as Judge Delays Expansion of Immigrant Orders“, March 3, 2015
- Presenter, “Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA),” February 23, 2015 at the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council
- Interview, featured in the Ideasphere, the Chicago Ideas Week blog, “Modern-day Civil Rights Leader: Beata Leja“, January 22, 2014
- Presenter, “Same-Sex Couples and Immigration Benefits After the Fall of DOMA,” December 19, 2013 at the Chicago Bar Association, Immigration & Nationality Committee Meeting
- Presenter, “Same-Sex Couples and Immigration Benefits After the Fall of DOMA,” November 19, 2013 at the Chicago Public Library.
- Presenter, “Same-Sex Couples and Immigration Benefits After the Fall of DOMA,” October 10, 2013 at the Chicago Public Library
- Presenter, “How to Prepare Your Clients for Immigration Reform,” June 20, 2013 at the Chicago Bar Association
- Author, “U.S. Senate Proposes to Overhaul Immigration System,” Women’s Bar Association of Illinois 2013 Spring Edition Newsletter
- Recipient, 2008 Pro Bono Guardian, from American Immigration Lawyers Association
Meet Our Attorneys
what our clients say
what our clients say
Anna Buskila is UNDOUBTEDLY THE BEST immigration attorney we've ever consulted with. She had exceeded our expectations, and provided MUCH more useful information and advice than we even asked for. Super grateful. Will come back again definitely.
Had a one-hour consultation only, but were very professional and solved all my doubts.
I am so thankful to Aaron Lawee and all the team for doing the best job in my adjustment status. I recommend Minsky, McCormick & Hallagan 100%
I would like to thank Minsky McCormick & Halligan, P.C. for their help with my citizenship application and my mother's Green Card. Attorney Amanda Rizzo and her assistant Evelyn Diaz were very knowledgeable and professional. They provided practical advice that and answered our questions / managed our...
From the moment we started our process with attorney Aaron Lawee, he provided exceptional guidance and support throughout our entire immigration process. Aaron was incredibly knowledgeable, responsive, and attentive to every detail. He made what could have been a stressful experience much smoother with clear communication and...
I would like to thank Minsky McCormick & Halligan, P.C., and especially Anna Buskila and Albena Daskalova for their help in reinstating my case for reuniting with my family, which I thought was irretrievably lost. Anna and Albena proved to be super professionals, they were always in...
I highly recommend Minsky McCormick & Hallagan, P.C. Aaron Lawee and his legal assistant Ron Montana were so helpful throughout my whole immigration process. They were extremely professional by keeping me updated with my case and always explained everything clearly. I am so thankful for all the...
I am incredibly grateful for the fantastic immigration legal services provided by Attorney Anna Buskin and her assistant, Maria Espinoza. Attorney Buskin's expertise made a huge difference. Maria Espinoza's quick communication and organization made everything so much easier. Thank you both for your outstanding work!
Their service was excellent, they helped my mother in the process of obtaining her residence. It took only 8 months! Thanks to their amazing team my mother and I are very thankful and appreciative for their team and the services they provided. Luis Borrero was extremely helpful...
I had a wonderful experience. They are always swift in response and give professional explanations to everything we were not sure about during our green card application process. The process went extremely smoothly. They even mailed me a heart-warming card together with helpful documents after we received...
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