Claudia Jocelyne Kokaz Muslu

My name is Claudia Jocelyne Kokaz Muslu. I am an immigrant and an immigration attorney.

I have a law degree from the University of Istanbul; a Master of Law from Cornell University, and a Master of Business Administration from Simmons College Graduate School of Management. I am fluent in English, Turkish and French.

I started my legal career as a corporate attorney at White & Case, Istanbul, Turkey. When I moved to Boston, in 1999, I started to experience the many facets of the US immigration system. As I dealt with the immigration system, I became very frustrated. During 14 years, I was on many different types of visas. Firstly, I was a student on an F-1 student visa, and the wife of a medical doctor with a J-1 waiver subject to the two year home residency requirement. Then, I was the winner of DV diversity visa lottery who was not eligible to get it. Afterwards, I had an H-1B visa teaching law in Virginia. Finally, in 2013, I made myself and my husband naturalized US citizens. This long and bumpy adventure in the US immigration system sparked my interest to learn and practice US immigration law.

First, I studied the theory of immigration law. Then I taught immigration law, at the Appalachian School of Law in Virginia. When we transferred to Ohio, I started the immigration practice at a suburban Ohio law firm. I practiced business and family immigration and business transactions in Ohio. After relocating to Atlanta, I managed citizenship cases under a United States Citizenship and Immigration Services grant, consular processing, fee waivers, and family immigration matters at Catholic Charities.

In 2016, I started Muslu Law Firm as the founding attorney. I am a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and I am a licensed attorney in Ohio since 2009. I look forward to work with you honestly and effectively in your immigration journey to the USA with detailed attention and individualized research for your specific case.

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Massachusetts

Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers

Ohio

Supreme Court of Ohio Office of Attorney Services

Simmons College

MBA (2001) | Business Administration

1999 - 2001

Honors: Deans Merit Scholarship Award.

Activities: Marketing research assitantship.

Cornell Law School

LL.M. (1995) | Law

1994 - 1995

State Bar of Ohio  # 0084784

Member

Current

Hampden County Bar Association

Attorney

2019 - Current

Activities: Participated in volunteer attorney for consumer credit card debt relief program.

Boston Bar Association

Attorney

2019 - Current

Naturalization, Longmeadow Senior Center, Massachusetts

February 14, 2020

Longmeadow Senior Center

Presentation to the Community at the Longmeadow Senior Center regarding Naturalization requirements.

Q. I am currently stuck in the US due to the covid outbreak the borders of my country are closed. What are my options

June 5, 2020

A: This really depends on the type of visa you have now. For example there are exceptions for visa program waiver/ESTA holders where you can get an extension for your stay for one to two months from customs and border protection or USCIS. This is not possible if you are on a tourist (B2) visa. Then, you would need to do an application to extend your nonimmigrant status (Application to extend/change nonimmigrant status https://www.uscis.gov/i-539). However, in immigration law there are always exceptions to the rule. Therefore, it is best to discuss the details of your situation with an experienced immigration attorney to find out the best solution for your specific case.

Q. My husband is a New Zealander. I am a US citizen. Spousal Visa:do I have to pledge to be his sponsor & financial guardi

June 4, 2020

A: The following individuals are required by law to submit a Form I-864, Affidavit of Support completed by the petitioner (you would be the petitioner for your husband) to obtain an immigrant visa or adjustment of status:

All immediate relatives of U.S. citizens which include spouses who qualify for immigration to the United States under one of the family based preferences.

Form I-864, Affidavit of Support under Section 213A of the INA, is a contract an individual signs agreeing to use their financial resources to support the intending immigrant (your husband) named on the affidavit. The individual who signs the affidavit of support (yourself) becomes the sponsor once the intending immigrant becomes a lawful permanent resident. The sponsor is usually the petitioner who filed an immigrant petition on behalf of the intending immigrant.

An affidavit of support is a legally enforceable contract, and the sponsor’s responsibility usually lasts until the family member or other individual either becomes a U.S. citizen, or is credited with 40 quarters of work (usually 10 years). ... Read More