Welcome to the Law Office of Bonnie Stern Wasser!

As a Seattle immigration lawyer, I am very privileged to help change the lives of my clients 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 walks of life, different cultures, and countries.

For more than 30 years, I have worked hard and passionately for my clients. I have made long lasting relationships with many of my clients.   As an immigration attorney and a dream maker for my clients, I help people achieve their goals by expanding their opportunities in the USA through family unification, business and/or career development. We do this by helping our clients to obtain appropriate legal status so they can enjoy the short or long-term benefits of work, study, business, or careers, to build or be with their families, or find safety from persecution, abuse, or trafficking. 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. They deserve to thrive in their family, work and school lives, 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.  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 beacon helping you to navigate a complex system.

U.S. immigration can be stressful and time consuming in many ways. 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 input is valuable about how we can do more to serve you better at any time along the way in our relationship together.  I have long lasting relationships with many of my clients, and my business depends upon those relationships for future referrals.

As your voice, I zealously advocate your case by arguing to the government or courts why you qualify for a given benefit.  I also advocate for fair and just immigration reform locally and nationally, and I teach you how you can 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 promoted 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 to provide pro bono Citizenship Days around the State of Washington. I am active in  various coalition groups, among others, which helps me to better represent my clients.

Advocate for immigration reform: Working tirelessly with AILA colleagues and immigration advocacy groups, we have advocated to Congress, DHS, and DOJ, and our state legislature for just and fair immigration laws, as well as for consumer protection 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.

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 (member and former Chapter Chair; Washington State Bar Association.