Today we’d like to introduce you to Ysabel Lonazco.
Hi Ysabel, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My story starts in Peru, I was born and raised in Peru. I went to law school in Peru right out of high school, and then graduatd in 2011. I am a licensed attorney in Peru and in the United States. I immigrated to the US in 2012 and became a licensed attorney in 2019. I have held as many visas as once can have, J-1 visa (exchange student visa), B2 visa (tourist visa), F-1 visa (international student visa), H1B foreign employer visa, and EB-2 (green card through employment). My immigration path has been complex and long. Despite my professional credentials, I was unable to obtain a green card. I had to search multiple attorneys, I consulted with 7 attorneys and only the 7th attorney helped me with my journey and helped me obtain legal permanent residence in the US. during my school years, I;ve held as many as 3 jobs at the time working as lift operation, deli department serive, bagging groceries, cleaning vacation homes, cleaning hotels, server in a chinese restaurant, working as a bank teller, etc. Every single job has been a step in my journey and has helped me shape me into the person I am now. During my years to becoming a licensed attorney in the US, I struggled financially to make ends meet, but I had the support of so many people who have helped me and who believed in my potential even before I did.
Since then, I’ve opened my own law firm and now I create jobs for other immigrants. I lead a team of 7 people, all bilingual and all immigrants. we help the immigrant community with their own immigration journey.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Some of the struggles were figuring out our immigration status and how to obtain a green card. We thought that because I had a law degree, things would be easier, but to the contrary, it was even more challenging. The struggles included the limitation on our international student visa status. We were limited in how many hours we could work, as international student, you are expected to pay at least 3 times resident tuition.
There was a time when my husband and I had to choose between eating or putting gas to our car. Times when we had to go to the free food banks. Times when we had to eat the same things for 3 consecutive dates because we could not afford cooking another meal. Times when we could not afford our mortgage.
I also struggled with racial profiling. As a Latin American woman, people usually place expectations on me like they usually get shocked when I disclose that I am an attorney-it’s unbelievable. I’ve been targeted when attending court hearings and the officers believe that I am actually the one in deportation proceedings instead of the attorney representing a person in deportation. Times where I have been asked if I was the secretary or the paralegal. Times where I have not been allowed a table at a restaurant because I was not white enough, until my white enough friends got a table for us.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My law firm is a place where we change lives, a place where a group of immigrants changes lives of other immigrants on a daily basis. We represent clients in the worst times, times when the country is trying to remove people from the country they consider their home. I also represent victims of crimes, the vulnerable immigration community who is targeted because of their legal status and taken advantage of. I also repersent victims of human trafficking. Lastly, I represent professionals who wish to obtain an employment visa.
I am known for being the attorney that makes the impossible possible. I aspire to be the 7th attorney that helped me and even though 6 other attorneys found my case to be impossible, my 7th attorney made it possible and changed my life. That’s who I aspire to be.
What sets me apart from others is that I have walked the walk, I am an immigrant myself, and as every other immigrant has heard the word no or impossible countless times. As an immigrant, I closely understand how immigrants feel, and understand their needs.
I am most proud of my team. We have an incredible team of empathetic people who prioritize our client needs, and understand our company values: integrity, communication, empathy and respect.
Readers should know that I am an attorney who truly cares about your story and that I handle your case as if it were my case. I make your case mine and walk your path along with you.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I like hiking the most
I don’t like it when it’s freezing cold.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lonazcolaw.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lonazco_law
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LonazcoLaw/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LonazcoLaw
