Welcome to the Garfinkel Immigration attorney spotlight series, where we will conduct a bimonthly Q&A with one of the Firm’s lawyers. In this edition, we spoke with Senior Attorney Holly Hatton Kuzeyman.
Holly Hatton Kuzeyman, a graduate of the University of the District of Columbia, David A. Clarke School of Law, has extensive experience in immigrant and nonimmigrant visa matters. She is an active member of the AILA Washington D.C. Chapter.
How long have you practiced immigration law?
I have been an attorney for seven years but have worked in the field of immigration overall for nearly two decades.
What have you found most rewarding about working in immigration law?
After living in several countries and working to petition cases at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, I knew that I wanted to be in a cross-cultural legal field. After returning to the U.S., I worked at one of Virginia’s largest universities as a Designated School Official and faculty member. I really enjoyed problem solving from an international student perspective along with the human interaction component of helping students learn, adjust and bridge cultural gaps.
I combined those experiences in international law, culture and education to best serve clients in the immigration law field. Using cultural capacity, legal strategy and experience to solve challenges in immigration is a fulfilling career. Helping engineers, scientists, doctors, researchers, students and a multitude of professionals come to the U.S. to make so many professional and personal contributions is always rewarding.
What do you consider your most significant professional accomplishment?
So many cases have crossed my desk over the years but obtaining a J-1 waiver for a research scholar was one of my most challenging and most rewarding accomplishments.
The scholar’s spouse was on an organ transplant list, and she would have never survived the trip back home or been able to receive equivalent medical care in her home country. We rallied the community and worked tirelessly with the home country’s government to make it happen. The waiver was granted, and she received the transplant.
What is your favorite thing to do when you’re not working?
I really enjoy watching Saturday morning cartoons with my son and making meals with my family. I also watch professional tennis anytime I can, and I read copious amounts of historical fiction.
What is one thing most people don’t know about you?
I played college softball and I am still best friends with many of my teammates.