Giovanna Valdez
N/A
Licensed for 9 years
Law Degree
Awards
Primary Practice Area
Immigration
Language
Spanish
About
I am a founding partner of Valdez & Vilim, LLP and of my previous firm, Valdez Vilim & Wunrow, LLP. I focus my practice in the area of immigration and nationality law, including family-based immigration, humanitarian immigration (asylum, VAWA, U Visas, T Visas and SIJS), naturalization, immigration appeals, and removal defense. I represent clients with cases before the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of State, and the Department of Justice. I have been selected to the 2019, 2020 and 2021 Illinois Rising Star list by Super Lawyers, an honor that is received by no more than 2.5% of attorneys within Illinois.In addition to maintaining my own private practice, I am a Practitioner in Residence with the Asylum & Refugee Law Clinic at DePaul University’s College of Law. In that role, I mentor immigration practitioners at community-based organizations in the Chicago area and gives presentations on removal defense. During the 2017-2018 school year, I was an adjunct professor at Valparaiso University School of Law, where I taught and supervised the immigration law clinic. Prior to co-founding Valdez & Vilim, LLP, I practiced immigration law at a private firm in Chicago. I also served a 2-year term as an Attorney Advisor through the U.S. Attorney General Honors Program at the Chicago Immigration Court, Executive Office for Immigration Review, Department of Justice. I have a background in human rights and advocacy work, which I gained by working at Amnesty International before I became an attorney.I speak Spanish. I am a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and sit on the AILA EOIR Liaison Committee and Midwest Regional Conference Planning Committee. I have been invited to speak at events sponsored by the Chicago Bar Association’s Immigration and Nationality Committee as well as community organizations such as the Albany Park Community Center, Southwest Organizing Project, and Latinos Progresando. I obtained my J.D. cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center with a Certificate in Refugee and Humanitarian Emergencies. I obtained my B.A. magna cum laude in Political Science from the University of Notre Dame. I am admitted to practice law in Illinois.
Practices Areas
Immigration
Language
Spanish
Contact
Valdez & Vilim, LLPMonadnock Building53 W. Jackson Blvd., Ste. 909Chicago, IL, 60604
Office: N/A
Website: N/AReviews
After a long and extremely stressful green card process caused, in part, by the first lawyer I hired, I decided to go with a different lawyer when the time came to apply for my citizenship. A friend of a friend recommended Laura Vilim to me. After an initial Zoom meeting with her, I decided to hire her to help me with my application for citizenship. This time I needed to be sure everything was done correctly. Laura Vilim of Valdez & Vilim was fantastic throughout the entire process. We were very impressed with her professionalism. She answered all my questions and concerns promptly, and often during evening hours, which was in sharp contrast with my previous lawyer. She was exceedingly thorough in preparing my application and collected documents not listed on the application to be prepared for any unexpected complication. When it came to the actual interview, I am so glad I decided to have her there. My interview was delayed by an hour, but she did an amazing job at keeping my husband and me distracted enough to avoid getting upset. As someone who is familiar with the process, she did not hesitate to get to the bottom of the delay. At the interview itself, I was just responsible for answering my questions. She handed documents to the interviewing officer when asked, so I did not appear anxious or nervous. She truly was an advocate for us, and we are very thankful to her for making the whole process easier. My immigration journey is over as I am a citizen now. I perhaps could have gone through the whole process myself with the help of my husband, but I am so glad we decided to hire Laura. I would not have it any other way. Her kindness, professionalism, and knowledge will be forever appreciated by my husband and me.
I had very good experience, she does her job in detail and responsibly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Professional service, and Laura is a great person always ready to help with everything l need from her.
After a long and extremely stressful green card process caused, in part, by the first lawyer I hired, I decided to go with a different lawyer when the time came to apply for my citizenship. A friend of a friend recommended Laura Vilim to me. After an initial Zoom meeting with her, I decided to hire her to help me with my application for citizenship. This time I needed to be sure everything was done correctly. Laura Vilim of Valdez & Vilim was fantastic throughout the entire process. We were very impressed with her professionalism. She answered all my questions and concerns promptly, and often during evening hours, which was in sharp contrast with my previous lawyer. She was exceedingly thorough in preparing my application and collected documents not listed on the application to be prepared for any unexpected complication. When it came to the actual interview, I am so glad I decided to have her there. My interview was delayed by an hour, but she did an amazing job at keeping my husband and me distracted enough to avoid getting upset. As someone who is familiar with the process, she did not hesitate to get to the bottom of the delay. At the interview itself, I was just responsible for answering my questions. She handed documents to the interviewing officer when asked, so I did not appear anxious or nervous. She truly was an advocate for us, and we are very thankful to her for making the whole process easier. My immigration journey is over as I am a citizen now. I perhaps could have gone through the whole process myself with the help of my husband, but I am so glad we decided to hire Laura. I would not have it any other way. Her kindness, professionalism, and knowledge will be forever appreciated by my husband and me.
I had very good experience, she does her job in detail and responsibly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Professional service, and Laura is a great person always ready to help with everything l need from her.
After a long and extremely stressful green card process caused, in part, by the first lawyer I hired, I decided to go with a different lawyer when the time came to apply for my citizenship. A friend of a friend recommended Laura Vilim to me. After an initial Zoom meeting with her, I decided to hire her to help me with my application for citizenship. This time I needed to be sure everything was done correctly. Laura Vilim of Valdez & Vilim was fantastic throughout the entire process. We were very impressed with her professionalism. She answered all my questions and concerns promptly, and often during evening hours, which was in sharp contrast with my previous lawyer. She was exceedingly thorough in preparing my application and collected documents not listed on the application to be prepared for any unexpected complication. When it came to the actual interview, I am so glad I decided to have her there. My interview was delayed by an hour, but she did an amazing job at keeping my husband and me distracted enough to avoid getting upset. As someone who is familiar with the process, she did not hesitate to get to the bottom of the delay. At the interview itself, I was just responsible for answering my questions. She handed documents to the interviewing officer when asked, so I did not appear anxious or nervous. She truly was an advocate for us, and we are very thankful to her for making the whole process easier. My immigration journey is over as I am a citizen now. I perhaps could have gone through the whole process myself with the help of my husband, but I am so glad we decided to hire Laura. I would not have it any other way. Her kindness, professionalism, and knowledge will be forever appreciated by my husband and me.
I had very good experience, she does her job in detail and responsibly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Professional service, and Laura is a great person always ready to help with everything l need from her.