At Pederson Immigration Law Group, we listen to our clients and value their opinions, which help us to enhance the quality of our work. Below you will find excerpts of representative feedback received from a few of our clients. These unsolicited reviews highlight our proactive and caring approach to the practice of immigration law. The excerpts below were sent from individual clients, corporate clients and HR managers located in various parts of the world, all of whom have entrusted their cases to our firm.
DEDICATION TO JAN PEDERSON
BY CHARLES M. MILLER
DOUGLAS S. WEIGLE
Don't get worried, Jan is fine.
We, the other two founding editors of The Visa Processing Guide, feel it is time that we recognize Jan Pederson's contributions to immigration law, to consular processing, and to this book.
Feisty, funny, and always dressed to kill, Jan is the godmother of consular processing. Through her individual persistence, she has made sure that consular representation remains an issue that consulates and embassies must deal with, or face her charm and then her wrath. The reason is that American attorneys need access to consular offices because human beings are fallible on both sides of the window. Facts need to be updated, marshaled, or argued masterfully. Jan argues masterfully.
Jan argues to bring in stranded family members from forlorn corners of the globe where war, genocide, disease, and poverty deprive many of an effective voice at the consular window. Jan argues in person when she can; and she is damned good at it.
Oh, yes, and Jan has been honored: the Washington Post has called her one of "seven leading lawyers" in Washington, D.C. She has generously taught on faculties at AILA conferences for 25 years, sharing her wealth of knowledge and "war" stories from the U.S. visa sections in 23 countries in which she has personally represented clients.
Take a look at Jan's Manila, Philippines, article in this edition; she gives you in writing what she has given all of us over the years, lessons in consular representation:
"Complete the clients' visa applications and assemble supporting documents as if Justice Scalia was about to review them. Do not leave the task to a legal assistant. The attorney's reputation will be molded by the quality of the visa application. Conversely, consular officers have praise for well-prepare and candid counsel and can recall them by name."
We recall with pride that in 1997, AILA bestowed upon Jan the Edith Lowenstein Award for excellence in the advancement of the practice of immigration law. Jan will tell you that the best award is the sight of a family reuniting with a long-separated family member.
Charles M. Miller
Douglas S. Weigle
The Visa Processing Guide
and Consular Posts Handbook
Process and Procedure at U.S. Consulates and Embassies
American Immigration Lawyers Association
2006-2007 Edition
From a consular officer about Jan Pederson:
I have dealt with many lawyers around the world. Most are full of themselves and come accross at the window as arrogant and a bit too full of themselves. Most of the time with an attitude like that the interview goes down the hill from there! You are one of the few exceptions that I have met. You are honest, decent, above the board and a straight shooter telling the whole story of your client. It has always been my pleasure to deal with someone of your caliber and honesty. I hope our paths will cross again!
Consular Office
U.S. Deptartment of State
Dear Jan:
Congratulations on a job very well done. Thanks to your firm's tireless effort, you made sure proper justice was served in my case. You guys are the best in the nation without a doubt. I do not have any hesitation to spread the word around. Thank you so much for following up on my case closely.
Sumodh Kalathil, M.D.
VAMC Asheville, NC
Individual Client
Dear Jan:
When it is time to make the difference in somebody?s life, every little thing is a big one.
I cannot thank you enough,
Individual Client
Dear Ms. Pederson,
I want to thank you and your staff for the excellent job, you have done to obtain permanent residency for me and my wife.
Thanks,
Individual Client
Ms. Pederson,
Thank you very much for your recommendations. I would love to utilize your services as soon as I obtain a more definitive answer from Syracuse. It was indeed a pleasure talking to you today. You definitely are the "Queen Bee" of the J1 hive. I was wondering if you have heard the saying going around about you in the "foreign" doctor community -it has been doing the circles for a while now and it goes as follows:
"When a foreign medical doctor arrives on a J1 visa to the US, he may not know how to spell Mcdonalds but he certainly knows how to spell Pederson the minute he lands"
Take care,
Prospective Client
Ms. Pederson,
We wish to express our sincere gratitude for all your help during our recent traumatic experience. Our lives are slowly going back to normal.
We also thank you for your time and your insights over lunch. To work with an attorney like you who understands what we went through was a truly refreshing experience.
Thank you very much for making a difference.
Sincerely,
Individual Client
Dear Ms. Pederson:
As you know, our respective roles sometimes require advocacy of positions quite different from one another. I have always held in the highest esteem those members of the bar who most effectively represent their clients. You are among that group.
It was with great pleasure, therefore, that I found us recently working together to mutually resolve a case of great sensitivity and importance.
Through your efforts, a young man is free today to pursue self-development in a way unique to our democracy. You have given substance to the adage, ?Liberty is not free; it is paid for with good citizenship.?
Sincerely,
District Director,
U.S. Department of Justice
Dear Jan:
Once again you have achieved your stated objective! On behalf of the University of Louisville Transplant Team and Jewish Hospital, I wish to thank you for your patience and persistence in working on two challenging waiver applications.
Sincerely,
Jewish Hospital
Dear Jan:
Thank you for handling my case for the acquisition of my H-1B. It was indeed a pleasure meeting with you and working with you in this endeavor.
I would like to take this opportunity to say how grateful I am and how much I appreciated your assistance in this matter. I was thoroughly impressed by your personality and the impeccable ease with which you handled all the difficult cases. Your enthusiasm and optimism were truly transmittable and played a mayor role in keeping our spirits up in that stressful situation. I have total confidence in seeking your professional help in the future and in recommending your name to friends who might be seeking legal help in immigration matters.
Best regards,
Individual Client
Dear Jan:
It was a pleasure working with you in La Paz and I hope that I may be of assistance in Mexico City.
Sincerely,
American Consul, Mexico
Dear Ms. Pederson,
We want to personally thank you and your staff for all your efforts in helping Parker Community Hospital to obtain the services of new doctors.
Quite a few children and their families in LaPaz County have already had the good fortune to benefit from foreign doctors? excellent training; all of them were grateful that they did not have to go through the stress and major expense of being transported to a Phoenix hospital in order to receive the necessary care which they provided.
Again, thank you for all your efforts.
Sincerely,
Parker Community Hospital
Dear Jan:
I wanted to thank you for your help. I also wanted to commend the great job that your staff has done. They have been wonderful in keeping me updated and are very efficient and reliable, not to mention very polite on the phone and in their emails.
Thanks again,
Individual Client
Hello Ms. Pederson,
I must say that since I have been with your law firm, this is the most updated and informed I have been with my case. You have been very diligent and efficient in communicating with me, and easily available to get in touch with.
Thanks,
Individual Client
Dear Ms. Pederson:
Thank you very much, you made my day, actually my year I have been waiting for this over the last 6 years. I hope we can expedite the process for the next strep to the green card.
Thank you very much,
Individual Client
Hello, Ms. Jan Pederson,
Thank you for the call and directing me for further steps. I am proud to have you as my attorney; your staff is wonderful and nice with me. My regards to all them.
Thanks,
Individual Client
Ms. Pederson,
Thank you very much for your dedicated efforts in assisting me with immigration services. It was a pleasure meeting with you and I was amazed with your passion, confidence, and knowledge.
Sincerely,
Shaista Begum
Hi Jan
I just want to thank you very much for all the support and help during the tough process of getting a legal status in this country.
I promise to make you proud.
Awesome job
God Bless,
Individial Client
