Meet the Team: Allison McVey

?Thanks for joining us today, Ms McVey. Could you please start by telling us a little bit of general information about yourself??

AM: Of course. My name is Allison McVey, and I’m an attorney at Colombo & Hurd specializing in EB-2 National Interest Waiver petitions here, but I’ve worked with several other employment-based petitions throughout my career. I’m currently based in North Carolina, but I grew up in Syracuse, New York, where I attended Syracuse University for both my undergraduate and law school education. Although I miss my family back in New York, I definitely do not miss the winters.?

And why did you decide to practice law in the field of immigration???

AM: It seems counter-intuitive because lawyers are supposed to be rigid, but one of the best parts of being an immigration attorney is that I get to write creatively and put together a “story” of sorts. This work connects me with so many exciting people from diverse backgrounds, and I get to learn about their lives, their careers, their businesses or research, what they are passionate about, and I’m tasked with putting that together into an easy-to-understand story for the US government to show them how much we need their perspectives in the United States. It’s an incredible privilege to do this type of work because not only is it worthwhile, but the creativity makes it exciting every day.?

I’d love to speak with you about one of your favorite approvals – I know you have so many but could you tell us about one of your favorites???

AM: I had an interesting case with an architect who was also a passionate artist. We were able to incorporate some of her visual and written art into the petition package because it dovetailed with the visual aspects of her architecture projects. It ended up being a beautiful case binder, one where her personality vividly shone through. I believe the USCIS officer ultimately recognized that this sort of passion doesn’t come along every day.?

What elements were key to achieve the approval???

AM: Communication and organization! This client had a lot of evidence she recommended using for the case. Although we couldn’t include every piece of evidence provided, we were able to sift through and select the most impactful pieces to connect with the endeavor. We communicated heavily with the client throughout the process, ensuring she was comfortable with what we were and were not including. This allowed us to stay true to her overall vision for the petition package while using the approaches we know to be successful with USCIS from our years of experience.?

How was the interaction with the client during the process???

AM: Heavy coordination and communication with the client were involved because she was so dedicated and passionate about her work. Our team devoted a lot of time and energy to this, but we all knew we were driving toward the same goal: getting the client’s case approved. It felt great when that was rewarded.?

And how did you and your team feel when the case was approved???

AM: Our team was overjoyed when the case was approved, and the client was ecstatic as well. We were proud to know that the approval will allow her to pursue her dreams in the US, and I hope to someday visit some of the incredible buildings she designs.?

What is your favorite part of being an immigration attorney at Colombo & Hurd??

AM: The people. I feel strongly that those who come to Colombo & Hurd are simply exceptional at what they do—they are brilliant and compassionate, which can be a rare combination. I have the best team working alongside me, and everyone is equally dedicated to putting client service first.?

What do you like to do in your free time, when you're not helping your clients obtain green cards???

AM: I love hiking, reading fiction, and spending time with my dog.?

Your story and insights are incredibly valuable, thank you so much for sharing.?