Meet the Team: Jean Paul Castro

Welcome, Mr. Castro. We're glad you could join us today. Could you please tell us a little bit of general information about yourself????

JP: My name is Jean-Paul Castro and I am from Puerto Rico, born and raised there. I have been dedicated to practice immigration law in the United States, but prior to becoming a lawyer, I had a career in journalism and finance, and I also worked for many years in the banking industry. So, all those experiences somehow I have been using them to get to where I am now.?

Why did you decide to be an attorney??

JP: It was always clear to me that choosing this profession was one of the mechanisms where one could directly impact a great number of lives, so I was always sure that through this direct service I was going to give my clients the opportunity to transform their lives positively, so I think that played a lot in why I decided to dedicate myself to this profession.?

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

JP: In the field of immigration, it seems to me that this potential to transform lives positively is more evident. I come from a place in Puerto Rico where I constantly saw people arriving in an irregular way and for me that was quite normal, since I lived near the coast in the area of the boats, so I saw people arriving and trying to start a new life.??

So, I decided to dedicate myself to immigration law because I grew up living the difficulties that these people had to reach, that for me was basic as an opportunity to be able to work and to be able to move their family forward. I wanted to be in some way an active agent in changing that reality and that is why I decided to practice immigration law, because I know that through this management, we can change not only the lives of our clients directly, but perhaps also the future of an entire family.?

We can talk about one of your EB-2 NIW approvals. Could you tell us about the case??

JP: This particular case was a Colombian client who was expecting her baby. The client had a Master's Degree in Social Development in the United States and perhaps the main challenge presented in this case was to work on the strongest possible application in the shortest possible time to achieve a solid approval.?

What elements were key to overcome the challenge????

JP: The cooperation and promptness of the client to work hand in hand with us and understand that what we do is a collaborative work was key. They as experts in the subject, we as experts in the law, trying to unite the two worlds, that made the difference.??

On the other hand, the work team we have is also key, although it is true that we are as lawyers are the face in front of the client and the client cooperates with us, none of this could be possible without our analysts team, who are the ones who are hand in hand with the client, mainly every day handling those daily communications, filtering their concerns and basically serving as that translator between the specific needs that a client may have and what we as lawyers can do about it.?

Were there unique aspects to this case compared to others??

JP: As I said, we had limited time and while the case was in the process of preparation and adjudication by immigration, the clients gave birth to their baby and then we got the approval. So, it's a practical example of how our work can directly impact the life of a family, because we already have certainty that these people will eventually be able to be in the United States with all the benefits that the law grants and the permanent residency, and that was achieved thanks to our work in collaboration with them.?

How did the client react to the outcome of the case??

JP: When we received the approval, I immediately notified them and the joy was immense. The satisfaction for us too, because as I mentioned, is to know that this approval that we received in this first phase of the process, is what will result in a change of life for these families. And even though they may not see the practical effect immediately, given all the procedures that have to be followed, we are certain that this is going to happen and that it was thanks to the work of the client and our team working together.?

What do you enjoy doing in your free time when you're not helping your clients get their green cards????

JP: I like cooking, it's one of my hobbies and I like to travel a lot. Also, I have a cat, so I almost live for her, play with her and be with her.?

What is your favorite part about being part of this law firm????

JP: My favorite part of being an immigration attorney at this firm is the opportunity I have every day to connect with colleagues and clients around the world, exploiting my creativity and legal skills to bring practical results and change the lives of our clients, while having fun in the process. The camaraderie and support among fellow lawyers and the team that supports us, makes it more than just a job, there is an additional motivation to go the extra mile every day in everything we do.?

Anything else you'd like to tell us????

JP: Through our work we have the potential to change the destiny of many families and children and future generations, so that perhaps we can provide them to have a different life with new opportunities.?

Your story and case are truly appreciated, Mr. Castro. Thank you.