As a Cuban immigrant, Mercedes brings personal insight and cultural sensitivity to her practice. Her tenacity and commitment allow her to decipher sophisticated immigration issues effectively. She addresses client needs with a deep understanding of the challenges faced by both employers and families. For companies, she enjoys developing comprehensive strategies for global mobility needs of personnel. to the U.S.
Mercedes facilitates entry visas and work permits for U.S. transferees to various countries. She prepares a wide range of employment-based immigration petitions, ranging from a variety of temporary visas in the “alphabet soup” of U.S. visas (B, E, F, H, L, O, P, Q, R) to PERM labor certification applications and NIW to EB-5 Investor applications. Before U.S. federal agencies, she represents clients with cases involving I-485 Adjustment of Status, consular processing abroad, and naturalization to become U.S. citizens. She helps clients navigate national interest exceptions to travel bans and oversees global immigration matters for foreign assignments.
In the arts and entrepreneurship sectors, Mercedes secures visas for Oscar-winning producers, champion athletes, world-renowned musicians and startup founders.
Experience
- Advised private university on immigration compliance issues according to DHS requirements as a designated institution of higher education approved to issue F-1 International Student Visas, and J-1 Exchange Visitor Visas. Provided guidance on individual student issues related to visa status and allowable employment authorization situations.
- Represented institutions of higher education before DHS to obtain the nonimmigrant O-1 visa for professors and researchers, based upon the foreign national’s extraordinary ability in the arts, sciences or business.
Credentials
Education
- Tulane University Law School, J.D., 1993
- Agnes Scott College, B.A., Economics and Spanish, 1986
Bar Admissions
- Illinois
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

