First Admitted: 2009, Pennsylvania

Professional Webpage: https://www.hykellaw.com/about/attorney-bio/

Bar/Professional Activity:

United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 2021
AILA Philadelphia Chapter Liaison Committee Member to USCIS Philadelphia Field Office, 2021
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Pennsylvania – State and Federal Courts
New Jersey – State and Federal Courts
United States Olympians Association
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of New Jersey , 2011
Supreme Court of New Jersey, 2009
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 2009

Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):

Successful EB-1 extraordinary ability visa petition for scientist/strategists in Pharmaceutical industry. , 2022
Successfully reversed USCIS denial of two Olympic rowing athletes for extraordinary ability (EB-1A) green card applications through filing a lawsuit in Federal District Court for Declaratory Judgment. , 2024
Asylum Approvals at the agency level (USCIS) and in Immigration Court (EOIR) for homosexual man from Honduras, battered woman (domestic violence) from Russia, political claim (protest against the government (Russia). Won appeal (N-336) of a denied Naturalization (US Citizenship) for client whose criminal record was expunged and accused of fraud for failing to disclose the conviction during the initial filing. I-601 Waiver for Fraud successful for spouse of US Citizen who misrepresented marital status on visa application, 2019
Successful Declaratory Judgment Action involving Rescission proceedings against a lawful permanent resident, who was never properly served with Notice of Intent to Rescind or Notice of Rescission, causing USCIS to reopen Rescission proceedings after more than 5 years had elapsed., 2021
Successful Declaratory Judgment Action, causing DHS to agree to reopen removal proceedings, submit joint motion to terminate removal order and reopen denied green card application for Haitian TPS recipient, who had re-entered USA after travel abroad pursuant to advance parole. , 2021
Successful Declaratory Judgment Action, causing USCIS to reopen a denied O-1 (extraordinary ability) worker visa petition and approve the petition. , 2021
Successful EB-1 Extraordinary Ability Visa Petition for Indian born national., 2021

Representative Clients:

I represent foreign nationals before several courts and agencies including the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania, Immigration Court (EOIR), United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the United States Department of Labor (USDOL), and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), 2019
Successful gender-based asylum case before Immigration Court in Philadelphia with legal theory of particular social group: Nigerian women who completed an education in the Western Hemisphere. , 2023
O-1 visa for extraordinary groom (equestrian) approved, 2021
I-601A unlawful presence waiver approved for spouse of US Citizen , 2021
P-1 athletes visa for equestrian athlete approved, 2021
EB-1 Extraordinary Worker (Green Card) for Indian born national in consulting industry, 2021
Asylum grant to Honduran man based on religious claim - Evangelical Christian, 2020

Special Licenses/Certifications:

AILA Philadelphia Chapter Co-Chair of the Liaison Committee to the USCIS Philadelphia Field Office , 2018
AILA Philadelphia Chapter Liaison Committee Member for USCIS Philadelphia Field Office, 2020
Co-Chair for the American Immigration Lawyer's Association (AILA) Philadelphia Chapter's Liaison Committee to the USCIS Philadelphia Field Office, 2019
AILA Philadelphia Chapter Co-Chair of Liaison Committee to the Philadelphia ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) Office, 2017
American Immigration Lawyer's Association Member, 2011

Pro bono/Community Service:

Legal services to Afghan nationals who need evacuation in the wake of Taliban regime., 2021
WomenSport International - Legal Committee Member. WomenSport International is the global voice for research based advocacy for women in Sport. , 2020
FISA World Cup of Rowing Medalist: 2006, 2008
FISA World Championships of Rowing Medalist: 2004, 2005
United States Olympic Team Member: 2008 Beijing Olympics, Rowing, Women’s Lightweight Double Sculls: 10th place
United States Olympic Committee Athlete Referral Speaker Network, Guest Speaker
Philadelphia VIP Volunteer Attorney
World Fit: Olympians Eradicating Child Obesity– Philadelphia School District Coordinator
Saint Joseph’s University Law Alumni Chapter – Executive Board Member
Represented Non-profit agency, Elder Law Center, for non-immigrant work visa (H1-B). , 2019
Represented non-profit organization, Pennsylvania Athletic Rowing Association (PennAC) on boathouse row in Philadelphia, PA for a non-immigrant work visa (O-1) for coach of extraordinary ability for junior gold summer camp program (high school children), 2018
Represented unaccompanied minor in removal proceedings., 2019

Honors/Awards:

Saint Joseph’s University Women’s Rowing Varsity Captain, M.V.P.
Delaware County Sports Hall of Fame Inductee, http://www.delcohalloffame.org/2020-dinner.html, 2020
Saint Joseph’s University Athletics Hall of Fame, Inducted 2010
Named one of the Top 40 Under 40 Immigration Lawyers in Pennsylvania, National Advocates Top 40 Under 40, https://www.thenationaladvocates.org/, 2016
Nominated to Rising Stars List in PA by Super Lawyers, Super Lawyer's Rising Stars, www.superlawyers.com, 2019

Educational Background:

Saint Joseph's University, Bachelor's of Arts, Major: English, 2001

Scholarly Lectures/Writings:

Prepared and co-hosted AILA continuing education meeting on topic of "Non-Immigrant Waivers." , Continuing Legal Education (CLE) co-speaker, Non-immigrant Waivers (INA 212(d)(3) and others), AILA Philadelphia Chapter CLE Meeting, October 2023, 2023
Guest speaker to the Right Angle Club of Philadelphia, Guest speaker - The current state of affairs in immigration in the United States and the Biden Administration's Plans, The Right Angle Club of Philadelphia, 2021
Spoke to Undergraduates of Temple University on Immigration Law, Speaker, Temple University Forum on Immigration Law for Undergraduates, 2019

Other Outstanding Achievements:

United States Olympic Team Athlete - USA Rowing Team. Competed in the Lightweight Women's Double Sculls and placed 10th at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, 2008
United States Rowing Team Member - Competed at the World Championships of Rowing in Italy, Spain, Japan, and England earning silver and bronze medals among the world's top competitors.

Industry Groups:

Athletes
Citizenship
Consultants
Engineers
Hospitals
Information Technologies
Life Sciences
Medical Professionals
Pharmaceuticals
Removal Defense
Spousal Visas
Veterinarians

Renee Hykel Cuddy