Stouffer Law
Immigration | Serving Berkeley, CA
510-214-4007California Immigration & Naturalization Law Firm
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A Personalized And Client-Focused Legal Service Makes The Difference We Are By Your Side And By Your Side Every Step Of The Way
We represent individuals and families from all over the world and at all stages of the immigration process. We file affirmative applications at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), defend persons in deportation/removal hearings in Immigration Court, and file appeals and motions to reopen before the Immigration Court, the Board of Immigration Appeals and the Ninth Circuit Court. Our first goal is getting to know you and your unique circumstances so we can help determine the best options for you. Contact us if you are seeking an immigration lawyer who takes pride in understanding and staying up-to-date with the complex and ever-changing immigration laws so that we can be there to guide you every step of the way.
Are you unsure about whether you need an immigration lawyer? It depends. Whether or not in the end you decide to hire us or another qualified immigration attorney for a particular matter, we do strongly recommend you at least have an in-depth consultation. This can really be invaluable. Once you have all the information you need you can decide whether you want to hire an attorney. Immigration law is very nuanced, complicated and ever changing. It may seem like all you need to do is fill out and file a form, but there is much more that needs be taken into consideration to avoid delays or pitfalls. For example, every time a new form is filed with immigration, any past immigration history, filings, entries and exits will be scrutinized. It’s to your advantage to have an attorney specializing in immigration law screen for any potential complications and then manage the process. It is not our aim to sound scary, but we often encounter clients who have filed something incorrectly, or filed something that should not have been filed. An ounce of caution in the beginning of the process can literally save years and thousands of dollars.
Contact us today if you need legal assistance with any of the following:
- Immigration
- Citizenship or Naturalization
- Removal or Deportation Defense
- Visas for Family in the U.S. and Overseas
- Permanent Residence
- Political Asylum
- District Court Cases
Call 510-214-4007 today to arrange your free initial consultation.
Attorney Christine Stouffer
Christine is a certified specialist in Immigration and Nationality Law with the California State Bar. She has been practicing exclusively immigration law since 2006. She previously worked as Interim Staff Attorney for Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights in San Francisco with their Pro Bono Asylum Program, and as Staff Attorney for Arab American Legal Services, part of the San Francisco Immigrant and Legal Education Network.
A variety of experiences over the years led Christine to immigration law. She has traveled extensively and lived in Morocco and France. Her mother and her husband are both immigrants to the United States. Based on her personal experiences, she has a deep appreciation for the challenges faced by individuals and families living in a new country. What is already challenging is only made more difficult when, as in many cases, life in a new country brings separation from loved ones. It means a lot to her to work in a field that allows her to help clients navigate the complicated immigration laws so they can focus on moving forward with their lives and reuniting with their families. Christine feels truly honored by the chance to get to know people from all over the world, learn their unique histories, and help translate the law in such a way that allows her clients to make the most informed decisions about their immigration matter. Once the appropriate path is identified, she enjoys working as a team with clients to present the strongest case possible to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service or the Immigration Court.
Christine is fluent in French, and conversant in Arabic and Spanish.
Bar Admissions:
- California State Bar
- Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
- United States District Court, Northern District of California
Education:
- Golden Gate University School of Law, J.D., 2005
- University of Washington, B.A., Middle Eastern Studies, 1998
Professional Memberships and Achievements:
- Member of American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
- EOIR Co-Liaison to the San Francisco Immigration Court for the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Northern California Chapter (2014-2016)
- Pro-Bono Co-Coordinator for the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Northern California Chapter (2013-2014)
- Co-Chair, National Lawyers Guild Immigration Committee, San Francisco Bay Area Chapter (2008-2011)
- Member of the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild (2006-present)
Attorney David Benham-Suk
David Benham-Suk joined Stouffer Law in July 2021. Previously, David’s immigration law practice at Catholic Charities of the East Bay focused on representing noncitizens detained in ICE custody. Fighting to secure his clients’ release, David handled bond hearings in immigration court and petitions for habeas corpus in federal district court. David also represented clients in deportation proceedings before the San Francisco and Los Angeles Immigration Courts, challenged removal orders at the Board of Immigration Appeals and United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and fought visa denials in federal district court. Before he became an immigration attorney, David practiced general commercial and securities litigation at leading firms in New York City and San Francisco.
David is an immigration attorney because he believes that no one is illegal and that every person should be free to live and work wherever they please. He enjoys helping his clients obtain the basic dignity of legal immigration status. He is proud to help his clients resist when deportation proceedings threaten to tear them from their homes, livelihoods, and loved ones.
David’s own immigration story also informs his work. His grandparents immigrated from the Netherlands to Canada and his parents immigrated from Canada to the United States. David grew up in Michigan, went to college and law school in Canada, then returned to the United States to begin practicing law.
Bar Admissions:
- California State Bar
- New York State Bar
- United States District Court, Northern District of California
- United States District Court, Southern District of California
- United States District Court, Central District of California
- United States District Court, Eastern District of New York
- United States District Court, Southern District of New York
- United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Education:
- McGill University Faculty of Law, J.D., 2016
- McGill University Faculty of Law, Bachelor of Civil Law, 2016
- University of Toronto, Master of Public Policy, 2009
- McGill University, B.A., Economics and International Development Studies, 2007
Professional Memberships and Achievements:
- Member of American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
- Member of the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild
Since 1997, the "Lead Counsel Verified" status has been granted to attorneys who possess:
- The Right Professional Experience
- A Spotless Record
The following attorneys at this firm are Lead Counsel Verified:
Christine Stouffer
This attorney practices in California and is Lead Counsel Verified in the following practice areas:
| Practice Area | Year |
|---|---|
| Immigration | Since 2022 |