VISANOW’s legal department draws on a strong foundation of legal and international experience.  We provide assistance and counsel in areas such as application preparation; establishment of corporate immigration policies, guidelines and procedures; evaluation of strategic issues like PERM; and ongoing education/training of HR management with respect to immigration issues.

Robert C. Meltzer, Esq.

Robert C. Meltzer has taken VISANOW from concept to reality and now leads the company in its pursuit of revolutionizing immigration process management. Beginning his career at the legal office of the United Nations World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, Robert concentrated on public international law, international contracts and international copyright. Upon returning to the U.S. in 1986, he entered private practice where he continued in international law and expanded his practice to include immigration law. After practicing immigration law for over 15 years, he realized the potential to utilize technology to streamline the management of the immigration process and founded VISANOW.

Robert is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and has been a member of the International and Immigration Law Section of the Illinois State Bar Association since 1985. He has experience in all appellate processes in the practice of immigration law and has represented clients before the United States Supreme Court on immigration law issues. He is an author, lecturer and a recent Adjunct Professor of International Law at Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago-Kent College of Law.

Robert was awarded a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Colorado, Boulder and a Juris Doctor from Northern Illinois University College of Law. In addition to his traditional U.S. legal education, Robert furthered his international legal education by receiving certificates and diplomas from the Henri Dunant Institute in Geneva, Switzerland; The Institute de Internationale Droits de L'homme in Strasbourg, France; and the University of Salzburg/McGeorge School of Law in Salzburg, Austria.

Brooke Hazan
Vice President of Legal Services and Support

As Vice President of Legal Services and Support, Brooke is responsible for overseeing client interaction with the legal and customer support departments. She coordinates our delivery of the highest quality services from both a legal and customer service perspective, and works with her team to ensure maximum client satisfaction at every level.

Prior to joining VISANOW, Brooke served in a variety of Human Resource roles at BASF Corporation and the Chicago Tribune. Brooke gained insight into the international arena as the Human Resources Representative for all inbound and outbound assignees for the North American Headquarters at BASF. This experience gave her an understanding of the demands placed on human resource executives and emphasized the importance of being an effective partner to human resource departments.

Brooke received her undergraduate degree from University of Massachusetts, Amherst and her Masters in Human Resource Management at Rutgers University. Prior to embarking on her professional career, she enhanced her knowledge of international cultures by participating in study abroad programs in both Switzerland and France.

Emily A. Chen, Esq.

With a strong legal background and zeal for learning foreign cultures, Emily A. Chen utilizes this experience to provide VISANOW clients comprehensive legal counsel and understanding of foreign nationals' unique situations. Her diverse legal background includes in-depth experience in labor, employment, contract, commercial, property law and other areas of civil litigation. She supports her clients through every step of the immigration process, from strategic planning to reviewing applications to following up on case issues. She also provides direct support on an individual client level through legal counseling and researching client issues.

Emily received her J.D. from Northern Illinois University (NIU) College of Law and earned a BA from the University of Chicago. While at NIU, she sought to expand her knowledge of the law outside of the classroom setting, serving as Research Editor of the NIU Law Review, actively participating in the moot court program, and studying international law abroad in China and France. She has mastered intermediate fluency in French and basic fluency in Mandarin. Emily is a member of the Chicago Bar Association.

Shawn Hope, Esq.

Shawn Hope brings a great deal of legal expertise in diverse practice areas to the VISANOW Legal Team. This past experience enables him to provide expertise in drafting and distributing immigration practice advisories, researching changes in immigration law and drafting memoranda recommending compliance strategies. Additionally, Shawn composes legal responses to Requests for Evidence, as well as prepares PERM filings and nonimmigrant visa petitions. Shawn also serves as the liaison between the legal and IT departments in order to aid in the constant evolution of the VISANOW's immigration practice.

Caroline Tang, Esq.

Caroline Tang brings to VISANOW a diverse legal background, including a practical client-side experience that provides her with a unique understanding of our clients' needs. As a human resources liaison for a major global corporation, Caroline was responsible for the acquisition of immigrant and non-immigrant visas for foreign workers. She has also provided pro bono legal services for the National Immigrant Justice Center. This rewarding experience furthered her insight into immigration law and serves her well as she prepares filings, responds to Requests for Evidence and researches and analyzes immigration laws and statutes.

Caroline received her J.D. from Boston University School of Law and a B.A. from Northwestern University. While at Boston University, she served as an Editor for the American Journal of Law and Medicine and participated in the BU Legislation Clinic. During law school, she also worked as a research assistant at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. Caroline is fluent in Mandarin Chinese. She is a member of the State Bar of California, Illinois State Bar Association, and Chicago Bar Association.

Agnes C. Rudinsky, Esq.

Agnes C. Rudinsky brings to VISANOW a strong legal background in the field of immigration law having practiced exclusively in the area of immigration and nationality law. Agnes's prior experience has been to advise clients on the full range of immigration matters, representing large multinational companies, hospitals, churches, entrepreneurs, family-owned businesses, and specialized workers on temporary and permanent resident proceedings. Her expertise includes H, E, L, and R nonimmigrant visas, employment based permanent resident, and PERM labor certification. In addition to her business immigration work, she has assisted U.S. citizens and permanent resident aliens in successfully bringing their families together through the US immigration application process. This prior experience lends itself well to assisting VISANOW clients needs for filing non-immigrant and immigrant visas, providing legal counsel, and preparing legal responses for Request for Evidence.

Agnes received her J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School and earned a BA from Wellesley College. In law school, she completed a one-year internship with the Notre Dame Immigration Clinic, which involved conducting intake interviews, and filing adjustment status and U.S. citizenship applications for low income individuals. She also competed in 2003 Phillip C. Jessup International Moot Court Competition. She speaks, reads, and writes Korean fluently.

Fiona McEntee, Esq.

Fiona McEntee brings a diverse background to VISANOW. She was raised and educated in Ireland; however, she received a law degree in the United States. Due to Fiona's background, she brings a unique perspective in the work she performs for VISANOW clients. Her prior work experience includes positions at two different immigration law clinics where she was responsible for a variety of cases including employment-based applications, attending citizenship interviews as well as researching and writing legal briefs. This experience blends well with her current work at VISANOW where she is responsible for preparing filings, providing legal counsel and responding to Requests for Evidence.

Fiona received her J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law, and was presented with the CALI Award for obtaining the highest grade in the area of Immigration. She graduated with honors from University College Dublin with a Bachelor of Civil Law International. Fiona also participated in a foreign exchange program at DePaul University in Chicago, providing her first insight on US Law. Fiona has intermediate fluency in Spanish and is fluent in Gaeilge. She currently serves as a mentor for the Society of Women in Law - Chicago-Kent, College of Law and is a member of the Chicago Bar Association.

Lisa Damiano, Esq.

Lisa's prior experience has been to represent and advise clients on the full range of immigration issues, representing families, small businesses, hospitals, churches, and individuals is cases involving permanent residency, naturalization, asylum and all forms of relief from removal and deportation. She has also practiced before the Immigration Court, the Board of Immigration Appeals, the Administrative Appeals Office, and the U.S. District Court. In addition to her employment-based immigration work, she has assisted U.S. citizens and permanent resident aliens in successfully bringing their families together through consular processing and other USCIS applications and procedures.

Lisa received her J.D., magna cum laude, from The Catholic University of America (CUA) Columbus School of Law and earned a BA from Indiana University. While at CUA, she served as a member of the moot court program and participated in Students for Public Interest Law. Lisa also obtained significant experience in the field of immigration law while working at Just Neighbors Immigration Legal Services serving low-income immigrants and refugees of all faiths and nationalities. She further developed her research skills and knowledge of immigration law as an intern at the Executive Office for Immigration Review Baltimore Immigration Court. Lisa is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and Chicago Bar Association. She has also provided pro bono legal services for the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights New Americans Initiative.

Corey Walker

Corey Walker demonstrates true diligence and dedication in her role as a Paralegal at VISANOW. Corey routinely prepares and submits both non-immigrant and immigrant applications. The scope of her work encompasses H, TN, and L visas, as well as processing of Greencard applications and assisting with the PERM process.

Corey received a dual Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Sociology from Eastern Illinois University. During her undergraduate studies she broadened her education through the Study Abroad Program at Teikyo University in Maastricht, Holland. Upon graduation, she entered Roosevelt University where she received a Paralegal Certificate from their Paralegal Studies Program. To further expand upon her classroom knowledge, Corey held internships with Illinois State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka and the City of Chicago Department of Law, Regulatory and Aviation Litigation Division.

Sue Patel

Sue Patel brings an energized and professional approach to her role as Paralegal at VISANOW. Sue prepares a variety of non-immigrant and immigrant visas, as well as manages the myriad of documents pertaining to these visas. Sue's prior work experience as a Law Clerk has helped to hone her skills in the areas of organization and document processing, which she has successfully transitioned into her current role with VISANOW.

Sue received a Bachelor of Arts and Science, majoring in Political Science from DePaul University. During her undergraduate years, she participated in a study abroad program in Dublin, Ireland. Her fondness for the country kept her there for an internship at the Irish Parliament, which gave her a great deal of insight on foreign government policies and procedures. Sue also received her Paralegal Certificate from Roosevelt University and is fluent in Gujarati.

Paulina Palaszewska

Paulina K. Palaszewska brings a diverse legal background to the field of immigration law. She was raised in Warsaw Poland, and as a result speaks both English and Polish fluently. Being an immigrant herself, Paulina brings a unique perspective to the immigration law practice. Paulina prepares a variety of immigrant and non-immigrant visas, manages document intake, and actively assist with all facets of the PERM process.

Paulina received her Masters of Business Administration and Bachelors of Science from Roosevelt University. Additionally, Paulina is a certified Paralegal, receiving her certificate from the ABA accredited Paralegal Lawyer's Assistant Program of Roosevelt University. Paulina started her immigration career working for a not-for-profit organization, helping Polish citizens obtain legal status within the U.S.