Changing Lives: The Inspiring Story of One Woman’s Rise to the Top of the Immigration Industry

Styled by Olivia Boutique in San Juan, Puerto Rico (https://shop-olivia.com/)
Author : Henry Baker

Early in her career, immigration attorney Katerina Barquet Stege achieved one of her major goals, securing a position as an associate at one of the nation’s leading law firms. Soon after, she realized that simply working long hours at a desk failed to satisfy her entrepreneurial spirit. After several years working under the mentorship of a leading Miami immigration attorney, Katerina confronted a choice: continue in a comfortable role, or start her own firm, albeit with only a single client. 

Overcoming the challenges of starting out with a minuscule clientele and owning but a single laptop helped transform Katerina from a neophyte attorney into the founder of a prominent boutique immigration firm.

Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Katerina graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in psychology and a JD with a Double Specialization in International Legal Affairs and Business Law from Cornell Law School. She is admitted to the New York, Florida, Missouri, and California state bars. 

Katerina’s self-confidence and willingness to take risks led her to found Barquet Stege Immigration Law, a firm with offices in St. Louis, Miami, and New York that specializes in employment-based immigrant and non-immigrant work visas and complex consular processing issues. “I am proud to say I don’t get many denials. As a result, most of my business comes from referrals.”

Her roster of clients, who hail from the four corners of the earth and include business titans, political leaders, luminaries in the world of startups, and some of the entertainment industry's top stars, is a testament to her exceptional service and unique success.

“I’ve had the privilege of working with some incredibly talented and diverse clients,” Katerina reveals. “One was the Grammy-winning musician Sebastian Yatra, for whose foreign-based team we handled various immigration assignments. Another was the Spanish painter, sculptor, and world-renowned street artist Okuda San Miguel, the creator of one of the largest murals in the United States.

“I also represent various multinational companies that are important players in the global marketplace,” Katerina continues, “including one of the largest construction companies in Colombia, which is currently expanding into the US market.

“I love my clients’ diversity and wide-ranging backgrounds,” adds Katerina, “and I’ve had the privilege of representing some of the most successful offshore CEOs from the mining, forestry, construction, real estate, and financial industries, among others.”

Despite the many challenges immigration presents, her deep knowledge of the law and creative problem-solving abilities have enabled her to succeed remarkably for her clients. “I often achieve the ‘unachievable’ for them,” she says. “People frequently tell me they met with multiple attorneys before contacting me but were never offered the options I presented. Many say my secret to achieving what others deemed impossible is highlighting each client’s singularity.”

Oscar Sanz Martín, the guiding force behind Ink and Movement, the Madrid-based management agency representing Spain’s Okuda San Miguel, describes Katerina as “tremendously professional and methodical,” adding that “she was always available and helped with any need that might arise.

“Immigration did not approve the documentation we provided to gain Okuda and his support team’s entry into the country. However, when Katerina stepped in, we knew we were in good hands and felt confident of the outcome. Thanks to her firm’s efforts, we could return with the proper documentation and complete the project in less than a month.”

Katerina’s legal acumen and dedication to communication, honesty, and empathy have won her a loyal client base: “Clients appreciate that I’m blunt and clear about what works and what doesn’t. They like that honesty.”

Katerina fondly recalls the case of Yohann Le Bescond, a young French pastry chef she assisted in getting a Green Card. Yohann is now the head executive pastry chef of the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida, and was recently a finalist on the Food Network's Summer Baking Championship. “He has often messaged me about how grateful he is and how I changed his life for the better,” she says. “This is what I truly love about my job.” 

Brazilian Olympic equestrian Nelton Marcon says he was impressed by her straightforward manner, which he believes stems from her mastery of her field. “In all the cases we worked on together, her most outstanding attributes were her knowledge of the processes involved and her confidence in her work. Katerina put together my Green Card application so skillfully that it was approved without delay.”

Julián Torres, founder of the Ontop global payment platform, has worked with Katerina for three years. Initially, she helped his wife and him obtain Green Cards, and now, she assists his employees in doing the same. “Her speed of execution was invaluable,” says Julián. “She was incredibly fast and had a one hundred per cent success rate, which is why I've already recommended her to more than two dozen people.

Gerry Rivera is the Chief Corporate Development Officer and General Counsel for Roeslein & Associates, one of the leading providers of prefabrication and preassembly solutions in the canmaking, oil & gas, and renewable energy markets worldwide.

Having worked with Katerina for almost four years, he is never less than impressed by her dedication and work ethic. “She's honest and frank when setting expectations, which is very important. Recently, she came up with a creative approach to getting one of our employees a Green Card. His previous lawyers had told him that that was impossible, but she did it.”

“Nothing is more rewarding than seeing a client achieve great things because of the opportunities we've opened up for them,” she says. 

Katerina’s journey from humble beginnings to global success is an inspiring story of perseverance, skill, and a genuine passion for helping others. Her ability to navigate the complexities of immigration law while maintaining a personal connection with her clients has distinguished her in a highly competitive field. 

Katerina’s contact information:  katerina@barquetstege.com