Office: (312) 566-0301
Wintersteen Patel
Law Group
Customized Immigration Solutions
About Us
Founded in 2001, Wintersteen Patel Law Group (formerly Charles Wintersteen & Associates) focuses exclusively on U.S. immigration and nationality law. The firm has over 25 years of comprehensive experience in all aspects of immigration law. As a firm, we pride ourselves in tailoring our immigration advice and strategies to our client’s personal and professional goals. That means treating each client with care and respect regardless of the size of a case, or whether we are representing an individual, a family, or a business. Our multi-lingual attorneys and staff work tirelessly to provide a vast array of immigration services, ranging from non-immigrant visas such as H-1Bs to immigrant petitions based on family or employment.
A Healthcare Perspective
Since it’s conception, the Wintersteen Patel Law Group has had a special focus on healthcare providers. Under the leadership of Charles Wintersteen, the firm has become one of the preeminent law firms in Chicago providing immigration services and guidance to healthcare providers. In June 2016, the International Medical Graduates Taskforce honored Charles with its annual Roberta Freedman Award for his representation of physicians in the U.S. immigration system, with a particular recognition for his work on the Matter of H-V-P (AAO Feb. 9, 2016), which was a major victory for physician immigration.
Our Practice
Physician Immigration
Physician National Interest Waivers (EB-2 Immigrant Petition)
EB-1 Petitions for Physicians of Extraordinary Abilities
J-1 Waivers of the two-year home residency requirement
Service in a medically underserved area waiver
Conrad 30
HHS
Hardship & Persecution Waivers
Employment-Based Immigration
Employment-based non-immigrant visas such as (but not limited to) H-1Bs, L-1As, Q-1s, TNs, and O-1s
Change/extension of non-immigrant/temporary status
Employment-based Immigrant Petitions
PERM
EB-1
National Interest Waivers
Schedule A petitions for Nurses and Physical Therapists
Religious workers immigrant petitions and R non-immigrant visas
Family-Based Immigration & Naturalization
Immigrant Petitions for family members sponsored by US Citizens and Permanent Residents
Green Card Renewals
Fiance Visa (K-1) Petitions
Consular Processing
Naturalization (Citizenship) Applications
Interested in learning more? Please contact us at 312-566-0301 to schedule a consultation.
Meet The Team
Experienced, Dedicated, and Strategic
Charles H. Wintersteen
Partner
Charles Wintersteen is the Founding Partner of Wintersteen Patel Law Group, and has been practicing immigration law for over twenty-five years. He is a 1991 graduate of DePaul University College of Law, and holds M.A. and B.A. degrees in history from the University of Colorado and the University of Oregon, respectively.
For the past twenty-five years Charles has served as a board member, volunteer trainer, and pro bono advocate for several community and immigrant rights organizations in Chicago. He is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the Illinois Association of Healthcare Attorneys, and the International Medical Graduates Taskforce.
In June 2016, the International Medical Graduate Taskforce honored Mr. Wintersteen with its annual Roberta Freedman Award for his representation of physicians in the U.S. immigration system.
Kruti J. Patel
Partner
Kruti J. Patel is a Partner at Wintersteen Patel Law Group and practices exclusively in the area of U.S. Immigration and Nationality Law, with a particular focus on healthcare immigration. Kruti earned her Juris Doctor from the Chicago-Kent College of Law in Chicago, IL with the highest honors in 2011, and holds a B.A. in Anthropology from Adelphi University in Garden City, N.Y.
Kruti is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), the International Medical Graduates Taskforce (IMGT), the Federal Bar Association and the Chicago Bar Association. Kruti has a deep interest in community service and has volunteered with ENLACE/CALA, CVLS, and the Chicago Legal Clinic.
She is admitted to practice law in Illinois, New York, and New Jersey and is fluent in Hindi and Gujarati.
Michaela Muresan
Associate Attorney
Michaela Muresan is an associate attorney at Wintersteen Patel Law Group. Michaela earned her Juris Doctor degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law in May 2011 and she is admitted to practice law in Illinois. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in French and Political Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Michaela began practicing immigration law in the non-profit setting, first at the Central American Resource Center (“CARECEN”) in Washington, DC, and then as a justice AmeriCorps fellow at the National Immigrant Justice Center (“NIJC”) in Chicago. Currently, Michaela specializes in representing employers who seek to sponsor foreign workers to work and live in the United States.
Due to her immigrant background and her love of languages and culture, immigration law was a natural calling for Michaela. She is a native Romanian speaker, and she also speaks French and Spanish.
Ruth M. Dunning, Law Office of Ruth M. Dunning
Of Counsel
Ruth Dunning has been an advocate for immigrants in Chicago since the late 1980s. From 1988 to 1992, she represented clients in immigration matters as a legal aid worker with Travelers & Immigrants Aid/Midwest Immigrant Rights Center, and was accredited by the Justice Department to represent clients before the former INS and the Immigration Courts. Since 1993, Ms. Dunning has been an attorney in private practice concentrating in immigration and nationality law. Ms. Dunning graduated from DePaul University College of Law. She is a member of the Illinois bar and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. She completed B.A., M.A., and M.S. degrees at Indiana University, Bloomington, and she has worked with non-governmental service organizations in South America, Belize, and Mexico. She is fluent in Spanish.
Ms. Dunning is an active member of the National Lawyers Guild Immigration Project and the American Immigration Lawyers Association for which she is a member mentor. She is active in various immigrant rights advocacy non-profit organizations and presents a weekly Spanish language radio program on immigration issues for Radio Claret America with listeners in the U.S. and throughout Latin America.
Ms. Dunning can be reached via email at
rmd@dunninglaw.net or through her direct Line: (312) 588-1175
Get in Touch
53 W Jackson Blvd, Suite 418, Chicago, IL 60604, USA
Office: (312) 566-0301
Fax: (312) 588-0437
