Mariana Steele
Family Immigration Specialist · 15 Years Experience
Mariana spent 15 years in the trenches of U.S. family immigration — preparing thousands of cases across the full spectrum of family-based petitions, consular processing cases, humanitarian applications, and waivers. Mariana started The Case Assistant to support immigration firms that had inconsistent workloads or too many cases but not enough hands at critical moments. Her goal is simple: give firms a flexible, reliable, experienced on-demand partner they can count on.
Mariana and The Case Assistant offer firms a third option — experienced, on-demand case preparation with fixed pricing, responsive engagement, and the professional judgment to know when something needs your attention.
Why Firms Work With Me
I built this service around the three things that matter most to a growing immigration practice.
Fixed Costs That Protect Your Margins
When you know exactly what a case costs to prepare, and you know what you're charging the client, you know your profit before you even open the file. That's the power of flat-rate pricing. Unlike variable staff costs — where salaries, benefits, and downtime can erode your margins unpredictably — every case I prepare has a clear, fixed cost quoted upfront. Need help with follow-ups or smaller projects? Hourly billing is available too.
Always Say Yes to a Good Case
Every case you turn away isn't just a lost fee — it's a lost relationship, a lost referral, and revenue your competitor picks up instead. With The Case Assistant handling preparation, your firm's capacity isn't limited by who's sitting at a desk. Take on more work regardless of your current workload, and scale back when things slow down. No need to hire more staff!
Professional, Experienced, and Honest About Our Limits
With 15 years preparing family immigration cases, I've seen nearly every scenario. But experience also means knowing when something needs a second look. If I encounter anything uncertain or outside the scope of standard preparation, I escalate it to your office and the supervising attorney immediately. No guesswork, no surprises — your reputation stays protected.
Areas of Expertise
Family-Based Immigration
- I-130 Petitions
- I-485 Adjustment of Status
- I-765 Employment Authorization
- Consular Processing
Waivers
- I-601A Provisional Waivers
- I-601 Inadmissibility Waivers
Humanitarian
- VAWA Self-Petitions
- U Visas
- Asylum Applications
- Cancellation of Removal
- I-360 Special Immigrant Petitions
Other Services
- Naturalization (N-400)
- RFE Responses
- Declaration Drafting
How It Works
A clear process from first contact to file-ready delivery.
Meet, Price & Agree
We discuss your caseload needs, you receive a clear flat-rate price, and we sign a service, confidentiality, and ethics agreement — all quick and secure.
Kickoff with Your Team
Our expert paralegal connects with the attorney or firm’s delegate to align on case details, deadlines, and workflow. We are proficient in Docketwise, LawLogix, and can operate in other major case management platforms. We are happy to work directly in your system or use our own form-preparation case-management system. Client outreach begins within 24 hours of project confirmation.
Case Preparation & Review
We prepare thorough, accurate forms, assemble supporting documentation, and deliver them to the attorney for review. Revisions are made promptly until everything is right.
Final Package Ready
The finalized, file-ready case package is delivered — complete, accurate, and ready to submit.