Margaret Wong

In more than 35 years of practice, Margaret Wong has built Margaret W. Wong & Associates LLC into a firm nationally and internationally renowned for its knowledge in immigration and nationality law. She is the current co-chair of the Immigration Law Committee for the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, and chair of the Cleveland Bar Association's Immigration Law Section.

Ms. Wong, the author of The Immigrant’s Way, has received the highest rating, AV, from Martindale-Hubbell, based on both legal ability and general-ethics standards. Her peers have named her a “Leading Lawyer,” and a “Super Lawyer,” distinctions reserved for the top 5% of lawyers. She has also been listed as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” and was named the Honor Professor of People University of China which is the # 1 law school in China.

Because of her personal experience as an immigrant, Margaret Wong combines qualities Americans admire: an immigrant's work ethic, an entrepreneur's drive, a keen sense of resourcefulness, and the utmost compassion for those in need. In 1950, Margaret Wong was born in the former British Colony of Hong Kong. Months earlier, her Chinese parents fled the political repression and civil war caused by the Communist takeover of China.

Based on her own experience of obtaining a Green Card and U.S. citizenship under U.S. immigration law, Margaret Wong recognized that companies and individuals need sound guidance in this highly regulated, seemingly arcane, and sometimes frustrating regulatory area. She founded Margaret W. Wong & Associates with one desk and no secretary. Her practice now includes nine attorneys and 35 other staff members.

Over the last two decades Margaret Wong has helped employers obtain work permits for their executives and has assisted thousands of people in coming to the United States to become permanent residents, advance their educations, work, and pursue opportunities. Her clients come from every country around the world, from every walk of life, and range from governmental and corporate to ordinary people. The law firm's talented team handles every kind of immigration problem; its staff is multilingual, with proficiency in languages including Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Spanish, Russian and Albanian. Executives and large law firms seek her help when they have tough immigration problems. She is known for speed, quality, honesty and persistence.

She has won numerous awards, including two for philanthropy - the Margaret Ireland Award from the Cleveland Women's City Club and the 1997 Creative Philanthropy Award from the Women's Community Foundation. Crain's Cleveland Business has named her to their "Women of Influence" list and Cleveland Magazine has included her with its "Most Interesting People." Margaret Wong also received the highly coveted Ellis Island Medal of Honor in May 1998 for her outstanding achievements and contributions to the multicultural fabric of the United States. She was inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame in 2000. Other honors and awards include an Outstanding Alumni Award from State University of New York at Buffalo, the Trailblazer Award from NAPABA, Kent State University's Social Responsibility Award, and the Leadership Award from the United Black Fund. Her work has also earned her recognition in books such as Profiles of Ohio Women 1803-2003 and People: Cleveland's Most Valuable Resource, Millennium Edition. Margaret is also an Urban League Board Member and VP.

Margaret Wong is a civic leader who educates and inspires others. While she was serving as the first Asian-American president of the Cleveland Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, the Cleveland chapter won the coveted Chapter Activity Award. The Ohio Supreme Court appointed her a charter member of the Continuing Legal Education Commission for attorneys, where she is currently serving as a member of its Racial Task Force. She has presented numerous seminars on immigration and naturalization law for bar associations and the public.

Committed to giving something back to the community and to mentoring young professionals, Ms. Wong has volunteered her time and expertise on boards of diverse organizations, including Notre Dame College, Cuyahoga Community College Foundation, Northeast Ohio Commission on Higher Education, Cleveland Bar Foundation, Ohio State Bar Foundation, American Immigration Lawyers Association, Asian Bar Association, Town Hall, University Hospitals Health System, St. Vincent Hospital Health Care System, United Way Services, and the Cleveland State University and Case Western Reserve University Law School Advisory Boards. Ms. Wong is also a life member of both the Eighth Judicial District Court and the Federal Sixth Circuit Court.

Margaret W. Wong & Associates has offices in Cleveland, Ohio; Chicago, Illinois; Columbus, Ohio; New York, New York; Atlanta, Georgia; Los Angeles, California; and Nashville, Tennessee. Ms. Wong is admitted for practice in Ohio, New York, Illinois, Georgia, District of Columbia and Michigan.

Areas of Practice

• 95% Immigration
• 5% Criminal Law
• Litigation Percentage: 50% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
• Certification/Specialties: Immigration

Education

• State University of New York, Buffalo School of Law, Buffalo, New York, 1976 J.D.
• Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois, 1973 B.S. Major: Chemistry/Biology

Admissions

• State of Ohio Bar, 1977
• State of Illinois Bar, 2009
• State of New York Bar, 1977
• State of Michigan Bar, 2006
• District of Columbia Bar, 1980
• State of Georgia Bar, 2004
• U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 1986
• U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit, 1981
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio, 1980
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio, 2015
• U.S. District Court Northern District of New York, 2015
• U.S. District Court Middle District of Georgia, 2015

Published Works

• Various Articles Cuyahoga County Bar Journal
• Various Articles Laws of International Trade
• Various Articles Corporate Counsel's International Advisor
• Book: The Immigrant's Way: For All Immigrants, By an Immigrant
  • Available in English, Chinese (Simplified & Traditional) and Korean

Representative Cases

• Matter of Adamiak, 23 I.&N. Dec. 878 (BIA 2006)
• Mandebvu v. Holder, F.3d, (6th Cir June 18, 2014)(published)
• Singh v. Gonzales, 451 F.3d 400 (6th Cir. 2006)
• State v. Yahya, 2011-Ohio06090 (Ohio App.10th Dist. 2011)

Representative Clients

• RTA
• Ferro Corporation
• Keithley Instruments
• Mitsubushi Caterpillar Forklift America
• Scott Fetzer Co.
• Steris Corp.
• Waxman Industries
• MetroHealth

Classes/Seminars Taught

Seminar Chair, Federal Bar Association, 1990 - 2002

Adjunct Professor, CWRU School of Law

Honors and Awards

• Social Diversity Award, Kent State, 2006
• Trailblazer Award, NAPABA
• Ellis Island Medal of Honor, Ellis Island Medal of Honor Society, Ohio Chapter, 1998
• YWCA Woman of Achievement Award, 1997
• Creative Philanthropy Award, Women's Comunity Foundation
• Super Lawyer, Cincinnati Magazine, 2004
• Leading Lawyer, Inside Business Magazine, 2008 - Present
• Margaret Ireland Award, Cleveland Woman's Club, 1995
• AABA Catalyst Award from NAPABA 2014
• Lifetime Achievement Award - Niagara Peace and Dialogue 2014
• International Service Award - Rotary Club of Cleveland 2014
• Ohio Womens Hall of Fame

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Federal Bar Association, Cleveland Chapter - President
• Ohio Supreme Court - Charter Member, Continuing Legal Education Commission for Attorneys
• Notre Dame College - Board Member
• Tri-C - Board Member
• Annual Immigration Law Association - Co-chair
• NOCHE - Board Member
• Cleveland Bar Foundation - Board Member
• NAPABA - Member
• AILA - Member
• 8th Judicial District - Member
• 6th Circuit Federal Court - Life Member
• The Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio, March 20, 2007 - Present - Board Member

Past Employment Positions

City of Buffalo, New York, Chief Legal Counsel, 1977 - 1978

Pro Bono Activities

• Legal Aid
• Catholic Church
• Several Fund Raising Boards, 1990 - Present

Languages

• English
• Chinese