Stephanie Chantelle Coste

Stephanie Chantelle Coste

Stephanie Coste currently practices immigration law .
  • Immigration Law
  • Florida, New York
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Biography

I was born and raised in Miami, Florida to a Nicaraguan mother and Dominican father. I graduated summa cum laude from Florida State University with a major in International Relations with a concentration in Political Science and minors in both Psychology and Economics. I then graduated from Fordham Law School in New York, where I represented clients detained in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba through Fordham's International Justice Clinic and served as secretary of the Latin American Law Student Association.

Upon graduating from law school, I practiced law in New York for several years defending pharmaceutical and insurance companies. Although I found the work challenging and interesting, I felt my true calling was rooted in helping others. I subsequently pursued a career in education. For seven years, I taught at both the middle and high school in high needs communities in both New York and Miami. I worked at the Miami Dade County Public School District for 3 years, coaching teachers within underprivileged communities.

After moving back to my hometown of Miami, I decided to once again pursue a legal career, but this time in an area of the law that would serve the people. I practiced immigration law at a prestigious Miami law firm assisting clients with a range of legal services like family based petitions, humanitarian deferred actions, asylums, U-Visas, and Cuban Adjustments. I then decided to begin my own firm with my partner Sophia Montz to continue to work diligently to aid immigrants in pursuing their dream in this land of opportunity.

Education
Long Island University - Brooklyn Campus
M.A. (2013) | Education
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Fordham University School of Law
J.D (2007) | Law
Activities: Associate Editor of Fordham Intellectual, Media, & Entertainment Law Journal Secretary of Latin American Law Student Association
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Florida State University
B.A (2004) | International Affairs
Honors: Summa Cum Laude Phi Beta Kappa Dean's List 4 consecutive years
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Professional Experience
Associate
Immigration Group, LLC
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•Conducted initial consult with clients to determine best legal strategy for immigration benefits •Reviewed client documents and government documents obtained via the Freedom of Information Act to determine next steps •Reviewed and revised immigration applications included but not limited to family based petitions, U-Visa, travel permits, work permits, and I-90 renewals
Associate
Sedgwick Detert Moran & Arnold LLP
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• Prepared initial litigation reports for clients involving claimsdisability Prepared initial litigation report analyzing relevant factual and legal issues to determine litigation strategy and budget •Drafted motions for summary judgment regarding plaintiffs’ claims for long-term disability benefits pursuant to employee group benefit plan •Drafted federal court mediation statements and attended mediation in matters raising employment discrimination and long-term disability claims •Argued motion to dismiss complaint in state court due to plaintiffs’ failure to prove “sickness” as defined by travel insurance policy •Conducted several depositions in product liability actions brought against DES manufacturers •Prepared discovery demands and responses in employment discrimination and disability benefits cases •Member of team litigating six-week insurance trial
Professional Associations
The Florida Bar  # 1036947
Member
Current
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New York State Bar  # 4583068
Member
- Current
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Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Florida
The Florida Bar
ID Number: 1036947
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New York
New York State Office of Court Administration
ID Number: 4583068
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Fees
  • Credit Cards Accepted
  • Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
    Checks, Credit Cards, and/or Cash
Practice Area
Immigration Law
Asylum, Citizenship, Deportation Defense, Family Visas, Green Cards, Marriage & Fiancé(e) Visas, Work Visas
Languages
  • English: Spoken, Written
  • Spanish: Spoken, Written
Legal Answers
Q. What should be the response to: Was the beneficiary ever in immigration proceeding? on I-130 application for my brother.
A: Immigration proceedings means that the person received a notice to appear before an Immigration Judge at Immigration Court (or EOIR aka Executive Office for Immigration Review). The denial of your brother's tourist visa does not appear to have placed him in immigration proceedings as he never actually entered the country. Instead, he was simply denied entry into the country based on his tourist visa.
Q. Hi, my parents' petition is already approved and waiting for the interview. Can my 20 years old sibling join my parents?
A: Unfortunately, no you can't add your 20 year old sibling to your parents' approved I-130 petition as there are no derivatives in an immediate family based petition. Your parents are immediate family members and have a visa immediately available to them upon approval of the I-130 petition. Your sibling would fall into the F4 preference category, which means they would have to wait several years, possibly 15 years (note: wait times vary by country), for a visa to become available to him/her.
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Websites & Blogs
Website
Montz & Coste, PLLC (Immigration Attorneys)
Contact & Map
Montz & Coste PLLC
Miami
12855 SW 136TH AVE STE S207
Miami, FL 33186
Telephone: (786) 266-5790
Cell: (786) 266-5790
Monday: 9 AM - 6 PM
Tuesday: 9 AM - 6 PM (Today)
Wednesday: 9 AM - 6 PM
Thursday: 9 AM - 6 PM
Friday: 9 AM - 6 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
Notice: By appointment only
Montz & Coste, PLLC
Miami
66 West Flagler Street Suite 900
Miami, FL 33130
Telephone: (786) 266-5790
Cell: (786) 266-5790
Monday: 8:30 AM - 5 PM
Tuesday: 8:30 AM - 5 PM (Today)
Wednesday: 8:30 AM - 5 PM
Thursday: 8:30 AM - 5 PM
Friday: 8:30 AM - 5 PM
Saturday: 9 AM - 12 PM
Sunday: Closed
Notice: By appointment only