OUR SERVICE AREAS
Temporary Employment-Based Visas
Petitions for H-1B, TN, and E-3 professionals, L-1 intracompany transferees, and related matters.
Employment-Based Permanent Residence
“PERM” applications for permanent employment certification, immigrant petitions for skilled workers, professionals, and advanced degree holders, and employment-based adjustment of status and consular processing applications
Counseling for Complex Immigration Matters
Homeland Security worksite audits, I-9 compliance, waivers of the J-1 foreign residence requirement, first-preference category immigrant petitions for multinational managers or individuals possessing extraordinary ability, national interest waivers, and other complex immigration matters
MEET OUR ATTORNEYS
Thelma Romano Kranyak
Attorney and Shareholder
Thelma Romano Kranyak has focused her practice exclusively on U.S. immigration law for 20 years.
She began her career as a labor and employment law attorney in Dallas, Texas, ultimately moving into the role of Counsel and Manager for the in-house legal department of the Allied Pilots Association, the collective bargaining representative for the pilots of American Airlines. After starting her own practice in 2004, Thelma shifted her concentration to employment-based immigration matters. In May 2015, she partnered with her husband, Joseph Kranyak, to form a boutique practice focusing exclusively on U.S. employment-based immigration law.
Thelma received her Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) from the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations in 1995 and her law degree (J.D.) from the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law in 1998. At Southern Methodist University, she was a member of the Phi Delta Phi Honor Society, and she served as Senior Articles Editor for the International Lawyer and NAFTA: Law and Business Review of the Americas.
She is a member of the Texas Bar Association, the Texas Bar Association’s Immigration Law Section, and the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Born in Argentina and a naturalized U.S. citizen, Thelma is conversant in Spanish.
*Thelma is admitted in Texas only; her practice is limited to matters and proceedings before U.S. federal courts and agencies.
Joseph J. Kranyak
Attorney and Shareholder
Joseph Kranyak has focused his practice exclusively on U.S. immigration law for 24 years.
He began his career with law firms in the Dallas/Fort Worth and Washington, D.C. metro areas before moving to Pittsburgh to accept a position as Corporate Counsel for the in-house Immigration Group of a multinational IT products and solutions company. Joseph spent nine years in that in-house role until May 2015, when he partnered with his wife, Thelma Romano Kranyak, to form a boutique practice focusing exclusively on U.S. employment-based immigration law.
While Joseph has accumulated experience in most areas of immigration law, he has focused particularly on complex employment-based immigration matters. Over the course of his career, he has represented organizations located throughout the world in the engineering, IT, medical, biomedical, and higher education industries, as well as nonprofits, families, and individuals.
He received his Bachelor’s degree (B.A.) from Dickinson College in 1994 and his law degree (J.D.) from the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law in 1998. At Southern Methodist University, Joseph was a student member of the William "Mac" Taylor American Inn of Court and one of three graduating students to receive the Board of Advocates Excellence in Advocacy Award.
Joseph is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the American Immigration Lawyers Association. He has served by appointment on the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s National Ethics Committee (three terms), National CBP Liaison Committee, and National Media Watch Committee. Joseph has also co-authored (with Elliott Lichtman) a book chapter on visa requirements for foreign investors and business personnel in West Group’s Manual of Foreign Investment in the United States.
Helpful Resources
As U.S. immigration law and practice is constantly evolving, we have provided some links that you might find helpful.
USCIS Case Status
How To Contact Us
Our office is located at the Airport Office Park in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, a short drive from the Pittsburgh International Airport.
Office hours are by appointment only.
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 1217
Coraopolis, PA 15108