Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalia Sanchez Salazar
Hi Natalia Sanchez, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Born in Venezuela, happily married and mother of a teenager. I grew up in a home full of family union, with my mom, dad and 2 siblings; we lived in Venezuela until 2005 when for political reasons we were forced to flee the country. I graduated as a lawyer from Rafael Belloso Chacin University that same year, but I was unable to attend my graduation ceremony because I was in exile at the time. After arriving in USA, I was confronted with the reality that I could not exercise my legal career without validating first my education; thus, like many other immigrants, I had to reinvent myself in the workforce, but without losing sight of my dream of becoming a lawyer in this country.
Pursuing my goal, in 2006, thanks to the help of a stranger who was touched by my exile story, I started my first job at an immigration law firm in Miami, Florida, and it was there where I discovered my passion for this branch of law. In 2007 I moved to Houston, Texas and continued working in the immigration field, with the aspiration of gaining experience that would help me achieve my goal.
In 2018, after much effort and overcoming the fears and barriers of being an immigrant, I was admitted to the University of Houston Law School, in order to pursue a Master in US Law, and thus solidify the first step towards becoming a lawyer in this country. I completed my studies in 2019 and my graduation ceremony was scheduled for 2020, but the pandemic did not allow this to happen.
I devoted myself to studying for the bar exam and in 2021, after much effort, sacrifice and support from my loved ones, I successfully passed. That same year, after almost 2 years of completing the master’s degree, the University of Houston scheduled a special graduation ceremony where my graduating class was included, and I finally got to walk the stage.
In 2022, I achieved my American Dream, to open my own law firm, Law Office of Natalia Salazar, PLLC. After 17 years of not losing sight of my goal, and with the support, mentoring and encouragement of colleagues, friends and family, my team and I are able to provide legal support to immigrants who, like me, have come to this country in search of their American Dream.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As an immigrant, I understood that there were certain challenges and obstacles that I had to face, such as obtaining legal status, the language, the culture and migratory grief. As time went by, I learned that every stage of life has its difficulties that, with effort and dedication, we can overcome to move forward.
Since my arrival in USA, the biggest obstacle I faced was self-confidence; not believing I was capable of walking the path that would take me to my goal. But, thanks to my family, close friends, and especially my husband, I managed to take the step to bet on myself and face the fear of going back to school. Once I made the decision to go back, the obstacles became bigger, being time and money the hardest to balance to achieve this desired goal.
The biggest challenge I face today is wanting to help everyone who comes to my office and understanding that there are instances when that is not possible.
As you know, we’re big fans of Law Office Of Natalia Salazar, PLLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
The Law Office of Natalia Salazar focuses on helping people navigate the complicated world of immigration all over the United States. We are a customer-oriented firm whose main purpose is to make our client’s lives easier and walk with them hand in hand from the moment of their arrival until they achieve their American dream.
With over 16 years of experience in the immigration field, Attorney Natalia Salazar’s goal is to bring a friendly face and peace of mind during these complicated and sometimes difficult processes, putting together a strategy tailored to each case to help clients reach their immigration goals.
Our experienced and dedicated team members will work with compassion and integrity to ensure that the client’s immigration process is as smooth and seamless as possible.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
My advice is to join any reputable associations that dedicated to the area of your profession, and do not be afraid to ask questions to your colleagues, you will be surprise on how many people are willing to help you and teach you. I am currently a member of AILA (American Immigration Lawyer Association) and NIP (National Immigration Project) and both of them offer a lot of help and mentorship.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @nataliasalazarlegal
