Renee Hykel Cuddy
Attorney Profile
Top Rated Immigration Attorney in Philadelphia, PA
Selected to Rising Stars: 2019
The founder of Hykel Law, Renee Hykel Cuddy focuses her practice on a variety of immigration law matters. Located in Philadelphia, she represents clients not only at local immigration offices in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York, but throughout the nation. A graduate of the Camden branch of Rutgers Law School, Ms. Hykel Cuddy has been admitted to practice in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey since 2009. She is additionally admitted to practice before the U.S District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, and the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th Circuits. An accomplished athlete, Ms. Hykel Cuddy was a member of the U.S. Olympic Rowing Team, winning several international medals and competing in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
Ms. Hykel Cuddy’s practice involves family immigration, employment--based immigration and humanitarian applications. She has successfully secured fiancée visas, marriage-based green cards, waivers for extreme hardship, same-sex marriage cases, asylum, Violence Against Women (VAWA) green cards and defenses from removal including Cancellation of Removal, 212(h) waivers for criminal convictions and prosecutorial discretion. Ms. Hykel Cuddy's seasoned employment-based immigration practice includes successes in EB-1 (extraordinary ability workers) in a variety of industries including pharma, life sciences, consulting and fashion; her practice includes winning visas for professional workers, high level athletes, engineers, E-2 investor visas, and labor certifications. Ms. Hykel Cuddy has had many successes with federal court litigation, causing the agency to reverse denials or finally adjudicate applications through Declaratory Judgment or Writ of Mandamus actions. Ms. Hykel Cuddy is inspired each day by the spirits of the vast array of people she serves; it excites her to add them to the fabric of American society.
Ms. Hykel Cuddy majored in English at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia and received a Bachelor of Arts in 2001. Active in several professional organizations, her memberships the American Immigration Lawyers Association and she serves on the Philadelphia Chapter liaison committee to the USCIS Philadelphia Field Office. Ms. Hykel Cuddy serves on the Legal Committee for WomenSport International, the global voice for research-based advocacy for women in sports. Highly regarded by her colleagues, she possesses a 10.0 “Superb” peer-review rating through Avvo. Ms. Hykel Cuddy continues rowing recreationally with Whitemarsh Boat Club in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. She enjoys time outdoors with her husband and two sons, hiking, cycling and swimming.
- 50%Immigration: Consumer
- 50%Immigration: Business
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2020 - 2022
- Rising Stars: 2019
Articles about Renee Hykel Cuddy appearing in Super Lawyers
Additional Sources of Information About Renee Hykel Cuddy
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About Renee Hykel Cuddy
First Admitted: 2009, Pennsylvania
Professional Webpage: https://www.hykellaw.com/about/attorney-bio/
Honors/Awards
- Saint Joseph’s University Women’s Rowing Varsity Captain, M.V.P.
- Forthcoming in October 2021 (rescheduled from 2020), Delaware County Sports Hall of Fame Inductee, http://www.delcohalloffame.org/2020-dinner.html, 2021
- Saint Joseph’s University Athletics Hall of Fame, Inducted 2010
- Named one of the Top 40 Under 40 Immigration Lawyers in Pennsylvania, National Advocates Top 40 Under 40, https://www.thenationaladvocates.org/, 2016
- Nominated to Rising Stars List in PA by Super Lawyers, Super Lawyer's Rising Stars, www.superlawyers.com, 2019
Educational Background
- Saint Joseph's University, Bachelor's of Arts, Major: English, 2001
Other Outstanding Achievements
- United States Olympic Team Athlete - USA Rowing Team. Competed in the Lightweight Women's Double Sculls and placed 10th at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, 2008
- United States Rowing Team Member - Competed at the World Championships of Rowing in Italy, Spain, Japan, and England earning silver and bronze medals among the world's top competitors.
Special Licenses/Certifications
- AILA Philadelphia Chapter Co-Chair of the Liaison Committee to the USCIS Philadelphia Field Office , 2018
- AILA Philadelphia Chapter Liaison Committee Member for USCIS Philadelphia Field Office, 2020
- Co-Chair for the American Immigration Lawyer's Association (AILA) Philadelphia Chapter's Liaison Committee to the USCIS Philadelphia Field Office, 2019
- AILA Philadelphia Chapter Co-Chair of Liaison Committee to the Philadelphia ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) Office, 2017
- American Immigration Lawyer's Association Member, 2011
Representative Clients
- I represent foreign nationals before several courts and agencies including the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania, Immigration Court (EOIR), United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the United States Department of Labor (USDOL), and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), 2019
- O-1 visa for extraordinary groom (equestrian) approved, 2021
- I-601A unlawful presence waiver approved for spouse of US Citizen , 2021
- P-1 athletes visa for equestrian athlete approved, 2021
- EB-1 Extraordinary Worker (Green Card) for Indian born national in consulting industry, 2021
- Asylum grant to Honduran man based on religious claim - Evangelical Christian, 2020
Scholarly Lectures/Writings
- Guest speaker to the Right Angle Club of Philadelphia, Guest speaker - The current state of affairs in immigration in the United States and the Biden Administration's Plans, The Right Angle Club of Philadelphia, 2021
- Spoke to Undergraduates of Temple University on Immigration Law, Speaker, Temple University Forum on Immigration Law for Undergraduates, 2019
Pro bono/Community Service
- Legal services to Afghan nationals who need evacuation in the wake of Taliban regime., 2021
- WomenSport International - Legal Committee Member. WomenSport International is the global voice for research based advocacy for women in Sport. , 2020
- FISA World Cup of Rowing Medalist: 2006, 2008
- FISA World Championships of Rowing Medalist: 2004, 2005
- United States Olympic Team Member: 2008 Beijing Olympics, Rowing, Women’s Lightweight Double Sculls: 10th place
- United States Olympic Committee Athlete Referral Speaker Network, Guest Speaker
- Philadelphia VIP Volunteer Attorney
- World Fit: Olympians Eradicating Child Obesity– Philadelphia School District Coordinator
- Saint Joseph’s University Law Alumni Chapter – Executive Board Member
- Represented Non-profit agency, Elder Law Center, for non-immigrant work visa (H1-B). , 2019
- Represented non-profit organization, Pennsylvania Athletic Rowing Association (PennAC) on boathouse row in Philadelphia, PA for a non-immigrant work visa (O-1) for coach of extraordinary ability for junior gold summer camp program (high school children), 2018
- Represented unaccompanied minor in removal proceedings., 2019
Bar/Professional Activity
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 2021
- AILA Philadelphia Chapter Liaison Committee Member to USCIS Philadelphia Field Office, 2021
- United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- Pennsylvania – State and Federal Courts
- New Jersey – State and Federal Courts
- United States Olympians Association
- American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
- U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of New Jersey , 2011
- Supreme Court of New Jersey, 2009
- Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 2009
Verdicts/Settlements
- Successful EB-1 extraordinary ability visa petition for scientist/strategists in Pharmaceutical industry. , 2022
- Asylum Approvals at the agency level (USCIS) and in Immigration Court (EOIR) for homosexual man from Honduras, battered woman (domestic violence) from Russia, political claim (protest against the government (Russia). Won appeal (N-336) of a denied Naturalization (US Citizenship) for client whose criminal record was expunged and accused of fraud for failing to disclose the conviction during the initial filing. I-601 Waiver for Fraud successful for spouse of US Citizen who misrepresented marital status on visa application, 2019
- Successful Declaratory Judgment Action involving Rescission proceedings against a lawful permanent resident, who was never properly served with Notice of Intent to Rescind or Notice of Rescission, causing USCIS to reopen Rescission proceedings after more than 5 years had elapsed., 2021
- Successful Declaratory Judgment Action, causing DHS to agree to reopen removal proceedings, submit joint motion to terminate removal order and reopen denied green card application for Haitian TPS recipient, who had re-entered USA after travel abroad pursuant to advance parole. , 2021
- Successful Declaratory Judgment Action, causing USCIS to reopen a denied O-1 (extraordinary ability) worker visa petition and approve the petition. , 2021
- Successful EB-1 Extraordinary Ability Visa Petition for Indian born national., 2021
Industry Groups
- Athletes
- Citizenship
- Consultants
- Engineers
- Hospitals
- Information Technologies
- Life Sciences
- Medical Professionals
- Pharmaceuticals
- Removal Defense
- Spousal Visas
- Veterinarians
Last Updated: 5/15/2022