Jo-An Rochene McLinn (nee Dumlao) received her undergraduate degree in Statistics and Economics from Northwestern University in 1998, and her law degree from the DePaul College of Law in 2006.   Ms. McLinn practices exclusively in U.S. Immigration and Nationality Law, and is an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.  She also speaks Tagalog and Spanish.

Ms. McLinn was born in the Philippines.  Her mother immigrated to the United States as a nurse, and Ms. McLinn later joined her.  Driven by her own personal experience as an immigrant who has benefited from the opportunities in the United States, Ms. McLinn decided to pursue a career in immigration law. 

Prior to starting her own law practice, Ms. McLinn worked at two other immigration law firms, where she gained valuable experience in all aspects of immigration law.  She has successfully represented clients in Immigration Court, at the local USCIS District Office, and the Asylum Office on petitions for Cancellation of Removal, Adjustment of Status, Waivers, TPS, NACARA, Asylum and Naturalization.  Ms. McLinn has handled numerous family-based permanent residence petitions, including VAWA self-petitions, K visas, removal of conditions on residence and 601 Waivers.  In addition, she has prepared both immigrant and non-immigrant employment-based petitions to USCIS Service Centers and U.S. consulates, including H-1B (specialty occupation), L (managerial transferee), E (treaty trader/investor), and R (Religious Worker) visas, among others.  She has also researched, briefed and prepared appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals and the Administrative Appeals Unit.  Finally, she has counseled and represented clients in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody and at ICE appointments.  She served as an immigration attorney with the Office of the General Counsel at DePaul University where she managed the school's employment-based petitions for professors and staff employees. 

During law school Ms. McLinn worked at the Chicago Legal Clinic serving the immigration needs of the predominantly Hispanic community in the Pilsen neighborhood, and externed with the Associate Regional Counsel of USCIS in Chicago.      

Ms. McLinn believes it is important to give back to her community and has been actively involved in many not-for-profit organizations, including World Relief and the National Immigrant Justice Center.  She participates in the New Americans Initiative in assisting immigrants with their citizenship applications.  And to this day she provides pro bono legal services.