Dayna Kelly, Attorney
Dayna Kelly, Managing Attorney — Dayna Kelly is the firm’s founder and has been providing comprehensive immigration services for physicians and health care organizations nationwide for over 20 years. Her practice focuses on physician J-1 waivers through the Conrad 30 programs and federal waiver programs, as well as the subsequent H-1B visa petitions and permanent resident processes. She advises physicians, health care workers and their employers on short and long-term immigration objectives, and she provides guidance and training to employers on immigration compliance.
A member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the North Carolina Bar Association and the International Medical Graduates Taskforce, Ms. Kelly is admitted to the North Carolina and Hawaii State Bars. She also served on the North Carolina Bar Association’s Immigration Law Committee and has been involved in legislative advocacy for immigration reform on physician issues. She is a speaker at continuing legal education seminars on physician immigration and has published on physician immigration topics.
Dayna received her law degree from the University of Michigan. She also holds a Master of Arts and Bachelor of Arts degrees from Michigan State University.
Claudia Calderhead, Paralegal
Claudia Calderhead, Paralegal, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from University of California, Santa Cruz and an ABA approval paralegal certification. The daughter of a Diplomat, Claudia has lived in Brazil, Italy, Cyprus, Greece, and Mexico. After working in scientific research, nursing, and as a special needs assistant in the public schools, she resolved to combine her desire to help people with her understanding of the challenges of living and working in a foreign country. Claudia joined the Law Offices of Dayna Kelly in 2006.
Kristi Tillett, Paralegal
Kristi Tillett, holds a Bachelor’s degree in English and French from New York University and a Master’s degree in Comparative Literature from the University of Pennsylvania. She also completed a post-graduate program in French literature at the University of Paris and taught English as a Second Language in France and Japan. Upon her return to the United States, she pursued doctoral studies and teaching in Comparative Literature at the University of Pennsylvania. Kristi joined the Law Offices of Dayna Kelly in January 2017, and enjoys helping clients achieve their goals of living and working in the United States.
