Meri S. Ponist

Owner and Founder of the Law Offices of Meri S. Ponist, P.C.

Meri Ponist is the founder and principal attorney at the Law Offices of Meri S. Ponist, P.C., a U.S. immigration law firm serving individuals and families around the world. With over twenty years of experience representing individuals before the USCIS, immigration court, the Board of Immigration Appeals and federal court, Ms. Ponist has assisted countless individuals, including minors classified as Special Immigrant Juveniles, to gain permanent residence in the United States.

Ms. Ponist practices exclusively in the area of immigration law and is passionate about helping families to remain in the U.S. Having been born and raised in Armenia and having immigrated to the United States under a family unity program, Ms. Ponist knows from firsthand experience the challenges individuals and families face in the immigration process. She believes her own experience was made more difficult and time-consuming due to a lack of legal representation and because she did not have an experienced and trusted attorney to guide her. Her mission is to ensure her clients have a positive and ultimately successful experience. “I believe everyone is here to stay,” says Ms. Ponist, “and to that end, effective legal representation is very important.”

Ms. Ponist is admitted to practice in the New York Supreme Court Appellate Division – Third Judicial Department. She was formerly admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

A graduate of the State University of New York SUNY Buffalo School of Law, Ms. Ponist is a member of the New York State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the American Immigration Lawyers Association and the Armenian Bar Association in the United States.