About Us
Susan S. Akina
Education
Fordham University School of Law, J.D.
• Member, Moot Court Society
• Notes and Articles Editor, Fordham International Law Journal
Smith College, B.A., cum laude
• Government, International Relations
The Bronx High School of Science
Languages
English
Mandarin Chinese
Spanish
Awards and Membership
NAPABA Leadership Advancement Program, 2022-2023
AABANY Committee of the Year Award, Co-Chair of the Immigration Law Committee, 2018
Archibald Murray Public Service Award, summa cum laude, Fordham University School of Law, 2012
Former Co-Chair, Immigration Law Committee, AABANY
Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
Member, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA)
Member, Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY)
Bar Admissions
New York
Practice Limited to Federal Immigration & Nationality Law
A proud immigrant herself, Susan Akina’s journey is truly a global tale. She knows first-hand the importance of immigration and the serious role it plays in shaping lives, careers, and family futures.
Born in China and raised by hardworking, entrepreneurial parents, Susan spent much of her life - 34 years, to be exact - in New York City. From an early age, she was surrounded by an all-encompassing mix of cultures, people, industries, and walks of life. She studied International Relations in college, perfected her Spanish while living in Madrid and Argentina, and was part of a community choir. It was through these vibrant experiences that Susan became trilingual, developed a keen sense of our interconnected world, and cultivated a deep appreciation for the journeys shaped by the modern world of immigration.
Prior to founding Akina Global, Susan held distinguished positions at other highly reputable immigration law firms. She was a Senior Associate at a Big Law corporate immigration law firm and the Managing Attorney of a boutique law firm in New York City. Helping clients solve their complex immigration matters while overseeing legal teams gave her the inspiration to create Akina Global. Having founded Akina Global, Susan is now living her dream of managing her own practice while continuing to provide her signature strategic and personalized service.
Susan has been featured in The New York Times, AARP, and other media for her immigration work. She is an award-winning former Co-Chair of the Immigration Law Committee of the Asian American Bar Association of New York. She was also chosen as a member of the National Asian Pacific Bar Association’s highly selective leadership advancement program. Susan has also shared her immigration law insights as a frequent guest speaker on CLE panels and other speaking engagements.
Susan is thrilled to provide the intellect, strategy, and responsiveness necessary to support clients looking for timely and creative solutions for their immigration needs. Her wide breadth of experience, as well as her global insights, allow her to provide clients with a level of sophistication that many would call unmatched. Her top priority is giving back to the global community by providing honest, reputable, and reliable counsel to help others achieve their immigration goals.
How We Make a Difference
Akina Global stands out with direct experience in the world of immigration, regular assistance with a wide array of clients (including families, individuals, investors, and employers), previous Big Law experience, and a mission to provide an unparalleled client experience.
With dexterity and dedication, and more than a decade of immigration experience, Susan helps global clients achieve their immigration goals by providing strategic and trustworthy counsel. She has helped countless individuals, businesses, and families secure nonimmigrant visas, U.S. permanent residence, and U.S. citizenship for themselves, their employees, and family members.
Susan has successfully obtained U.S. permanent residence for individuals through various visa categories such as the EB-5 Immigrant Investor visa, the EB-1A Extraordinary Ability visa, and the EB-2 National Interest Waiver visa. She counsels global corporations and startups in diverse industries including technology, healthcare, media, and financial services. She has the legal depth and breadth to assist with a wide array of visa categories including H-1B, L-1, E-2, O-1, P-2, R-1, TN, and PERM filings. She also routinely helps families secure U.S. Permanent Residence for their family members through I-485 filings, K-1 fiancé petitions, I-751 removal of conditions, and U.S. citizenship applications.