Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristina Lesik.
Hi Kristina , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey in immigration law has been shaped by both personal experience and professional evolution. I immigrated twice in my life — first from Ukraine at the young age of 7 to Canada, and later from Canada to the United States — and those experiences gave me a profound understanding of how life-changing, complex, and emotional immigration can be. I am now fluent in 4 languages: Russian, English, French and Hebrew.
I began my career in Montreal, Quebec as a civil and commercial litigator, representing clients in corporate and real-estate disputes at one of the city’s top law firms. Over time, I found myself drawn to cases that touched on people’s personal journeys — their hopes, their second chances, their plans to build new lives abroad. That realization shifted my path toward immigration law, where I felt I could make a direct and lasting impact on people’s lives.
After completing my Master’s degree in Business Law at UCLA in Los Angeles, California, I saw a unique gap in the market: while countless firms specialized in helping people come into the United States, almost no one was helping Americans move out — particularly to Canada. Recognizing this need, I co-founded KLM Immigration in 2018, with offices in Montreal and Beverly Hills, to focus exclusively on Canadian immigration services for U.S. citizens and residents.
Since then, my team and I have helped hundreds of Americans — from executives and entrepreneurs to families, artists, and athletes — successfully relocate to Canada, with a very high success rate. We also assist individuals who may not be relocating permanently but who need the right to enter Canada for a short visit — whether to perform, attend a conference, film a production, or meet clients. For musicians, business leaders, doctors, or other professionals, that brief entry can be absolutely essential to their work and livelihood.
Over time, I developed a particular specialization in assisting individuals who are considered inadmissible to Canada due to past offenses — often minor or decades old. For example, I regularly help clients who have two driving-under-the-influence convictions from when they were in their early twenties, long before they became respected professionals, parents, or leaders in their fields. These individuals might be well-known musicians, business executives, doctors, or public figures who have turned their lives around but find themselves unable to cross the Canadian border because of an old record.
My work focuses on helping these clients regain their mobility, dignity, and freedom — whether through Temporary Resident Permits, Criminal Rehabilitation applications, or Legal Opinion Letters that allow them to enter or work in Canada legally and safely. In many cases, it’s not just about relocation; it’s about restoring opportunity, reputation, and connection.
What truly sets my work apart is the depth of my cross-border legal understanding. Because I’m licensed in both California and Quebec, I operate at the intersection of two distinct legal systems — the common law and the civil law — and I’ve developed a framework for translating between the two. I understand how a single U.S. legal term, such as “expungement” or “deferred judgment,” can have entirely different implications under Canadian law. Many attorneys overlook those nuances, but they’re often the key to approval of a case. That ability to interpret and bridge both systems has allowed me to achieve approvals in complex cases where others have been denied.
What keeps me passionate is seeing how this work transforms lives. I’ve helped a Hollywood executive obtain permanent residency in record time so they could launch a production branch in Toronto, a Silicon Valley founder expand their startup internationally, and a family finally reunite across the border after years apart.
Under my leadership, KLM Immigration has become known for its meticulous, attorney-led approach: every case is personally handled by licensed lawyers rather than delegated staff. Our clients often remark on the clarity, empathy, and transparency we bring to a process that can otherwise feel overwhelming.
I’m incredibly proud that our firm has grown steadily year after year and that our work has earned recognition from the legal community, clients, and professional peers alike. We’ve become a trusted partner for U.S. attorneys, travel agencies, sport teams, and corporate clients seeking reliable pathways to Canada.
At its heart, immigration is about possibility — and I’m honored that KLM Immigration has become a bridge for so many Americans pursuing a new chapter across borders. My goal has always been to make cross-border mobility feel less intimidating and more empowering.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Like most entrepreneurial journeys, mine has been full of challenges — each one teaching me something invaluable about perseverance, adaptability, and purpose.
When I first founded KLM Immigration, one of the biggest obstacles was the lack of a clear blueprint for a cross-border legal practice that focused specifically on helping people gain legal entry to Canada — whether for relocation, short-term travel, business, performance, or family reasons. There wasn’t a ready-made model to follow, because very few attorneys — especially in the U.S. — were working in this niche. I had to build the firm’s systems, legal frameworks, and client processes from the ground up, navigating two legal jurisdictions and ensuring compliance with both U.S. and Canadian regulations.
Another challenge was earning trust in a field that’s highly personal and often emotional. Clients come to us at vulnerable moments — sometimes because their careers, family plans, or reputations are at stake. Many have already faced rejections, denials, or misinformation from unlicensed consultants before finding us. Early on, I realized that success wasn’t only about being legally precise; it was about being deeply compassionate, communicative, and transparent. That’s why every KLM case is still handled directly by a licensed attorney — no shortcuts, no delegation of critical legal work.
Building credibility also took time. I launched KLM Immigration from scratch, without the backing of a large firm or pre-existing brand. For the first couple of years, I was not only a lawyer but also a business owner, marketing director, and operations manager. I was learning how to grow a business while managing a full caseload. It was intense — but it taught me how to think strategically, lead a team, and stay focused on long-term impact rather than short-term convenience.
Cross-border law itself presents daily challenges. Immigration policies can shift quickly based on political or global factors. Each change requires careful analysis and rapid adaptation. But those are the moments that motivate me most — when the law changes, I see opportunity. I study the new policies, update our legal strategies, and guide clients through transitions with clarity and confidence.
In retrospect, every obstacle has helped me refine my practice and strengthen my mission. KLM Immigration exists today because of those challenges — because I refused to accept that cross-border immigration had to be complicated or intimidating. Those early struggles shaped me into a stronger leader, a more empathetic attorney, and a better advocate for people seeking new beginnings.
As you know, we’re big fans of KLM Immigration, Inc.. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
KLM Immigration is a boutique, dual-jurisdiction immigration law firm that I co-founded in 2018 to meet a growing need few others were addressing: helping Americans legally enter or move to Canada. While many immigration firms focus on bringing people into the United States, our work centers on the reverse — assisting U.S. citizens and residents who need to travel, work, perform, invest, or relocate north of the border.
We handle a wide range of Canadian immigration matters, from Temporary Resident Permits (TRPs) and Criminal Rehabilitation applications to Legal Opinion Letters and permanent residency cases. Some of our clients need to relocate their businesses or families, while others simply need the ability to enter Canada for a concert, business meeting, a conference or sporting event. For a musician, doctor, or executive, that one-day entry can make all the difference — and we make it possible.
What truly sets KLM apart is our rare cross-border legal expertise. I’m licensed in both California and Quebec, which allows me to operate at the intersection of two completely different legal systems. That dual perspective is incredibly valuable, especially in cases involving criminal inadmissibility. Terms that seem straightforward under U.S. law — like “expungement,” “deferred judgment,” or “dismissal” — don’t necessarily mean the same thing in Canada. Understanding and translating those nuances often determines whether someone is approved or denied entry.
KLM is also known for its attorney-led approach. Every case is personally handled by a licensed lawyer from start to finish — never delegated to unqualified staff. We prioritize clarity, empathy, and transparency so that clients always understand their options and feel supported throughout the process. Our reviews often highlight not just the outcomes but the compassion and responsiveness that define our team.
Over the years, we’ve helped hundreds of clients — from high-profile figures and corporate executives to families and everyday travelers — regain their ability to enter or stay in Canada. Our firm has built a reputation for taking on complex, high-stakes cases that others avoid, and for achieving successful results through strategic legal analysis and meticulous preparation.
From a brand standpoint, I’m most proud that KLM Immigration has become synonymous with trust and precision in this niche field. We’ve earned the confidence of other U.S. attorneys, travel agencies, production companies, and sports organizations that regularly refer clients to us. We’ve also been recognized through professional awards and nominations, and featured for our thought leadership and client advocacy.
At its core, KLM Immigration stands for access, integrity, and empowerment. We exist to remove unnecessary barriers and open doors — literally and figuratively — for people who need to cross borders to pursue opportunity, family, or freedom. Whether it’s a short-term travel permit or a long-term relocation, our mission is simple: to make cross-border mobility feel less intimidating and more empowering.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I’ve always believed that mentorship doesn’t have to come from just one person — it can come from moments, collaborations, and shared experiences across your journey. Early in my career, I was fortunate to work alongside some remarkable attorneys in both Canada and the United States. Watching how they approached complex legal issues, treated clients with compassion, and balanced precision with humanity left a lasting impression on me. Those experiences became my foundation for how I lead and practice law today.
When I launched KLM Immigration, I wasn’t completely alone in carving out this path. My co-founding partner already had a strong knowledge base in Canadian inadmissibility law, and she was instrumental in helping me navigate the complex legal side of things as we built the firm. That partnership was invaluable, especially in the early stages when we were establishing a practice.
At the same time, I’ve always been extremely entrepreneurial. As an immigrant myself, I learned early on how to break walls and knock on doors to make things happen. That mindset — of creating opportunity rather than waiting for it — shaped how I built the firm and how I approach every challenge.
Because my area of work — cross-border immigration — is so specialized, there weren’t many people to turn to for direct guidance. In many ways, that pushed me to become my own mentor. I immersed myself in the intersection of U.S. and Canadian law, studying not only immigration statutes but also criminal codes in both countries. To effectively represent clients considered inadmissible to Canada, I review the specific U.S. laws under which they were convicted and determine their Canadian legal equivalents — a complex comparative analysis that very few attorneys are trained to perform. Understanding those distinctions is critical, because a single legal interpretation can make the difference between entry and refusal at the border.
My advice for finding mentors is to look beyond traditional hierarchies. A mentor can be someone more senior, but they can also be a peer, a client, or even someone you collaborate with who challenges you to think differently. I’ve learned just as much from my clients’ courage and resilience as I have from other professionals in my field.
When it comes to networking, I’ve found that authenticity is everything. People can sense when you’re showing up genuinely — when you’re curious, when you’re generous with your knowledge, and when you truly want to build meaningful relationships rather than just transactional ones. Most of my professional collaborations and referrals have grown naturally out of shared respect and trust, not out of forced networking.
Today, I also make it a priority to mentor younger attorneys, especially women entering the immigration field. I remember how isolating it felt to start in a niche that didn’t have many examples to follow. Guiding others now feels like a full-circle moment — it’s my way of giving back to the profession that’s given me so much purpose.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.klmimmigration.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/klmimmigration/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/klmimmigration
- Twitter: https://x.com/klm_law
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/klm-immigration-law-montréal?utm_medium=badge_button&utm_source=biz_review_badge
