Business Immigration & Compliance
We provide integrated legal solutions to complex problems that permit our clients to achieve U.S. immigration objectives. Working with our attorneys in multiple practice groups including Corporate, Labor & Employment, International, Real Estate, Tax, and Wealth Planning, we represent companies in their immigration matters.
Our experience ranges from foreign investors and business owners; international and domestic start-ups, small- to medium-size enterprises (SMEs) and public companies who employ individuals that need U.S. visa options to grow and expand their business; families who wish to live in the U.S. temporarily and/or permanently; and persons who wish to acquire U.S. citizenship.
We provide end-to-end or consultation services for the following areas:
- Nonimmigrant visa processing including: B-1/B-2 visitors for business and pleasure; F-1 students; E-1 treaty traders for goods and services, E-2 treaty investors; E-3 for Australian nationals; H-1B specialty occupation; H1B1 for Chilean or Singaporean nationals; J-1 Waiver Processes; L-1 intracompany transferees; L-1 blanket petitions; O-1 extraordinary ability, P-1 athletes and entertainers, R-1 religious workers, and TN USMCA visa
- Immigrant visa processing including: PERM Labor Certification; EB-1(A) extraordinary ability, EB-1(B) outstanding foreign researchers or professors, EB-1(C) managers and executives transferred from multinational corporations, EB-2 professionals holding an advanced degree with a U.S. job, EB-2 National Interest Waiver, EB-3 professional workers, EB-5 immigrant investors, Schedule A Matters, PERM Special Handling
- Strategic planning concerning immigration consequences of formation, disposition, and reorganization of U.S. businesses
- Worksite enforcement including I-9 and LCA Audits
- Consular processing for nonimmigrant and immigrant visas
- Family-based immigration matters
- Complex naturalization and derivative citizenship matters
- Renunciation of Green Card and Citizenship
November 6, 2025
Spotlight
Jackson Walker Earns 27 National and 142 Metropolitan Rankings in 2026 Edition of “Best Law Firms”
Jackson Walker proudly announces its inclusion in the 2026 edition of Best Law Firms® by Best Lawyers. This year, Jackson Walker observed notable improvements in the rankings, including the addition of Construction Law as National Tier 3 and the advancement and additions of 14 practice areas in the metropolitan rankings.
November 5, 2025
Speaking Engagements
Jackson Walker Partner Sang Shin to Speak on Immigration Enforcement at 2025 National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Convention
Jackson Walker partner Sang M. Shin will join a distinguished panel of immigration law practitioners at the 2025 National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) Convention, November 6–8 in Denver, Colorado.
October 30, 2025
Speaking Engagements
Jackson Walker Partner Kelly Cobb to Share Immigration Insights in Global Mobility Webinar
Jackson Walker partner Kelly D. Cobb will join a webinar panel discussion sponsored by the British-American Business Council (BABC) called “Navigating U.S. Immigration and Global Mobility: What You Need to Know Now,” to be held on November 5 at 11:30 a.m. via Zoom.
October 29, 2025
Attorney News
Jackson Walker Welcomes Emmanuel Arowolo as Senior Counsel in Business Immigration & Compliance
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce that Emmanuel Arowolo has joined the firm as senior counsel in the Business Immigration & Compliance group in our Houston office.
October 20, 2025
Insights
Top 10 Considerations When Reducing a Workforce That Includes U.S. Visa Holders
By Kelly D. Cobb
As companies respond to economic uncertainty, technological integration, and restructuring demands, workforce reductions may become necessary. For employers with foreign national employees, such decisions carry additional legal and operational implications. Included in the article are ten key considerations to help employers navigate reductions involving U.S. visa holders with confidence and compliance.
October 3, 2025
Insights
Day 3 of Government Shutdown: What Employers Should Know
By Kelly D. Cobb
The current U.S. immigration shutdown has created significant uncertainty for employers, HR teams, and legal departments. With key government functions suspended or delayed, companies face disruptions in hiring, onboarding, and compliance processes—especially those relying on foreign talent. This environment demands vigilance and proactive planning. If your business is affected or you’re unsure how to proceed, it’s essential to consult a qualified business immigration attorney to navigate the risks and protect your workforce strategy.
September 25, 2025
Mentions
Sang Shin Discusses Complexities of U.S. Visa System Rules for Foreign Companies
Jackson Walker partner Sang M. Shin was featured in Nikkei Japan discussing the recent detention of a worker at Hyundai’s U.S. battery factory, highlighting the complexities and risks the U.S. visa system poses for foreign companies.
September 24, 2025
Insights
President Trump Launches “Trump Gold Card” Residency Program, Unveils Sweeping Immigration Overhaul
By Christian A. Triantaphyllis
On Friday, September 19, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing a new “Trump Gold Card” residency program, marking a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy. The program offers a pathway to U.S. residency for individuals and corporations willing to make substantial financial contributions, with the stated goal of raising over $100 billion for the U.S. Treasury to support future tax cuts.
September 23, 2025
Insights
Major Changes to H-1B Visa Program – $100,000 Fee for New Petitions & Employment Considerations
By Sang M. Shin, Kelly D. Cobb, Jackie C. Staple, and Ariel Perez
On September 19, 2025, President Donald Trump issued a Proclamation restricting the entry of certain nonimmigrant workers, introducing a new $100,000 payment requirement for employers filing new H‑1B petitions.
EB-5 Foreign Investment Visas
Jackson Walker’s EB-5 foreign investment and real estate team has the breadth of experience to advise clients on investments offering the opportunity to immigrate to the United States. The group’s multidisciplinary approach combines highly-skilled business immigration advisors with a nationally-recognized real estate team and corporate/securities counsel to achieve clients’ immigration objectives through investment transactions. The services provided to clients seeking the EB-5 process are organized around four major practice areas:
- EB-5 Immigrant Visas filed through your own company
- EB-5 Immigrant Visas filed through a Regional Center
- Development of Regional Centers and EB-5 projects
- Regional Center and EB-5 project compliance advice
L-1A And L-1B Intra-Company Transferee Work Visas
L-1 intra-company transferees are foreign workers who have been employed outside the U.S. by an affiliate, subsidiary, branch or parent of a U.S. company for at least one continuous year within the three years preceding the filing of a petition (or for at least one continuous year within the three years preceding admission to the U.S. if filing the petition while the foreign worker is in the U.S.), in a capacity that qualifies as executive, managerial, functional manager (L-1A), or specialized knowledge (L-1B), and who will perform services for the U.S. company in one of these categories as well.
EB-1(C) Multinational Manager or Executive Visas
The Multinational Manger or Executive (or EB-1C) category is designed for employees who:
- have been offered a regular full-time position in a managerial or executive capacity with a U.S. employer who has been doing business in the United States for at least one year, and
- have worked for a qualifying employer abroad in a managerial or executive capacity for one of the three years prior to entering the United States in nonimmigrant status.
Our investment immigration team is able to assist clients in determining if they qualify for this program, and walk them through the process from beginning to end.
EB-1(A) Extraordinary Ability Immigrants
The EB-1(A) category provides immigrant visa processing for individuals of extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics. “Extraordinary ability” is defined as a level of expertise indicating that the individual is one of a small percentage who have risen to the very top of a field of endeavor.
EB-1(A) applicants do not need a U.S. employer, and they are exempt from the normal labor certification process. In order to qualify, the individual may file an immigrant visa petition himself or herself. The alien must seek entry into the U.S. to continue work in the area of extraordinary ability, and the alien’s entry will substantially benefit prospectively the United States.
Jackson Walker’s investment immigration team is equipped to assist clients in all aspects of compiling, documenting, and filing their evidence of qualifications, including documentation of national and international acclaim, or recognition in their field of expertise.
- L-1 and EB-1(C) multinational manager petitions – Submission of petitions for managers and executives including functional managers.
- E-1 Treaty Trader Applications – Submission of multiple E-1 applications including start-up operations to facilitate the expansion of businesses in involved in cross-border trade of goods and services.
- E-2 Treaty Investor Applications – Submission of multiple E-2 applications including start-up operations and to facilitate the growth and further development of investment in the U.S.O-1 Extraordinary Ability petition – Submission of petitions for individuals with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics.
