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/ 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
June 6, 2025
Insights
Presidential Proclamation Halts Foreign Student Visas at Harvard University
By Sang M. Shin and Yenmi Tang
On June 4, 2025, President Trump issued a Presidential Proclamation that restricts the issuance of foreign student visas at Harvard University. Following this action, Secretary of State Marco Rubio directed U.S. embassies and consulates to halt the scheduling of new interview appointments for F, M, and J visas.
June 6, 2025
Insights
U.S. Implements Sweeping Travel Bans Affecting 19 Countries: Key Details and Exemptions
By Sang M. Shin and Yenmi Tang
The United States has announced a new set of travel restrictions targeting nationals from 19 countries, with full entry bans imposed on 12 nations and partial restrictions on 7 others. The policy, set to take effect on June 9, 2025, is part of a broader initiative to tighten immigration controls.
June 5, 2025
Spotlight
Chambers and Partners Releases 2025 USA Guide Featuring 79 Jackson Walker Attorneys and 28 Ranked Departments
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce that Chambers and Partners has selected 79 attorneys and 28 departments for inclusion in the 2025 edition of the Global and USA guides. Attorneys were ranked across 29 departments, with 4 attorneys listed among multiple areas, 9 ranked nationwide in their respective areas, and 12 recognized for the first time.
April 24, 2025
Mentions
Visas Revoked, Status Changed for International Students in TX | Public News Service
In this article featured in the Public News Service, Kelly Cobb discusses the challenges faced by international college students in Texas who are struggling to remain in the country after their visas were unexpectedly revoked by the federal government.
April 16, 2025
Insights
Alien Registration Requirement: What You Need to Know
By Kelly D. Cobb
The Alien Registration Requirement goes into effect today. Please be aware that most foreign nationals working in the US with a visa are exempt, and registration and fingerprints are not required. Registration may only apply to Canadian nationals, children who were not fingerprinted at the consulate, and individuals who entered without inspection.
March 3, 2025
Insights
DOJ Enforcing Criminal Penalties When Employers Fail to Comply
By Kelly D. Cobb
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued a memo indicating a significant policy shift to prioritize immigration enforcement and expand the use of criminal statutes to address illegal immigration. The DOJ will support the Department of Homeland Security’s initiatives by using all available criminal statutes.
February 19, 2025
Podcasts
ICE and Immigration Enforcement Legal Perspectives for Businesses
JW Fast Takes Podcast | ~9 minutes
In this episode, Kelly Cobb discusses the role and activities of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
February 10, 2025
Insights
When the Government Comes to Visit: Preparing for an Audit or Workplace Raid
By Sang M. Shin
The Trump Administration has signaled its intention to ramp up immigration enforcement activities, including workplace inspections and raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other government enforcement agencies. This article provides practical guidelines and best practices to prepare for and respond to any government actions at your workplace in a calm, professional, and lawful manner.
January 30, 2025
Podcasts
Kelly Cobb Takes on Immigration H-1B Site Visits
JW Fast Takes Podcast | ~8 minutes
In this episode, Kelly Cobb discusses the uptick in USCIS site visits for H-1B employers.
January 24, 2025
Insights
A Summary of President Trump’s Immigration-Related Executive Orders
By Phillip Pullig, Yenmi Tang, Sang M. Shin, and Christian A. Triantaphyllis
On January 20 and 21, 2025, President Trump declared a national emergency and issued several executive orders on immigration. The Declaration and Executive Orders address “enhanced vetting” of visa applicants, birthright citizenship, border security, the U.S.‑Mexico-Canada Agreement, asylum, and refugee program.
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.
