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

February 3, 2023
Mentions
‘EB5 Investors’ Quotes Christian Triantaphyllis on USCIS Extending the Validity of Permanent Resident Cards
On January 23, 2023, USCIS announced an extension of the validity of permanent resident cards (“green cards”) to accommodate current processing times for forms I-829 and I-751. In an EB5 Investors article discussing the extension, Jackson Walker partner Christian Triantaphyllis shared insights on how the updated policy may ease previous challenges EB-5 investors and dependents encountered.

February 1, 2023
Insights
USCIS 2024 H-1B Cap Initial Registration Period Approaches
On January 27, 2023, USCIS announced the initial registration period for 2024 H-1B visa cap. Prospective petitioners and representatives will be able to complete and submit their registrations online on the H-1B visa registration system from 12 p.m. Eastern time on March 1, 2023, through 12 p.m. Eastern time March 17, 2023.


January 31, 2023
Insights
The Ever-Changing Landscape of Immigration Policies: Updates on Recent USCIS Announcements
USCIS has recently announced important immigration policies involving COVID-19, H-4 and L-2 applications, EB-1 and EB-2 Form 1-140 petitions, F-1 students, and permanent resident cards (“green cards”).



January 25, 2023
Insights
Conditional Permanent Residents Take Note: USCIS Has Extended Validity of Permanent Resident Cards
On January 23, 2023, USCIS announced an extension of the validity of permanent resident cards (“green cards”) to accommodate current processing times for forms I-829 and I-751. As a result, new receipt notices will be issued to petitioners who properly filed either form extending their green card’s validity for 48 months beyond the card’s expiration date.
By Christian Triantaphyllis



December 12, 2022
Mentions
Understanding the New EB-5 Rural and Set-Aside Visas, With Christian Triantaphyllis | EB-5 Investors Podcast
The USCIS in 2022 reserved 20% of EB-5 visas for investors that put their money into rural areas, 10% for investing in projects in high-unemployment areas, and 2% towards infrastructure projects. In The Voice of EB5 podcast, partner Christian Triantaphyllis, chair of Jackson Walker’s Business Immigration & Compliance practice, provides an in-depth review of the changes to the EB-5 visa categories.


November 7, 2022
Attorney News
‘Houstonia’ Lists Jackson Walker Attorneys as “Top Lawyers” in Best of Houstonia
Jackson Walker is proud to announce the selection of Chevazz Brown, Matthew Cavenaugh, Carey Hain, Lindsey Moorhead, and Sang Shin to Houstonia Magazine’s “Top Lawyers” list of 2021-2022 in its Best of Houstonia.



November 4, 2022
Attorney News
Christian Triantaphyllis Named to ‘EB5 Investors’ List of “Top 25 Immigration Attorneys” for Fifth Consecutive Year
In EB5 Investors Magazine’s listing of the “Top 25 Immigration Attorneys” of 2022, Christian Triantaphyllis was featured among the industry’s most distinguished EB-5 attorneys for the fifth consecutive year.


October 20, 2022
Speaking Engagements
Sang Shin to Discuss How to Impact Law Firm Diversity at FutureCast 2022 Conference
Sang Shin is scheduled to present at the award-winning diversity & inclusion event, FutureCast 2022, on Friday, October 21, 2022. Victoria Taylor (Womble Bond Dickinson LLP) will join Sang in the discussion moderated by Julian S. Newman (FutureCast & Culture Creative).


September 19, 2022
Insights
Hiring Foreign Professionals Could Help Alleviate U.S. Labor Shortage | Texas Lawyer
By Kelly Cobb
There are visa categories that can help alleviate the worker shortages for many industries by enabling the hiring of legal nonimmigrant workers.


August 22, 2022
Speaking Engagements
Sang Shin, Shari Mao, and Jeremy Sheng to Present at 2022 Asian Chamber Business Conference & Expo
Jackson Walkers partners Sang Shin, Shari Mao, and Jeremy Sheng will present “Surviving an Unpredictable Economy: Legal Considerations You Can’t Afford to Ignore” at the 2022 Asian Chamber Business Conference & Expo on Friday, August 26, 2022.
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.