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
KHOU 11 Screenshot - Sang Shin

May 26, 2023
Mentions

Houston’s Business With South Korean Companies Nearly Quadrupled Over the Last Decade I KHOU 11

Over the last decade, the South Korean business community has grown exponentially in Houston, thanks in large part to the increase in the export value of mineral fuel and Houston’s import of iron and steel, as well as Houston naming Ulsan, South Korea its 19th sister city.

Sang Shin headshot

May 8, 2023
Mentions

Trade with South Korea is Booming, but These Houston Locals Want More l Houston Business Journal

South Korea has emerged as a growing economic force in Houston. In fact, South Korea is Houston’s third-largest international trading partner and Texas’ fifth largest. When Ulsan, South Korea, was named the 19th sister city of Houston in 2021, trade between the two had already increased by 72.1% over the previous year to $16.2 billion, according to the Greater Houston Partnership.

Kelly Cobb

March 29, 2023
Attorney News

Kelly Cobb Joins The Women’s Resource of Greater Houston Advisory Council

Jackson Walker partner Kelly D. Cobb joined the 2023 advisory council of The Women’s Resource of Greater Houston.

March 23, 2023
Attorney News

Jackson Walker Congratulates Its 2023 Texas Rising Stars

Jackson Walker is pleased to announce the selection of 63 attorneys to Thomson Reuters’ 2023 “Super Lawyers – Rising Stars” list, which recognizes only 5% of Texas attorneys who either are 40 years of age or younger or have been in practice for 10 years or less.

JW Fast Takes cover art graphic

February 9, 2023
Podcasts

Immigration Issues When Contemplating Layoffs or Reductions in Force

JW Fast Takes Podcast | ~7.5 minutes

The potential for layoffs or reductions in force could trigger immigration-related issues. Business Immigration & Compliance partners Kelly Cobb and Sang Shin join the Fast Takes podcast to cover key considerations as not all visas are created equal.

Christian Triantaphyllis with Jackson Walker logo

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.

United States Statue of Liberty with Jackson Walker logo

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.

USCIS

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”).

United States Statue of Liberty with Jackson Walker logo

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

Christian Triantaphyllis with Jackson Walker logo

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.

More Business Immigration & Compliance News

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.