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
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 Trumpâs 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 âenhanced vettingâ of visa applicants, birthright citizenship, border security, the U.S.âMexico-Canada Agreement, asylum, and refugee program.
December 19, 2024
Attorney News
Christian Triantaphyllis and Catharine Yen Recognized as Top Immigration Attorneys by âEB5 Investors Magazineâ
Please join in celebrating Christian A. Triantaphyllis and Catharine Yen for their well-deserved recognition in EB5 Investors Magazine! Christian was named among the âTop 25 Immigration Attorneysâ for the seventh year, reflecting his unparalleled expertise in EB-5, E-2, and L-1 visas. Catharine earned a spot as one of the âTop 10 Rising Stars,â recognizing her exceptional work with immigrant investors and regional centers.
November 20, 2024
Insights
The Politics of Immigration and Its Impact on Business | Texas Lawyer
In this Texas Lawyer article, Sang M. Shin delves into the often-overlooked business side of immigration, highlighting how employment-based visas and investment options are crucial for filling labor gaps and fostering economic growth in the U.S. The article also discusses the potential negative impacts of reducing immigrant labor.
November 12, 2024
Insights
Business Immigration Expectations Under a Second Trump Administration
By Sang M. Shin
With the re-election of former President Donald Trump, employers and international investors should prepare for significant changes in U.S. immigration policies. Based on his first term, campaign promises, and recent analyses, we can anticipate a range of actions that will impact business immigration. In this article, we summarize potential Trump administration policies related to business immigration and provide key actions and considerations for employers.
November 7, 2024
Spotlight
Jackson Walker Earns 26 National and 140 Metropolitan Rankings in 2025 Edition of “Best Law Firms”
Jackson Walker proudly announces its inclusion in the 2025 edition of Best Law FirmsÂŽÂ by Best Lawyers. This year, Jackson Walker observed notable improvements in the national rankings, including the rise of Real Estate to Tier 1, Commercial Litigation, Energy Law, and Trusts and Estates to Tier 2, and the addition of Litigation – Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy) in Tier 3.
September 24, 2024
Speaking Engagements
Sang Shin to Present on Creating Pathway for STEM Workers Through Non-Legislative Means at UT Law CLEâs Immigration and Nationality Law Conference
Jackson Walker partner Sang M. Shin will participate as a panelist at The University of Texas School of Lawâs 48th Annual Conference on Immigration and Nationality Law,
EB-5 Foreign Investment Visas
Jackson Walkerâs 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 groupâs multidisciplinary approach combines highly-skilled business immigration advisors with a nationally-recognized real estate team and corporate/securities counsel to achieve clientsâ 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 alienâs entry will substantially benefit prospectively the United States.
Jackson Walkerâs 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 â 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 â 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 â Submission of petitions for individuals with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics.
