From securing visas to pursuing citizenship, Hinshaw can help at every step of the immigration process.

In today's global economy, businesses and investors must often look abroad to find top-quality personnel, pursue new opportunities, and remain competitive in a rapidly evolving marketplace. At the same time, immigration laws, and regulations surrounding the employment of foreign workers are also in constant flux, reflecting changes in domestic political and economic priorities.

Hinshaw delivers effective, knowledgeable employment-based immigration counsel to help our clients recruit, deploy, and retain critically needed, qualified employees in the United States and abroad. In our nationwide practice, we work with clients at every step, from determining specific business needs, identifying appropriate visas and obtaining employment authorizations, to pursuing permanent residency and citizenship.

We recognize that, in many cases, in-person counsel is necessary to prepare clients for visa interviews in the United States and abroad. When requested, we will travel anywhere in the U.S. to attend and assist during green-card interviews with agency officials.

We handle applications for and management of all types of U.S. visas, including:

• H-1B visas for professional workers in specialty occupations (e.g., programmers, physicians, engineers, and educators)
• H-2B visas for temporary and seasonal skilled workers and laborers (e.g., landscapers and agricultural employees)
• L-1 international transferee visas for managerial and specialized employees

We regularly work with U.S. and foreign embassies and consulates worldwide to help clients deploy religious (R-1 visa) and other workers to the United States, and, when appropriate, help organizations migrate their U.S. workers to other countries. As appropriate, we also help obtain the following visas, among others: E (treaty traders and investors), H-3 (trainees), J-1 (international exchange visitors), TN (Canadian and Mexican professionals), B-1 (business visitors), O (extraordinary professionals), and P (performers and athletes) visas. When necessary—for example, when a visa petition has been initially denied—we handle appeals to the Administrative Appeals Office of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (UCSIS).

Obtaining a visa is not the end of the process. Our attorneys advise clients on a range of day-to-day immigration issues, including Form I-9 compliance and avoidance of and defense against charges of discrimination based on national origin. We regularly deliver training and seminars on immigration-related matters and provide immigration due diligence support in the context of cross-border mergers, acquisitions and other transactions.

We also help clients respond to and prepare for audits and investigations conducted by U.S. federal immigration authorities, including the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, as well as the latter agency's operational and support components such as USCIS and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). When the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) sends "no-match letters," we help resolve discrepancies in employment-related reports.

Uniting families in the United States

For individual clients who would like to ensure that a fiancé, spouse, or other family members can reside in the U.S., Hinshaw can handle the entire process, including petitioning for permanent residency, preparing applications for U.S. work permits, to becoming a U.S. citizen. Through the B-2 visa, Hinshaw can also help bring foreign nationals into the U.S. for temporary visits with family or to tour the country.

In appropriate cases, Hinshaw can help present a case for asylum or temporary protected status, and address questions related to matters involving the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

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