Immigration Law

“Immigration law is a mystery and a mastery of obfuscation, and the lawyers who can figure it out are worth their weight in gold.” -USCIS spokeswoman, Karen Kraushaar

Timing and reduced risk of rejection are critical in an immigration case. Cowles Thompson Immigration Law attorneys bring focused experience and unique insights to representation of individuals and businesses nationwide on a range of immigration matters. As the immigration solution professionals with years of experience in cutting through government red tape, our attorneys anticipate and address the issues in our clients’ immigration cases, in an effort to prepare petitions quickly, correctly, and ideally for approval the first time.

Since 1993, our immigration team has served more than 2,000 immigration clients, making us well-versed in the ever-changing immigration rules and regulations. We consistently monitor changes in laws and regulations in order to provide the latest approaches for our clients, and to avoid the possibility of case rejection based on outdated information.

Our consultations are confidential. Call our office for a confidential and thorough consultation via telephone, office meeting, or Skype. In the consultation, we will listen to your summary of your status and what you seek. Then, we will provide a concise roadmap outlining how to best proceed in your situation.

Employment Immigration Benefit Applications

In today’s global economy, many organizations discover that foreign nationals have the expertise they need.  Cowles Thompson helps these organizations obtain legal permission to bring these talented individuals to the United States.  Our immigration attorneys prepare applications for immigration benefits and represent clients to appear before various federal agencies.  Services include tracking of expiration dates, case status charts, state-of-the-art technology, and creative solutions for complex immigration problems. 

Employers who partner with Cowles Thompson often eliminate delays created by incorrect/incomplete immigration forms.  We help clients reduce frequent employee inquiries by directly referring them to our attorneys, and save time for employers via our tested and streamlined immigration process.

Immigration for Medical Professionals and Physician Recruiters

Helping medical professionals relocate to and practice in the United States is another key area of our practice.  Through a decade of successful work with physicians, nurses, and other medical professionals from around the world, Cowles Thompson Immigration attorneys have gained significant experience and knowledge representing healthcare providers and the medical facilities that seek to hire them.

Employment Eligibility Verification and Immigration Compliance

Under the watchful eye of the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Justice’s Office of Special Counsel for Immigration (OSC), now more than ever, all employers must take care that their immigration compliance procedures withstand scrutiny.  Our Immigration team works with clients to guide them through compliance and to prepare them in advance of any agency inquiries.

Our  Immigration attorneys advise clients on the best practices to ensure compliance with employment eligibility verification (Form I-9) requirements arising out of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA), while avoiding immigration discrimination violations of the Unfair Immigration Related Employment Practice.  We also conduct self-audits and training for employers, and advise and represent employers who receive audit notices from ICE, EEOC, Department of Labor, and other immigration-related agencies.

In addition to I-9 compliance and guidance on using the E-Verify system, our Immigration attorneys help employers with labor condition application (LCA) compliance associated with H-1B visas and Department of Labor LCA regulations.  We also advise and represent companies that are subject to investigations conducted by OSC for immigration-related discrimination claims.

Deemed Export Control Compliance

Export licensing regulations are administered and enforced by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) of the U.S. Department of Commerce and other agencies.  Even if your company does not directly export goods to other countries, the hire of a foreign national can trigger the “deemed export” rule.  Cowles Thompson Immigration attorneys assist clients with deemed export licensing, compliance counseling, representation in enforcement actions and government investigations, audits of export control programs, and in-house training on deemed export rules.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Mergers, acquisitions, spin-offs, and other major changes in a company’s organization can have a critical impact on the visa status and continued employment eligibility of key executives, managers, and professional staff.  Cowles Thompson works proactively with clients involved in mergers and acquisitions or any diversification activity to efficiently address related immigration issues.  We perform due diligence investigations that include a close analysis of the current immigration status of the employees, and a determination of the impact of the corporate change on this status, and we aid in the filing of applications necessary to maintain each employee’s status.  After a thorough evaluation, our team will advise and assist you in implementing any immigration strategies that may be necessary.  In addition, we conduct I-9 audits of the acquired company, so that the parties properly negotiate the liabilities involved.

Family Immigration Benefit Applications

Whether you plan to bring family members from abroad or just seek new opportunities, it is wise handle your immigration needs with true immigration attorneys.   The Cowles Thompson Immigration practice manages all types of family-based immigration and streamlines the process for families or individuals looking to immigrate to the United States.   We handle green card applications for spouses, parents, children, and siblings as well as fiancé visas for future spouses of U.S. citizens.

Our Immigration team presents monthly webinars on topics and trends related to immigration law.  View recent presentations on the Cowles Thompson YouTube channel.