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Stearns Weaver Miller’s Immigration group has nearly three decades of experience representing employers and investors in a wide-range of industries who seek assistance employing foreign nationals and structuring their business entities to facilitate the transfer of foreign personnel. The team has helped secure hundreds of visas to allow employers of all sizes to hire and retain foreign-born workers. We also regularly counsel clients regarding the rules and documents required to prove work authorization at the time of hire.

We represent large international companies in connection with the temporary employment of professionals and intra-company transfers, the entry of business visitors, and the permanent employment of foreign workers. We have extensive experience obtaining H-1B, L-1, and TN status for our clients’ foreign workers and then navigating our clients through the permanent residence process, including labor certification. We have assisted musicians, dancers, scientists, and business professional in obtaining O-1 visas as aliens of extraordinary ability and achieving permanent residence on such grounds and have helped professional athletes obtain P-1 visas. We have also assisted entrepreneurs in obtaining E-2 visas so that they can establish businesses in the United States. In addition, we provide guidance to employers regarding the I-9 employment verification process and immigration-related unfair employment practices.

In the event of a merger or acquisition, we also advise on the impact of the merger/acquisition on employees working on a visa and provide proactive steps that the acquirer or surviving entity may take to continue to employ the foreign workers in certain circumstances.

  • Blanket L Petitions
  • Family-based Permanent Residence
  • I-9 Guidance: Audits, Inspections and Compliance Training
    We advise clients regarding compliance with U.S. laws prohibiting the employment of individuals who are not authorized to work in the U.S. The process requires employers to complete a Form I-9 upon hiring any worker and examining documentation to verify the employee's identity and authorization to work. We help clients comply with the process and also represent clients who are audited or investigated by a government agency.
  • Naturalization
  • Non-immigrant Visas 
    We have extensiveexperienceassiting clients obtain several non-immigrant visas including:
    • H-1B (temporary specialty occupation)
    • H-2B (temporary nonagricultural workers)
    • L-1 (intracompany visa)
    • TN (work authorization status under NAFTA/USMCA for Canadian and Mexican citizens)
    • O-1 (extraordinary ability)
    • P-1A (professional athletes)
    • P-1B (members of internationally recognized performing arts groups)
    • E-2 (treaty investors and qualifying employees)
    • E-3 (Australian specialty occupation)
  • Permanent Residence (Greencard) – Aliens of Extraordinary Ability, Multinational Executives and Managers & Labor Certification (PERM)
    We guide clients through the permanent residence process, which often requires advertising the position and demonstrating that the employer could not find a qualified U.S. worker for the job. Most of our practice is business related, but we will help individuals seeking permanent residence based upon relationship to a U.S. citizen.
  • E-Verify Program Guidance

Publications: DHS Extends Temporary Protected Status and Work Authorization
BeLabor the Point Blog|December 2020|Glenn M. Rissman

Publications: USCIS Releases New Form I-9
BeLabor the Point Blog|January 2020|Glenn M. Rissman

Publications: DHS Extends Temporary Protected Status and Work Authorization
BeLabor the Point Blog|November 2019|Glenn M. Rissman

Publications: E-Verify a Victim of Partial Government Shutdown
BeLabor the Point Blog|January 2019|Glenn M. Rissman

Publications: Continued Work Authorization for Haitian Nationals in TPS
BeLabor The Point Blog|January 2018|Glenn M. Rissman

Publications: Work Authorization for Honduran and Nicaraguan Nationals in TPS
BeLabor the Point Blog|December 2017|Glenn M. Rissman

Publications: New I-9 Form May Not Be AOK When Dealing With EADs
BeLabor The Point Blog|August 2017|Glenn M. Rissman

Land Development News Update, Publications: Six Month EAD Extension for Haitian Nationals who Re-register for TPS
BeLabor The Point Blog |May 2017|Glenn M. Rissman

Publications: Just Who is Using All Those H-1B Visas?
BeLabor The Point Blog|March 2017|Glenn M. Rissman

Publications: USCIS Releases New Form I-9
BeLabor The Point Blog|November 2016|Glenn M. Rissman

Publications: Employers Can Use Current Form I-9 until January 21, 2017
BeLabor The Point Blog|October 2016|Glenn M. Rissman

Publications: USCIS Again Extends TPS for Haitian Nationals
BeLabor the Point Blog |August 2015|Glenn M. Rissman

Publications: Remind Us Not to Post On Moving Targets!
BeLabor the Point Blog |March 2015|Glenn M. Rissman

Publications: H-2B Update
BeLabor the Point Blog |March 2015|Glenn M. Rissman

Publications: USCIS Extends Temporary Protected Status for El Salvador
BeLabor the Point Blog |January 2015|Glenn M. Rissman

Publications: Executive Action: HR Headache on the Horizon?
BeLabor the Point Blog |November 2014|Glenn M. Rissman

Publications: Immigration – Vegas Style!
BeLabor the Point Blog |October 2014|Glenn M. Rissman

Publications: Does Data Mining Tip the Balance Against E-Verify?
BeLabor the Point Blog |September 2014|Glenn M. Rissman

Publications: Is the Job Market Improving? For Some Folks, Yes
BeLabor the Point Blog |April 2014|Glenn M. Rissman

Publications: USCIS Again Extends TPS for Haitian Nationals
BeLabor the Point Blog |March 2014|Glenn M. Rissman

Publications: E-Verify Up and Running
BeLabor the Point Blog |October 2013|Glenn M. Rissman

Publications: DOJ Advises Against Employer Pre-Populating Section 1 of Form I-9
BeLabor the Point Blog |September 2013|Glenn M. Rissman

Publications: Form I-9 Tips from USCIS and ICE
BeLabor the Point Blog |June 2013|Glenn M. Rissman

Publications: Immigration and Employment Verification – Quick Hits
BeLabor the Point Blog |April 2013|Glenn M. Rissman

Publications: New Form I-9 Effective March 8, 2013
BeLabor the Point Blog |March 2013|Glenn M. Rissman

Publications: DHS Extends Temporary Protected Status for Certain El Salvadorans
BeLabor the Point Blog |January 2012|Glenn M. Rissman

Publications: Diversity Immigrant Visa Lottery Starts October 4
BeLabor the Point Blog |September 2011|Glenn M. Rissman

Publications: May Change Conforms Florida E-Verify To Federal Standard
BeLabor the Point Blog |September 2011|Glenn M. Rissman

Publications: Nine Questions HR Directors Ask About Form I-9
BeLabor the Point Blog |June 2011|Glenn M. Rissman

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