Immigration and International Students

Immigration compliance requires more than familiarity with statutes and regulations; it demands continuous monitoring of policy shifts, agency adjudication trends and evolving best practices. We provide strategic guidance on regulatory compliance, internal policies, training programs and recordkeeping procedures and frequently appear before U.S. government agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of State and the Department of Labor.

Employment

Our immigration team provides comprehensive support on all employment-based immigration matters, including the full range of nonimmigrant and immigrant processes such as H-1B, H-1B1, E-1, E-2, E-3, O-1, TN and other visa classifications, as well as permanent residence sponsorship (including PERM labor certification, Form I-140 immigrant petitions and related adjustment or consular processes). We understand the unique environment in which schools operate and we work closely with institutions to ensure smooth onboarding and retention of international faculty, researchers and staff.

Beyond the core employment-based immigration matters we handle, we also advise clients on a broad array of immigration-related issues essential to workforce management, including:

• Recruiting and retaining foreign talent.
• I-9 compliance and audits.
• Regulatory compliance and risk mitigation.
• Avoidance of immigration-related discrimination.
• Development of immigration policies and procedures.
• Creation of global mobility guidelines and processes.
• Conducting workplace investigations with immigration implications.

International Students

Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) compliance is central to an institution’s ability to enroll and support international students. Accurate and timely SEVIS reporting protects the school’s certification and ensures students maintain valid immigration status. We assist institutions in understanding their SEVIS obligations, identifying potential compliance vulnerabilities and responding effectively to government inquiries or unexpected issues. Our team monitors regulatory developments affecting the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) and SEVIS and provides proactive guidance to help the institution anticipate risk, maintain system integrity and navigate changes in policy or practice with confidence.

While the Designated School Official manages day-to-day F-1 student processing, we remain available to advise on complex issues, such as consular delays, travel complications, status-maintenance questions or policy changes that affect SEVP-regulated programs.