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Laura Foote Reiff has more than 32 years of experience representing businesses and organizations in the business immigration and compliance field. She is also a business immigration advocate and has long chaired prominent business immigration coalitions. Laura is Co-Founder of GT’s Business and Immigration and Compliance Group which she co-led since 1999. She currently chairs the Northern Virginia/Washington D.C. Immigration and Compliance Practice. Laura is also Co-Managing Shareholder of the Northern Virginia Office of GT, a position she has held since 2010. As a global leader in the business immigration community, Laura has served on the Boards of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the American Immigration Council, the National Immigration Forum and is currently the Chair of the America is Better Board.

Laura advises corporations on a variety of compliance-related issues, particularly related to Form I-9 eligibility employment verification matters. Laura has been involved in audits and internal investigations and has successfully minimized monetary exposure as well as civil and criminal liabilities on behalf of her clients. She develops immigration compliance strategies and programs for both small and large companies. Laura performs I-9, H-1B and H-2B compliance inspections during routine internal reviews, while performing due diligence (in the context of a merger, acquisition or sale) or while defending a company against a government investigation.

Laura represents many businesses in creating, managing and using "Regional Centers" that can create indirect jobs toward the 10 new U.S. jobs whose creation can give rise to EB-5 permanent residence for investment. She coordinates this work with attorneys practicing in securities law compliance, with economists identifying "targeted employment areas" and projecting indirect job creation, and with licensed securities brokers coordinating offerings. She also represents individual investors in obtaining conditional permanent residence and in removing conditions from permanent residence.

Laura's practice also consists of managing business immigration matters and providing immigration counsel to address the visa and work authorization needs of U.S. and global personnel including professionals, managers and executives, treaty investors/ traders, essential workers, persons of extraordinary ability, corporate trainees, and students. She is an immigration policy advocacy expert and works on immigration reform policies.

In the United States, employment discrimination based on national origin and citizenship status is strictly prohibited by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The Department of Justice’s Immigrant and Employee

Continue Reading Immigrant and Employee Rights at the Department of Justice – National Origin and Citizenship Discrimination

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced a proposed rule aimed at modernizing the H-2 temporary visa programs, which include the H-2A visa for agricultural workers and the H-2B

Continue Reading DHS Proposes Modernization of H-2 Temporary Visa Programs and Strengthens Worker Protections

In its most recent update, U. S. Customs and Protection (CBP) offered a snapshot on the impact of the humanitarian parole program for nationals of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and

Continue Reading CBP Provides Updates on Humanitarian Parole Program for Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela

On May 17, 2023, USCIS updated the review procedure for the processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans. The update is intended to maintain a meaningful and equitable opportunity for

Continue Reading USCIS Updates Review Procedure for the Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans