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An experienced immigration attorney with wide-ranging in-house experience at a prominent data analytic technology company, Agnes has deep first-hand experience with the application of immigration laws in the workplace, which she uses in counseling her clients. Her real-world understanding of the immigration and compliance requirements faced by employers stems from advising on all facets of the immigration lifecycle in a business context, including managing a large foreign national population, providing H-1B cap strategic guidance that aligns with business needs, training and counseling Human Resources and recruiters on hiring and sponsorship evaluations, and speaking on immigration obligations in times of reduction in force.

Complementing her immigration portfolio, Agnes also counsels on employment-related issues, such as recruitment and hiring, compensation and benefits, accommodation requests, leaves of absence, investigations, performance reviews, disciplinary warnings, and terminations. Agnes assists with the drafting of employment, separation, non-competition, confidentiality, and consulting agreements, and she advises corporations on reorganizations, mergers, acquisitions, and layoffs.

Admitted in Illinois. Not admitted in Virginia. Practice limited to federal immigration practice.

Due to an immigration application backlog, which was worsened by the pandemic’s adverse effects on USCIS and the nearly four-month office closure of Application Support Centers (ASCs) and Field Offices,
Continue Reading Long Delays for Work Permits for L, H, and E Spouses Are Over

Due to an immigration application backlog, which was worsened by the pandemic’s adverse effects on USCIS and the nearly four-month office closure of Application Support Centers (ASCs) and Field Offices,
Continue Reading Long Delays for Work Permits for L-2 and H-4 Spouses Are Over

Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, one of the most widely filed USCIS forms, is filed by a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident petitioning for an immediate or close relative intending to immigrate to the United States. Until now, petitioners had the option of filing Form I-130 with the USCIS, directly with the USCIS international field offices abroad, or a U.S. consulate or embassy abroad, if they could prove an exceptional circumstance.

Without any notice, USCIS announced on Jan. 31, 2020, that starting on Feb. 1, it will no longer accept and adjudicate Form I-130 petitions at its international field offices except the USCIS field offices in Accra, Ghana, and London, England. These two offices will continue to accept and adjudicate Forms I-130 petitions until April 1, 2020. Going forward, I-130 petitions will only be processed domestically by USCIS or internationally by the Department of State in certain circumstances.
Continue Reading Effective Feb. 1, Form I-130 Petitions Only Processed Domestically by USCIS or Internationally by DOS

On Aug. 23, 2019, our firm wrote about the U.S. Department of State’s (DOS) announcement that the validity period of E-1 and E-2 visas for French Nationals would be reduced from 60 months to 15 months effective Aug 29, 2019. The effective date has now been postponed to Sept. 26, 2019.

The general rule is that different types of U.S. visas have different visa validity periods depending on the nationality of the visa applicant because the Immigration and Nationality Act requires the DOS to set country-specific visa policies on a reciprocal basis. The validity periods are based on each country’s treatment of similar classes of U.S. visitors to its territory. In other words, if a country imposes restrictive visa requirements on U.S. citizens, the U.S. reciprocates with more restrictive requirements on that country’s citizens.
Continue Reading Update: U.S. to Reduce E-Visa Validity for French Nationals Effective Sept. 26, 2019

With only a 9-day notice, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced critical restrictions on French Nationals for E visas on August 20, 2019.   The general rule is that different types of U.S. visas have different visa validity periods depending on the nationality of the visa applicant because the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) requires the DOS to set country-specific visa policies on a reciprocal basis.   The validity periods are based on each country’s treatment of similar classes of U.S. visitors to its territory, as well as national security, immigration, and other considerations.   In other words, if a country imposes restrictive visa requirements on U.S. citizens, the U.S. reciprocates with more restrictive requirements on that country’s citizens.
Continue Reading U.S. to Reduce E Visa Validity for French Nationals