Business Immigration & Compliance
We provide integrated legal solutions to complex problems that permit our clients to achieve U.S. immigration objectives. Working with our attorneys in multiple practice groups including Corporate, Labor & Employment, International, Real Estate, Tax, and Wealth Planning, we represent companies in their immigration matters.
Our experience ranges from foreign investors and business owners; international and domestic start-ups, small- to medium-size enterprises (SMEs) and public companies who employ individuals that need U.S. visa options to grow and expand their business; families who wish to live in the U.S. temporarily and/ permanently; and persons who wish to acquire U.S. citizenship.
We provide end-to-end or consultation services for the following areas:
- Nonimmigrant visa processing including: B-1/B-2 visitors for business and pleasure; F-1 students; E-1 treaty traders for goods and services, E-2 treaty investors; E-3 for Australian nationals; H-1B specialty occupation; H1B1 for Chilean or Singaporean nationals; J-1 Waiver Processes; L-1 intracompany transferees; L-1 blanket petitions; O-1 extraordinary ability, P-1 athletes and entertainers, R-1 religious workers, and TN USMCA visa
- Immigrant visa processing including: PERM Labor Certification; EB-1(A) extraordinary ability, EB-1(B) outstanding foreign researchers or professors, EB-1(C) managers and executives transferred from multinational corporations, EB-2 professionals holding an advanced degree with a U.S. job, EB-2 National Interest Waiver, EB-3 professional workers, EB-5 immigrant investors, Schedule A Matters, PERM Special Handling
- Strategic planning concerning immigration consequences of formation, disposition, and reorganization of U.S. businesses
- Worksite enforcement including I-9 and LCA Audits
- Consular processing for nonimmigrant and immigrant visas
- Family-based immigration matters
- Complex naturalization and derivative citizenship matters
- Renunciation of Green Card and Citizenship
December 19, 2024
Attorney News
Christian Triantaphyllis and Catharine Yen Recognized as Top Immigration Attorneys by ‘EB5 Investors Magazine’
Please join in celebrating Christian A. Triantaphyllis and Catharine Yen for their well-deserved recognition in EB5 Investors Magazine! Christian was named among the “Top 25 Immigration Attorneys” for the seventh year, reflecting his unparalleled expertise in EB-5, E-2, and L-1 visas. Catharine earned a spot as one of the “Top 10 Rising Stars,” recognizing her exceptional work with immigrant investors and regional centers.
November 20, 2024
Insights
The Politics of Immigration and Its Impact on Business | Texas Lawyer
In this Texas Lawyer article, Sang M. Shin delves into the often-overlooked business side of immigration, highlighting how employment-based visas and investment options are crucial for filling labor gaps and fostering economic growth in the U.S. The article also discusses the potential negative impacts of reducing immigrant labor.
November 12, 2024
Insights
Business Immigration Expectations Under a Second Trump Administration
By Sang M. Shin
With the re-election of former President Donald Trump, employers and international investors should prepare for significant changes in U.S. immigration policies. Based on his first term, campaign promises, and recent analyses, we can anticipate a range of actions that will impact business immigration. In this article, we summarize potential Trump administration policies related to business immigration and provide key actions and considerations for employers.
November 7, 2024
Spotlight
Jackson Walker Earns 26 National and 140 Metropolitan Rankings in 2025 Edition of “Best Law Firms”
Jackson Walker proudly announces its inclusion in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms® by Best Lawyers. This year, Jackson Walker observed notable improvements in the national rankings, including the rise of Real Estate to Tier 1, Commercial Litigation, Energy Law, and Trusts and Estates to Tier 2, and the addition of Litigation – Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy) in Tier 3.
September 24, 2024
Speaking Engagements
Sang Shin to Present on Creating Pathway for STEM Workers Through Non-Legislative Means at UT Law CLE’s Immigration and Nationality Law Conference
Jackson Walker partner Sang M. Shin will participate as a panelist at The University of Texas School of Law’s 48th Annual Conference on Immigration and Nationality Law,
August 15, 2024
Attorney News
Sang Shin Appointed Chair of the Asian Pacific Interest Section of the State Bar of Texas
Jackson Walker proudly congratulates Houston partner Sang M. Shin on his appointment as Chair of the Asian Pacific Interest Section (APIS) of the State Bar of Texas.
August 15, 2024
Attorney News
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Features 306 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2025 Edition, Including 9 “Lawyers of the Year” and 75 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 306 Jackson Walker attorneys across 81 specialty practice areas in its 2025 edition, including 9 Lawyers of the Year and 75 Ones to Watch. In this year’s guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (75 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (55 attorneys) and the addition of 27 attorneys as Best Lawyers.
July 5, 2024
Attorney News
Sang Shin Appointed to the State Bar of Texas Laws Relating to Immigration & Nationality Committee
Congratulations to Houston partner Sang M. Shin on his appointment to the State Bar of Texas Laws Relating to Immigration & Nationality Committee!
June 6, 2024
Spotlight
Business Immigration & Compliance Partners Kelly Cobb and Sang Shin Recognized in Chambers USA Guide
Jackson Walker proudly announces the first-time ranking of the Business Immigration & Compliance practice in the Chambers USA Guide for 2024. In addition, Kelly Cobb and Sang Shin were recognized among the top attorneys in Texas in this area.
EB-5 Foreign Investment Visas
Jackson Walker’s EB-5 foreign investment and real estate team has the breadth of experience to advise clients on investments offering the opportunity to immigrate to the United States. The group’s multidisciplinary approach combines highly-skilled business immigration advisors with a nationally-recognized real estate team and corporate/securities counsel to achieve clients’ immigration objectives through investment transactions. The services provided to clients seeking the EB-5 process are organized around four major practice areas:
- EB-5 Immigrant Visas filed through your own company
- EB-5 Immigrant Visas filed through a Regional Center
- Development of Regional Centers and EB-5 projects
- Regional Center and EB-5 project compliance advice
L-1A And L-1B Intra-Company Transferee Work Visas
L-1 intra-company transferees are foreign workers who have been employed outside the U.S. by an affiliate, subsidiary, branch or parent of a U.S. company for at least one continuous year within the three years preceding the filing of a petition (or for at least one continuous year within the three years preceding admission to the U.S. if filing the petition while the foreign worker is in the U.S.), in a capacity that qualifies as executive, managerial, functional manager (L-1A), or specialized knowledge (L-1B), and who will perform services for the U.S. company in one of these categories as well.
EB-1(C) Multinational Manager or Executive Visas
The Multinational Manger or Executive (or EB-1C) category is designed for employees who:
- have been offered a regular full-time position in a managerial or executive capacity with a U.S. employer who has been doing business in the United States for at least one year, and
- have worked for a qualifying employer abroad in a managerial or executive capacity for one of the three years prior to entering the United States in nonimmigrant status.
Our investment immigration team is able to assist clients in determining if they qualify for this program, and walk them through the process from beginning to end.
EB-1(A) Extraordinary Ability Immigrants
The EB-1(A) category provides immigrant visa processing for individuals of extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics. “Extraordinary ability” is defined as a level of expertise indicating that the individual is one of a small percentage who have risen to the very top of a field of endeavor.
EB-1(A) applicants do not need a U.S. employer, and they are exempt from the normal labor certification process. In order to qualify, the individual may file an immigrant visa petition himself or herself. The alien must seek entry into the U.S. to continue work in the area of extraordinary ability, and the alien’s entry will substantially benefit prospectively the United States.
Jackson Walker’s investment immigration team is equipped to assist clients in all aspects of compiling, documenting, and filing their evidence of qualifications, including documentation of national and international acclaim, or recognition in their field of expertise.
- L-1 and EB-1(C) multinational manager petitions – Submission of petitions for managers and executives including functional managers.
- E-1 Treaty Trader Applications – Submission of multiple E-1 applications including start-up operations to facilitate the expansion of businesses in involved in cross-border trade of goods and services.
- E-2 Treaty Investor Applications – Submission of multiple E-2 applications including start-up operations and to facilitate the growth and further development of investment in the U.S.O-1 Extraordinary Ability petition – Submission of petitions for individuals with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics.
