The accelerating pace of economic globalization demands and fosters a borderless labor market. Businesses of every size retain employees in locations around the world and need employees who are internationally mobile. A company based in the United States may have engineers in India, marketers in Paris, and sales staff in Canada. This ability to operate transnationally is fundamental to the growth of businesses and to the career advancement of individual workers.
But in this era of heightened security risks and geopolitical turmoil, cross-border movement is not simple. Immigration is a heavily regulated activity and subject to time-consuming evaluation by federal and international officials. Cozen O’Connor’s immigration attorneys are focused on identifying strategies that protect clients and enable the timely pursuit of business opportunities wherever they arise.
Cozen O’Connor advises multinational corporations, domestic companies, nonprofit institutions, investors, and individuals about visas, permanent residency, work permits, intra-company transfers, hiring of foreign nationals, citizenship requirements, regulatory compliance, and other immigration matters. Whether arranging a green card for a senior executive, obtaining visas for the families of foreign nationals stationed in the U.S., or assessing a company’s I-9 compliance program, Cozen O’Connor’s immigration attorneys are known for their efficiency and practicality. Our immigration team works closely with our colleagues in corporate law, labor and employment, family law, tax, and litigation to provide truly comprehensive advice and workable solutions.
Our immigration lawyers understand the frustration businesses and individuals often experience when dealing with immigration matters. The laws are opaque, the bureaucracy is unwieldy, and there is an element of arbitrariness that can be unsettling. We cut through the confusion by communicating clearly and frequently with clients, explaining the relevant laws and regulations in plain terms, and providing translation resources to foreign nationals. Cozen O’Connor’s immigration team also leverages its professional relationships with officials in key government agencies to achieve positive outcomes as quickly as possible.
SERVICE AREAS
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Arrange for nonimmigrant visas:
TN-1 Canadian Worker Visa; H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa; H-1B Computer Related Occupations Visa; H-2 Temporary Worker Visa; H-3 Trainee Visa; J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa; L-1 Intracompany Transfer Visa; O-1 Extraordinary Ability in the Arts Visa; E-1/E-2 Treaty Traders and Investors
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Arrange for immigrant visas:
Employment Based First Preference (EB-1-1) (Aliens of Extraordinary Ability); Employment Based First Preference (EB-1-2) (Outstanding Researchers and Professors); Multinational Executives and Managers (EB-1-2-3); Employment Based Second Preference (EB-2); Employment Based Third Preference (EB-3); Employment Based Fifth Preference (EB-5)
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Represent clients in immigration matters before the Department of Labor, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Immigration Board of Appeals, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. Department of Justice Executive Office for Immigration Review
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Advocate for immigration clients in federal and state courts
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File discrimination claims under the Immigration Reform and Control Act
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Invoke clients’ employment rights under Treaties of Friendship Commerce and Navigation
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Counsel clients on employment verification compliance, including I-9 audits
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Design and implement remedial programs to ensure immigration regulation compliance
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Analyze the immigration aspects of corporate decisions, including mergers and acquisitions