Scott Bettridge

Chair, Immigration Practice

Recent Publication:

Recent Updates Impacting International Travelers [Alert]

David S. Adams and Scott Bettridge review recent changes to TSA's REAL ID, online passport renewal, and the ETIAS rollout.

Scott currently serves as the chair of Cozen O'Connor's Immigration Practice and represents both corporate and individual clients in all aspects related to U.S. immigration law. Scott's corporate clients include major global organizations in the financial services, hospitality, fashion, media, IT, energy, agriculture, insurance, and health care sectors, along with organizations specializing in professional services and private club industries.

Specifically, he provides an array of immigration services, including nonimmigrant visas, permanent residence (green card), labor certification, and citizenship, along with I-9 review and compliance services, with a focus on global workforce mobility issues such as due diligence considerations and risk management assessments for mergers, acquisitions, restructurings, downsizings, and startups. Scott also represents individuals with entrepreneurial options as well as with family-based immigration matters. He also represents both regional centers and individual investors in the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program.

Scott has coordinated centralized representation of U.S. immigration matters for financial services, investment management, and insurance divisions of one of the world’s largest diversified financial services organizations. He has managed corporate restructuring and consolidation issues for the immigration practice of a major health care and health insurance provider. He has represented a wide array of individual professional athletes from major and minor league organizations in baseball, basketball, hockey, squash, and other sports on visa and citizenship matters. Scott assisted numerous small business owners across various industries with registration before the State Department under the E-visa program for treaty traders and treaty investors. He has implemented I-9 review and compliance programs for multiple national and international businesses and across a wide range of sectors. 

Scott is an active member of the Investor Markets Committee of Invest In the USA (IIUSA) as well as the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) where he previously served as a program committee and symposium coordinator for the New York Chapter Immigration Law Symposium. He is also an allied member of eb5investors.com and a member of the board of the European American Chamber of Commerce Florida chapter. Scott is a past member of the University of Miami Citizens Board and Law360 Immigration Editorial Advisory Board. He is a former member of the Gulliver Schools Board of Trustees. 

Scott received his law degree from John Marshall Law School and his bachelor’s from the University of Tennessee.

Not a Member of the Florida Bar. Admitted in Georgia only.

News

Legal 500 Recognizes Seven Cozen O’Connor Practice Areas and 16 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys in its 2024 Legal Guide

July 10, 2024

The Legal 500 United States named Cozen O’Connor’s Aviation, Construction, Immigration, Insurance, Maritime, and Mergers & Acquisitions practices and Cozen O’Connor attorneys Scott Bettridge, Raymond DeLuca, Michael Deutsch, Geoffrey Ferrer, Bruce Ficken, Jonathon Foglia, David Heffernan, Matthew Howell, James Kwartnik, Robert Magovern, Jeffrey Mullen, Patrick Rizzi, Rachel Schwartz, Josh Stein, Jeff Vogel, and Rachel Welford to its 2024 Legal Guide.

Nearly 100 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 27 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2024 Guide

June 10, 2024

Chambers USA rankings are based on an “assessment of a firm’s work and opinions from external market sources, with an emphasis on client feedback.” In order to be ranked in the guide, lawyers and firms must demonstrate “sustained excellence.”

JD Supra Recognizes Cozen O’Connor Attorneys in 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards

March 27, 2024

Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce that Elizabeth Olivera, Lawrence Prosen, and Frances Rayer have been selected as top authors for JD Supra’s 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards for their thought leadership on key topics during 2023. Additionally, David Adams and Scott Bettridge were recognized for authoring a top-read article on immigration.

ETIAS Delayed to 2025

March 18, 2024

David Adams and Scott Bettridge were quoted in a SHRM article discussing the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), set to launch in 2025, and what employers and travelers should know about this pre-travel clearance system.

Feds publish new Form I-9

August 01, 2023

Scott Bettridge was quoted in HR Dive discussing employers using E-Verify for Form I-9.

Business Today Names 32 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys to Its Top 10 Lists

July 28, 2023

These lists recognize lawyers “mastering,” “leading,” “revolutionizing,” and “dominating” their fields in their respective states and nationwide.

USCIS announces new Form I-9, will allow permanent remote review for E-Verify users

July 24, 2023

Scott Bettridge spoke with HR Dive about the updated Form I-9 announced by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Citizenship and Immigration Services, which will be available on August 1, 2023.

Legal 500 Recognizes Six Cozen O’Connor Practice Areas and 16 Attorneys in its 2023 Guide

July 10, 2023

Cozen O'Connor's Aviation (Litigation/Regulation), Construction, L&E, M&A (Midmarket), Shipping (Finance and Litigation/Regulation) practices were ranked by the Legal 500.

Eighty-eight Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 23 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2023 Guide

June 05, 2023

Of the 88 lawyers ranked, 17 lawyers have been recognized nationally, and eighteen were recognized in Band 1. Eight of the firm's practice areas have been recognized nationally, and nine were ranked Band 1.

No-buy zone: Florida’s ban on some foreign buyers has industry scrambling for response

June 01, 2023

Scott Bettridge was quoted in The Real Deal discussing Florida Senate Bill 264.

Here’s how Florida’s immigration law could lead to construction turmoil

May 30, 2023

Scott Bettridge was quoted in The Real Deal discussing Florida Senate Bill 1718.

Florida Immigration Bill Likely to Hurt Construction Labor Market

May 19, 2023

Scott Bettridge was quoted in the Commercial Observer discussing a Florida law signed recently that is designed to find unauthorized immigrant workers.

Signs of migrant flight grow ahead of new Florida immigration law

May 19, 2023

Scott Bettridge was quoted in the South Florida Sun Sentinel discussing a new Florida state law designed to catch unauthorized immigrant workers.

Fla. Restricts Real Estate Investment From China

May 05, 2023

Scott Bettridge was quoted in Law360 discussing the legislation severely limiting the ownership of Florida property by people and entities from China.

Legal 500 Recognizes Six Cozen O’Connor Practice Areas and 14 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys in its 2022 Legal Guide

July 11, 2022

For 30 years, The Legal 500 has assessed the strengths of law firms in more than 100 jurisdictions. The rankings use a series of criteria, including client feedback, submissions from law firms, and interviews with leading private practice lawyers.

Chambers Ranks 86 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 22 Practice Areas in Chambers USA 2022 Guide

June 02, 2022

Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 86 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2022 edition.

Sources blame pandemic, bureaucracy — not demand — for H-1B decline

December 21, 2021

Scott Bettridge was quoted in HR Dive discussing the decrease in H-1B visas.

Deep Dive - Immigration

August 09, 2021

Scott Bettridge joined the Miami Global Net podcast to discuss the immigration categories into the United States, the impact COVID-19 has on immigration, and his perspective going forward.

Legal 500 Recognizes Six Cozen O’Connor Practice Areas and 12 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys in its 2021 Legal Guide

June 17, 2021

The Legal 500 United States named Cozen O’Connor’s Aviation, Construction, Immigration, Insurance, and Maritime practices and Cozen O’Connor attorneys Scott Bettridge, Raymond DeLuca, Geoffrey Ferrer, Bruce Ficken, David Heffernan, Jeffrey Lawrence, Robert Magovern, Anne Mickey, Jeffrey Mullen, Josh Stein, Jeff Vogel, and Rachel Welford to its 2021 Legal Guide.

82 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 19 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2021 Guide

May 26, 2021

Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 82 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2021 edition; of those, 15 lawyers have been recognized nationally.

Legal 500 Recognizes Six Cozen O’Connor Practice Areas and 13 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys in its 2020 Legal Guide

June 22, 2020

The Legal 500 United States named Cozen O’Connor’s Aviation, Construction, Immigration, Insurance, and Maritime practices and Cozen O’Connor attorneys Scott Bettridge, Stephen Cozen, Raymond DeLuca, Geoffrey Ferrer, Bruce Ficken, David Heffernan, Jeffrey Lawrence, Robert Magovern, Anne Mickey, Jeffrey Mullen, Josh Stein, Christopher Sweeney, and Jeff Vogel to its 2020 Legal Guide.

How will this new immigration change impact South Florida real estate?

November 21, 2019

Scott Bettridge discussed the changes that have taken place regarding the EB-5 investor visa program with the Miami Herald.

Publications

Recent Updates Impacting International Travelers [Alert]

September 26, 2024

David S. Adams and Scott Bettridge review recent changes to TSA's REAL ID, online passport renewal, and the ETIAS rollout.

Be Prepared for Higher I-9 Fines and More I-9 Inspections [Alert]

July 19, 2024

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published a final rule imposing increased fines on employers for failure to comply with I-9 regulations.

USCIS Fee Increase: What You Need to Know to Plan Your 2024 Immigration Budget [Alert]

January 31, 2024

Scott Bettridge and David Adams discuss the USCIS fee increases and what you need to know to plan your 2024 immigration budget.

ETIAS Will Launch in 2025: Impact on Over 1 Billion Travelers to Europe [Alert]

January 19, 2024

The European Travel Information and Authorization System roll-out has been postponed to 2025. Scott Bettridge and David Adams discuss what to expect.

Cozen O'Connor Immigration Catch Up: October 2023 [Alert]

November 06, 2023

Scott Bettridge and David Adams highlight immigration updates from the month of October.

Cozen O'Connor Immigration Catch Up: September 2023 [Alert]

October 04, 2023

Scott Bettridge and David Adams highlight immigration updates from the month of September.

Virtual Form I-9 Inspection Pilot Program for Non-E-Verify Employers [Alert]

August 03, 2023

DHS has proposed a new pilot program for virtual Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification inspections that would apply to employers not currently enrolled in E-Verify.

ETIAS to launch in 2024: How it will impact over 1 billion travelers to Europe [Alert]

August 02, 2023

The European Travel Information and Authorization System will require all US citizens to obtain ETIAS approval prior to travelling to Europe.

New Form I-9 and Policy Changes [Alert]

July 24, 2023

On July 25, 2023, USCIS will issue a new Form I-9. DHS has also issued a new rule regarding the virtual inspection of Form I-9.

Florida Bill 1718: Potential Impact on Employers and Employees in Florida [Alert]

May 12, 2023

The bill targets the influx of illegal immigration into the state with tougher employment requirements and adding some of the strongest penalties in the nation.

USCIS Proposes Rule to Adjust Certain Immigration and Naturalization Fees [Alert]

January 09, 2023

USCIS published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to adjust certain benefit request fees, which haven’t been changed since 2016.

USCIS Updates Policy to Automatically Extend Green Cards for Naturalization Applicants [Alert]

December 12, 2022

Effective Dec. 12, 2022, USCIS will automatically extend the validity of Green Cards for lawful permanent residents who have applied for naturalization.

Non-U.S. Nonimmigrants to Provide Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination [Alert]

November 09, 2022

The TSA has extended the requirement for all nonimmigrant foreign nationals to present proof of being fully vaccinated prior to entering the United States.

What Employers Need to Know as the US Welcomes Back International Travelers [Daily Business Review]

November 18, 2021

Scott Bettridge authored an article about the United States reopening its border to international travelers from 33 countries including Brazil, Canada, Mexico, the U.K. and the European Schengen area (EU) and with this new proclamation has implemented a global vaccination requirement for all adult foreign national air travelers pursuant to CDC-specific regulations.

Changes to Florida Law Requiring Mandatory Use of E-Verify for Certain Employers [Alert]

July 16, 2020

Scott Bettridge discusses new Florida legislation requiring all government employers and certain private employers to use E-Verify beginning January 1, 2021.

Presidential Proclamation Extending Suspension of Immigration from Abroad [Alert]

June 23, 2020

Fran Rayer, Scott Bettrigde, Daniela Berisiartu Barshel, and Elizabeth Olivera discuss President Trump's extension of Proclamation 10014.

New Version of Form I-9 Effective May 1, 2020 [Alert]

April 29, 2020

Scott Bettridge discusses what employers need to know about the new I-9 Form.

Presidential Proclamation Temporarily Suspends Immigration from Abroad [Alert]

April 23, 2020

Fran Rayer, Scott Bettridge, Daniela Barshel, and Elizabeth Olivera discuss what President Trump's temporary suspension of certain categories of immigrants from entering the United States means and who is impacted.

USCIS Issues New Version of Form I-9 [Alert]

February 03, 2020

Scott Bettridge discusses changes to the I-9 form, effective immediately.

H-1B Electronic Registration Process Operational for the Fiscal Year 2021 Cap Season [Alert]

December 16, 2019

Learn about the changes USCIS announced for its online registration system that will be implemented in the 2020 H-1B lottery.

Education

  • John Marshall Law School, J.D., 1995
  • University of Tennessee, B.A., 1992

Awards & Honors

Legal 500 United States, Immigration 

Chambers USA, 2021-2024

Business Today, Florida’s Top 10 Influential Immigration Lawyers of 2023

  • Georgia
  • American Immigration Lawyers Association
  • Invest In the USA (IIUSA), Allied Member
  • The Georgia Bar, Immigration Law Section
  • European American Chamber of Commerce Florida Chapter, Board Member
  • Cutler Oaks Homeowners Association, Treasurer