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Overview
Alan is Chair of Tonkon Torp’s Business Immigration Practice Group and focuses his practice on employment-based immigration and counseling on employment law matters relating to foreign nationals. He represents clients before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, as well as the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Labor.
Alan’s practice focuses on assisting large and small companies with the hiring and retention of foreign national employees. This primarily includes filing petitions with the government, both for temporary and permanent resident status, for executive, managerial, and specialized knowledge transferees of multinational corporations, professionals, individuals of extraordinary ability, and outstanding researchers.
He also advises clients on continuing employment issues involving foreign nationals in the United States, mergers and acquisitions involving foreign national employees, recruiting, reductions in force, and Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification and E-Verify.
Prior to joining Tonkon Torp in 2007, Alan practiced immigration law for several years in San Francisco with large national firms.
Alan’s practice focuses on assisting large and small companies with the hiring and retention of foreign national employees. This primarily includes filing petitions with the government, both for temporary and permanent resident status, for executive, managerial, and specialized knowledge transferees of multinational corporations, professionals, individuals of extraordinary ability, and outstanding researchers.
He also advises clients on continuing employment issues involving foreign nationals in the United States, mergers and acquisitions involving foreign national employees, recruiting, reductions in force, and Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification and E-Verify.
Prior to joining Tonkon Torp in 2007, Alan practiced immigration law for several years in San Francisco with large national firms.
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Featured Work
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Community Involvement & Activities
Oregon State Bar International Law Section Executive Committee
Secretary
Past Chair
Past Treasurer
Society of Human Resource Management
Member
AILA / USCIS California Service Center Liaison Committee
Past Member
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Professional Memberships
American Immigration Lawyers Association
Multnomah Bar Association
Portland Human Resource Management Association
Multnomah Bar Association
Portland Human Resource Management Association
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Awards & Recognition
The Best Lawyers in America
2018-2022, Immigration Law
Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers
2010-2021, Labor & Employment: Immigration
Super Lawyers
2010, Oregon Rising Star – Immigration
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Recent News
8.19.2021
Best Lawyers in America® Includes 53 Tonkon Torp Attorneys on 2022 List
Fifty-three Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 39 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2022
5.21.2021
Chambers USA 2021 Ranks 23 Tonkon Torp Attorneys
Chambers USA has recognized 23 Tonkon Torp attorneys in seven practice areas in its Chambers USA 2021 guide.
3.18.2021
Immigration Attorneys Brief Employers on Immigration Under Biden and H-1B Cap Season
On February 11, Business Immigration partners Alan Perkins and Melany Savitt hosted a webinar to help employers prepare for the upcoming H-1B Cap season, and to preview early changes to immigration made by the Biden administration.
12.22.2020
Business Immigration Attorneys Hold Encore of Popular Year-End Employer Briefing
On December 10, Tonkon Torp Business Immigration lawyers Alan Perkins, Turid Owren, Melina LaMorticella, and Melany Savitt hosted an encore presentation of their Annual Immigration Update for employers to review changes and challenges in business…
12.1.2020
Business Immigration Attorneys Host Year-End Employer Briefing
On November 12, Tonkon Torp Business Immigration lawyers Alan Perkins, Turid Owren, Melina LaMorticella, and Melany Savitt hosted their Annual Immigration Update for employers. The briefing covered changes in and challenges for business immigration…
9.22.2020
Business Immigration Webinar Looks at the Impact of COVID-19 and Trump
On September 10, Tonkon Torp’s Immigration Practice Group launched a recurring webinar series to help businesses navigate and preview changes affecting business immigration. Attorneys Melina LaMorticella, Alan Perkins, and Melany Savitt hosted the…
8.20.2020
Best Lawyers in America® Includes 49 Tonkon Torp Attorneys on 2021 List
Forty-nine Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 36 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2021. A majority of attorneys have been named to the peer-review list in past years, and most have been recognized for more…
4.27.2020
Chambers USA Names 20 Tonkon Torp Attorneys in 2020 Ranking
Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business has recognized 20 Tonkon Torp attorneys in seven practice areas in its 2020 USA Guide. Eighteen of the Tonkon Torp attorneys named have been previously ranked by Chambers.
2.25.2020
Tonkon Torp Immigration Attorneys Brief Employers on the 2020 H-1B Cap Season
On February 6, attorneys from Tonkon Torp’s Immigration Practice Group held a briefing for employers to help them prepare for the upcoming H-1B Cap season. Attorneys Melina LaMorticella, Turid Owren, Alan Perkins, and Melany Savitt led a program that…
9.30.2019
Tonkon Torp Hosts Employers for Worksite Enforcement Business Immigration Briefing
Tonkon Torp Business Immigration lawyers Alan Perkins, Turid Owren, Melina LaMorticella, and Melany Savitt hosted their annual business immigration briefing for employers focusing on worksite enforcement by ICE, DOL, and USCIS.
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Recent Alerts
10.6.2021
2023 DV Lottery Registration Open Oct. 6 to Nov. 9
Online registration for the 2023 DV Lottery (DV2023) opened Wednesday, October 6, 2021 at 12:00 PM (noon) Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), and closes Tuesday, November 9, 2021 at 12:00 PM (noon) Eastern Standard Time (EST) (GMT-5).
5.5.2021
USCIS Suspends Biometrics Collection for I-539 Applications for H-4, L-2, E Nonimmigrants
On May 3, 2021, as a result of litigation challenging processing delays, USCIS agreed that it will issue a policy to temporarily suspend biometrics requirements for I-539 applicants requesting an extension of stay or change of status for H-4, L-2…
5.3.2021
Travel from India to the U.S. Restricted Starting May 4
The Biden Administration issued a Proclamation on April 30, 2021, adding India to the list of COVID-related travel bans.
2.8.2021
H-1B Lottery Updates for Fiscal Year 2022
On February 5, 2021 the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced H-1B Cap Registrations for the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY 2022) lottery will be accepted from March 9, 2021 (noon Eastern) through March 25, 2021 (noon Eastern). USCIS…
1.27.2021
Biden Administration Executive Orders Impact International Travel
The Biden Administration issued a Proclamation on January 25, 2021 reinstating the COVID-related travel bans put in place and slated to be lifted on January 26, 2021 by the Trump Administration.
1.14.2021
DOL Publishes Final Rule Impacting Prevailing Wages
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published a final rule to incorporate changes to the computation of prevailing wage levels for H-1B, H-1B1, and E-3 temporary classifications, as well as for certain permanent residence cases requiring labor…
1.13.2021
Negative COVID-19 Test or Recovery Documentation Required of All U.S. Inbound Air Travelers
The CDC has issued an Order effective January 26, 2021 impacting all U.S inbound air travelers two years of age or older, including U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. The Order applies to all flights, including commercial, private, and…
1.8.2021
New Regulation Creates Wage-Based Selection Process for H-1B Lottery
On January 8, 2021, the Department of Homeland Security published a new regulation that will change the annual H-1B cap selection process from random selection to wage-based selection. In short, USCIS will rank and select H-1B cap registrations that…
1.5.2021
Trump Extends Suspension of Entry for Certain Immigrants and Nonimmigrants Until March 31, 2021
On December 31, 2020, the Trump Administration extended the proclamations suspending entry of foreign nationals outside the United States seeking certain nonimmigrant (temporary) work visas and immigrant visas (green cards) until March 31, 2021.
12.3.2020
October 2020 DOL and DHS Interim Final Rules Set Aside
On December 1, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California set aside the Interim Final Rules issued in October 2020 by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
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Publications & Presentations
"USCIS Suspends Biometrics Collection for I-539 Applications for H-4, L-2, E Nonimmigrants, Tonkon Torp Legal Update, May 2021
"Travel from India to the U.S. Restricted Starting May 4," Tonkon Torp Legal Update, May 2021
“Immigration Under the Biden Administration, plus H-1B Cap,” February 2021
"H-1B Lottery Updates for Fiscal Year 2022," Tonkon Torp Legal Update, February 2021
"Biden Administration Executive Orders Impact International Travel," Tonkon Torp Legal Update, January 2021
"DOL Publishes Final Rule Impacting Prevailing Wages," Tonkon Torp Legal Update, January 2021
"Negative COVID-19 Test or Recovery Documentation Required of All U.S. Inbound Air Travelers," Tonkon Torp Legal Update, January 2021
"New Regulation Creates Wage-Based Selection Process for H-1B Lottery," Tonkon Torp Legal Update, January 2021
"Trump Extends Suspension of Entry for Certain Immigrants and Nonimmigrants Until March 31, 2021," Tonkon Torp Legal Update, January 2021
"Annual Immigration Update - An Encore Presentation," December 2020
"October 2020 DOL and DHS Interim Final Rules Set Aside," Tonkon Torp Legal Update, December 2020
"Annual Immigration Update" Tonkon Torp Legal Update, November 2020
"2022 DV Lottery Registration Open Oct. 7 to Nov. 10," Tonkon Torp Legal Update, October 2020
"DHS Publishes Regulation Impacting H-1B Program," Tonkon Torp Legal Update, October 2020
"DOL Publishes Regulation Impacting Prevailing Wages," Tonkon Torp Legal Update, October 2020
"Business Immigration Update," September 2020
"Trump Proclamation Suspends Entry of Immigrant Visa Applicants Into U.S. for 60 Days," Tonkon Torp Legal Update, April 2020
"H-1B Cap Season 2020," February 2020
"Worksite Enforcement Business Immigration Briefing," September 2019
"Business Immigration Review and 2019 Forecast Briefing," December 2018
"Business Immigration for Startups," November 2018
"Global Mobility Reform Considerations in 2018," University Club of Portland, June 2018
"Practice Pointer: Overcoming H-1B Computer Programmer RFEs (Lessons Learned from 2017)," American Immigration Lawyers Association, June 2018
"Worksite Enforcement, Compliance Best Practices & Forms I-9," June 2017
"The New USCIS Computer Programmer Memo and 'Specialty Occupation'," American Immigration Lawyers Association National Seminar, June 2017
"Business Immigration 2017," Annual Northwest Regional Immigration Law Conference, March 2017
"H-1B Cap Season 2017 and Trump Administration Executive Orders," February 2017
"Business Immigration 2017," February 2017
"Employment Based Immigration and Foreign National Tax 2015 Update," Oregon State Bar International Law Section, February 2015
"The Role of the Human Resource Department in Facilitating International Assignments," Global Special Interest Group of PHRMA, February 2015
"Selected Issues Affecting H-1B Petitions," Annual Northwest Regional Immigration Law Conference, March 2012
"L-1's: Substantive Requirements and Practical Tips," Annual Northwest Regional Immigration Law Conference, February 2009