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Overview
Melina represents regional and international companies in matters related to employment-based immigration. Melina has successfully handled immigration matters for multinational corporations and regional technology firms, health care providers, and universities on non-immigrant and immigrant visa options and procedures including Conrad 30 waivers, PERM Applications and Naturalization Applications, and Extraordinary Ability Petitions.
Melina was chair for the Oregon Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association from 2016 to 2018 and Liaison to the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles for five years. She served for two years at Portland State University’s Immigration Clinic and currently mentors first year law students at Lewis & Clark. Melina is a frequent speaker on employment-related immigration.
Prior to joining Tonkon Torp, Melina practiced immigration law at a boutique firm in Portland. Before she earned her law degree, Melina worked for more than eight years as an immigration paralegal in the Portland area, she lived in Tokyo for one year, and she had a brief career as an editor in New York City.
Melina was chair for the Oregon Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association from 2016 to 2018 and Liaison to the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles for five years. She served for two years at Portland State University’s Immigration Clinic and currently mentors first year law students at Lewis & Clark. Melina is a frequent speaker on employment-related immigration.
Prior to joining Tonkon Torp, Melina practiced immigration law at a boutique firm in Portland. Before she earned her law degree, Melina worked for more than eight years as an immigration paralegal in the Portland area, she lived in Tokyo for one year, and she had a brief career as an editor in New York City.
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Get To Know
Before pursuing law, Melina worked as an editor at a science text book company in New York City. She has lived in Tokyo, Japan and Quito, Ecuador. A fluent Spanish speaker, she enjoys travel abroad with her family. Closer to home, Melina likes to hike and garden, and can often be found cheering on the sidelines of her children’s soccer games.
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Featured Work
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Community Involvement & Activities
American Immigration Lawyers Association
Oregon Chapter Chair
2016-2018
Department of Motor Vehicles
2011–2016, Liaison
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Professional Memberships
American Immigration Lawyers Association
Multnomah Bar Association
Portland Human Resources Management Association
Multnomah Bar Association
Portland Human Resources Management Association
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Awards & Recognition
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Recent News
11.21.2018
November Tonkon Talk Focuses on Business Immigration for Startups
At the November 7 Tonkon Talk, attorneys from the firm’s Business Immigration Practice Group introduced business immigration issues that impact entrepreneurs, startups, and technology companies.
9.20.2018
Tonkon Torp Hosts Employers for Business Immigration Briefing
On September 14, Tonkon Torp immigration lawyers Alan Perkins, Turid Owren, Melina LaMorticella, and Melany Savitt, along with labor and employment attorney Blerina Kotori, hosted an in-depth business immigration briefing for employers. The program…
6.5.2018
Annual Labor & Employment Law Seminar Showcases HR Superpowers
On May 10, attorneys from the Tonkon Torp Labor & Employment and Business Immigration practice groups hosted their annual Employment Law Seminar at the Oregon Zoo for nearly 200 human resource professionals and other business leaders. The 2018…
12.8.2017
Tonkon Torp Previews 2018 Immigration Landscape for Employers
Turid Owren, Alan Perkins, Melina LaMorticella, and Melany Savitt hosted an immigration law breakfast briefing for employers on December 7. The group gave a preview of the 2018 immigration landscape under the Trump Administration, discussing the…
8.25.2017
Tonkon Torp Hosts Encore of Popular Immigration Briefing
Due to popular demand, Tonkon Torp Business Immigration lawyers Turid Owren, Alan Perkins, Melina LaMorticella, and Melany Savitt, along with Labor & Employment attorney Kristin Bremer Moore, hosted an encore immigration briefing for employers…
7.10.2017
Tonkon Torp Briefs Employers on Worksite Enforcement and I-9 Issues
Tonkon Torp Business Immigration lawyers Turid Owren, Alan Perkins, Melina LaMorticella, and Melany Savitt, along with Labor & Employment attorney Kristin Bremer Moore, hosted a recent immigration law breakfast briefing for employers. The group spoke…
6.20.2017
Melina LaMorticella Moderates Panel on Business Immigration in the Healthcare Industry
On June 16, Tonkon Torp Business Immigration attorney Melina LaMorticella moderated a panel discussion for the Health Law Section of the Oregon State Bar on how immigration law impacts healthcare delivery. The discussion kicked off with an overview…
5.8.2017
Tonkon Torp Hosts 2017 Labor and Employment Law Seminar
On May 4, attorneys from the Tonkon Torp Labor & Employment and Business Immigration practice groups hosted their annual Employment Law Seminar at the Oregon Zoo for nearly 200 human resource professionals and other business leaders. The 2017 seminar…
3.8.2017
Tonkon Torp Immigration Practice Group Prepares Employers for H-1B Cap Season
On February 15, Tonkon Torp’s Immigration Practice Group held a breakfast briefing to help employers prepare for the April 2017 H-1B Cap season and to discuss how the Trump Administration could impact the program going forward. Attorneys Turid Owren…
3.8.2017
As Immigration Policy Shifts, Smarter Strategies Are Key
Tonkon Torp's Business Immigration practice group is the subject of a brand story published in the March issue of Oregon Business Magazine. The article features quotes from Turid Owren, Alan Perkins, Melany Savitt, and Melina LaMorticella and…
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Recent Alerts
10.30.2018
2020 DV Lottery Registration Deadline is Nov. 6
There is still time to register for the 2020 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV Lottery). Online registration for the DV Lottery began Wednesday, October 3, 2018 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), and will end Tuesday, November 6…
8.29.2018
USCIS Further Limits H-1B Premium Processing
On August 28, 2018, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will extend its current suspension of Premium Processing for cap subject H-1B petitions. Effective September 11, 2018, USCIS is also expanding the Premium…
2.7.2018
New (Cap) H-1B Filings - April 2-6 Deadline
H-1B season is underway! U.S. employers can file for new H-1B visas on behalf of prospective or existing employees beginning April 2, 2018. The anticipated window for filing new H-1B petitions under the USCIS H-1B quota for FY2019 is April 2 through…
9.22.2017
Diversity Visa Lottery 2019 Open October 3 to November 7
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has announced registration dates for the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program 2019 (DV Lottery). Online registration for the DV Lottery opens Tuesday, October 3, 2017 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4…
9.21.2017
Premium Processing Resumes for H-1B Cap Cases
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it has resumed premium processing for all H-1B petitions subject to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 cap.
8.31.2017
USCIS to Require In-Person Interviews for Employment-Based Permanent Residence Applicants
On August 28, 2017, USCIS announced that it will be phasing in interviews for employment-based applicants for adjustment of status to permanent residence. The phase-in will begin October 1, and requires employees in temporary nonimmigrant status who…
6.26.2017
U.S. Supreme Court Allows Travel Ban to Go Into Effect, With Limitations
On June 26, 2017, the U.S. Supreme Court (Court) permitted the "Travel Ban" set forth in the second Executive Order issued by President Trump on March 6, 2017 (EO-2) to temporarily go into effect, with constraints. EO-2 provided for a 90-day ban on U…
6.9.2017
U.S. Department of Labor to Increase Enforcement of H-1B and Other Visa Programs
On June 6, 2017, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced that it will increase activities to combat fraud and abuse in employment-based visa programs. This will include not only H-1B visas, but other types of nonimmigrant visas, such as the H-2B…
6.2.2017
Trump Administration Appeals Decision on Trump "Travel Ban #2" to U.S. Supreme Court
After the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the preliminary injunction on the Trump Administration's "Travel Ban #1," President Trump issued a new Executive Order on March 6, 2017 that included a temporary 90-day ban on U.S. entries by citizens…
4.7.2017
USCIS Announces FY2018 H-1B Cap Reached
On April 7, 2017, USCIS announced that the H-1B cap for fiscal year 2018 was reached within the five business day filing window running from April 3-7, 2017. This includes both the U.S. advanced degree cap preference limit of 20,000 visas and the…
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Publications & Presentations
"Business Immigration for Startups," November 2018
"Worksite Enforcement, Compliance Best Practices & Forms I-9," June 2017
"What Immigration Means to Healthcare Delivery in Oregon," Oregon State Bar Health Law Section, June 2017
"H-1B Cap Season 2017 and Trump Administration Executive Orders," February 2017
"Business Immigration 2017," February 2017
"Employment-Based Immigration," American Immigration Lawyers Association, Oregon Chapter, May 2016
"Recent Developments in L Visas," Northwest Regional Immigration Law Conference, American Immigration Lawyers Association, March 2016
"Getting Ready for H-1B Cap Season," January 2016
"INA 204(l) – Navigating the Law for Surviving Relatives and Others Measures of Extraordinary Relief," Northwest Regional Immigration Law Conference, American Immigration Lawyers Association, March 2015
"The Role of the Human Resource Department in Facilitating International Assignments," Global Special Interest Group of PHRMA, February 2015