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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
2016-2018, Oregon Chapter Chair
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
Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers
2020-2021, Labor & Employment: Immigration
2019, Associates to Watch – Labor & Employment: Immigration
2019, Associates to Watch – Labor & Employment: Immigration
The Best Lawyers in America
2021, Ones to Watch – Immigration Law
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Recent News
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.
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…
8.21.2020
Nine Rising Tonkon Torp Attorneys Included on 2021 “Ones to Watch” List
Nine Tonkon Torp lawyers representing nine practice groups have been honored in Best Lawyers' inaugural Ones to Watch directory. Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch is a peer-review honor focused on acknowledging attorneys who have been in private practice…
7.29.2020
Melina LaMorticella Joins UO Town Hall in Support of International Students
Tonkon Torp Business Immigration partner Melina LaMorticella participated in a virtual town hall hosted by University of Oregon President Michael Schill to help international students navigate this time of crisis and change.
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.
3.20.2020
Melina LaMorticella and Melany Savitt Review 2020 H-1B Season for AILA Oregon
Tonkon Torp partners Melina LaMorticella and Melany Savitt led a CLE program for the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Oregon chapter on the 2020 H-1B lottery season. The attorneys reviewed the competitive H-1B program from both the…
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…
12.11.2019
Tonkon Torp Announces Three New Partners
Tonkon Torp LLP has elected Claire Brown, Melina LaMorticella, and Melany Savitt to the partnership, effective January 1, 2020.
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Recent Alerts
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…
1.8.2021
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…
6.23.2020
Trump Proclamation Suspends Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants
On June 22, 2020, President Trump issued a Presidential Proclamation temporarily suspending entry into the United States of foreign nationals seeking certain nonimmigrant (temporary) work visas.
3.25.2020
The Impact of COVID-19 on Business Immigration
COVID-19 is rapidly affecting business immigration in multiple ways. Below is an outline of key impacts to date. Additional current information and details can be provided by attorneys in the Immigration and Labor and Employment practice groups.
12.10.2019
H-1B Cap Electronic Registration: March 1-20, 2020
USCIS has announced that it will utilize a new electronic registration process for FY2021 H-1B cap petitions. Registrations must be submitted from March 1 through March 20, 2020. USCIS will charge a $10 registration fee.
10.1.2019
2021 DV Lottery Registration Oct. 2 to Nov. 5
Online registration for the 2021 DV Lottery (DV2021) begins Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), and will end Tuesday, November 5, 2019 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Standard Time (EST) (GMT-5).
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Publications & Presentations
"Business Immigration Update," September 2020
Panelist, "International Student Town Hall," University of Oregon, July 2020
"H-1B Cap Season 2020," American Immigration Lawyers Association, Oregon Chapter, February 2020
“H-1B Cap Season 2020,” February 2020
"Worksite Enforcement Business Immigration Briefing," September 2019
“Visas – Who Can Come? Who Can Stay?” Annual Labor & Employment Law Update, May 2019
"Business Immigration Review and 2019 Forecast Briefing," December 2018
"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