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Overview
Turid has practiced immigration law since 1988. She founded the firm’s Immigration Practice Group in 1999 and served as its chair for more than 18 years. Turid advises clients on employment-related immigration and other immigration matters. Her diverse client base includes both startups and international companies, as well as individuals.
Turid currently serves as Chair of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Business Immigration Response Team, which issues practice advisories on current topics to attorneys nationally. She previously served as a member of the USCIS HQ Benefits Committee, and as AILA's liaison to the USCIS Administrative Appeals Office for eight years. She is a past member of AILA's Service Center Operations Committee, a past member of AILA's Ombudsman Liaison Committee, a past Chair of AILA's USCIS Nebraska Service Center Liaison Committee, and a past Chair of the Oregon Chapter of AILA. She is a speaker at AILA conferences both regionally and nationally. Turid has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America®, Chambers and Partners USA, and Who’s Who Legal: Corporate Immigration for her achievements in immigration law.
Turid has been active in the local bar throughout her career. She served as a mentor for young lawyers through the Multnomah Bar Association Mentor Program, a program she helped launch in 1993. Turid is a past member of the Executive Committee of the International Law Section of the Oregon State Bar, a past Chair of the Multnomah Bar Association’s Professionalism Committee, and a past President of the Young Lawyers Section of the Multnomah Bar Association.
In the community, Turid currently serves on the Board of Directors of Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest. She previously served as Director of Mentors for Minds Matter of Portland, Inc., on a board at her children's elementary school, and as legal advisor for more than 10 years to Friendly House, a neighborhood social services agency for senior citizens and families in transition.
Turid is married to E. Walter Van Valkenburg and is the mother of two children. Her interests include education, parenting, reading, traveling, and walking.
Turid currently serves as Chair of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Business Immigration Response Team, which issues practice advisories on current topics to attorneys nationally. She previously served as a member of the USCIS HQ Benefits Committee, and as AILA's liaison to the USCIS Administrative Appeals Office for eight years. She is a past member of AILA's Service Center Operations Committee, a past member of AILA's Ombudsman Liaison Committee, a past Chair of AILA's USCIS Nebraska Service Center Liaison Committee, and a past Chair of the Oregon Chapter of AILA. She is a speaker at AILA conferences both regionally and nationally. Turid has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America®, Chambers and Partners USA, and Who’s Who Legal: Corporate Immigration for her achievements in immigration law.
Turid has been active in the local bar throughout her career. She served as a mentor for young lawyers through the Multnomah Bar Association Mentor Program, a program she helped launch in 1993. Turid is a past member of the Executive Committee of the International Law Section of the Oregon State Bar, a past Chair of the Multnomah Bar Association’s Professionalism Committee, and a past President of the Young Lawyers Section of the Multnomah Bar Association.
In the community, Turid currently serves on the Board of Directors of Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest. She previously served as Director of Mentors for Minds Matter of Portland, Inc., on a board at her children's elementary school, and as legal advisor for more than 10 years to Friendly House, a neighborhood social services agency for senior citizens and families in transition.
Turid is married to E. Walter Van Valkenburg and is the mother of two children. Her interests include education, parenting, reading, traveling, and walking.
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Get To Know
Turid is fascinated by people and cultures and loves to travel and visit the countries from which her clients emigrate. She attributes her affinity for people to her parents, who immigrated to the U.S. from Norway and encouraged her to be inquisitive of other cultures.
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Featured Work
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Community Involvement & Activities
American Immigration Lawyers Association
2018-Present, Chair, AILA Business Immigration Response Team
2004-Present, liaison on various AILA committees
1991-Present, Member
AILA Oregon Chapter
1991-Present, Member
2001-2002, Chapter Chair
Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest
2012-Present, Member, Board of Directors
Marathon Partners
2007-Present, Partner
Reed College Women’s Committee
1990-Present, Member
1991-1992, Chair
Women Presidents’ Organization
2009-2012, Member, Board of Directors
Minds Matter of Portland, Inc.
2006-2010, Director of Mentors
Chapman Elementary School Site Council
2000-2002 and 2003-2005, Parent Member
2018-Present, Chair, AILA Business Immigration Response Team
2004-Present, liaison on various AILA committees
1991-Present, Member
AILA Oregon Chapter
1991-Present, Member
2001-2002, Chapter Chair
Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest
2012-Present, Member, Board of Directors
Marathon Partners
2007-Present, Partner
Reed College Women’s Committee
1990-Present, Member
1991-1992, Chair
Women Presidents’ Organization
2009-2012, Member, Board of Directors
Minds Matter of Portland, Inc.
2006-2010, Director of Mentors
Chapman Elementary School Site Council
2000-2002 and 2003-2005, Parent Member
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Professional Memberships
American Immigration Lawyers Association
Multnomah Bar Association
Oregon State Bar
Multnomah Bar Association
Oregon State Bar
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Awards & Recognition
The Best Lawyers in America
2005-2019, Immigration Law
Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers
2010-2018, Labor & Employment: Immigration
Super Lawyers
2006-2012, Oregon Super Lawyer – Immigration
Who's Who Legal
2015-2018, Corporate Immigration
American Immigration Lawyers Association, Oregon Chapter
2011 – Gerald H. Robinson Excellence in Advocacy Award
American Immigration Lawyers Association
2007 – Presidential Award for Outstanding Leadership in Liaison
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Recent News
8.17.2018
Best Lawyers in America® Names 51 Tonkon Torp Attorneys to 2019 List
Fifty-one Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 41 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2019. Nearly all attorneys have been named to the list in past years, and have been recognized for more than five years
6.4.2018
Chambers USA Names 20 Tonkon Torp Attorneys as Leaders in Their Field
Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business has named 20 Tonkon Torp attorneys in seven practice areas as leaders in their field for 2018. The annual reference directory ranks Oregon’s leading lawyers based on interviews with clients and…
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…
8.16.2017
Best Lawyers in America® Names 49 Tonkon Torp Attorneys to 2018 List
Forty-nine Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 39 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2018. Nearly all attorneys have been named to the list in past years, and have been recognized for more than five years…
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…
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…
3.27.2017
18 Tonkon Torp Attorneys Named Leaders in Their Field by Peers and Clients
Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers for Business has named 18 Tonkon Torp attorneys in seven practice areas as leaders in their field for 2017. The annual reference directory ranks Oregon’s leading lawyers based on interviews with clients and…
3.21.2017
Tonkon Torp Sponsors 2017 Power of the Purse Fundraiser
On March 17, Tonkon Torp was a Patron Sponsor for the eighth consecutive year at Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest's annual "Power of the Purse" auction. Turid Owren has been a Girls Inc. board member since 2012.
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…
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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…
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…
4.19.2017
New Executive Order Targets H-1B Visas
On April 18, 2017, President Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) entitled "Buy American and Hire American," which addresses the H-1B visa program, among other topics. The EO primarily sets policy looking forward, directing the Departments of State…
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…