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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 Portland Center Stage @ The Armory. Previously, she served on the Board of Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest, and before that as the Director of Mentors for Minds Matter of Portland, Inc. Turid also served 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, reading, writing, traveling internationally, 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 Portland Center Stage @ The Armory. Previously, she served on the Board of Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest, and before that as the Director of Mentors for Minds Matter of Portland, Inc. Turid also served 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, reading, writing, traveling internationally, 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
2012-2018, Member, Board of Directors
Marathon Partners
2007-Present, Partner
Portland Center Stage @ The Armory
2018-Present, Member, Board of Directors
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
2012-2018, Member, Board of Directors
Marathon Partners
2007-Present, Partner
Portland Center Stage @ The Armory
2018-Present, Member, Board of Directors
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
Who's Who Legal
2015-2021, 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
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…
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.
3.11.2020
Immigration Group Speaks to International Students at Reed College
On February 11, Turid Owren, Melany Savitt, and Erika Robles Jones spoke to international students at Reed College about their options for U.S. employment after they graduate. They reviewed optional practical training, the process for obtaining an H…
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.
8.15.2019
2020 List for Best Lawyers in America® Includes 48 Tonkon Torp Attorneys
Forty-eight Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 39 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2020. A majority of attorneys have been named to the list in past years, and most have been recognized for more than five…
4.29.2019
Chambers USA Names 23 Tonkon Torp Attorneys in 2019 Ranking
Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business has recognized 23 Tonkon Torp attorneys in seven practice areas in its 2019 USA Guide.
1.8.2019
Business Immigration Attorneys Host Annual Employer Briefing
On December 7, Tonkon Torp Business Immigration lawyers Alan Perkins, Turid Owren, Melina LaMorticella, and Melany Savitt hosted their annual year-end briefing for employers to review business immigration changes in 2018 and forecasts for 2019.
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Recent Alerts
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.
10.14.2020
2022 DV Lottery Registration Open Oct. 7 to Nov. 10
Online registration for the 2022 DV Lottery (DV2022) opened Wednesday, October 7, 2020 at 12:00 PM (noon) Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), and closes Tuesday, November 10, 2020 at 12:00 PM (noon) Eastern Standard Time (EST) (GMT -5). For DV2022…
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.
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
"U.S. Employment Options Post-Graduation for International Students," Reed College, February 2020
"H-1B Cap Season 2020," February 2020
"Worksite Enforcement Business Immigration Briefing," September 2019
"Business Immigration Review and 2019 Forecast Briefing," December 2018
"Practice Pointer: Overcoming H-1B Computer Programmer RFEs (Lessons Learned from 2017)," American Immigration Lawyers Association, June 2018
"H-1B Cap Season 2020," February 2020
"Worksite Enforcement Business Immigration Briefing," September 2019
"Business Immigration Review and 2019 Forecast Briefing," December 2018
"Practice Pointer: Overcoming H-1B Computer Programmer RFEs (Lessons Learned from 2017)," American Immigration Lawyers Association, June 2018