Tonkon Torp Immigration Attorneys Speak at AILA NW Regional Conference

On September 21 and 22, attorneys from Tonkon Torp’s Immigration Practice spoke on panels at the AILA NW Regional Conference.

Alan Perkins joined a panel that provided a comprehensive review of the PERM process. The panelists covered intake, initial considerations, analysis, duties and requirements workup, prevailing wage requests, recruitment, electronic filing, and audits. The panelists also reviewed recent updates to PERM and general practice tips.

Turid Owren’s panel focused on recent trends in USCIS Requests for Evidence (RFEs). The panelists reviewed common RFEs received for H-1B, L-1, O-1, EB-1, and PERM-based EB-2 petitions. They also shared successful strategies for responding to RFEs, how to approach USCIS regarding RFE overreach or errors, and resubmitting evidence.

Melina LaMorticella and Melany Savitt participated together on two panels. The first was a comprehensive review of H-1B petitions. The panelists walked new practitioners through the H-1B legal standard, the H-1B cap and registration process, USCIS filing process, required forms and supporting documents for petition filing, employer obligations, period of stay, and derivative family members.

Melina and Melany’s second panel was an advanced track session on H-1B petitions that examined updates, in particular from the last three years. The wide-ranging conversation included the H-1B lottery, options for filings for Cap-Exempt employers and worksites, securing H-1B visa appointments, remote work/work-from-home for H-1B employees, and how RFEs have evolved since 2020. The panelists also looked at priority date advancements for H-1B employees from India and China and shared strategies to preserve eligibility for AC21 extensions beyond the six year maximum period of stay. They wrapped up with a discussion on how the labor market is impacting attorneys’ H-1B practice.

Tonkon Torp’s Business Immigration Practice Group counsels businesses on the full suite of immigration options and compliance matters relating to employment of foreign national employees.