LACC OF AILA PRESENTS
Winning Strategies
NOVEMBER 6&7, 2023 - MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY
We are also making reservations for a group dinner Monday evening, When you register, you will be given the option of participating in this dinner.
November 7, 2023 – CLE and cocktail party
CLE credit is being applied for:
Please note that almost every state has a procedure for obtaining CLE credit for a course approved in another state. We will provide the ethics breakdown to you upon request.
Though we have requested the participation of consular officers in our CLE and a tour of the Consulate, be aware that this is never confirmed by the Department of State (“DOS”) until approximately one or two weeks before the scheduled event. The LACC has no control over Consulate tours or Consulate participation. We are also not able to guarantee the tour due to the fact that Consulate security may cancel the tour in times of security threats. You should receive an email with instructions regarding the tour at least one week before the conference.
Please note that you should familiarize yourself with any travel advisories and exercise due diligence traversing the city. We have many special events planned.
WE THANK ALL OF OUR SPONSORS!
Tuesday, November 7, 2023
Plenary Panel
- EB-5, Where Are we Now, Litigation, Processing Times and Nuances
- Removal Proceedings and Priorities, Reopening, Terminations and P.D.
- Case Processing, Backlogs, Consular Processing Issues, and NVC Issues
- H-1B Debacle, Developments and Ethical Considerations of Multiple Registrations
- Legislative Wins, Losses and Open Issues
- Recent Border Developments
- When to Use Schedule A Group II and Requirements
Alexis Axelrad, Esq., 2nd Vice-President, AILA, NY, NY (moderator)
H. Ronald Klasko, Esq., Past-President, AILA, Phil., Pa.
Leslie Holman, Esq., Past-President, AILA, Burlington, Vt.
Kelli Stump, Esq., President-Elect, AILA, Oklahoma City, Ok.
L and Es—Is USCIS/DOS on Life Support?
- Tips for Keeping Your Client in status with Consular Delays and Allowing Your Client to Travel Including Visa Revalidation
- Is USCIS Prejudiced Against Blanket L and Blanket L Extensions?
- How to Deal with weak Company Performance, especially due to COVID
- Can one secure an E-2 with an investment under $50,000?
- Complex Issues and Consular Nuances (third country processing, investment amount, essential worker, Order of Documents, Remote Offices, In the Process of Investing v. Real and Operating, overcoming fraud determinations)
- Tips for Handling Overlapping Manager/Executive Duties in the L
- Does Approval of the L Extension Mean an EB1-C Will be Approved?
- Third Country Processing of E Visas, Is it Available?
Ramon Curiel, Esq., San Antonio, Tx. (moderator)
Teri Simmons, Esq., Atlanta, Ga.
Fuji Whittenburg, Esq., Calabasas, Ca.
Consular officer invited)
Coffee Break
Labor Certs, Extraordinary Ability, National Interest: The Path of Least Resistance
- Factors to Consider in Evaluating the Case (Sponsor, Timing, Availability of Documents)
- Labor Certification Timing and the Prevailing Wage
- USCIS Adjudications-Are Officers Really Looking at the Expanded Criteria?
- Issues with the new ETA Form and Ethical Considerations
- Issues to Consider in Deciding Whether to Concurrently File Adjustment Applications
- Remote Work and Its Impact on the Labor Certification Process
- When to Use Schedule A Group II and Requirements
- How to File a Labor Certification as Exceptional Ability
- Tips for Proving Your Client is Extraordinary or that Her Residence is in the National Interest
- The Impact of a Favorable O-1a Adjudication on EB1-A
Susan Fortino, Esq., Chicago, Ill.
Maria Casablanca, Esq., Miami, Fl.
Kari Ann Fonte, Esq., Coral Gables, Fl.
Laura J. Mazel, Esq., San Francisco, Ca.
H-1B, H-1B1, E-3 and TN: Why, When and Where and Which One?
- Considerations in Selecting the Visa Classification (Nationality, Consulate and Consular Backlogs, Port of Entry, Visa Availability, Dual Intent, Position)
- Who is Eligible?
- Is USCIS Prejudiced Against Experience Evaluations?
- Is There an Anti-Indian backlash?
- Tips for Proving the Occupation is a Specialty Position
- Must the Degree Match the Specialty Occupation, especially for TNs?
- Exemptions from the H-1B Cap Quota (Concurrent Employment/Affiliation/Working at)
- Planning in Advance for the Perm and Prospective Changes to Salary and Job Duties
- Remote and Self-Employment Considerations
- When is a new LCA and H-1B Required?
- Ethical Considerations
Leslie Holman, Esq., Past- President, AILA, Burlington, Vt. (moderator)
Jeffrey A. Devore, Esq., Palm Beach Gardens, Fl.
Linda Rose, Esq., Nashville, Tn.
Mercedes Badia-Tavas, Esq., Chicago, Ill.
Lunch
Tips for Dealing with the Consulates, Seeking Advisory Opinions and dealing with ESTA Issues and Revocation
Amanda Brill, Esq., London, U.K.
Stephen Pattison, Esq., Portsmouth, N.H.
Daniel Parisi, Esq., Brussels, Belgium
O’s and P’s
- Preponderance of the Evidence and Kazarian Issues
- O-1 Requirement that Athlete be Coming to Compete at Internationally Recognized Level
- Itinerary Changes in a Post-Covid World
- Contract Requirements When Using an Agent as Petitioner
- Securing Urgent Visa Appointments
- Ensuring Petitioner is in Good Standing in State of Incorporation
- Dual intent and Ethical Considerations
Don Mooers, Esq., Silver Springs, Md. (moderator)
Maite Hoyos, Esq., Miami, Fl.
Flavia Santos Lloyd, Esq., Irvine, Ca.
Diana Okoeva, Esq., London, U.K.
Challenges to Filing the I-140
- Proving Ability to Pay, Especially Post Covid
- Special Issues with Small Companies, Partnerships and Sole Proprietorships
- Tips for Using new USCIS Ability to Pay Memo
- Proving Experience When Prior Employer No Longer Exists or Self- Employed
- Interfiling, how, when, why and the impact on portability (if someone already Ported, or Intends to Port) and Ethical Considerations
- Is Interfiling Different Than Selecting Which I-140 to Use?
- Is it Ever Better to File an Amended I-140 as Opposed to a New I-140?
Cyrus Mehta, Esq., N.Y., N.Y (moderator)
Eleanor Pelta, Esq., Past-President, AILA, Washington, D.C.
Alexis Axelrad, Esq., NY, NY
Ellen Freeman, Esq., Pittsburgh, Pa.
Adjustment: Entering the Maize
- Will a non-dual intent NIV be Denied if an I-140 or I-526 is approved?
- Can an NIV be Extended while the Adjustment is Pending?
- Should Concurrent Filing Ever be Avoided?
- Can a Conditional Resident Readjust under another Preference Category?
- Can One Reapply for Adjustment if Paroled pursuant to an I-512, on a Previously Denied Adjustment, if Parole was not revoked?
- When is a Child’s Age Protected under the CSPA (before P.D. is current)?
- Dealing with the Client Who Needs the Ability to Travel and Work
H. Ronald Klasko, Esq., Phil., Pa. (moderator)
Tammy Fox-Isicoff, Esq., AILA BOG, Miami, Fl.
David Grunblatt, Esq., N.Y., N.Y.
Coffee Break
TPS/Humanitarian Parole and Cuban Adjustment: The Nuances
- When Can an Applicant with TPS Change Status or Adjust Status?
- Does One Lose Nonimmigrant Status on TPS?
- The Impact of TPS on Unlawful Presence
- What is the Current Protocol for Processing Cuban Entrants?
- Tips for Filing Humanitarian Parole Requests and Processing Issues
- Advance Parole, When and How Can Your Client Get it
- What is the Fate of Those on Humanitarian Parole?
- Adjustment of status/labor certifications and a Path Towards Residence
- The Future of TPS
Elina Santana, Esq., Miami, Fl. (moderator)
Mildred Morgado, Esq., Miami, Fl.
Sarah Owings, Esq., Atlanta, Ga.
Antonia Canero, Esq., Miami, Fl.
Talk to the Experts: How To Become a Successful Immigration Lawyer (Ask Your Questions)
- What Do You Attribute Your Success to?
- How Important are Marketing, Social Media and Ratings, and How to Improve Yours?
- What is the Best Source of New Business?
- How to Stay Ahead of the Curve and Reinvent Yourself?
- Is a Good Case Management System Important?
- Setting a $ Valuation on Your Work and Improving Collections
- Ethical Considerations in Building your Business
- Chat GPT-Ethical Responsibilities
- Ensuring that you Protect Client Confidentiality
Ramon Curiel, Esq.,Esq., Senior Director San Antonio, Tx. (moderator)
Reid Trautz, Esq., Senior Director Practice and Professionalism AILA, Washington, D.C.
Clayton Cartwright, Esq., Columbus, Ga.
David Ware, Esq., Metairie, Louisiana
COCTAIL PARTY sponsored by
PLEASE PAY CORRECT $$ AMOUNT, AS PER THE INFORMATION BELOW
Registration on or before October 1, 2023
Registration $250 for speakers only
Registration $300 for AILA LACC Members only
Registration $395 AILA non-LACC Chapter Members
Registration $495 non-AILA Members
Add $75 for late registrants (anyone registering after October 15, 2023).
Events not included in CLE fee can be registered for at time of online registration
Registration for extra events is only available before October 1, 2023.
Housekeeping issues: Refunds for cancelled registration will be provided, if notice of cancellation is emailed to jdevore@devorelawgroup.com on or before October 1, 2023. A $50 processing fee will be withheld.
Registration includes: continental breakfast, lunch, coffee breaks, cocktail reception, and conference materials.
Hotel Accommodations
A limited block of rooms has been reserved at the
We encourage you to book early as we have secured a rate well below the rack rate, and our block will go quickly!
To make a hotel reservation contact: Margarita.dupuy@sofitel.com and include dates of stay, type of room and cc authorization.
Consulate Tour
We are arranging a tour of the Consulate for Monday, November 6, 2023. An extra $40 will be collected if you will be attending this tour, as we have chartered a bus to the consulate from the hotel. Once a maximum of 40 people have signed up, the tour will be closed. Please note that often times the consulate limits the tour to a set number of people. In this case, we will assign priority based on the order of registration.