LACC OF AILA PRESENTS
Staying Ahead Of The Game
NOVEMBER 14&15, 2024 - PANAMA CITY, PANAMA
November 14, 2024– Tour of U.S. Embassy Panama City (requested):
Though we have requested a tour of the Consulate, the Consulate has not confirmed. However, Consular officials have agreed to participate in the CLE. If a Consular tour is confirmed, information on how to register for the tour will be made available to those registered for the conference.
DINNER:
We are also making reservations for a group dinner Thursday evening. When you register, you will be given the option of participating in this dinner.
November 15, 2024 – CLE and Cocktail party
HOTEL:
A very reasonable hotel rate has been secured at the luxury conference hotel, the Bristol, which can be made online through a dedicated link, based on availability up to 30 days prior to the CLE. Please note that this is a busy time in Panama City and you should book early. There are other hotels in the area and in the old city, if you are inclined to stay elsewhere.
CLE Credits:
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.
Please 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!
Friday, November 15, 2024
Registration and Continental Breakfast
Plenary Panel
- Legislative Developments
- EB-5, Where Are we Now, Litigation, Processing Times and Nuances
- Litigation of Significance, including Fee Litigation
- Removal Proceedings and Priorities, Reopening, Terminations and P.D.
- Case Processing, Backlogs, Consular Processing Issues, and NVC Issues
- U.S. citizens wanting Third Country Passports and Residence
- Recent Border Developments
- Premium Processing Developments
- Consular Developments, Visa Revalidation and Third Country Processing
Kelli Stump, Esq., AILA President, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (moderator)
H. Ronald Klasko, Esq., AILA Past-President, Phil, Pa.
Alexis Axelrad, Esq., AILA 1st VP, NY, NY
Marketa Lindt, Esq., AILA Past-President, Chicago, Ill.
*interactive session where audience can share their perspective
Investors, Entrepreneurs and New Businesses, Visa Options to Consider
- Choosing the E or the L-Pros and Cons of Both
- E-1 or E-2, Which One and Why?
- The Impact of Processing Delays at Consulates, and Tactics for Keeping Client in Status
- Blanket Ls vs. Regular Ls-Why Blanket Ls are Easier
- Proving Applicant is an Essential Worker or has Specialized Knowledge
- Problems with New Business Ls and Renewals
- Executive or Manager, Can Someone be Both and ethical considerations?
- Hs for self-owned Business
Teri Simmons, Esq., Atlanta, Ga. (moderator)
Ramon Curiel, Esq., San Antonio, Tx.
Maria Casablanca, Esq., Miami, Fl.
Jared Leung, Esq, Scottsdale, Arizona
Coffee Break
Dealing with the H-1B, Winners and Losers!
- Pros and Cons of Alternative Visa Options, including H-1B1, TN, E-3, O, E, and Factors to Consider, including Ethical Considerations
- Education Options, including additional degrees, STEM degrees and Day 1 CPT
- Labor Certification and Timing
- Working Around the H-1B Cap (Exemptions and Concurrent Employment)
- Concurrent EB-1, EB-2 (national interest), Schedule A Group II and EB-5
- Issues Utilizing Experience Evaluations
- J and H-2B ethical considerations
- How to Prove Occupation Requires a Specialty Degree
- Dealing with non-Specialty Degrees (Fine Arts, Political Science, Real Estate…)
- Technology and Ethical Considerations in Using Chat GPT and Other AI to Create Job Descriptions
Anis Saleh, Esq., Miami, Fl. (moderator)
Jeffrey A. Devore, Esq., Palm Beach Gardens, Fl.
Susan Fortino, Esq., Chicago, Ill.
Mercedes Badia-Tavas, Esq., Chicago, Ill.
Fallout From the New Labor Certification Process
- Timing-How long to Obtain a Prevailing Wage, and Ethical Considerations of Multiple Prevailing Wage Applications
- Fallout of Cases Challenging Recruitment that Doesn’t Match Real World Recruitment and Ethical Considerations
- Filing Labor Certifications for Remote Positions, Positions that Require Specialized Computer Languages, Foreign Languages or Extensive Travel
- Can a Labor Certification be Filed for a Company that is Brand New or Has No Office?
- The Importance of Reviewing Applicant’s Prior Disclosures to DOS and USCIS
- Can a Labor Certification be Filed for Someone Currently in H-2B or H-1A, or J status and Ethical Considerations?
- Planning in Advance for the Perm and Prospective Changes to Salary and Job Duties
Edward White, Esq., Boston, Ma. (moderator)
Kari Fonte, Esq., Miami, Fl.
Mary Pivec, Esq., Washington, D.C.
Laura Mazel, Esq., San Francisco, Ca.
Lunch Program
Managing Difficult Cases: What to do When?
- NVC Doesn’t Receive the Approval from USCIS
- NVC Keeps Losing the Documents Submitted
- No Consular Appointment is Scheduled, Despite Case being Documentarily Qualified
- A Child is Born Abroad While Awaiting the IV Interview
- Things go Array at the Consulate including erroneous Legal Determinations, Refusing to Process a 212(d)(3) Waiver, case stuck in Administrative Processing
- Timing Reentry Biometrics When the Client is Outside the U.S.
- USCIS Errors (Denial for no Biometrics when Biometrics were Recaptured, Errors in Name, DOB, P.D., Premium Processing that Wasn’t Handled Timely)
- Ethical Considerations When You Learn that Your Client Did Not Tell You the Truth
- Dealing with 214(b) denials (interactive panel)
Fuji Whittenburg, Esq., Los Angeles, Ca. (moderator)
Amanda Brill, Esq., London, U.K.
Kelli Stump, Esq., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Alexis Axelrad, Esq. NY, NY
Complex Issues in Seeking Adjustment and/or Consular Processing
- Processing at the Consulate/USCIS where Client is OOS, but Affirmative Asylum Application is Pending
- Issues Where Client is DACA, TPS or on Humanitarian Parole
- Update on Using 245(i)
- Interfiling and Amended I-140s
- Overcoming Difficult Ability to Pay Issues
- Obtaining an NIV while P.D. isn’t Current but I-140 Filed/Approved
- Readjusting Conditional Residents, When and How to and is 245K available?
- The Impact of Slow Processing EAD and Advance Parole and Ethical Considerations in Explaining this Delay to Clients
H. Ronald Klasko, Esq., Phil., Pa. (moderator)
David Grunblatt, Esq., NY, NY
Tammy Fox-Isicoff, Esq., Miami, Fl.
Cyrus Mehta, Esq., NY, NY
Is Your Client Extraordinary or in the National Interest?
- Impact of Shortage of Workers on National Interest
- Can you Dual File National Interest and Extraordinary Petitions?
- Should you Concurrently Adjust and if so Ethical Considerations?
- Does the O-1A Easily Convert into EB1-A?
- Is There a Substantial Difference Between O-1A and O-1B?
- Issues with Agent Sponsors and Itinerary Requirements
- Tips for Documenting Your Case and the Importance of Expert Opinions
- When Does an O Require an Advisory Opinion and From Whom?
- Impact of Preponderance of Evidence Standard
Karin Wolman, Esq. NY, NY (moderator)
Carmen Arce, Esq., Miami, Fl.
Marketa Lindt, Esq., Chicago, Ill.
Marcine Seid, Esq., Palo Alta, Ca.
The Waiver Voyage
- When Can a 601A be Filed, and Tips for Dealing With Clients in Removal Proceedings or Issued an NTA that Hasn’t been Filed?
- Can a 601A be Filed if There is another Ground of Inadmissibility?
- Tips for Preparing and Filing a 212(d)(3) Waiver
- How to Process a Fraud or Criminal Waiver with a Deportation Waive
- Dealing with Processing Delays and Does it Ever Make Sense to Just Let the Time Bar Lapse?
- Preparing Waivers in Advance Where You Know Client will Need One
- Ethical Considerations for Protecting Yourself when Client Hasn’t Advised you about a Potential Ground of Inadmissibility (alien smuggling, child when to public school on F-1 visa, client changed status 30 days after admission to U.S.)
- Managing Client Expectations and Ethical Considerations
David Leopold, Esq., AILA Past-President, Cleveland, Ohio (moderator)
Cheryl David, Esq., NY, NY
Antonio G. Revilla, III, Esq., Miami, Fl.
Elina Santana, Esq., Miami, Fl.
Coffee Break
Dealing With Complex Student Issues
- Challenges in Maintaining Status: OPT, CPT, STEM OPT and Requirements
- Will an F visa be Issued if an Immigrant Petition Has Been Filed?
- What Constitutes a Violation of Status (Selling Sperm or Eggs, Modeling for a School Art Class, Selling Amway, Being Paid to Participate in a Drug Trial?)
- Issues with STEM OPT and the Training Program, and Using This Training on a Subsequent Labor Certification Application to Qualify the Applicant
- Will an F Visa be Issued for OPT?
- Is There Any way to Overcome an F Denial?
- Has PP Alleviated the Stress of COS to F?
- Falsifying Form I-983
Sharadha Kodem, Esq., Irving, Tx. (moderator)
Dahlia, French, Esq., Lubbock, Tx.
Christine Alden, Esq., Miami, Fl.
David Ware, Esq., New Orleans, La.
Consular officer invited.
The Challenges of Running a Practice
- What Case Management System to Use and Why?
- Using AI to Your Advantage/Not to Your Detriment and Ethical Considerations
- The Importance of Case Monitoring Systems
- What is the Best Marketing/Advertising for a Lawyer?
- Handling Bad On-line Reviews
- Staying Ahead of the Curve and Reinventing Yourself
- What Systems Do You Have to Protect Client Confidentiality and What Systems are Clients Demanding?
- How to Collect Money from Clients and Valuing your Worth
- How to Dispose of Client Files When You Change Firms or Retire
- How to Terminate a Relationship with a Difficult Client
Greg Siskind, Esq., Memphis, Tn. (moderator)
Reid Trautz, Esq., AILA Senior Director, Practice and Professionalism Center,
Washington, D.C.
Maite Hoyos, Esq., Miami, Fl.
Matthew Blaisdell, Esq., Brooklyn, NY.
Talk to the Experts
Cocktail Party
PLEASE PAY CORRECT $$ AMOUNT, AS PER THE INFORMATION BELOW
Registration on or before October 1, 2024
Registration $200 for speakers only
Registration $250 for AILA LACC Members only
Registration $400 AILA non-LACC Chapter Members
Registration $495 non-AILA Members
Add $75 for late registrants (anyone registering after October 1, 2024).
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, 2024.
Housekeeping issues: Refunds for cancelled registration will be provided if notice of cancellation is emailed to jdevore@devorelawgroup.com on or before October 10, 2024. A $50 processing fee will be withheld.
Hotel Accommodations
A very reasonable hotel rate has been negotiated at the Luxury Hotel, Bristol. Room availability will depend on demand and it is a very busy time in Panama City. Make your reservations early.
Our room rate includes breakfast and internet.
We encourage you to book early as we have secured a rate well below the rack rate.
To make a hotel reservation click on: https://bit.ly/AILA-LAAC
Online registration is now available
Government Officials
Dinner
Conference Committee
Tammy Fox-Isicoff,
Esq. (Co-Chair)
Jeffrey A. Devore, Esq. (Co-Chair)
Maite Hoyos, Esq.
Ramon Curiel, Esq.