Immigration

Permanent residence, family immigration cases, work visas, citizenship and naturalization cases.

• Citizenship or Naturalization
• Employer Work Visas
• Permanent Resident (Green Card)
• Visas
• Employer Petitions

GA, Nov 1987
Bar Number: 460760

TX, May 1981

SC, May 1991
Bar Number: 63051

NY, Jul 1979

American Immigration Lawyers Association, South Carolina Bar, and State Bar of Georgia.

Federal: Fourth and Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and Northern District of Georgia.

American Immigration Lawyers Association, South Carolina Bar, and State Bar of Georgia.

I attend Continuing Legal Education (CLE) seminars on immigration law and legal ethics. This year, I presented at a Constangy, Brooks & Smith, LLP seminar for employers.

I have had several articles published in professional journals in law and healthcare over the past 20 years. They include The South Carolina Lawyer, The Atlanta Lawyer, The British Columbia Medical Journal, and U.S. magazines for healthcare practitioners.

Recently, I have been privileged to help a number of outstanding individuals in the fields of science, business, law, sports (primarily in tennis and gymnastics), and music. In some cases, they and their families have become permanent residents within only 12 months.

These are challenging cases that are reserved to only a few individuals who have attained a high degree of recognition. They are so special that the usual requirements are set aside -- no offer of employment is required, no testing of the labor market.

1

South Carolina and Georgia.

I went into solo practice in 1990 after two years of experience at a top business immigration firm in Atlanta. Over the years, I have managed a small practice handling all aspects of immigration law. In 2009, I joined Constangy, Brooks & Smith, LLP, a large employment law firm with offices across the United States, in an Of Counsel capacity.

Over the course of 20-plus years, I have handled many successful immigration cases, including the following, in these "niche" areas:

• Aliens of prominence in arts, science, athletics or business
• Entrepreneurs, investors and traders
• North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and immigration
• Australian professionals
• Foreign physicians: J-1 waiver, work visa and "green card"
• Multinational transferees: executives, managers, key technical personnel
• Self-employed individuals
• Business visitors to the USA

Prior to setting up my own practice, I was employed for two years as an associate with John W. Brent & Associates, a highly regarded immigration law firm in Atlanta. I gained invaluable experience across the board, from work and investor visas, permanent labor certification, visa interviews, and representation at border ports of entry. I traveled extensively throughout the United States and Canada.

Before this opportunity, I had worked for several years in corporate administration and law, in Manhattan, Houston, and Atlanta.

AV-Rated by Martindale-Hubell Legal Directory since 1999.
Board member of YMCA Judson Community Center.

(864) 233-4754

Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Yes

I speak French, Spanish, and German.

I generally work on a flat-fee basis, with a $1,000 minimum. A typical work visa case, or permanent residence case, will run up to several thousand dollars, depending on the complexity, time involved, family members, etc.

Most cases are structured along a payment plan, with roughly 1/3 payable to begin, 1/3 before filing with USCIS, and 1/3 upon approval. This method keeps client expectations reasonable and client trust at a high level.

Variable.

Yes, on occasion I will have a short telephone conversation before determining if an initial consultation is appropriate. I charge $200 generally, which may be applied to the initial payment due, if I am retained for the principal case.

Minimum of $1,000.