Immigration law is complex and ever-changing. Our Albany, New York-based Immigration Team has the depth of knowledge and years of experience needed to develop and implement creative strategies to resolve our clients’ immigration challenges.
The Immigration Team at Whiteman Osterman & Hanna delivers high-quality, creative and expeditious immigration services to corporate and individual clients. We have the largest and most diverse immigration law practice in the Capital Region of New York (Albany, Schenectady, Rensselaer and Saratoga counties), serving clients across the United States and around the world.
Our Albany, New York-based attorneys have a depth of combined experience in immigration law, representing clients before the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services, the Executive Office for Immigration Review, the Board of Immigration Appeals, the United States and New York State Departments of Labor, the United States Department of State and in consular applications around the world.
Corporate and Professional Immigration
WOH HELPS EMPLOYERS SECURE HIGHLY-SKILLED GLOBAL TALENT. We assist a diverse group of U.S. and foreign employers, such as multinational corporations, research institutions, hospitals, universities, and religious institutions, to obtain temporary and permanent visas for skilled or professional foreign national employees. These workers include international executives and managers, engineers, researchers, skilled craft workers, medical personnel, scientists, and university professors.
Temporary and Seasonal Workers
WOH HELPS SEASONAL BUSINESSES SECURE A RELIABLE WORKFORCE. WOH maintains one of the largest H-2B/H-2A practices not only in Albany, New York and surrounding counties, but also one of the largest in the country, assisting seasonal and agricultural businesses, such as farms, horse stables, landscape companies, leading horse trainers, construction/roofing companies, ski resorts, and hospitality industry clients, to obtain the temporary help they need to get through their peak seasons. We manage H-2 compliance programs for seasonal businesses around the country and work with our clients to navigate through the complex maze of government regulation. We work with many seasonal businesses to respond to DOL, H-2, and I-9 audit proceedings.
Employer Compliance/Employer Sanctions Avoidance
WOH HELPS EMPLOYERS ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH ONGOING LEGAL OBLIGATIONS. In this era of ever-increasing enforcement, it is critical that employers have policies and programs in place to ensure full compliance with federal laws and regulations. WOH helps clients comply with the employment verification and record-keeping requirements of the Immigration Reform & Control Act of 1986. We perform I-9 and other audits of the required employment paperwork, advise on document retention and correction requirements, and offer training on completion and maintenance of the required records. We also assist clients with immigration law compliance issues that arise following corporate mergers or acquisitions.
Immigration Options for Medical Professionals
WOH GUIDES MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS THROUGH COMPLEX ISSUES INVOLVING FOREIGN MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS. WOH has a developed expertise in the complicated legal and regulatory hurdles that arise in the hiring of foreign researchers, physicians, and nurses. We have a track record of finding creative solutions to the unique challenges that are present in these cases. We handle a host of applications and processes related to foreign medical professionals, including J-1 waivers (Conrad 30 and others), H-1B and O-1 visas, and permanent residency through physician NIW petitions and Schedule A occupations.
Individual/Family-Based Immigration
Immigration Options for Investors
WOH HELPS OVERSEAS BUSINESSES INVEST IN THE U.S. Entrepreneurs and investors may have several options to stay legally in the United States. WOH assists both employers and interested investors in assessing all visa possibilities and advises on the benefits and drawbacks of each before making a decision about which options to pursue. WOH has a depth of experience in the processing of “Treaty Investors" (E-2) and “Treaty Trader" (E-1) visas.
WOH PROTECTS THE RIGHTS OF FOREIGN NATIONALS IN REMOVAL. WOH assists and advocates for individual foreign national clients in navigating through the complex removal proceedings, including orders of supervision, and representation through immigration court proceedings.
WOH PROTECTS FOREIGN NATIONALS FACING PERSECUTION IN THEIR HOME COUNTRY. Our attorneys assist in the preparation of asylum applications and the critical step of preparing clients for their affirmative asylum interview for clients across the country. Our interview preparation involves extensive mock interviews, country condition research, assistance in evidence development and ultimately attending the interview. Our practice has recently expanded to include asylum defense before immigration court (Executive Office of Immigration Review). Our attorneys have nearly 30 years of combined experience in preparing and defending asylum claims.
