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The success of a business is largely dependant on its ability to recruit and retain professionals with the specific skill sets needed to meet their organizational goals and objectives. In our global economy, many of these individuals are recruited from other countries. The Immigration Practice Group of Fletcher, Tilton & Whipple provides comprehensive immigration advice and counsel to business owners, human resource personnel, foreign student advisors, foreign entrepreneurs and individuals from more than fifty different countries. Among the many areas in which we assist clients are:

• Nonimmigrant Visas
• NAFTA
• Permanent Residence
• Labor Certification/PERM
• Naturalization
• Deportation Defense
• Employer Compliance
• Business Advice/Counsel

The prosperity of our state and nation is limited unless we populate our companies and universities with the right mix of people. Fletcher, Tilton & Whipple's Immigration Practice Group has developed a depth of knowledge and experience to assist and counsel our clients in all matters relating to immigration and nationality law. In so doing, we are proud to have assisted many individuals in the realization of their dreams, and many corporations in the fulfillment of their business goals. Because we were among the first to develop this practice area, Fletcher, Tilton & Whipple has more experience handling immigration issues than any other Massachusetts law firms. Leverage this experience to your advantage or to that of your company.

• Nonimmigrant Visas
  The Group provides advice and assistance in obtaining temporary ("non-immigrant") visas for business visitors (B-1), visitors for pleasure (B-2), treaty traders (E-1), treaty investors (E-2), foreign students (F); temporary workers in "specialty occupations" including engineers, doctors and nurses (H-1), exchange visitors or students (J-1), fiancées/fiancés of American citizens (K-1), intra-company transferees (L-1), extraordinary artists, athletes and entertainers (O-1), athletic teams and performing groups (P-1), and religious workers (R-1).
• NAFTA
  We assist Canadian and Mexican nationals in obtaining admission to the United States on either a temporary or permanent basis for purposes of employment or investment under the North American Free Trade Agreement ("NAFTA").
• Permanent Residence
  We provide advice and assistance to foreign nationals in obtaining Permanent Residence Status ("green card") and work authorization, including:
  • Family-based petitions by American citizens and certain lawful permanent residents on behalf of immediate family members
  • Employment-based petitions for skilled and unskilled foreign laborers
  • Employment-based petitions of colleges, hospitals and medical schools for foreign nationals in the medical and teaching professions
  • Applications under the Diversity Visa Lottery
• Labor Certification/PERM
  We advise, prepare, process and obtain "Labor Certification" under PERM,securing a determination that there are insufficient US laborers to meet the demands of US employers from the Department of Labor to enable local businesses to hire certain foreign workers.
• Naturalization
  The Group provides advice and assistance to lawful permanent residents seeking to become US citizens through the naturalization process.
• Deportation Defense
  We represent foreign nationals and lawful permanent residents in deportation, exclusion or removal proceedings before Immigration. We also advise foreign nationals and their defense counsel on the immigration consequences of a criminal conviction.
• Employer Compliance
  We advise employers as to their responsibilities under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA), assist employers in completing Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9, perform immigration compliance audits, and respnd to "no match" letters from the Social Security Administration.
• Business Advice/Counsel
  We assist foreign nationals and entrepreneurs in establishing or acquiring business organizations in the United States, including analysis of tax implications and of import, export, and customs issues.