Immigration 101: The Nuts and Bolts [Three-Part Webinar] (OnDemand Streaming or Recorded Packages)

What You Will Learn

Part 1 Topics

Broad Introduction, Resources and Important Terms

Broad Introduction and Resources

• Authorities:

• • USCIS
  • ICE
  • CBP
  • Department of Homeland Security
  • US Department of Justice – Immigration Court
  • US Department of State -Embassies
  • US Department of Labor
• Governing Law: The interplay between Immigration laws and policy

Terms of Art

• Immigrant vs. Non-Immigrant;
• Visa vs. Status
• Inadmissibility vs. Deportability
• Who is considered not legally in the US?
• Unlawfully Present, Out of Status or both?

Opening Your Practice

• Essentials and Advice

Non-Immigrant Visas

• H-1B visas/status and Labor Condition Applications (LCAs)
• L-1 visas/status
• Other nonimmigrant categories, including B, E, F, J, K, O, R, S, T, TN, and U
• Visa Waiver Program
• Rules of chargeability
• Waivers of inadmissibility: 212(e), 212(d)

Family Based Immigrant Visas

• Family-based immigrant visa categories
• Marriage fraud (including 204(c))
• Adjustment of status (INA 245(a), (c), (k) and (i))
• Conditional Permanent Resident status
• Violence Against Women Act
• Child Status Protection Act
• Affidavits of support

Part 2 Topics

Employment Based Immigrant Visas and Employment Enforcement

• Employment-based (EB 1-5) immigrant visa categories
• Labor certifications
• Employer compliance (INA 274A)
• Priority Dates

Motions and Review

• In absentia hearings and orders
• Motions to reopen/reconsider/remand/ terminate in removal proceedings
• Other agency actions
• Administrative Appeals (BIA, AAO, BALCA)
• Judicial deference to administrative actions and orders (Chevron and Brand X)
• Federal Court jurisdiction
• Federal District Court actions
• Federal Court of Appeals review

Bars to Admissibility & Waivers

• Inadmissibility – What is it?
• How does DHS know who is Inadmissible?
• How does it come up?
• Who is subject to inadmissibility?
• LPRs and Admissibility
• Grounds of Inadmissibility
• Criminal Grounds of Inadmissibility 212(a)(2)
• Exemptions, Waivers and Relief
  • Waivers of inadmissibility (212(h), 212(i), 212(a)(9)(B)(v), 212(e), 212(d))
  • Petty offense exception, juvenile exception, juvenile convictions
  • LPR Cancellation (42A) and 212(c)
  • Other
  • What forms do I use? Application to apply for admission after removal, I-212
  • No waivers for whom?
  • Preparing Waivers
  • What is extreme hardship?
  • Who has the hardship?
  • What about when is there no hardship?
• Final tips and best practices

Part 3 Topics

Naturalization and Citizenship

• Citizenship
  • Criteria and eligibility;
  • Was the client “lawfully admitted for permanent residence”
  • Evidence

• Naturalization
  • Requirements
  • Process (including administrative and court review)
  • Form N-400 (can be filed by mail or online);
  • Form G-28
  • Biometrics, background checks and interviews

• Citizenship Acquired after Birth by Operation of Law
  • Child Citizenship Act and pre-CCA derivative naturalization
  • Citizenship upon Application of Parent
  • Former INA 321
  • Application Process
    • Form N-600

Removal, Relief and Bonds

• Removal Proceedings
• Criminal grounds of removability
• Other grounds of removability
• Relief:
  • Cancellation of Removal (LPR & Non-LPR)
  • Asylum/Withholding/CAT
  • NACARA
  • 212(c)
  • INA § 237(a)(1)(H) waiver
  • Voluntary Departure
  • Temporary Protected Status
  • AOS
  • Suspension of Deportation
• Expedited removal (INA 235(b) and 238)
• Executive actions and prosecutorial discretion
• Bonds
  • Eligibility, Jurisdiction
  • Redeterminations and Conditions
  • Mandatory Detention
  • Rodriguez Hearing
• Reinstatement of removal orders

Refugee and Asylum

• Bars to asylum
• Eligibility to asylum
• Credible Fear v. Reasonable Fear
• Hot issues: Particular Social Groups
• Withholding (compared to asylum, similar/different)
• Convention Against Torture

Testimonials

“Informative, well presented, and the degree of detail was great. Well worth the investment – very practical tips that can be immediately put to practice.” – Julie Katz, Esq.

”Speakers were extremely knowledgeable and willing to answer even the simplest question. Felt as though it was a comprehensive introduction to a complicated subject.” – Lauren Bebek, Esq.

“I really enjoyed this first part of the Immigration Webinar. The speakers delivered relevant information that will help those looking to further their Immigration Law Practice.” – Michael R Joyce, Esq.

“Great intro for starting a business for new lawyers and beneficial for seasoned lawyers as well. Zoom is very practical for today’s fast paced environment. The presenters’ emails are greatly appreciated as well.” – Francis Jerome Shea, Esq.  

“Good general overview and introduction to immigration law.” – Jessica McGuire, Esq.

“Speakers worked well together to convey all important information.” – William K. Hedrick, Esq.

“Content (oral and written) is excellent, the platform works really well, and Pincus does a great job organizing and presenting the CLE on the platform.” 

“Excellent and knowledgeable speakers – I really enjoyed today!” – Sanjeev Dhingra, Esq.  

“Very knowledgeable speakers.” – Katia Rocha, Esq.  

“Overall, excellent content. Learned a great deal about portions of immigration work that I’ve not experienced in the past.”

“Great tips.” – Georgia Thomas, Esq.  

“I liked the content and the energy of the speakers.” – Luisa Gamboa, Esq.  

“Good stuff and good practice tips today.” – Anna Black, Esq.  

“The program has been excellent so far. I found much of the informative helpful. The questions were also good and I liked that the speakers addressed them as they came in. I took notes on the information provided and actually some of the information delivered will be helpful to my current practice.”

“Amazing!!! It really increased my interest in pursuing more immigration law; Great resources!!!” – Yamilette Rivera, Esq.

“Great overview of immigration laws. I learned a lot.” – Jessica McGuire, Esq.

“Excellent presentation of topics. Very good overview.” – Lisa Thompson, Esq.

“Great CLE.” – Alex Farris, Esq.

“Great to hear these experts speak. Absolute expert lecturing.” – Vincent Miller, Esq.

”I wanted an entry-level, basic introduction to Immigration Law and that’s what I got. I was very impressed by the quality of the presenters. They were all experts in their field and were effective in sharing their wide knowledge base with us.” – Laura delaz Cabrera, Esq.

“This class was simply phenomenal. Thank you!” – Gisela Rodrigues, Esq.

“Thorough background for someone new to Immigration Law.” – Sanjeev Dhingra, Esq.  

“Great overview – learned a lot. Great speakers.” – Joshua Aguilar, Esq.

“I was very satisfied with the program… Very good information and tips!” – Luis Alvan, Esq.

“Very satisfied.” – Edward Ramos, Esq.

“Great!” – Laura Fonseca, Esq.

“Very informative. I learned a lot!” – Isaura Gomez, Esq.

“Great overview of the visas!” – Sherine Makar, Esq.

“I feel the speakers and content have been very informative.” – Jacinda Beraud, Esq.  

“The depth of waivers and relief was very well presented. The charts and links are needed and appreciated by the presenters.” 

“I was satisfied because today’s presenters focused more on undocumented persons who entered without inspection; that is the biggest segment of our immigration practice; we handle an occasional visa, but it is very rare.” 

“Helpful.” – Anna Black, Esq.  

“Great speakers. I received a lot of clarification as a paralegal…Thanks!” – Shirley M. Quesada Rivera

“Great big-picture overview of practicing Immigration Law.”

“Excellent overview.” – D. Halper, Esq.

“Absolutely satisfied with the course and the information I received from it.” – S. Wilkerson, Esq.

“I haven’t felt this excited about practicing law in a while – can’t wait to get my feel wet!” – K. Rosenchal, Esq.

“Great! All of them explained every single question.” – F. Cervantes, Esq.

“The program ran very well. The speakers were great and experienced in their field. They were very helpful and answered questions one-on-one.” – Dina Hunter, Esq.

“Well done, I enjoyed the three days.” – Sanjeev Dhingra, Esq.  

“The content is good.” – Luisa Gamboa, Esq.  

“Very good. Keep it up.” – Fidel Guillermo Maceda-Johnson, Esq.  

“Overall, the program was very good.” – Katia Rocha, Esq.  

“Excellent!” – Diego MacWilliam, Esq.  

“Very informative and useful information.” – E. Samet, Esq.

“Very educational and great speakers!” – C. Perez, Esq.

“Great insight.” – E. Rafael Hahn, Esq.

“It was good overall.” – Fidel Guillermo Maceda Johnson, Esq.  

“Good program.” – Valerie Tarvin, Esq.  

“It was a good intro into immigration.” – D. Duckett, Esq.

“Very good and knowledgeable speakers.” – B. Mittelberg, Esq.

“Good course. I’m glad I came…” – A. Rivera, Esq.

“I would like to get into immigration law. This seminar was a great introduction.”

“I found the seminar very informative.” – Pedro A. Lopez, Esq.

“Interesting and great content.” – Georgia Thomas, Esq.

“Very informative and the material was fully covered.”

“The handouts seem great and there were a lot of great tips shared.”

“Very educational and well presented. Good coverage of the practical aspect.”

“They did a wonderful job- very detailed!”

“Got very good and useful summary of everything.”

“Great start to the multi day program. Speakers were informative, well organized and interesting.”

“Good information. Good overview.”

“Excellent. Content was excellent. I thought the content choices were well chosen.” – Julie Katz, Esq.“Good program.”

“Very good overview. This has given me ideas as to particular areas in which I would be interested in concentrating.” – Jessica McGuire, Esq.

“Received the survey commentary I sought. Speakers are a good team.”

“It was great…as a whole, very good.”

“Great program.”

“I am satisfied because the speakers and the content are helpful to someone like me that wants to go into a different area of the law practice.”

“The speakers were good. Good coverage of basic subject matter.”

“Very thorough. Speakers explained the content well.”

“The program was informative and well organized. The speakers had a great depth of knowledge in their field.” – Julie Katz, Esq.

“Essential information and truly knowledgeable presenters.”   

“Excellent program today.”  

“The content is very good.”  

“Very well developed.” 

“I thought it was very information and concise.”  

“Great speakers, a lot of useful information.” 

“Very detailed and informative.” 

“Excellent. Very knowledgeable speakers. Efficient, good pace. Area covered fairly well in time allocated.”

“Very well organized and easy walk-thru of the immigration system.”

“Overall – a cascade of information!”

“Speakers were clearly very knowledgeable.”

“Good general overview and introduction to immigration law. I learned about different types of visas.”

“Very good program.”

“This was a terrific and comprehensive program.”

“Overall program was great. Despite being a dense and tough topic, the speakers did a great job.”

“I am impressed by the amount of information presented. I can see that I would have to do much more research to truly understand many of the topics. I think that’s unavoidable due to the amount of information and time constraints.”

“Your support staff, especially Renee in LA were terrific in assisting me to overcome my sign in, computer speaker, and alternate sound solutions.”

“Overall good, very helpful.”

“I thought it was very good. Speakers very competent and kept my interest.

“Very detailed and comprehensive. Great presenters. The knowledge base was terrific and the speakers shared tips and resources.”

“Excellent. Content was excellent. I thought the content choices were well chosen.

“Very informative, good speakers.”

“Today’s speakers seemed informed and organized… especially Piibe and Santana.”

“Excellent presentation, a lot of information. Very educational.”

“I’m getting a general sense of the field. Good overview of a very complex area of law.”

“Having the handouts beforehand was very helpful in terms of taking notes. Thank you! Accessibility with the question is done well…having the speakers see our questions, but not the whole group is good so that we are not distracted. Bravo. Outlines and content were well formulated and thought through before the family law and the Removal section.”

“Very good speakers, good content.”

“Speakers had a lot of great information.”

“Very good overview.”

“Clarity on presentation.” 

“Excellent topic and speakers.” 

“Very interesting and informative. The degree of detail was great.”

“Great program. Very educational.”

“Again, another day of comprehensive information from knowledgeable presenters.”

“Very informative session.”

“Lots of information! In general, I think it’s very well presented.”

“Very good speakers, good content.”

“Great job. While technical, they did a great job explaining it for the first-time immigration practitioners.”

Below are testimonials from multiple Immigration 101 programs held around the country. The speakers teaching this program taught at several of the programs listed below and this program’s agenda is the same or almost the same.

“All of the speakers were great, the information was invaluable.”

“The speakers and content were great.”

“Good material and presenters.”

“Great speakers. I wish there was more time.”

“Thorough primer on relevant topics in this field.”

“Very good overview of the entire topic. Given that it was only two days, the speakers did a great job with providing the relevant details.”

“The speakers are amazing and the topics are excellent.”

“Excellent – great presenters, very knowledgeable.”

“Great CLE.”

“Great examples. Straight forward and easy to follow.”

“Great seminar!”

“Very good overview.”

“Excellent.”

“Good program.” – Valerie Tarvin, Esq.

“The panel was very knowledgeable.”

“The material given was wonderful.”

“Great speaker. Extremely knowledgeable.”

The following testimonials are from some of our previous Immigration 101 courses held in California:

“Excellent experience; good job!” – Gulomjon Azimov, Esq.

“It was an incredibly helpful overview of immigration! Thank you!” – Yana Loboda, Esq.

“Excellent!” Donald Garrard, Esq.

“Excellent forms for intake interview. Informative/interesting discussion on family visa requests. This MCLE was an excellent start for me. Thank you.” – William Olzman, Esq.

“All speakers were knowledgeable and skilled. Delivered very good and relevant information. – Ronald A. Cabanayan, Esq.

“Great overview. Thanks! I work in a niche area of immigration law and wanted a base for other types of visas. Great seminar.”

“Excellent staff and fantastic speakers. 5-Star program. Very satisfied with panels, content, and hotel location. Pincus Staff were very professional and extremely competent; ALL of the attorney presenters were erudite, highly-experienced, and very interesting – some of the best I’ve heard. The overall quality of the entire program was excellent.”

“It was great and I learned a lot. It was an awesome experience, thank you!” – Ismael Rosas, Esq.

“As a new attorney to immigration law I was satisfied with the program because it provided a great overview of immigration laws. I chose this particular seminar because of the comprehensive nature of the agenda and I appreciated that so many topics within immigration were covered.”

“Good overview of complex subject matter. Of great relevance and most compelling.” – Martie Leys, Esq.

“Overall I thought that the seminar was helpful and informative.” – April Perez, Esq.

“Green, Damast, and Piibe were fabulous. Lots of energy, extremely knowledgeable, and their material was informative.” – David A. Torres, Esq.

“Everything was well explained.” – Aaron Caspar, Esq.

“Incredible roster of speakers.” – Serrano Margaret, Esq.

“Fantastic! Really enjoyed the very clear discussion of issues relevant to day-to-day practice. Thank you!”

“Extremely up-to-date with current immigration matters.”

“Truly enjoyed all the speakers and topics.”

“Stewart really knows her stuff and explains it well. Good balance of legal requirements and practice tips. Ludwig’s practical tips were good.”

“Excellent seminar. Each speaker was superior expert on the topic they presented. The program was very interesting. It was my first Pincus program. Very impressed and looking forward to taking another program.”

“Knowledgeable speakers.”

“I needed a systematic overview of the major immigration case types and got it.”

“Well organized, breaks at perfect times, panel was perfect, great speakers. Well done!”

“It’s a good seminar, thank you all!”

“Comprehensive covers all major bases.”

“Speakers were very good obviously know their stuff.”

“Good printed material and presentation.”

“Good energy & display of expertise.”

“A lot of practical knowledge!”

“Lots of new info!”

The following testimonials are from our previous Immigration 101 courses held in Illinois:

“Wonderful seminar! Everything was covered fabulously, and the speakers were knowledgeable and interesting.” – Laura Lee Robinson, Esq.

“Great seminar.” – Nicholas J. Brunick, Esq.

“This was well-organized and well-presented.” – Ronald L. Boorstein, Esq.

“Very helpful in understanding immigration law.” – Raymond F. Horne, Esq.

“The information was presented in a very clear manner that helped me to understand what I’ve learned on the job – and in my own research – much better.” – Kevin Kime, Esq.

“Very informative seminar. Knowledgeable speakers.” Elena Costa, Esq.

“On the whole, this was well-organized and well-presented.”

“Good review of family-based immigration. Good overview of business visas.”

Faculty

Diana Albite, Esq.
Founding Partner
Albite Law Group, P.A.

Mrs. Diana Albite is the Founding Partner of Albite Law Group. Mrs. Albite was born in Havana, Cuba and raised in Miami, Florida. After beginning her undergraduate studies at Florida International University on various scholarships, she graduated from North Carolina State University with a B.A. in Political Science. Thereafter, Mrs. Albite attended St. Thomas University School of Law, ultimately earning the degree of Juris Doctor. While at St. Thomas, Mrs. Albite participated in the law school’s Immigration Clinic as a Certified Legal Intern. In this capacity, she had the opportunity and privilege of trying several cases before Department of Homeland Security on behalf of underprivileged persons. Also while in law school, Mrs. Albite served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Judge Ellen Leesfield in Florida’s Eleventh Judicial Circuit. Mrs. Albite also clerked at Downs, Brill, Whitehead, & Sage, where she gained invaluable research experience in Personal Injury and Maritime and Admiralty Law. While a law student, Mrs. Albite was a member of the Florida Association of Women Lawyers, the Hispanic Association of Law Students, and the Student Animal Defense Legal Fund.

Mrs. Albite’s passion for advocating on behalf of her clients led her to creating Albite Law Group, P.A. As a result of that very same passion and tenacity combined with dedication and labor, Mrs. Albite’s boutique firm rapidly blossomed, offering personalized service and attention to individuals and corporate clients alike. Mrs. Albite’s love for the South Florida community motivates her to dedicate countless hours to assisting to those who cannot afford legal advice.

Mrs. Albite is currently licensed to practice law in the State of Florida, as well as in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Mrs. Albite has appeared in Almavision radio station broadcasted on 87.7 FM, Univision and Telemundo, and  Buenos Días Miami on Mira TV show with renowned presenter Tomas Garcia Fuste. She has been extensively quoted by El Nuevo Herald among other newspapers and media outlets,  where she has discussed current immigration issues. 

Mrs. Albite appears and presents at Immigration events and maintains the Immigration community informed free of charge.

Maria Casablanca, Esq.

Akerman LLP

Maria "Marisa" Casablanca has dedicated herself to the practice of U.S Immigration and Nationality Law for 25 years. Her practice involves representing corporate clients and individuals in obtaining immigration assistance and benefits. Marisa is Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by The Florida Bar, and was a member of The Florida Bar’s Certification Committee for Immigration and Nationality Law. 

Marisa counsels her clients on a wide array of immigration related issues including obtaining assistance and benefits such as employment visas (EB-5) as well as business related visas and residency for foreign nationals, representing family members of permanent residents and United States Citizens, and assisting those seeking asylum.

An experienced litigator, Marisa practices in all areas of Immigration law and is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States, the Immigration Court, the Board of Immigration Appeals, the Southern District Court and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. She has filed a petition for certiorari with the Supreme Court on an immigration issue that conflicted with different states. She advises employers on compliance procedures and counsels individuals on how to maintain their status in the United States.

Christopher W. Dempsey, Esq.
Founder
Dempsey Law, PLLC

 Mr. Dempsey served with the Office of Immigration Litigation at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. for over a decade.  He retired in March 2018 as the Chief of the National Security and Affirmative Litigation Unit within his Section, where he supervised a team of attorneys conducting national security and immigration-related, affirmative and defensive litigation in district courts and courts of appeal across the nation.  Mr. Dempsey supervised all national security litigation of an office with over 75 attorneys, regularly trained Department attorneys in Washington, D.C. and the National Advocacy Center, and instructed agency attorneys and law enforcement officers at venues throughout the U.S.  Prior to his work at the Justice Department, Mr. Dempsey served on active duty with the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps then remained active trying criminal cases in the Army Reserves.

Mr. Dempsey has significant litigation experience.  He has tried seventeen jury cases, over fifty bench trials, and handled dozens of appeals.  Mr. Dempsey has worked a broad range of cases, from felony and capital criminal matters to civil suits under the Immigration and Nationality Act — including naturalization, adjustment of status, visa and passport matters, immigration detention, programmatic challenges, and denaturalization cases — as well as actions under the Administrative Procedure Act, Federal Tort Claims Act, and Bivens cases.  Mr. Dempsey has also handled dozens of habeas petitions and nation-wide class actions.

Mr. Dempsey volunteers assisting disabled and homeless Veterans in need through several local, national, and international non-profit organizations.

Cheryl Gertler, Esq.

Law Office of Cheryl Gertler

Ms. Gertler has been practicing law since 1982. After graduation, she participated in a postgraduate program, where she studied in Salzburg, Austria and then interned with a Swedish law firm, Olsson & Lidgard (now Advokatfirman Vinge). She then spent several years in Tokyo, Japan working with a Japanese patent and law office and studying the Japanese language. In her first years of practice, she was primarily engaged in international and transnational corporation and business law, particularly with Japanese companies. Since then, her practice has grown to include a specialty in U.S. immigration law.

Matthew Hughes, Esq.
Former Visa Unit Chief, Kathmandu, Munich, and Belmopan, Belize.
BoarderCall LLC

Based in Portland, Oregon with a global practice, Matt Hughes guides businesses, individuals, and families through the U.S. immigration system.

IMMIGRATION 

Matt represents global organizations moving talent and knowledge around the world, start-ups seeking a foothold in North America, families creating new lives in the United States, visa applicants and more. With over 14 years of immigration and consular experience, Matt’s

practice includes, among other things, L-1 executives, managers, and specialized knowledge workers; E visa investors; STEM-focused H-1B employees; Green Cards; and U.S. naturalizations. Matt is an expert in tricky consular issues, visa interviews, and other matters that involve the U.S. Department of State. He speaks German fluently, as well as some Spanish and Nepali.

PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

As a former American diplomat and consul who has moved his own family around the world

multiple times, Matt understands the importance of a trustworthy advisor. Before entering

private practice, Matt ran visa units for the U.S. Department of State in three countries

(Immigrant Visa Unit, U.S. Embassy Kathmandu; Visa Unit, U.S. Embassy Belmopan; Visa Unit, U.S. Consulate General Munich) and received multiple awards for his work and leadership on many sensitive issues. Because of this experience, he has often been a speaker at American Immigration Lawyers’ Association (AILA) conferences on consular and visa matters. Matt is currently a member of the AILA New Member Division National Steering Committee. He has also served as a public defender and completed a clerkship in the Probate and Tax Division of the District of Columbia Superior Court.

Juliana G. Lamardo, Esq.
Founder
Law Offices of Juliana G. Lamardo, P.A.

Juliana G. Lamardo was born in São Paulo, Brazil. When she was 8 years old, her parents made the difficult decision to leave Brazil in search of a better life. Juliana’s father obtained an L-1A visa and moved the entire family to the United States. In 1994, Juliana became a lawful permanent resident and then a U.S. Citizen in 2001. Juliana experienced the immigration process firsthand and knows how apprehensive it can be.

Juliana attended Florida International University in Miami and earned a Bachelor’s in Business Administration in 2003. Following her mother’s footsteps as an attorney, Juliana attended law school at Barry University School of Law in Orlando, Florida. She graduated in 2007. It was in law school where her desire to help other immigrants came to life.

Juliana opened the Law Offices of Juliana G. Lamardo in 2016. She was previously a Senior Associate Attorney with a private immigration law firm for over six years, where she handled thousands of cases. She concentrates in the areas of deportation defense, bond hearings, deferred inspections, family-based residency, Citizenship, and naturalization.

Juliana has represented clients in removal and bond proceedings before the Immigration Court, before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on family-based petitions, applications for residency, and applications for Citizenship, as well as various waivers for criminal activity. She has also appeared before the Customs Border Protection (CBP) for deferred inspections.

She is a frequent speaker at various immigration-related seminars including the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Pincus Professional Education, and the Association for the Studies of the Cuban Economy (ASCE). She was also a regular guest speaker on Almavisión radio (87.7 FM) on issues related to immigration.

She has been licensed by the Supreme Court of Florida and the United States District Court, Southern District of Florida Division since 2008. She is also a member of the Florida Bar and is licensed to practice immigration in all 50 states.

Juliana is fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, and English. She understands the complexities associated with immigration procedures and she applies her knowledge and background to competently assist those who wish to build a life in this country. 

Amy C. Lenhert, Esq.
Managing Attorney
Law Office of Sabrina Damast, Inc.

Amy Lenhert has practiced immigration law exclusively since becoming an attorney in 2003. She has expertise in a broad range of immigration matters and is certified as a Specialist in Immigration and Nationality Law, by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. 

Amy has successfully litigated cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the U.S. District Courts of California, Nebraska, and Washington, D.C. In addition to her federal court practice, Amy represents clients in removal proceedings throughout the United States, assisting her clients in obtaining cancellation of removal for lawful permanent residents, cancellation of removal for nonresidents, waivers for fraud and criminal convictions, and applications for asylum.  She has successfully represented clients with administrative appeals to both the Board of Immigration Appeals and the USCIS Administrative Appeals Office.

Amy also regularly represents individuals in connection with family-based visa petitions, unlawful presence waivers, applications for naturalization, and complex citizenship claims.

Beyond litigation and family immigration, Amy’s employment-based experience includes representation of large healthcare companies with hundreds of immigrant visa petitions for Registered Nurses under the Schedule A category, as well as assisting with TN visa matters for Registered Nurses. She has successfully litigated erroneous denials of employment-based petitions in federal court.

Amy believes strongly in the importance of giving back, and regularly provides pro bono legal services through a variety of organizations.  She serves on the advisory committee for the Los Angeles office of Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), an organization dedicated to ensuring that no child appears in immigration court without legal representation.

Amy received her Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School Los Angeles in 2003. She is an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and the Executive Committee for the Immigration Section of the Los Angeles Bar Association (LACBA).

Margarita Manduley, Esq.
Partner/Certified Legal Specialist in Immigration & Nationality Law
Manduley & Camissasa, PC

Margarita Manduley was born in Cuba and immigrated to the United States as a child. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Southern California and her juris doctor from Loyola Law School.

Margarita practices immigration law exclusively. Before opening her law firm with her partner, Mariela Camissasa, Margarita worked as a detention attorney for the Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC), a non profit organization that offers pro bono legal assistance to detainees in removal proceedings.

Margarita is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). She is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. (LACBA).

Attorney Manduley has been admitted to the California Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the Central District of California, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Margarita has received numerous certificates of recognition from community organizations for her work and commitment to immigrant communities.

As an immigrant, Margarita understands the suffering of those that come to the United States in search of freedom and a better life for themselves and their loved ones. As a wife and mother, she recognizes that each case represents the future of an entire family. For that reason, each client is treated, not as one more file, but as a person whose life will be affected by the outcome of his or her immigration case.

Andrea Martini, Esq.

Law Office of Andrea Martini, P.A.

Andrea was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to young Venezuelan parents who attended college in the United States and later returned to Venezuela. After living in Venezuela, Andrea and her family returned to South Florida.

Andrea attended Miami Sunset Senior High School and was the recipient of a Florida Bright Futures scholarship based on her academic performance.  

Soon after, Andrea enrolled at Florida International University (FIU) in Miami, Florida to study Journalism.  After completing her first year at FIU, Andrea excelled academically and was invited to join the university’s prestigious Honors College, a rigorous academic program with a special curriculum designed to promote interdisciplinary learning. Through the Honors College, she participated in a study abroad program in Italy to learn about the interrelation between art and literature while also becoming fluent in a third language:  Italian.  Andrea was also a writer for The Beacon, the university’s bi-weekly student newspaper, during most of her tenure at FIU and her articles were regularly featured in various sections including sports, op-ed, news and arts. During the summer of 2002, Andrea had the privilege of being selected to participate in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s (“CHCI”) Summer Internship program and was assigned to the office of Former Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Congressman John Conyers.  During her internship, Andrea worked on several projects, including the coordination of town hall meetings to promote bilateral discussion of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and she conducted research and wrote on the topic of hate crimes.   

Upon her return from Washington, D.C., Andrea interned with the office of Senator Bill Nelson in Coral Gables, Florida, where she worked on local constituent issues.  Andrea received the FIU Honors College Outstanding Service 2003-2004 Award for her involvement with several community projects and her work with children with disabilities as the President of FIU’s Student Council for Exceptional Children.  After continuously maintaining a 4.0 grade point average throughout her major studies, the FIU School of Journalism and Mass Communication awarded her as the 2004 Outstanding Journalism Student, and she obtained a paid internship as an assistant producer for Univision’s National Newscast and Ultima Hora.  In May of 2004, Andrea graduated Magna Cum Laude from FIU with a Bachelor of Science in Communication and a Minor in Criminal Justice.  

In the fall of 2004, Andrea began to attend NOVA Southeastern University’s Shepard Broad Law Center to pursue a Juris Doctor degree.  Based on her academic performance and attainment of Dean’s List, Andrea was invited to be a junior member of NOVA’s ILSA Journal of International and Comparative Law, and she later became the editor of the 2006-07 bilingual edition.  Andrea also served as President of the school’s International Law Student Association, and she participated in the University of Miami’s study abroad program through which she completed coursework in international and comparative law in Greece and at the University College London.  She was awarded a Public Service Fellowship for her work with the Department of Justice, Office of Chief Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices in Washington, D.C., and graduated in May of 2007.  She was admitted to practice in Florida in September of 2007.

After law school, Andrea worked as an associate attorney with the world-renowned immigration law firm of Kurzban, Kurzban, Weinger, Tetzeli & Pratt, P.A. (KKWTP), in Miami, Florida.  While a KKWTP, Andrea’s practice included family-based immigration, removal defense, asylum and corporate/business immigration, and she worked on a myriad of challenging cases with clients from all over the world.  As an associate attorney at KKWTP, Andrea became the firm’s Intern Coordinator overseeing and mentoring the work of dozens of law students.  

In April of 2012, Andrea decided to establish her own practice, and became the founder and President of Andrea Martini, P.A., in Coral Gables, Florida.  Andrea Martini, P.A. exclusively focuses on Immigration and Nationality law and represents clients from all over the United States and around the world.  As the daughter of immigrants, Andrea understands the nuisances of our immigration system.  Because of this, she strives not only to provide affordable and professional representation, but to also care about her clients and provide excellent customer service.  She taught immigration law as an Adjunct Professor at Broward College during the Summer of 2013.  Andrea has been featured as a speaker on several immigration-related panels and is the former President of the AILA South Florida Chapter.  She served as the former President of the CHCI Alumni Chapter in Miami, Florida.

Dilip Patel, Esq.
Shareholder
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC

With more than 30 years of legal experience, Dilip Patel has built a strong practice which deals with all aspects of immigration law. Dilip focuses on assisting individuals and families, as well as U.S. companies that hire foreign nationals for temporary or permanent work. Using his background in the IT industry and corporate transactions, Dilip is able to provide counsel on issues related to relocation of highly skilled workers. He also provides assistance to investors from abroad who wish to live in the U.S. for the purpose of managing their businesses.

Dilip’s career began in London where he worked in one of the city’s oldest law firms for five years before moving to the United States and settling in the Tampa Bay area. Since then, Dilip has worked in the international and business department of one of Florida’s largest law firms and served as general counsel and vice president of a large IT company before opening and managing his own firm. Most recently, Dilip worked in the Tampa office of a Florida-based firm in their Corporate Practice Group where he practiced immigration and corporate law.

Dilip is Board certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Florida Bar and has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® since 2006. In 2018 and 2015, he was named Lawyer of the Year in Immigration Law by The Best Lawyers in America® and in 2016 was selected by his peers to the Tampa Magazine’s Top Lawyers list for Immigration Law. Additionally, Dilip has received the AV® distinction, which is the highest available mark for professional excellence from by Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings.

A frequent speaker at the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s conferences and author of immigration-related articles, booklets and newsletters, Dilip is involved in a number of organizations in the Tampa Bay area including serving on the board of directors of the INDO-US Chamber of Commerce.

Melisa Peña, Esq.
Managing Partner
Jarbath Peña Law Group, P. A.

Melisa Peña is a Peruvian-American attorney from Lima who has made her home in Miami, Florida. She is a founding Partner of JP Law Group, a boutique Immigration and Family Law practice established in 2013.

Her life’s work has been to help those that are faced with the same daunting challenges that her and her family faced as immigrants. Melisa graduated from Braddock High School and Florida International University (FIU). She has been a member of the Florida Bar since 2012.

While securing her own citizenship and studying law at FIU, she interned at Catholic Charities Legal Services, as a Florida Bar Public Service fellow, where she used her passion for outreach and education to bring new life to legal orientation programs. She continues to use her experience to provide hope and help to her clients.

Whether it is volunteering at Temporary Protective Status (TPS), Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), or Citizenship clinics or holding workshops at high schools and churches, she is always advocating in the community and for the community. In her spare time, Ms. Peña is an avid traveler.

She was heavily involved in Haiti relief efforts. She plans to continue working to keep families together and helping others.

Alary E. Piibe, Esq.
Partner/Certified Legal Specialist in Immigration & Nationality Law
Hill & Piibe, Immigration Attorneys

Alary E. Piibe is a long-time litigator and certified as a specialist in immigration and nationality law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization who has developed keen and aggressive courtroom skills. Mr. Piibe prides himself as a formidable strategist who will make persuasive, effective presentations, and who represents his clients in a straightforward manner before US ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security), US CIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security) and the Immigration Court. This litigation style translates into a benefit for his clients, and helps cause the government to make a thorough and careful consideration of the cases during the adjudication process. 

Mr. Piibe has considerable experience in applying for waivers for unlawful presence (otherwise known as “3/10 waivers” or “illegal presence” waivers). He treats each case as unique and devotes many firm resources in an “all-out” effort to obtain a successful conclusion that reunites a family. He is especially adept at criminal immigration issues, understanding the nuances that can mean the difference between success and deportation. Under his guidance, the firm has vacated numerous criminal convictions to cancel their effect on deportation and removal. 

Mr. Piibe’s experience before the Asylum Office and the Immigration Court gives his clients additional protection, and he has won several asylum cases involving complicated and technical issues, which most immigration attorneys would have declared hopeless. Mr. Piibe is a member of both the California State Bar as well as the federal District Courts, enabling him great latitude to appear in any Court to pursue his clients’ needs.

Jennifer Rozdzielski, Esq.

JR Immigration Law

Attorney Jennifer Rozdzielski specializes in all areas of immigration and nationality law. She has practiced exclusively in immigration law and worked for one of the top immigration law firms in the United States.

Jennifer is a certified immigration law specialist and member of the State Bar of California. She is admitted to practice before the following courts:

U.S. Supreme Court of the United States

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

United States District Court, Central District of California

United States District Court, Eastern District of California

United States District Court, Southern District of California

Additionally, Jennifer has appeared pro hac vice in district courts across the United States.

Jennifer obtained her Juris Doctorate degree in Los Angeles, California, graduating Cum Laude in the top 10 percent of her class. She received her bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a Certificate in International Studies Magna Cum Laude.

Jennifer was selected as a Super Lawyers Southern California Rising Star in 2019, 2020, and 2022 an honor reserved for the top 2.5% of attorneys in southern California. She was also selected for Best Lawyers in Southern California in 2021 and 2022.

Elina M. Santana, Esq.
Shareholder / Immigration Attorney
Santana Rodriguez Law, P.A.

Elina Magaly Santana, Esq. is a Shareholder and Co-founder of Santana Rodriguez Law, P.A., a firm focusing solely on Immigration Law.  She is licensed in the state of Florida, the U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Elina focuses her immigration practice on Family-based and Marriage-based Residency, Naturalization, Deportation Defense (including Asylum & Cancellation of Removal), Waivers, Derivative/Acquired Citizenship, and BIA Appeals. 

She is the 2nd Vice-President for AILA South Florida (American Immigration Lawyers Association) and a Board Member for Capital Good Fund, a social change organization that uses financial services to tackle poverty in the U.S.  She has also volunteered on the border in Harlingen, TX aiding children seeking asylum and special immigrant juvenile visas. 

Elina has served as a panelist and guest speaker at many events on immigration law, and she has appeared on Univision, Telemundo, and NBC to talk about current immigration issues.  Elina earned her JD from Boston University (BU) School of Law and her BA in both Sociology and Spanish Literature at New York University (NYU) with high honors.  She is a fluent Spanish speaker and was born to Cuban parents in Miami, Florida.

Cassandra Suprin, Esq.
Family Defense Program Director
Americans for Immigrant Justice

Cassandra Suprin is the current Family Defense Program Director at Americans for Immigrant Justice (AIJustice). Prior to working at AI Justice, Ms. Suprin was a managing attorney at Catholic Legal Services. Ms. Suprin’s specialties include family-based petitions, waivers, and humanitarian reliefs.

Fees

Three Recorded Package options to choose from:

Video (with sound)* Recording & Materials Package – CD or Download: $575

Audio Only* Recording & Materials Package – CD or Download: $575

Order both the Video* and Audio Only* Packages for only $50 more – CD or Download: $625

*The Video recording is a video of the webinar (with sound). The Audio recording is audio only, for those who wish to listen to it without visuals (such as in the car).

Note: All downloads must be downloaded to a computer first, before transferring them to another device.

For CDs, please add $8.50 shipping and, in CA, sales tax.

(Recorded packages are available approximately two to three weeks after the seminar is held.)

This program will be recorded live on February 22, 24 & 28, 2023

CLE Credit

CA General:  This program is approved for 12.5 units of general CLE in California.

CA Participatory Certified Legal Specialist:  This program is approved for 12.5 units of Certified Legal Specialist CLE in California in Immigration and Nationality Law. (Expires 02/22/2025)

CA Self Study (only) Certified Legal Specialist:  This program is approved for 12.5 units of Certified Legal Specialist CLE in California in Immigration and Nationality Law. (Expires 02/22/2028)

FL General:  This program is approved for 14.50 units of General CLE Credits in Florida through August 31, 2024.
FL Board Certified:  This program is approved for 7.50 units of Immigration and Nationality Law Certification Credits in Florida through August 31, 2024.

IL General:  This program is approved for 12.00 units of general CLE in Illinois through February 21, 2025

OR General: This program is approved for 12.00 units of general CLE in Oregon through February 21, 2026.

WA General:  Each individual Part of this program is approved in Washington, for a total of 12 units (4 units per part) through February 21, 2028.

NY General: This course is eligible for approval, under New York’s CLE Approved Jurisdiction policy, for 12.00 CLE units. Pincus Professional Education is a CA Accredited Provider, which is a NY approved jurisdiction. See Section 6 of the New York State CLE Board Regulations and Guidelines for further information.

This program is approved for CLE in the states listed above.  Upon request, Pincus Pro Ed will provide any information an attorney needs to support their application for CLE approval in other states other than what is listed above. Many attorneys ask for this and are approved in other states.