Karen represents corporate clients in a variety of industries, including the pharmaceutical, insurance, engineering and technology fields from Fortune 500 companies to small startup businesses. Her practice includes all aspects of corporate U.S. immigration, including nonimmigrant visas, permanent residence, citizenship, I-9 compliance and immigration support for corporate restructuring. She has extensive experience in all areas of U.S. immigration law, but she primarily focuses her current practice on employment-based immigration for corporate clients, as well as sophisticated immigration-related compliance work for employers of all sizes. Karen has expertise in managing PERM campaigns for employers and in developing cost-effective strategies for companies and organizations interested in hiring professional foreign workers. Karen is Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. She has worked with some of the largest immigration firms in the U.S.
Visas providing temporary work authorization in the U.S.
Extensive experience with issues related to the H-1B, H-2B and L categories for work authorization in partnership with corporate clients. Advising on timeline issues, cap-subject cases, DOL audits of public access files and regulations as well as portability. Counsel employees traveling and representation at deferred inspection with Customs and Border Protection. Guide corporate clients regarding appropriate visa categories for potential employees. Work with clients to educate through conferences, presentations and individually into requirements for maintenance of status for themselves and family members.
Non-Immigrant Visas
H-1B Specialty Occupation
H-2A and H-2B Seasonal and Agricultural Workers
F-1 Students
L-1 Intracompany Transferees
Business and Visitor B-1 Options
Other Temporary Visas for work options
Travel Issues
Maintenance of legal status
Pathways for Legal Permanent Residency through employment (LPR)
Manage and advise on immigration policy and permanent residency regulations, Advise clients on applicable timelines regarding permanent residency. Partner with corporations on labor certification requirements and options that do not require labor certifications such as multinational executives and managers, individuals with extraordinary abilities, outstanding researchers and national interest waivers. Escalation and governmental liaison as required.
Permanent Residence through Employment
Multinational Companies
Labor Certification through PERM
Other Options for LPR
I-9 audits and presentations
Educational Presentations to clients and employees on US immigration
Naturalization for Legal Permanent Residents
Education
Admission to Practice
Professional Activities
- State Bar of Texas
- Immigration Section of the State Bar of Texas
- American Immigration Lawyers Association
- Houston Chapter
