One Page Bio
Practice Groups
Experience
Education & Admittance to Practice
Professional Activities & Speeches
Published Works
Media Quotes
Honors & Awards
Insights

Lee Gibbs Depret-Bixio

Shareholder || Columbia

Practice Groups

Immigration

Lee Depret-Bixio joined Ogletree Deakins in 2003 and she practices exclusively in the area of business immigration law. She partners with U.S. and multinational companies to hire and retain talent by obtaining and maintaining employment-based nonimmigrant (“temporary”) and immigrant visas (“green cards”) for key employees. She also assists clients with state and federal employment verification (I-9) compliance and enforcement issues. Having lived and worked in France for several years, Ms. Depret-Bixio is fluent in French.

Practice Groups

Immigration

Learn more about Lee Gibbs Depret-Bixio

Experience

Ms. Depret-Bixio represents employers of all sizes and industries. She works closely with her clients to develop and implement strategic immigration solutions. She has substantial experience working with healthcare and hospital systems, airline carriers, automotive manufacturers and suppliers, electronic component manufacturers, financial services, educational institutions, utilities and technology-related companies.

Assists clients obtain nonimmigrant “work visas” for its foreign employees including the B, E, H, J, L, O, P, Q, and TN visa categories. She also works with healthcare systems to obtain J-1 waivers (“Conrad Waivers”) and H-1B visas for eligible physicians.
Assists employers obtain permanent immigrant visas (commonly referred to as “green cards”) based on extraordinary ability, outstanding researcher, multinational executive and manager, and labor certification (“PERM”) strategies
Advises employers on state and federal employment verification and compliance requirements. Assists them with compliance issues including internal I-9 audits, government investigations, mismatched Social Security numbers, E-Verify and in developing corporate compliance programs
Provides customized training to clients on immigration matters, including such topics as: Immigration 101, I-9 verification, and Green Card/PERM “labor certification” strategies.

Education & Admittance to Practice

Education

J.D., University of South Carolina, 2003
B.A., Hollins College, 1989

Admittance to Practice

South Carolina

Professional Activities & Speeches

Professional Activities

South Carolina Bar Association Wellness Committee
Richland County Bar Association
American Immigration Lawyers Association
National Association of Women Lawyers
South Carolina Women Lawyers Association
Volunteer Tutor, United Way’s Midlands Reading Consortium

Speeches

Ogletree Deakins Immigration Insights Symposium - "Reel Ethics: Challenging Ethical Situations From the Big Screen" - October 1, 2020
Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive - "Business Immigration in Uncertain and Changing Times" - New Orleans - November 15, 2019
Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar - "Building a Successful Immigration Program: Key Planning Considerations for Active Businesses" - Las Vegas - May 4, 2019
Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar - "The Rest of the Iceberg: The Heavy Impact of Informal Immigration Enforcement Shifts" - Phoenix - May 10, 2018
Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive - "Stopped at the Border? How Recent Immigration Actions Affect the Workplace" - Boca Raton - November 10, 2017

Published Works

2010 - Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce newsletter - "Immigration Reform Law Set to Affect All South Carolina Employers"
2008 - Mechanical Contractors Association of S.C. newsletter - "New S.C. Immigration Legislation Impacts ALL S.C. Employers: How will it affect you?"

Media Quotes

October 21, 2014 - Fast Casual - "5 Steps for Keeping Your Restaurant from Getting ICE'd"
April 12, 2010 - The State - "More Citations Expected in the Future"
August 18, 2009 - Charleston Regional Business Journal - "Immigration Audits Concern Businesses"
June 20, 2009 - The Post and Courier - "Companies Preparing for New Law"
January 8, 2009 - The State - "Companies Advised to Check Hires in Database"
December 16, 2008 - The Post and Courier - "South Carolina Immigrant Employee Law Takes Effect Next Month"
October 9, 2008 - The State - "New Law Puzzles S.C. Businesses"

Honors & Awards

2018 Legal Elite – Columbia Business Monthly

Insights by Lee Gibbs Depret-Bixio

Department of State Extends Validity of National Interest Exceptions for Persons Subject to COVID-19 Travel Restrictions

On June 29, 2021, the U.S. Department of State extended the period of validity for national interest exceptions (NIE) for travelers entering the United States from an area subject to ongoing COVID-related travel bans.

Document layered with small American flag and blue pen.

DHS Announces Significant Changes to H-1B Cap Selection Process

On January 8, 2021, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a final rule that significantly alters the longstanding randomized lottery process that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has utilized to select H-1B cap-based petitions.

DHS Proposes Shift to Wage-Based H-1B Selection Process

On November 2, 2020, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a proposed rule that, if implemented, would amend the process by which U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) selects H-1B registrations for H-1B cap-subject petitions. The proposed rule would replace the current H-1B random selection lottery process with a wage-based selection process, giving preference to applications for higher-paying positions.

Man talking to woman while writing on notepad, framed by justice scale on desk.

DACA Survives: SCOTUS Blocks Trump Administration Bid to End Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program

On June 18, 2020, the Supreme Court of the United States issued its decision in DHS v. Regents of the University of California, No. 18-587, effectively blocking the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) attempt to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

DHS Further Extends Flexibility in I-9 Compliance Rules

On June 16, 2020, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced a second extension of its prior guidance relaxing the in-person verification requirements of Form I-9 for employers operating remotely due to COVID-19.

USCIS Eases H-1B Requirements for Physicians With J-1 Waivers in Response to COVID-19

On May 11, 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a policy update in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that provides H-1B physicians holding J-1 foreign medical graduate waivers some limited flexibility in readjusting their hours and placement sites.

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