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

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

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.

Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act: Is Relief On the Way for Physicians and Nurses?

On May 5, 2020, a bipartisan group of senators, including Senator David Perdue (R-GA), Todd Young (R-IN), John Cornyn (R-TX), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Patrick Leahy (D-VT), introduced the Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act (Senate Bill 3599). The goal of the proposed legislation is to temporarily address the country’s shortage of doctors and nurses, strengthen the healthcare workforce, and improve healthcare access during the COVID-19 crisis.

USCIS Suspends Premium Processing on FY 2019 H-1B Cap Filings

On March 20, 2018, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the temporary suspension of the premium processing program for all fiscal year (FY) 2019 cap-subject H-1B cases.

U.S. Government Delays Revisions to H-4 Employment Authorization Regulations

The Trump administration’s plans to end the ability of spouses of H-1B visa holders to be granted work authorization now appear to be on a slower track than originally anticipated. Removing eligibility for work authorization to this class of foreign nationals requires promulgation of a new rule, the first step of which would be the issuance of a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

President Trump Establishes National Vetting Center to Further “Extreme Vetting” Plan

On February 6, 2018, President Trump issued a national security presidential memorandum directing the establishment of a vetting center to promote border and immigration security and ensure the safety and security of the United States. The National Vetting Center’s mission is to coordinate and streamline vetting efforts to identify individuals who present a threat to national security, border security, homeland security, or public safety. President Trump has repeatedly voiced his support for increased vetting procedures to protect the American people from terrorist attacks and other public safety threats. This memorandum serves as the president’s latest effort to fulfill his campaign promise of imposing “extreme vetting” on individuals entering the United States.

The Government Shutdown’s Impact on Immigration

On January 20, 2018, the federal government entered into a partial shutdown following Congress’s failure to reach an agreement to continue funding the federal government. Certain federal agencies that rely solely on government funding will not be able to provide most services. Agencies that receive funding from fees or other government sources are expected to remain open, but are expected to experience service delays.

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