21 www.lawyer-monthly.com Lawyer Monthly Women in Law Awards 2024 can correct an error with an amendment. Both of these are rarely possible in immigration. In addition, there is little “uniformity” in procedure or adjudication. Officers in all areas have vast discretion and every USCIS office, U.S. Port of Entry, and U.S. Consulate has its own specific requirements. In most instances there is no way to contact a live being for clarification. of applications there is no or no easy opportunity for review or appeal. Thus, not only is it important to stay abreast of all changes it is imperative. I served as the President of The American Immigration Lawyer’s Association’s (“AILA”) from 2014-2015 and I remain an active member for it Board of Directors. I became involved with AILA because I truly believe that to practice in this area membership is the most important “tool” you can have. Among so many other things it provides daily critical updates on immigration laws, Practice Pointers on older and emerging issues, access to mentors, subtopic list serves and, constant roundtables and learning opportunities. To ensure that we are as informed as possible I read updates on immigration law daily. AILA’s Recent Update’s page is my “home page.” I am also a member of AILA’s Business Immigration Law’s Steering Committee. We discuss current trends in immigration, oversee a list serve, and provide round tables during which we provide answers to members on current and trending issues. My work with and for AILA benefits its members and my clients. In addition, we have stringent checklists and procedures that our office follows in every case, and we never rely on doing something a particular way because we did it that way the week before. We check form fees and edition dates the day that we put something in the mail. We routinely check the status of cases to ensure that we don’t miss something time-sensitive. When we see that a change has occurred that might impact a client, we reach out to them to let them know while the waters may be roiling, we are continuing to navigate for them. In your work with individuals, employers, employees, and corporations, what do you consider the most rewarding aspect of your immigration practice? My practice is split between family and corporate immigration. Each brings with it a unique benefit. When it comes to family-based immigration, I have had the benefit of, among other things, seeing families reunited, victims of trafficking saved, and children receiving the benefit of meeting a grandparent in person or receiving desperately needed critical medical care. Because of the depth of information and time required to prepare an immigration case and see it to fruition, you tend to know so many intricate details about someone’s life. You have been an integral part of someone’s journey. My clients tend to send updates and greetings for years and years after the conclusion of their case because they consider us part of their U.S. “family.” There is nothing more rewarding. With regard to corporate immigration, our clients would never go through the difficult processes required to hire if they did not need to talent and dedication that foreign born workers offer. So many, call us and their first sentences involved telling us how important the foreign worker is to them and that they are already “family” or an integral part of their team. As I think about on it, the common denominator is that whether it be family or corporate immigration it is a uniting of people and an educator of the value of diversity. One of the most important lessons these past few difficult years have taught is that we need to embrace, accept, and treasure our differences. We were founded as a melting pot. It made us who we are. Through my clients I experience first-hand people embracing a world where differences are viewed as a positive rather than a negative. USA
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