Practice Area(s)

Education
  • University of Washington School of Law (J.D.)
  • Seattle Pacific University (B.A., cum laude)

Joel takes great pride in helping "bring the best and brightest into the United States." His immigration practice includes assisting immigrants to obtain employment visas, permanent residence, citizenship and naturalization in the United States.
Immigration Services
 
  • Adjustment of status
  • B-1 (business visitor)
  • B-2 (pleasure visitor)
  • Change of status
  • Chile Free Trade Agreement
  • Citizenship (including dual)
  • Consular processing/appointment
  • U.S. Consulate at Vancouver, B.C.
  • Diversity Lottery
  • E-1 (treaty traders)
  • E-2 (treaty investors)
  • E-3
  • EB-1 (executives and managers)
  • EB-5 (investors)
  • E-verification
  • Expedited naturalization for spouses of U.S. citizens working overseas (Section 319(b))
  • Fiancé visa (K1/K3)
  • Following to join
  • Freedom of Information Act Requests
  • H-1B
  • H-1B1
  • H-3 (trainee)
  • I-140 Petitions
  • L-1 (intra-company transfers)
  • L-1 (blanket)
  • Labor Certification Application
  • Labor Condition Application
  • Liability to pay
  • NAFTA
  • Naturalization
  • NEXUS
  • NSEERS
  • Nurses
  • O&P classifications
  • Passports
  • R-1
  • Re-entry permits
  • Relative petition (I-130)
  • Religious workers (I-360)
  • Requests for further evidence
  • SSA No match letters
  • U.S. Passport Office
  • U.S. Visit
  • USCIS
  • Visa numbers/waivers

 

Note: Joel does not handle cases involving deportation and removal, asylum, refugees, or immigration related criminal issues.

Admitted to Practice

 

  • Washington Supreme Court
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Tax Court
  • United States District Court for the Western District of Washington
  • Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
Honors and Awards
  • Rated 10/10 on Avvo.com
  • Martindale Hubbell AV® Preeminent 5.0 out of 5
  • Seattle Business Magazine, Seattle's Best Lawyers (2012)
  • Listed in Best Lawyers in America® (1991-present)
  • Washington Law & Politics' Super Lawyers® (2003-present)
  • Listed in Marquis Who's Who in America® (2006-present)
  • Chambers USA - Ranked #1 in Immigration International (2008-present)
  • Listed in Marquis International Who's Who-Corporate Immigration Lawyers (2008-present)
  • Listed in Best in the United States® (2008)
Professional and Community Activities
  • Past President of Canada-America Society of Washington
  • Member, Seattle Rotary Club #4
  • Significant participation in American Immigration Lawyers Association at national and regional levels
  • Emeritus Trustee, Seattle Pacific University
  • Former Director and Secretary, Seattle Pacific Foundation
  • President, Westminster Foundation
  • Member, British-American Chamber of Commerce of the Pacific Northwest
Speaking Engagements
  • Speaker, Northwest Regional Immigration Law Conference, Seattle, WA (2010).
  • Speaker, Practice Roundtable: "Know When to Hold'Em and Know When to Fold'Em - Corporate Changes: Immigration Status and Options," AILA, Las Vegas, NV (2009).
  • Speaker, Panel on "Advanced Issues in Naturalization," AILA, Vancouver, B.C., Canada (2008).
  • Speaker, Department of State Panel, AILA, Washington D.C. (2007).
  • Speaker, Pacific Northwest AILA Regional CLE, Portland, OR (2007).
  • Speaker, Department of State Panel, AILA, Washington D.C. (2006).
  • Speaker, AILA National Fundamentals Conference, "The Road to Naturalization and Citizenship," Seattle, WA (2006).
  • Discussion Leader, Washington State Chapter, AILA (2006).
  • Discussion Leader, Concurrent I-140/I-485s and Consular Processing Strategies Panel, AILA, Salt Lake City, UT (2005).
  • Speaker, "Employer Compliance for Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification)," Seattle, WA (2005).
Publications
  • Our Predictions for the Coming Year: 7 Things Every Employer Should Know (October, 2011)
  • National Visa Center--Dos and Don'ts for Attorneys, AILA Visa Processing Guide and Consular Posts Handbook (2007-2008 Edition).
  • Hot Topics in Immigration Law. King County Bar Association, Seattle, WA (2003).
  • Tax Consequences of Immigration. AILA National Conference, New Orleans, LA (2003).
  • Immigration Under Attack. Pacific Regency, Bellevue, WA (2001).
  • Immigration Under Attack. Bellevue Congregational Church, Bellevue, WA (2001).
Background

Joel is an exceptional lawyer.  For one thing, he flies or drives to other cities to meet with potential clients without charge. He does this to find out what their legal problems are and how he can help them. “The people I meet – and many do become clients – are very happy about my house calls,” he says.

They are happy about the breadth and depth of Joel’s legal expertise. “When people ask me what I do as an immigration lawyer, I tell them I help the best and the brightest from other countries come to the United States,” he says.