Each day, immigrants from all over the world pursue the dream of American citizenship. Unfortunately, many immigrants lose their opportunity for U.S. citizenship because they lack proper legal representation. Immigration, citizenship and nationality are increasingly complex and dynamic areas of law. Only dedicated and specialized professionals can be expected to keep up with the demands of guiding clients through this ever-changing environment.

Attorney Richard H. Brown concentrates his practice on representing foreign and domestic companies, U.S. medical and health care facilities and organizations, and professionals, doctors, researchers, managers, executives and others seeking immigration law guidance. Mr. Brown represents clients before Immigration Judges, Board of Immigration Appeals, District Court and United States Circuit Courts. Although Attorney Brown’s office is located in Ohio, he is qualified to represent all immigration clients in all U.S. deportation cases, in visa applications throughout the United States and in U.S. consular processing throughout the world.

On March 1, 2003, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) became part of the United States Department of Homeland Security and its functions were divided into three bureaus of that department:

• USCIS – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
• ICE – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
• CBP –U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Cleveland immigration lawyer Richard H. Brown possesses a thorough understanding of immigration law, and handles a variety of cases governed by USCIS including:

• Application for U.S. Citizenship
• Application for Permanent Residence
• Battered Spouse Petitions 
• Consular Processing
  
• I-9 Compliance
• Criminal Deportation / Removal Defense 
• Non-Criminal Deportation / Removal Defense 
• Employment-Based Cases
• Family Based Visas 
• H, L, E Visas 
• Board of Immigration Appeals / Federal Court Litigation
• Labor Certifications 
• Naturalization 
• Political Asylum 
• TN Visas & Special Visa for Foreign Nationals from Australia, China & Singapore

Are you planning a trip to the United States? It probably would be in your best interest to hire a lawyer to provide legal advice and help you prepare your application for a visa. The application process is lengthy and the requirements are very strict, especially as a result of the recent terrorist attacks on the United States. Having an immigration lawyer to assist you will greatly reduce the complications involved in applying for your visa and better assure the approval of your application.

An immigration law attorney can also provide valuable advice on legal issues that may arise during the application process and on new laws that are continually being passed that affect immigration to the United States, whether for a short-term business or pleasure trip, or for seeking permanent residence as an alien and/or becoming a naturalized citizen.

Attorney Richard H. Brown's clients are in the U.S. and span the globe from Chile to Canada, the U.K. to Japan, and South Africa to Finland. Mr. Brown's clients include one of the five major Museums of Art in the U.S., several health care facilities, an Italian cancer researcher and a trainer of Cutting Quarter Horses.

If you need a visa, wish to immigrate, are facing deportation or removal for any reason, or want to help bringing a family member or employee to the United States, Cleveland immigration attorney Richard H. Brown can help. Please call his Chagrin Falls, Ohio office today at 440-247-9100 or 440-247-9104, or use the contact form provided on this site to schedule your initial consultation.

Practice Areas and Legal Definitions

Consular Processing:
If an individual is in another country, he or she may apply for a visa or green card in the U.S. embassy of his or her home country. Attorney Richard H. Brown is able to facilitate all of the paperwork and applications, and contact the consular officers to facilitate approval of the application.

Criminal Deportation/Removal Defense:
Richard H. Brown represents immigrants in the United States who have been charged or convicted of a crime and are subsequently placed in deportation or removal proceedings. Since September 30, 1996, and the passage of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, (Pub. L. No. 104-208, 110 Stat. 3009 "IIRAIRA"), the rights of aliens in the United States have been severely curtailed when past criminal conduct is a factor. Crimes that previously did not cause immigration consequences can now trigger deportation proceedings against an alien. Crimes as serious as murder, and as minor as shoplifting, can result in deportation.

Attorney Richard H. Brown constantly seeks to find creative solutions to his clients’ deportation problems by staying abreast of new laws and regulations in addition to federal court decisions affecting immigrants. He also vigorously pursues post-conviction remedies in criminal cases to create affirmative defenses from deportation and removal, and/or to allow aliens to qualify for deportation/removal discretionary waivers.

There are three agencies, which may have jurisdiction or input into a deportation or removal proceeding:

• USCIS – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (for green cards and citizenship)
• ICE – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement(for deportations and investigations)
• CBP – U.S. Customs and Border Protection(for airport and border crossing issues)

Employment Visas/Labor Certification:
Richard H. Brown routinely handles all matters related to green card applications, labor certification and PERM applications. He knows that it is critical that each application is meticulously prepared, all deadlines are met, all references are verified, data is exact and everything documented is in accordance with all current laws. The types of immigration law work Attorney Richard H. Brown does for employees and employers can include, but is not limited to:

• PERM Application
• E-1/E-2 – Treaty Country Investor Visas
• EB1 - National Interest Waiver, Alien Of Extraordinary Ability, Outstanding Professor Or Researcher, Multinational Executive
• EB2 - Member Of Profession Holding An Advanced Degree Or Alien Of Exceptional Ability \
• EB3 - Skilled Worker Or Professional
• EB4 - Any Other Worker
• EB5 - Immigrant Investor
• H-2A – Seasonal Worker Visas
• H-2B - Other Seasonal Work Visas
• L-1 - Inter-Company Transferees Visas

Family Based Visas/ Fiancée Visas:
Richard H. Brown helps fathers, daughters, mothers, son, fiancés and other relatives enter the United States with either an immigrant or non-immigrant visa. He can guide you through the many options that are available, and make certain that the paperwork is all in order so the petition is granted. I-130 Petition: An I-130 is a Petition for Alien Relatives and it applies to mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and children. Parents, spouses and unmarried children under 21 years of age of U.S. Citizens are considered immediate relatives and are not placed under a quota system. The others are placed into preference order which determines who is given priority entry into the United States:

• First Preference: Unmarried, adult (21 years of age or older) sons and daughters of U.S. citizens.
• Second Preference: Spouses of lawful permanent residents and the unmarried sons and daughters of lawful permanent residents.
• Third Preference: Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens.
• Fourth Preference: Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens.

This process can take a very long time (several years) depending upon the preference ranking. The most current online visa bulletin will give those who are waiting an idea of how long they must wait for their immigration application or green card to be granted.

Fiancée Visas:
For those seeking to bring a fiancé or fiancée to the United States, a K-1 visa application will allow the fiancé (e) to enter the United States. Both parties must be unmarried, legally divorced or annulled, or widowed. The marriage must take place within 90 days of entry into the United States.

H, L, E, Visas:
Non-immigrant work visas (H, L, O, P, Q) require a CIS-approved petition from a U.S. sponsor. Treaty-trader or treaty-investor visas (E1/E2) can be applied for directly by the individual as long as he or she is from a country with which the United States has a treaty.

The most common work-related visas are H-1B Visas and L1 Visas. The H-1B is a way to bring foreign-born professionals to the United States for a period of up to six years. A sponsor is required, and the employment may only start up when the new employee is in the United States. The L1- Visa is for people working for an employer abroad for one year in a related business entity in a manager / executive or specialized knowledge staff capacity, and who will come to the United States to continue providing services for his or her employer.

The paperwork is important, but so is the communication. Ohio immigration Attorney Richard H. Brown maintains excellent communication and regularly represents employees and employers within the following types of visa filings:

• B1 Temporary visitor for business
• B2 Temporary visitor for pleasure
• B1/B2 Temporary visitor for business or pleasure
• E1 Treaty trader, spouse and children
• E2 Treaty investor, spouse and children
• H1B (petition-based) Temporary worker in a specialty occupation
• H1C (petition-based) Registered nurses
• H2A (petition-based) Temporary worker performing agricultural services unavailable in the United States
• H2B (petition-based) Temporary worker performing non-agricultural services unavailable in the United States H3 (petition-based) Industrial trainee
• H4 (petition-based) Dependent of H1, H2 or H3
• L1 (petition-based) Intra-company transferee (executive, managerial, and specialized personnel continuing employment with an international firm or corporation)
• L2 (petition-based) Dependent of L1
• O1 (petition-based) Aliens with extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business or athletics
• O2 (petition-based) Aliens accompanying and assisting the above in a professional capacity
• O3 (petition-based) Dependent of O1 or O2
• P1 (petition-based) Athletes and entertainers for a specific competition or performance
• P2 (petition-based) Athletes and entertainers participating in reciprocal exchange program
• P3 (petition-based) Artists and entertainers performing under a program that is culturally unique
• P4 (petition-based) Dependent of P1, P2 or P3
• Q (petition-based) International cultural exchange visitor

Political Asylum:
Richard H. Brown also assists those from other countries who apply for political asylum within the Untied States. As of 1996, persons in the United States have one calendar year to apply for political asylum, unless the conditions of the country of persecution change or there are exceptional circumstances. Attorney Richard H. Brown carefully examines every political asylum case to decide whether the case has merit or is frivolous. He will guide the client as to the proper course of action to enhance their claim.

TN Visas:
When the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was implemented on January 1, 1994, a category for Mexican and Canadian professionals was created to allow for temporary entry into the United States.

Under the NAFTA, Mexican and Canadian professionals are now eligible for Trade NAFTA (TN) status. Under TN status, Mexican and Canadian citizens in certain professions may enter the United States to work for a U.S. company on a temporary basis. Eligible professionals may also work for Mexican and Canadian companies in the United States.

Professions Qualified For TN Status:
In order to qualify for TN status, the applicant must be intending to be involved in a profession listed in Appendix 1603.D.1 of NAFTA and the applicant must possess the required credentials to be considered a "professional." In most, but not all of the listed professions, a bachelor's degree or better is usually required. However, the list of eligible professions also includes occupations which do not necessarily require a bachelor's degree as a minimum requirement. Examples of these occupations are management consultants, hotel managers, librarians and graphic designers. The requirements for each of these categories appear in Appendix 1603.D.l of NAFTA.

If you need a visa, wish to immigrate, are facing deportation or removal for any reason, or want to help bringing a family member or employee to the United States, Cleveland immigration attorney Richard H. Brown can help. Please call his Chagrin Falls, Ohio office today at 440-247-9100, or use the contact form provided on this site to schedule your initial consultation.

Professional Profile

Richard H. Brown has practiced immigration law for over 20 years. While his primary area of specialty is business immigration, his background includes expertise and experience in the areas of business, real estate and estate planning. He brings business expertise and knowledge of the expectations of business people to his immigration clients. His expertise has been recognized by his listing in The Best Lawyers in America.

Richard H. Brown strives to always be approachable, responsive, efficient and effective.  He maintains flexible office hours, responds promptly to telephone calls, and keeps clients informed of the status of their case.  His dedication to quality, understanding of immigration law, mutual trust and respect are the foundation of his relationships with all of his clients. 

If you need a visa, wish to immigrate, are facing deportation or removal for any reason, or want to help bringing a family member or employee to the United States, Cleveland immigration attorney Richard H. Brown can help. Please call his Chagrin Falls, Ohio office today at 440-247-9100 or 440-247-9104, or use the contact form provided on this site to schedule your initial consultation.

FIRM ADDRESS:
Richard H. Brown & Associates
10 Center Street
Chagrin Falls, OH 44022
Phone: 440-247-9100
Hours: M-F, 8:00AM-5:00PM

MEMBERS OF THE FIRM:
Richard H. Brown

EDUCATION: 

• Case Western Reserve University, J.D., 1968
• Ohio University, B.B.A., 1965

NOTEWORTHY ACHIEVEMENTS:

• Represents Fortune 200 companies and other foreign and domestic multinational companies, individuals and joint ventures in obtaining temporary and permanent immigration benefits for aliens
• Successfully processed labor certification/PERM cases for over 20 years
• Experience working with U.S. Embassies and Consulates all over the world
• Experience with U.S.-Canada Free Trade Agreement, the North American Free Trade Agreement and Border issues relating to Mexico and Canada
• Provides instruction and advice to human resource departments on preparation of forms and documents to facilitate processing for non-immigrant and immigrant visas and other immigration issues
• Represents health care and research organizations and doctors in obtaining permanent and temporary immigration benefits
• Processes labor certifications, waivers and immigrant visas to obtain Green Cards
• Speaker at professional and business meetings and seminars on various business and immigration topics
• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America 

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

• Former Chair, Immigration Practice, Arter & Hadden
• Member, American Immigration Lawyer's Association and Ohio, Greater Cleveland, Cuyahoga County and Federal Bar Associations
• Past Chairman, Ohio Section and Member of the Board of Governors of the American Immigration Lawyers Association