Employment-Based Cases:
U.S. immigration law is consciously designed to serve the interests of both employers and workers. There are many avenues through which employers can petition for foreign-born employees. Our immigration laws protect U.S. workers by restricting employment-based immigration to persons whose skills and expertise are otherwise unavailable in the domestic workforce.

A person seeking to permanently enter the U.S. workforce through employer sponsorship is not admissible unless the Department of Labor certifies that he or she will not displace nor adversely affect the wages and working conditions of U.S. workers who are similarly employed. The employer must file an application with DOL establishing that both of these criteria have been met.

Family-Based Visas/ Fiancée Visas:
Fathers, daughters, mothers, sons, fiancés and other relatives can enter the United States with either an immigrant or non-immigrant visa. There are many options that are available. 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.

Permanent Resident:
A Permanent Resident is an alien admitted to the United States as a lawful permanent resident. Permanent residents are also commonly referred to as immigrants; however, the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) broadly defines an immigrant as any alien in the United States, except one legally admitted under specific nonimmigrant categories (INA section 101(a) (15)). An illegal alien who entered the United States without inspection, for example, would be strictly defined as an immigrant under the INA, but is not a permanent resident alien. Lawful permanent residents are legally accorded the privilege of residing permanently in the United States. They may be issued immigrant visas by the Department of State overseas or adjusted to permanent resident status by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in the United States.

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. Visas can include:

• 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

Board of Immigration Appeals/Federal Court Litigation:
The Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA or Board) is the highest administrative body for interpreting and applying immigration laws.  The Board has been given nationwide jurisdiction to hear appeals from certain decisions rendered by Immigration Judges and by District Directors of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in a wide variety of proceedings in which the Government of the United States is one party and the other party is either an alien, a citizen or a business.  In addition, the Board is responsible for the recognition of organizations and accreditation of representatives requesting permission to practice before DHS, the Immigration Courts and the Board.

Decisions of the Board are binding on all DHS officers and Immigration Judges unless modified or overruled by the Attorney General or a Federal court.  All Board decisions are subject to judicial review in the Federal courts.  The majority of appeals reaching the Board involve orders of removal and applications for relief from removal.  Other cases before the Board include the exclusion of aliens applying for admission to the United States, petitions to classify the status of alien relatives for the issuance of preference immigrant visas, fines imposed upon carriers for the violation of immigration laws, and motions for reopening and reconsideration of decisions previously rendered.

While most immigration matters involve administrative court proceedings at the US Immigration Courts and the Board of Immigration Appeals, federal courts such as the Court of Appeals and the U.S. District Courts have jurisdiction over very significant immigration matters.

Employment Visas/Labor Certification:
Companies that need qualified workers, but are unable to find enough U.S. workers to fill those positions, can use the labor certification process to sponsor workers from other countries. In most cases, these workers have specific medical skills, technical ability and bilingual experience and work in occupations like engineering, medicine, teaching, computer science or research.

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 employees and employers may require 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

Employment Authorization:
U.S. employers must check to make sure all employees, regardless of citizenship or national origin, are allowed to work in the United States. If you are not a citizen or a lawful permanent resident, you may need to apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) to prove you may work in the United States.

USCIS issues Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) in the following categories:

• EAD:  This document proves you are allowed to work in the United States.
• Renewal EAD:  You should apply for a renewal EAD six months before your original EAD expires.
• Replacement EAD:  This document replaces a lost, stolen or mutilated EAD.  A replacement EAD also replaces an EAD that was issued with incorrect information, such as a misspelled name.
• Interim EAD:  If USCIS does not approve or deny your EAD application within 90 days (within 30 days for an asylum applicant; note: asylum applicants are eligible to file for EADs only after waiting 150 days from the date they filed their properly completed original asylum applications), you may request an interim EAD document.
• The specific categories that require an Employment Authorization Document include (but are not limited to) asylees and asylum seekers; refugees; students seeking particular types of employment; applicants to adjust to permanent residence status; people in or applying for temporary protected status; fiancés of American citizens; and dependents of foreign government officials.  Please see Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization) for a complete list of the categories of people who must apply for an Employment Authorization Document to be able to work in the United States.
• If you are a U.S. citizen, you do not need an Employment Authorization Document.
• If you are a lawful permanent resident or a conditional permanent resident, you do not need an Employment Authorization Document.  Your Alien Registration Card proves that you may work in the United States.
• If you are authorized to work for a specific employer, such as a foreign government, you do not need an Employment Authorization Document.  Your passport and your Form I-94 (Arrival-Departure Record) prove that you may work in the United States.  Please see 8 CFR 274a.12(b), which provides a full list of the categories of people who do not need to apply for an EAD.

Naturalization:
Naturalization is the process by which a foreign person becomes a U.S. citizen. Almost everyone who goes through naturalization must first have held a green card for several years.  A naturalized U.S. citizen has virtually the same rights as a native-born American citizen.

Naturalization is the process by which U.S. citizenship is conferred upon a foreign citizen or national after he or she fulfills the requirements established by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).  The general requirements for administrative naturalization include:

• a period of continuous residence and physical presence in the United States;
• residence in a particular USCIS District prior to filing;
• an ability to read, write and speak English;
• a knowledge and understanding of U.S. history and government;
• good moral character;
• attachment to the principles of the U.S. Constitution; and,
• favorable disposition toward the United States.

All naturalization applicants must demonstrate good moral character, attachment and favorable disposition. The other naturalization requirements may be modified or waived for certain applicants, such as spouses of U.S. citizens.

Battered Spouse Petition:
Under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) passed by Congress in 1994, the spouses and children of United States citizens or lawful permanent residents (LPR) may self-petition to obtain lawful permanent residency. The immigration provisions of VAWA allow certain battered immigrants to file for immigration relief without the abuser's assistance or knowledge, in order to seek safety and independence from the abuser.

A VAWA self-petitioner files Form I-360, which replaces the Relative Petition (Form I-130) filed by the spouse. VAWA allows the immigrant to control the process instead of relying on the abusive United States citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident spouse. Any immigrant, male or female, is eligible to self-petition under VAWA if all of the following requirements are met:

• There is/was a good faith marriage between the immigrant and a United States citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident
• The marriage is/was legally valid
• There is/was abuse (physical, emotional, mental, psychological)
• There is/was joint residence
• The self-petitioner is a person of good moral character

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. We are able to facilitate all of the paperwork and applications and contact the consular officers to facilitate approval of the application.

Criminal Deportation/Removal Defense:
Immigrants in the United States who have been charged or convicted of a crime can be subsequently placed in deportation or removal proceedings.  Since September 30, 1996, with 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.

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)

Non-Criminal Deportation/Removal Defense:
Deportation (or removal) occurs when an alien is found to have violated certain immigration or criminal laws, consequences being that the alien forfeits his or her right to remain in the U.S., and is usually barred from returning.

If the DHS believes that you should be removed or deported from the United States, or an individual is found "inadmissible" to the United States, the DHS will issue a piece of paper called a "Notice to Appear" or "NTA" which initiates court proceedings to determine if an individual is removable, deportable or inadmissible from the United States.  An Immigration Judge presides over these court proceedings which are held at US Immigration Courts across the country. These are formal court hearings and should be taken very seriously as your immigration record may be permanently affected and you can be physically deported from the United States. Only an Immigration Judge can determine if you are removable, deportable or inadmissible and whether you have relief from removal. If the Immigration Judge denies relief, you may appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals which has jurisdiction over decisions made by Immigration Judges.

Political Asylum:
Political Asylum may be granted to people who are already in the United States and are unwilling or unable to return to their home country because of persecution or a well-founded fear or persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion. 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.

Waivers of Inadmissibility:
An Application for a Waiver of Inadmissibility is an application for legal entry to the United States made by an individual who is otherwise inadmissible on one or more grounds.  The application is submitted to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a Bureau of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Temporary Protected Status:
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a temporary immigration status granted to eligible nationals of designated countries (or parts thereof). In 1990, as part of the Immigration Act of 1990 (“IMMACT”), P.L. 101-649, Congress established a procedure by which the Attorney General may provide TPS to aliens in the United States who are temporarily unable to safely return to their home country because of ongoing armed conflict, an environmental disaster, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions.  On March 1, 2003, pursuant to the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Public Law 107-296, the authority to designate a country (or part thereof) for TPS, and to extend and terminate TPS designations, was transferred from the Attorney General to the Secretary of Homeland Security.  At the same time, responsibility for administering the TPS program was transferred from the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (Service) to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

During the period for which a country has been designated for TPS, TPS beneficiaries may remain in the United States and may obtain work authorization.  However, TPS does not lead to permanent resident status.  When the Secretary terminates a TPS designation, beneficiaries revert to the same immigration status they maintained before TPS (unless that status had since expired or been terminated) or to any other status they may have acquired while registered for TPS.  Accordingly, if an alien had unlawful status prior to receiving TPS and did not obtain any status during the TPS designation, the alien reverts to unlawful status upon the termination of that TPS designation.

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.

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.

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/daughters of US citizens
• Second preference:  Spouses of lawful permanent residents and 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.

If you or someone you know in Florida or worldwide needs the assistance of an experienced Orlando Immigration Attorney, call NeJame, LaFay, Jancha, Ahmed, Barker & Joshi, P.A. today at 866-786-4801, or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule your initial consultation.

If you or someone you know in Florida or worldwide needs the assistance of an experienced Orlando Immigration Attorney, call NeJame, LaFay, Jancha, Ahmed, Barker & Joshi, P.A. today at 866-786-4801, or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule your initial consultation.

ADDRESS OF THE FIRM:
Shahzad Ahmed is a Partner with the Firm and the Senior Attorney and the Senior Litigator for the Firm’s Immigration Division. Mr. Ahmed has approximately a decade of experience in handling virtually every type of immigration case.

The cases he handles include family reunification, deportation, investor visas, asylum, naturalization and citizenship matters. He has litigated hundred of cases and appeared before dozens of Immigration Judges where he has successfully represented multiple individuals in a wide variety of matters, from Removal proceedings to claims for Political Asylum and Adjustment of Status. He has handled thousands of cases on behalf of both individuals and businesses regarding their immigration needs. His works have been noted and cited in press releases by human rights and civil liberties organizations, including Amnesty International and Solidarity U.S.A. Mr. Ahmed is admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida and the Middle District of Florida. He practices Immigration Law throughout the entire United States and is able to appear in any Immigration Court within the United States. He is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and is also active in a multitude of immigration, civic and political organizations.

Mr. Ahmed is multilingual and fluent in English, Urdu and Hindi.

Mr. Ahmed obtained his Juris Doctorate from Touro Law Center in Long Island, New York. Even as a law student, Mr. Ahmed concentrated in International Law and while there developed a great desire and passion to assist others regarding their immigration issues. He served as an Assistant Editor for various journals and publications, including the International Law Journal. To further his experience and knowledge of Immigration and International Law, Mr. Ahmed also participated in and completed a comprehensive Law Studies program in Shimla, India.


Mayra Uribe-Sutton, Chief Immigration Assistant
With a passion for people, politics and service, Mayra Uribe-Sutton is an essential member of the Firm’s Immigration Division. Having worked for almost seven years as an Immigration and Constituent Advocate for United States Senator Bill Nelson of Florida, Ms. Uribe-Sutton has developed the contacts, knowledge and people skills necessary in assisting the clients of our attorneys with their immigration needs. Ms. Uribe-Sutton works closely alongside the clients and immigration lawyers of the Firm, in order to provide the best immigration assistance and services possible. When working with U.S. Senator Nelson, she assisted constituents, as well as their families and businesses, in a wide array of immigration related issues. During her many years with the Senator’s office she learned the intricacies and complexities of a confusing and confounding system. Having learned how to often “cut through the red tape” which often frustrates, delays and impedes the efficient and proper processing and approval of a variety of immigrant and non-immigrant visas, citizenship and other immigration related matters, Ms. Uribe-Sutton takes great pride in her creative and tenacious approach in assisting those with immigration needs and challenges.

While working in Senator Nelson’s office, Ms. Uribe-Sutton routinely received inquiries and questions from numerous immigration attorneys, seeking answers and her help on immigration matters for their clients. At some point it became obvious to her that, as a result of her immense experience and the enormous contacts and connections that she had developed, she had acquired invaluable skills to assist those with immigration needs. As such, Mayra Uribe-Sutton decided that she could better advance her acquired skills and contacts by joining our Firm as the head of all the non-attorney immigration support staff personnel, becoming our Chief Immigration Assistant. With her experience encompassing government casework related to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE), passport assistance, assisting in obtaining a variety of visas, effectuating travel visas, providing travelers and helping those seeking citizenship, Mayra Uribe-Sutton works tirelessly as she assists in navigating our clients through the governmental morass often accompanying immigration matters.

While working in the United States Senator’s Office as an Immigration and Constituent Advocate she worked directly with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Department of State, as well as a variety of United States and foreign embassies throughout the world. She has assisted and worked with local and international business owners, employers and employees, professionals, athletes, actors, and innumerable individuals with personal or family needs. She now brings her tremendous talent, experience and contacts, to the Law Offices of NeJame, LaFay, Jancha, Ahmed, Barker and Joshi, P.A.

Ms. Uribe-Sutton has also been active with Hispanic outreach programs assisting those of Hispanic descent in the integration and citizenship process. Additionally, she has worked with and spearheaded outreach programs for a variety of other ethnic communities as well, including those from Asia, the Caribbean and the Middle East.

Ms. Uribe-Sutton is also involved in local and national politics, further evidencing her concern and commitment towards working for the betterment of others. Additionally, she serves and participates in a variety of community and civic organizations.


Rebbecca Morgan, Immigration Attorney
Rebecca Morgan is an associate attorney with the Firm’s Immigration Division. Ms. Morgan received her Bachelor’s Degree from Harvard University in Cambridge, MA and her Juris Doctor from Barry University School of Law in Orlando, FL. As an undergraduate student, Ms. Morgan was political and social activist, working on several different political campaigns in Massachusetts. While still in law school, Ms. Morgan developed a passion for immigration and the needs of the various immigrant communities and interned for two semesters at Catholic Charities where she gained extensive experience in asylum and family-based immigration matters. Ms. Morgan excelled and she was also selected as a teaching assistant for the advanced legal research and writing course where she assisted the professor in grading students’ briefs, memos and citation exams.

Ms. Morgan also has a substantial background in business and finances which assists her when handling immigration client’s on investor and investment based visas. Before Ms. Morgan became an attorney, she worked as an auditor for a large New England banking group and was responsible for many branches throughout New England, including Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. She also worked for a non-profit long-term care facility as a development specialist in Boston, Massachusetts.

Ms. Morgan exclusively focuses on the practice of immigration law. She finds immigration law as not only a very exciting and challenging area of the law but one that is ever evolving. She is dedicated and passionate about her clients and their families and businesses. She handles a wide variety of immigration matters, including, removal, family reunification, asylum, criminal immigration, waivers, consular processing, naturalization, investor visas, student visas, TN visas, fiancé visas, and other non-immigrant and immigrant visas. Ms. Morgan has successfully argued cases before immigration judges across the State and represented clients before credible fear and adjudicating officers. In addition, Ms. Morgan has experience with assisting clients with their immigration matters at U.S. embassies/consulates abroad.

In addition to her Harvard education and graduation from law school, Ms. Morgan has also studied in Israel and has traveled through the Middle East and Europe. She is fluent in Hebrew and French and is conversational in Arabic, a language she is currently studying.

Ms. Morgan also uses her immigration background and knowledge to be an advocate for fairness and justice and is driven to educate others to the sensitive religious, social and ethnic issues that plague our society today.


Rajan Joshi, Criminal Defense and US Immigration Attorney
Rajan Joshi received his Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from the University of Central Florida and his Juris Doctorate (JD) with Honors from the University of Florida College Of Law, after having received honors each semester while in law school. While still a law student, Mr. Joshi interned at the Seminole County’s Office of the State Attorney and later at the Alachua County Office of the State Attorney.

After law school, Mr. Joshi scored among the top five highest scores in the entire State of Florida for the Florida Bar Exam. Based on his outstanding Bar Exam scores and his multiple academic achievements, Mr. Joshi was selected by the Chief Judge of the Fifth District Court of Appeals to be the Valedictorian Speaker at the October 2000 Induction Ceremony for newly sworn lawyers.

Rajan Joshi started his legal career as a prosecutor in Jacksonville, Florida, where he prosecuted and further developed his trial skills over a four year period. In less than a year he was quickly promoted to prosecute felony cases. Soon thereafter he was promoted to the Repeat Offender Court, where he prosecuted habitual felony offenders (repeat offenders) for extremely serious crimes. In 2003, Rajan Joshi received the Jury Trial Award for having tried more jury trials than any other prosecutor in the Fourth Judicial Circuit, which included Duval, Clay and Nassau Counties. He also litigated numerous post-conviction motions. As a prosecutor, Mr. Joshi also trained law enforcement officers for courtroom and trial preparation.

In 2004, after leaving the State Attorney’s Office, Mr. Joshi worked for an AV rated law firm in Jacksonville and dedicated his practice to criminal defense. In 2006, he returned to Central Florida, where he grew up and where his family has lived for thirty years. Shortly after returning to Central Florida, he joined the prestigious law firm of NeJame, Lafay, Jancha, Vara and Barker, P.A. His legal talents and skills were quickly recognized and he was soon elevated to Partner in less than a year. The Firm’s name was then changed to NeJame, Lafay, Jancha, Vara, Barker and Joshi, P.A. He has tried and handled all types of cases from misdemeanors to felonies punishable by life in prison. He practices in all areas of criminal defense, both State and Federal, including post-conviction relief matters. Mr. Joshi’s practice also concentrates on motions to overturn prior criminal convictions of non-citizens who are facing deportation as a result of their prior criminal convictions; some which if not vacated, can lead to the automatic removal or deportation of a non-citizen.

Mr. Joshi’s practice is dedicated to both criminal defense and immigration law. He first became interested in immigration law through his personal experience of handling his wife’s immigration and citizenship case from India. His diverse immigration background has included handling cases involving everything from allegations of an employer illegally hiring Chinese nationals, to allegations of marriage fraud and multiple cases of clients facing deportation. His background, knowledge and experience regarding post-conviction relief and motions to vacate prior sentences is especially relevant and critical to many immigration matters regarding deportation.

In addition to English, Mr. Joshi speaks Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu.