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. Joel also is available to discuss the opportunities that will be available under the comprehensive immigration reform proposals.
Immigration Services
- Ability to pay
- 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.
- DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals)
- Diversity Lottery
- E-1 (treaty traders)
- E-2 (treaty investors)
- E-3 (Australia)
- EB-1 (executives and managers)
- EB-5 (investors)
- E-verification
- ESTA
- 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 (Chile and Singapore)
- 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-1 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
Joel works with immigrants to obtain temporary and permanent positions as executives, managers or specialists. He also advises on treaty rights and obligations for payment or non-payment of taxes. Joel has been recognized for his contribution to the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s 2013 publication, Immigration Forms Toolbox. Joel was a co-author of “Third Country National Consular Processing of Nonimmigrant Visa Applications in Canada and Mexico” in AILA’s Consular Handbook, 4th edition in 2019.
Note: Joel does not handle cases involving deportation and removal, asylum, refugees, or immigration related criminal issues.
Joel’s estate planning and probate practice includes supervising everything from simple to complex probates and the preparation of federal estate tax returns.
ESTATE PLANNING SERVICES
- Asset protection planning
- Charitable trusts
- Durable powers of attorney
- Life insurance planning
- Life insurance trusts
- Lifetime gifting programs
- Living wills or directive to physicians
- Living trusts
- Private foundation and supporting organizations
- Simple and complex wills
- Special needs trusts
- Succession planning
Honors & Awards
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America® (1991-present)
- Rated 10/10 on Avvo.com
- Martindale Hubbell AV® Preeminent 5.0 out of 5
- Named to Washington Super Lawyers® list
- Listed in Marquis Who’s Who in America® (2006-present)
- Chambers USA – Ranked #1 in Immigration International (2008)
- Listed in Marquis International Who’s Who-Corporate Immigration Lawyers (2008-present)
Professional & Community Activities
- Board of Directors, Japan-America Society of the State of Washington
- 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
Publications & Speaking Engagements
- Speaker, “Employment Based Immigration: Building a Successful Employment Based Practice”, Washington AILA Chapter CLE (2021)
- Moderator and speaker, “U.S. Consular Practice”, AILA National Virtual Annual Conference (2020)
- Speaker, “Nonimmigrant Visa Consular Processing 101,” AILA Annual Conference (2020)
- Speaker, “Navigating the Reduction of Workforce Stemming From COVID-19,” TAGLaw Virtual International Conference (2020)
- Co-author, Third Country National Consular Processing of Nonimmigrant Visa Applications in Canada and Mexico, AILA’s Consular Handbook, 4th Ed. (2019)
- Author, Post Information and Tips: Vancouver, B.C., Canada, U.S. Consulate General, AILA’s Consular Handbook, 4th Ed. (2019)
- Author, The First E-2 Visa Issued out of U.S. Embassy in New Zealand goes to Ryan Swanson Client (2019)
- Author, Income and Estate Tax Planning on a Linear Basis for the Inbound and Outbound Resident (2019)
- Speaker, AILA Conference at Seattle University (February, 2019)
- Author, “Diversity Lottery” (September, 2018)
- Speaker, “How to Be Successful in the Current Immigration Climate” Ryan Swanson’s Annual Employment Law Seminar (September, 2018)
- Co-author, Department of Homeland Security Considers Policy Change That Would Prevent H-1B Extensions (January, 2018)
- Co-author, Supreme Court Upholds Travel Ban (December, 2017)
- Co-author, Policy Change Regarding Advance Parole for Adjustment of Status (AOS) Applicants (August, 2017)
- Co-author, 5 Things You Should Know About the President’s Executive Order on Immigration (March, 2017)
- Speaker, Pacific NW American Immigration Lawyers Association’s Continuing Legal Education Conference, Portland, OR (March, 2017)
- Co-author, Workplace Site Visits – What You Can Do To Prepare (February, 2017)
- Co-author, Seattle Federal Judge Issues Preliminary Injunction Extending Nationwide Block of President’s Executive Order on Immigration (February, 2017)
- Co-author, 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Upholds TRO on Travel Ban (February, 2017)
- Co-author, President’s Immigration Ban Temporarily Suspended (February, 2017)
- Co-author, Immigration Alert: Impact of Proposed White House Executive Order on Employment-Based Immigration (February, 2017)
- Co-author, Employers Advised to File H-1B Petitions for Employees in TN Status (February, 2017)
- Co-author, President’s Executive Order Suspends Entry Into U.S. for Foreign Nationals from Seven Countries and Impacts Visa Processing (January, 2017)
- Co-author, President’s Executive Order Expected to Suspend Entry into U.S. for Foreign Nationals from Seven Countries (January, 2017)
- Speaker, How to Prepare for the 2017 H-1B Lottery (January, 2017)
- Co-author, Immigration Update: Significantly Reduced Visa Wait Times at U.S. Consulates in India (October, 2016)
- Author, Domestic Travel Identification Requirements to Change in Early 2016
- Speaker, Your Next Step: Crossing the Border, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC (2015)
- Guest, Immigration with Tahmina Watson, Desi 1250AM Radio, (3:34 mark) Joel discussed how he helped change law that allowed women to pass on US citizenship to their children (2015)
- Author, American Immigration Lawyers Association “Immigration Forms Toolbox,” 2nd Edition (2015)
- Author, The Moving Executive: Preserving Residency for Naturalization a/k/a “Perma-Shaving Naturalization” (2015)
- Author, Naturalization and Voting in the United States (2014)
- Author, Guidelines for Preparing and Presenting TN Applications by Prospective Employees of U.S. Employers (2014)
- Speaker, 2013 AILA Annual Conference on Immigration Law, San Francisco, CA (2013)
- Speaker, Income and Estate Planning for the Inbound and Outbound Resident, Swedish Consulate Seminar, Seattle, WA (2013)
- Author, Naturalization and Citizenship Requirements (2012)
- Author, So You Thought You’re Employee Was Terminated, Guess Again! (2012)
- Author, Your Turn for a Form I-9 Audit is Coming – Soon, PSADA Dealer Magazine (Spring 2012)
- Speaker, Northwest Regional Immigration Law Conference, Seattle, WA (2012)
- Author, Tips for Completing the Form DS-156 (2012)
- Author, Our Predictions for the Coming Year: 7 Things Every Employer Should Know, Ryan Swanson Immigration Update (October, 2011)
- 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)
- Author, National Visa Center–Dos and Don’ts for Attorneys, AILA Visa Processing Guide and Consular Posts Handbook (2007-2008 Edition)
