Important Updates
Important Updates
March 19, 2026 | United KingdomPersonnel Today: Can Staff Visit the USA If They Have a Criminal Record?
March 19, 2026 | United KingdomHR World: Compliance Now: Value Beyond Risk Management
March 19, 2026 | 🌐Middle East - The Latest News on Mobility and Travel Considerations
March 19, 2026 | PakistanPakistan: Suspension of Visas-on-Arrival and Visa Prior to Arrival Programs
March 19, 2026 | PolandPartner Karolina Schiffter Ranked in Chambers & Partners Poland Immigration Guide
March 19, 2026 | United KingdomPersonnel Today: Can Staff Visit the USA If They Have a Criminal Record?
March 19, 2026 | United KingdomHR World: Compliance Now: Value Beyond Risk Management
March 19, 2026 | 🌐Middle East - The Latest News on Mobility and Travel Considerations
March 19, 2026 | PakistanPakistan: Suspension of Visas-on-Arrival and Visa Prior to Arrival Programs
March 19, 2026 | PolandPartner Karolina Schiffter Ranked in Chambers & Partners Poland Immigration Guide
March 19, 2026 | United KingdomPersonnel Today: Can Staff Visit the USA If They Have a Criminal Record?
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Chad Blocker

Partner

Chad Ellsworth

Chad Blocker
Chad Blocker
  • People

Partner

Chad Ellsworth

Country / Territory

  • United StatesUnited States

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  • English

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Email

[email protected]

T:+1 212 230 2826

F:+1 212 758 7215

San Francisco, CA

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

555 Montgomery St, 4th Floor

San Francisco CA 94111

United States

New York, NY

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

1400 Broadway

New York NY 10018

United States

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Get in touch

Languages

  • English

Contact information

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 212 230 2826

F:+1 212 758 7215

San Francisco, CA

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

555 Montgomery St, 4th Floor

San Francisco CA 94111

United States

New York, NY

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

1400 Broadway

New York NY 10018

United States

Connect via Linkedin

Get in touch

Languages

  • English

Contact information

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 212 230 2826

F:+1 212 758 7215

San Francisco, CA

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

555 Montgomery St, 4th Floor

San Francisco CA 94111

United States

New York, NY

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

1400 Broadway

New York NY 10018

United States

Connect via Linkedin
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Chad has nearly 20 years of immigration experience and represents some of the firm’s largest information technology and financial services clients out of the Northeast and Northern California regions of the United States. He leads many of the firm’s New York-based financial and other professional services engagements. Separately, he also serves as the Managing Partner of Fragomen’s San Francisco office.

Chad’s practice focuses on representing large clients across multiple industry sectors, including global financial institutions, professional services firms, information technology organizations, private clients and entrepreneurs. He also has extensive experience representing students, graduates, executives, high net worth individuals and entrepreneurs in a wide variety of business travel, mobility and business immigration employment matters.

Chad’s U.S. and international immigration experience include assistance with immigration audit, compliance and enforcement matters. In addition, he helps advise on government relations strategies in key jurisdictions. Chad also advises key corporate stakeholders, including human resources personnel, global mobility specialists, legal departments and executives on a variety of global immigration issues. Chad has extensive experience with the establishment, enhancement and outsourcing of compliant global mobility programs, including but not limited to jurisdictions with less formalized immigration processes and procedures.

Chad also has deep experience providing legal support for the economic citizenship/residency programs utilized by most private clients. He advises many top executives and high net worth individuals on their immigration related travel, investments and/or other global business immigration needs.

Chad is a member of the firm’s People, Private Client and Pro Bono Committees and is a regular speaker at national and international immigration conferences, including for the American Immigration Lawyers Association, SelectUSA, Conference Board of Canada, Council for Global Immigration (formerly ACIP), Investment Migration Council, US-China Business Alliance, EB-5 Investors, Invest in America Shanghai Summit and Exhibition and Immigration Lawyers on the Web (ILW). He is also the author of numerous immigration related articles.

Education

  • Tulane University School of Law, J.D., 2002
  • University of Southern California, B.A., 1998

More from Chad

Admissions

Bar Admissions: New York, New Jersey

Practice Limited to Federal Immigration & Nationality Law

Awards

Listed in Best Lawyers in America, 2026

Listed in Chambers USA, 2021-2025

Named to Crain’s New York Business’ Notable LGBTQ Leaders, 2022

Listed among "Top 25 Immigration Attorneys," EB5 Investors Magazine, 2017, 2021, 2022

Professional accomplishments

Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)

Member, AILA National EB-5 Committee

Publications and lectures

Speaker, “CA, Other States Sue Trump Admin Over New $100K Fee for H-1B Visas.” ABC7, 12 December 2025.

Speaker, Global Mobility Executive Leaders Exchange | San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 21 October 2025.

Speaker, “Saudi Entrepreneurs, Students and Families Leading Business in a Diversified Global Marketplace.” Cross-Border Planning: Critical Issues Impacting Middle Eastern Business Families, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 8 October 2025.

Speaker, “USA Immigration Panel.” Investment Migration Forum, Dubai, UAE, 7 May 2025.

Speaker, “The Future of Mobility: Remote Work and Business Travel.” Global Mobility Executive (GME) Live Americas ’22, San Francisco, California, 24 May 2022.

Quoted, “2022 Forecast: What’s Next for Tech Workers?” The New Stack, 28 December 2021.

Quoted, “Golden Visas: The Investment Migration Industry Evolves Globally.” Mansion Global, 23 August 2020.

Quoted, “Shielded From Green Card Ban, EB-5 Investors Still At Risk.” Law360, 1 May 2020.

Quoted, “EB-5 Modernization Rule No Substitute for Legislative Fix.” Law360, 27 February 2019.

Speaker, “How Can Canada Become the Global Leader in Entrepreneur and Investor Immigration?” Entrepreneur & Investor Immigration Summit 2018, Ottawa, Canada, November 27-28, 2018.

Quoted, “Selling citizenship is big business—and controversial.” The Economist, 29 September 2018.

Author, “Emphasis on Compliance and SEC Interagency Cooperation a Year after the Appointment of Chief Nicholas Colucci to the USCIS Immigrant Investor Program (EB-5).” The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, Volume 22, No. 12 (December 2014): 18. Print.

Author, “Looking Elsewhere: Options for Investors in the Wake of Canada’s Termination of Two Key Visa Programs.” World of Expats, 2014. Web.

Chad’s insights

January 22, 2026 — January 23, 2026 | Conference

2026 EB-5 & Global Immigration Expo Newport BeachRead more

December 15, 2025 | Media mentions

ABC7: CA, Other States Sue Trump Admin Over New $100K Fee for H-1B VisasRead more

October 21, 2025 | Conference

GME Leaders Exchange | San FranciscoRead more
More related insights

Chad’s insights

January 22, 2026 — January 23, 2026 | Conference

2026 EB-5 & Global Immigration Expo Newport BeachRead more

December 15, 2025 | Media mentions

ABC7: CA, Other States Sue Trump Admin Over New $100K Fee for H-1B VisasRead more

October 21, 2025 | Conference

GME Leaders Exchange | San FranciscoRead more
More related insights

Chad’s insights

January 22, 2026 — January 23, 2026 | Conference

2026 EB-5 & Global Immigration Expo Newport BeachRead more

December 15, 2025 | Media mentions

ABC7: CA, Other States Sue Trump Admin Over New $100K Fee for H-1B VisasRead more

October 21, 2025 | Conference

GME Leaders Exchange | San FranciscoRead more
More related insights

Country / Territory

  • United StatesUnited States

Get in touch

Languages

  • English

Contact information

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 212 230 2826

F:+1 212 758 7215

San Francisco, CA

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

555 Montgomery St, 4th Floor

San Francisco CA 94111

United States

New York, NY

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

1400 Broadway

New York NY 10018

United States

Connect via Linkedin

Chad’s insights

January 22, 2026 — January 23, 2026 | Conference

2026 EB-5 & Global Immigration Expo Newport BeachRead more

December 15, 2025 | Media mentions

ABC7: CA, Other States Sue Trump Admin Over New $100K Fee for H-1B VisasRead more

October 21, 2025 | Conference

GME Leaders Exchange | San FranciscoRead more
More related insights

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Get in touch

Languages

  • English

Contact information

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 212 230 2826

F:+1 212 758 7215

San Francisco, CA

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

555 Montgomery St, 4th Floor

San Francisco CA 94111

United States

New York, NY

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

1400 Broadway

New York NY 10018

United States

Connect via Linkedin

Chad’s insights

January 22, 2026 — January 23, 2026 | Conference

2026 EB-5 & Global Immigration Expo Newport BeachRead more

December 15, 2025 | Media mentions

ABC7: CA, Other States Sue Trump Admin Over New $100K Fee for H-1B VisasRead more

October 21, 2025 | Conference

GME Leaders Exchange | San FranciscoRead more
More related insights

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Get in touch

Languages

  • English

Contact information

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 212 230 2826

F:+1 212 758 7215

San Francisco, CA

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

555 Montgomery St, 4th Floor

San Francisco CA 94111

United States

New York, NY

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

1400 Broadway

New York NY 10018

United States

Connect via Linkedin

Chad’s insights

January 22, 2026 — January 23, 2026 | Conference

2026 EB-5 & Global Immigration Expo Newport BeachRead more

December 15, 2025 | Media mentions

ABC7: CA, Other States Sue Trump Admin Over New $100K Fee for H-1B VisasRead more

October 21, 2025 | Conference

GME Leaders Exchange | San FranciscoRead more
More related insights

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Explore more at Fragomen

Media mentions

HR World: Compliance Now: Value Beyond Risk Management

Partner Charlotte Wills explains that treating compliance as a strategic function helps organisations anticipate risk, manage costs and strengthen workforce planning.

Learn more

Awards

Partner Karolina Schiffter Ranked in Chambers & Partners Poland Immigration Guide

Partner Karolina Schiffter is ranked Band 1 in Immigration in the inaugural Chambers & Partners Poland guide, recognizing her leadership in advancing Fragomen’s Poland practice.

Learn more

Media mentions

Personnel Today: Can Staff Visit the USA If They Have a Criminal Record?

Manager Karnig Dukmajian

Learn more

Media mentions

The Sunday Times: Make Your Move from the UK to France

Senior Manager Géraldine Renaudière discusses planning for French residence and citizenship applications, including fees, translations and language or civic tests.

Learn more

Video

Traveling to the US for the 2026 FIFA World Cup: Visa, ESTA and Entry Rules Explained | #MobilityMinute

Senior US Consular Manager Brian Simmons outlines key visa, ESTA and entry considerations for travelers planning to visit the US for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Learn more

Media mentions

CareMarkets: Cost of Non-Compliance

Manager Simon Magava and Immigration Consultant Inderjit Kaur examine sponsor licence revocations in the UK social care sector and their impact on workforce stability.

Learn more

Blog post

Demographics, AI and Global Mobility in 2026: A Global Outlook on Workforce Strategy and Immigration Policy

Director Raj Mann explores how demographic change, artificial intelligence and global trade shifts are reshaping labour markets, workforce strategy and immigration policy in 2026.

Learn more

Blog post

Costa Rica Retirement Visa: Application and Requirements for Pensionado Residency

Immigration Supervisor Michael Salas Guzman explains the key eligibility requirements, documentation considerations and benefits of Costa Rica’s Pensionado residency program for retirees receiving lifetime pension income from abroad.

Learn more

Media mentions

Leading Britain's Conversation: One Old Arrest Can Stop You Entering the USA, Even If You Were Never Convicted

Senior Manager William Diaz outlines how US authorities evaluate prior criminal records under ESTA and what UK travellers need to know when completing their applications.

Learn more

Awards

Canada Managing Partner Cosmina Morariu Receives FCCCO Women in Leadership Award

Canada Managing Partner Cosmina Morariu has received the France Canada Chamber of Commerce in Ontario (FCCCO) Women in Leadership Award, recognizing her leadership and contributions to the business and legal communities.

Learn more
Generic Insights

Media mentions

Diário Do Turismo: Brasil passa a emitir visto eletrônico para chineses e amplia mobilidade de negócios

Managing Director Diogo Kloper highlights how Brazil’s new electronic visa for Chinese citizens reduces bureaucracy, lowers costs and streamlines business and tourism travel.

Learn more

Blog post

Why Climate Disruptions Are Reshaping Mobility Strategy

Partner, Global Responsible Business Practices, Lisa Koenig, Lead Analyst Dominic Dietrich, Senior Associate Sarah Blackmore and Senior Associate Sonya Berenfeld Cole examine why climate disruptions are reshaping mobility strategy as economic loss, workforce displacement and travel risks require organizations to reassess workforce planning and operational resilience.

Learn more

Media mentions

HR World: Compliance Now: Value Beyond Risk Management

Partner Charlotte Wills explains that treating compliance as a strategic function helps organisations anticipate risk, manage costs and strengthen workforce planning.

Learn more

Awards

Partner Karolina Schiffter Ranked in Chambers & Partners Poland Immigration Guide

Partner Karolina Schiffter is ranked Band 1 in Immigration in the inaugural Chambers & Partners Poland guide, recognizing her leadership in advancing Fragomen’s Poland practice.

Learn more

Media mentions

Personnel Today: Can Staff Visit the USA If They Have a Criminal Record?

Manager Karnig Dukmajian

Learn more

Media mentions

The Sunday Times: Make Your Move from the UK to France

Senior Manager Géraldine Renaudière discusses planning for French residence and citizenship applications, including fees, translations and language or civic tests.

Learn more

Video

Traveling to the US for the 2026 FIFA World Cup: Visa, ESTA and Entry Rules Explained | #MobilityMinute

Senior US Consular Manager Brian Simmons outlines key visa, ESTA and entry considerations for travelers planning to visit the US for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Learn more

Media mentions

CareMarkets: Cost of Non-Compliance

Manager Simon Magava and Immigration Consultant Inderjit Kaur examine sponsor licence revocations in the UK social care sector and their impact on workforce stability.

Learn more

Blog post

Demographics, AI and Global Mobility in 2026: A Global Outlook on Workforce Strategy and Immigration Policy

Director Raj Mann explores how demographic change, artificial intelligence and global trade shifts are reshaping labour markets, workforce strategy and immigration policy in 2026.

Learn more

Blog post

Costa Rica Retirement Visa: Application and Requirements for Pensionado Residency

Immigration Supervisor Michael Salas Guzman explains the key eligibility requirements, documentation considerations and benefits of Costa Rica’s Pensionado residency program for retirees receiving lifetime pension income from abroad.

Learn more

Media mentions

Leading Britain's Conversation: One Old Arrest Can Stop You Entering the USA, Even If You Were Never Convicted

Senior Manager William Diaz outlines how US authorities evaluate prior criminal records under ESTA and what UK travellers need to know when completing their applications.

Learn more

Awards

Canada Managing Partner Cosmina Morariu Receives FCCCO Women in Leadership Award

Canada Managing Partner Cosmina Morariu has received the France Canada Chamber of Commerce in Ontario (FCCCO) Women in Leadership Award, recognizing her leadership and contributions to the business and legal communities.

Learn more
Generic Insights

Media mentions

Diário Do Turismo: Brasil passa a emitir visto eletrônico para chineses e amplia mobilidade de negócios

Managing Director Diogo Kloper highlights how Brazil’s new electronic visa for Chinese citizens reduces bureaucracy, lowers costs and streamlines business and tourism travel.

Learn more

Blog post

Why Climate Disruptions Are Reshaping Mobility Strategy

Partner, Global Responsible Business Practices, Lisa Koenig, Lead Analyst Dominic Dietrich, Senior Associate Sarah Blackmore and Senior Associate Sonya Berenfeld Cole examine why climate disruptions are reshaping mobility strategy as economic loss, workforce displacement and travel risks require organizations to reassess workforce planning and operational resilience.

Learn more

Stay in touch

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