Important Updates
Important Updates
September 2, 2025 | ChinaMainland China: Policies Relaxed for Transiting Travelers
September 2, 2025 | Japan2025年8月 アメリカ移民法ダイジェスト
September 2, 2025 | United StatesFragomen Center for Strategy and Applied Insights Names Leah Rogal Senior Director
September 2, 2025 | IndonesiaIndonesia: Widespread Protests May Affect Mobility and Immigration Processing
September 2, 2025 | ChinaMainland China: More Nationals Eligible for Visa Exemption; Expanded Rights Under Exemption
September 2, 2025 | ChinaMainland China: Policies Relaxed for Transiting Travelers
September 2, 2025 | Japan2025年8月 アメリカ移民法ダイジェスト
September 2, 2025 | United StatesFragomen Center for Strategy and Applied Insights Names Leah Rogal Senior Director
September 2, 2025 | IndonesiaIndonesia: Widespread Protests May Affect Mobility and Immigration Processing
September 2, 2025 | ChinaMainland China: More Nationals Eligible for Visa Exemption; Expanded Rights Under Exemption
September 2, 2025 | ChinaMainland China: Policies Relaxed for Transiting Travelers
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ellen_yost

Partner

Ellen Yost

ellen_yost
ellen_yost
  • People

Partner

Ellen Yost

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  • United StatesUnited States

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T:+1 212 230 2874

F:+1 212 446 0371

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Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

1400 Broadway

New York NY 10018

United States

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  • French

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[email protected]

T:+1 212 230 2874

F:+1 212 446 0371

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
  • French

Contact information

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 212 230 2874

F:+1 212 446 0371

New York, NY

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

1400 Broadway

New York NY 10018

United States

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Ellen joined Fragomen as a Partner in 2001 when the law firm she previously co-founded was merged with Fragomen’s practice. She began her legal career serving as a corporate lawyer for seven years and headed the Canadian Practice Group for a Buffalo, New York firm of more than 100 lawyers. Thereafter, she co-founded a law firm in Buffalo that primarily advised Canadians doing business in the United States in connection with corporate, tax and business immigration law matters.

Ellen concentrated her practice on Canadians entering the United States under the provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Following the merger of her practice with Fragomen, Ellen assisted with the opening of our firm’s first office outside of the United States in Brussels, Belgium.

She practices exclusively in the area of U.S. business immigration law with an emphasis on small and medium-sized corporations. Ellen works with a wide range of industries and highly-skilled or high net worth individuals, primarily citizens of Canada or European countries.

In addition to representing foreign clients in obtaining permission to work or live in the United States, Ellen is actively involved with several international bar associations. She serves as President of the American Foreign Law Association. Ellen is a frequent speaker and author, and she represents the firm at international conferences and meetings with both governments and non-governmental organizations in connection with global business migration.

Ellen is the founder of the Pro Bono Immigration Project of the Bar Association of Erie County, which represents indigent aliens detained at the Federal Detention Facility at Batavia, New York.

Ellen speaks English and French.

In addition to representing foreign clients in obtaining permission to work or live in the United States, Ellen is actively involved with several international bar associations. She serves as President of the American Foreign Law Association. Ellen is a frequent speaker and author, and she represents the firm at international conferences and meetings with both governments and non-governmental organizations in connection with global business migration.

Ellen is the founder of the Pro Bono Immigration Project of the Bar Association of Erie County, which represents indigent aliens detained at the Federal Detention Facility at Batavia, New York.

Ellen speaks English and French.

Education

  • State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law, J.D., 1983
  • Mount Holyoke College, B.A., 1966

More from Ellen

Admissions

Bar Admissions: New York, Balie te Brussel (Flemish Bar – admitted as a Foreign Legal Consultant)

Court Admissions: U.S. District Court, Western District of New York

Practice Limited to Federal Immigration & Nationality Law

Awards

Listed in Best Lawyers in America, 2021 to 2026

Listed in International Who's Who of Corporate Immigration Attorneys, Who’s Who Legal, 2004 to 2008, 2012 to 2024

Listed in New York Super Lawyers, 2006 to 2017

Listed as one of “The Top Women” in immigration in New York, Super Lawyers - New York Metro 2016: The Top Women

Listed in Best Corporate Immigration Lawyers; Who’s Who in the World Who's Who Legal, The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers, 2005

Fellow of the American Bar Association since 1998

Professional accomplishments

Member and Fellow, American Bar Association

President, American Foreign Law Association

Representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Council in Geneva, American Bar Association

Member, Advisory Board, Commission on Immigration, American Bar Association

Liaison to the Union Internationale des Avocats, American Bar Association

Steering Group, UN and International Institutions Coordinating Committee of the Section of International Law, American Bar Association

President, Working Group on Immigration and Nationality Law, Union Internationale des Avocats

Member, Council on International Affairs, Association of the Bar of the City of New York

Member, Task Force on International Legal Practice, Association of the Bar of the City of New York

Member, International Bar Association

Member, Canadian Bar Association

Member, New York State Bar Association

Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association

Former Program Officer, International Law Section, American Bar Association

Former Council Member, International Law Section, American Bar Association

Former Chair, Immigration and National Law Committee, International Law Section, American Bar Association

Former Chair, Canadian Law Committee, International Law Section, American Bar Association

Former Founding Member, International Law Section, New York State Bar Association

Former Chair, Canadian Law Committee, International Law Section, New York State Bar Association

Former Liaison to the Buffalo District Office of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, American Immigration Lawyers Association, Western New York Chapter

Experience

Assists Canadian clients qualifying for port-of-entry adjudication under the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement and NAFTA to present applications for admission at various U.S. Ports of Entry as intra-company transferees, management consultants, scientific technicians and technologists.

Assists U.S. companies and foreign companies doing business in the United States in obtaining work authorization for highly-skilled foreign nationals hired locally, as well as international assignees. Provides assistance with spousal work authorization, labor certification and all other aspects of nonimmigrant and immigrant visas.

Advises U.S. and foreign companies on immigration compliance issues, including I-9 employment verification program issues and deemed export rules.

Advises companies on the immigration consequences of mergers and acquisitions and assists in enabling the retention of key employees.

Assists medical device manufacturers, technology companies, beverage distributors, international food companies, international accounting firms and law firms in obtaining work authorization for key employees in the United States in a timely and cost-effective manner.

Assists professionally-qualified, adult children of non-U.S. lawyers and accountants throughout the world to obtain authorization to work in the United States in family-owned businesses or other enterprises.

Works with the firm’s Global Visa group and overseas offices to assist companies in gaining permission to engage in business in worldwide jurisdictions Also works with the firm’s Consular Practice group, to assist foreign nationals in obtaining visas at U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad, as well as foreign Embassies and Consulates in the United States.

Publications and lectures

Ellen G. Yost, Nadia H. Yakoob & Sherri C. Staples, “Immigration Considerations for International Assignments, in International Corporate Practice: a Practitioner’s Guide to Global Success,” 22-1 (Carole Basri, ed., 2008).

Ellen G. Yost & Nancy H. Morowitz, “NAFTA, in Business Immigration Law: Strategies for Employing Foreign Nationals,” (Rodney Malpert & Amanda Petersen, eds., 2007).

“Canada and U.S. Approaches to the Movement of People,” U.S.- Canada Law Journal, Case Western Reserve School of Law (2005).

“Recent Developments in U.S. Immigration Laws Affecting the Entry of Canadians into the United States,” U.S.-Canada Law Journal, Case Western Reserve School of Law (2003).

“Legal Billing Practices in the United States,” Orde van Vlaamse Balies, Advocatentag (2006).

Ellen lectures extensively on a variety of immigration topics to audiences in the United States and abroad. The following are organizations to which she has presented in recent years and the venues of the presentations:

  • American Bar Association: Atlanta, Chicago, Honolulu, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington, - - D.C., Brussels, London
  • Canadian Bar Association: Hamilton, Montreal, Toronto
  • International Bar Association: Buenos Aires
  • New York State Bar Association: New York
  • Association of the Bar of the City of New York: New York
  • Union Internationale des Avocats: Fez, London, Paris
  • Association Internationale des Jeunes Avocats: Antwerp, Sydney, Toronto
  • American Immigration Lawyers Association: New Orleans
  • Flemish Bar Advocatentag: Genk, Belgium
  • The World Trade Organization: Geneva
  • International Organization for Migration: Geneva
  • Institute Universitaire des Hautes Etudes International: Geneva
  • Migration Policy Group: Brussels
  • Quaker United Nations Office: Geneva
  • International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development: Geneva
  • Global Commission on International Migration: Budapest
  • Agoria: Brussels
  • State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law: Buffalo
  • Seton Hall Law School: Newark
  • EHSAL: Brussels
  • Brooklyn Law School: New York
  • Southern New England School of Law: Dartmouth, MA
  • Belgian-American Chamber of Commerce: New York
  • Canada –U.S. Law Institute: Cleveland
  • Branksome Hall: Toronto
  • Council on Migration Studies: New York
  • Greater Cleveland International Lawyers Group: Cleveland
  • International Taxation Conference: New York
  • Center for International Legal Studies: Salzburg
  • Embassy of Belgium: Washington, D.C.

Ellen’s insights

August 21, 2025 | Awards

Fragomen Attorneys Recognized in the 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America™Read more

August 19, 2024 | Awards

Fragomen Attorneys Recognized in the 31st Edition of The Best Lawyers in America™Read more

August 17, 2023 | Awards

Fragomen Attorneys Recognized in the 30th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America™Read more
More related insights

Ellen’s insights

August 21, 2025 | Awards

Fragomen Attorneys Recognized in the 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America™Read more

August 19, 2024 | Awards

Fragomen Attorneys Recognized in the 31st Edition of The Best Lawyers in America™Read more

August 17, 2023 | Awards

Fragomen Attorneys Recognized in the 30th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America™Read more
More related insights

Ellen’s insights

August 21, 2025 | Awards

Fragomen Attorneys Recognized in the 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America™Read more

August 19, 2024 | Awards

Fragomen Attorneys Recognized in the 31st Edition of The Best Lawyers in America™Read more

August 17, 2023 | Awards

Fragomen Attorneys Recognized in the 30th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America™Read more
More related insights

Country / Territory

  • United StatesUnited States

Get in touch

Languages

  • English
  • French

Contact information

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 212 230 2874

F:+1 212 446 0371

New York, NY

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

1400 Broadway

New York NY 10018

United States

Connect via Linkedin

Ellen’s insights

August 21, 2025 | Awards

Fragomen Attorneys Recognized in the 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America™Read more

August 19, 2024 | Awards

Fragomen Attorneys Recognized in the 31st Edition of The Best Lawyers in America™Read more

August 17, 2023 | Awards

Fragomen Attorneys Recognized in the 30th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America™Read more
More related insights

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Get in touch

Languages

  • English
  • French

Contact information

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 212 230 2874

F:+1 212 446 0371

New York, NY

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

1400 Broadway

New York NY 10018

United States

Connect via Linkedin

Ellen’s insights

August 21, 2025 | Awards

Fragomen Attorneys Recognized in the 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America™Read more

August 19, 2024 | Awards

Fragomen Attorneys Recognized in the 31st Edition of The Best Lawyers in America™Read more

August 17, 2023 | Awards

Fragomen Attorneys Recognized in the 30th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America™Read more
More related insights

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Get in touch

Languages

  • English
  • French

Contact information

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 212 230 2874

F:+1 212 446 0371

New York, NY

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

1400 Broadway

New York NY 10018

United States

Connect via Linkedin

Ellen’s insights

August 21, 2025 | Awards

Fragomen Attorneys Recognized in the 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America™Read more

August 19, 2024 | Awards

Fragomen Attorneys Recognized in the 31st Edition of The Best Lawyers in America™Read more

August 17, 2023 | Awards

Fragomen Attorneys Recognized in the 30th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America™Read more
More related insights

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Explore more at Fragomen

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Awards

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Fragomen news

2025年8月 アメリカ移民法ダイジェストLearn more

Fragomen news

Fragomen Center for Strategy and Applied Insights Names Leah Rogal Senior Director

Fragomen announces the appointment of Leah Rogal as Senior Director of its Center for Strategy and Applied Insights.

Learn more

Blog post

Moving to Saudi Arabia: How Orientation Programs Help Expats Adjust

Destination Services Manager Ali Sikandar discusses how orientation programmes in Saudi Arabia help expatriates adapt to cultural differences, workplace norms and everyday challenges, easing their transition into a new environment.

Learn more

Blog post

Exploring Self-Sponsored Visa Pathways in the UAE

Manager Olga Astapova outlines options for individuals to obtain residency without employer sponsorship, highlighting legal routes and strategic considerations.

Learn more

Video

Ireland 2025 Submission Period Opens for Consultation on Occupation Lists | #MobilityMinute

Senior Manager Fatima Aydin discusses Ireland's 2025 public consultation on the occupations lists, and how stakeholders such as employers can provide input.

Learn more

Blog post

Swiss Immigration Quotas 2025: Mid-Year Update

Manager Mihaela Dumitru outlines Switzerland's evolving immigration policies and quota adjustments for 2025.

Learn more

Video

German Citizenship by Descent Explained

Learn how to apply for German citizenship by descent. Discover eligibility under Article 116 and Section 15, benefits of EU citizenship and the step-by-step application process.

Learn more

Media mentions

Personnel Today: Immigration: Huge Fall in Health and Care Worker Visas

Partner Siobhan Owers discussed how visa reforms are reducing available international staff and creating workforce challenges in the UK care sector.

Learn more

Video

Dubai Introduces a ‘One Free Zone Passport’ – What It Is & How It’s Used | #MobilityMinute

Senior Corporate Services Manager Zak Hynes explores Dubai’s launch of the “One Freezone Passport."

Learn more

Video

Navigating Business Travel in Germany: Essential Insights | #MobilityMinute

Senior Associate Isabel Schnitzler discusses how to navigate business travel in Germany.

Learn more

Awards

Partners Molly Carey and Catherine Macris Named 2025 New England Legal Awards Finalists

Partners Molly Carey and Catherine Macris are finalists for the 2025 New England Legal Awards in the Partner of the Year and Regional Managing Partner of the Year categories.

Learn more

Media mentions

The Advocate: Navigating the Complexities of Business Immigration Law

Matawan Managing Partner Rahul Shah reflects on his path in immigration law and shares his perspective on global mobility.

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