James provides immigration counsel to large, medium and small companies in a wide range of industries, including developing wireless technologies, animated feature film production, video game development and pharmaceuticals.
James is a Board Member of the Orange County Bar Association Charitable Fund, which provides resources to non-profit legal organizations to promote equal justice.
He is a frequent presenter on immigration topics for various organizations.
Education
Arizona State University College of Law | J.D., 1997
Arizona State University | B.Sc., 1994
Awards
Listed in Best Lawyers in America, 2019 to 2021
Professional Accomplishments / Memberships
Bar Admissions: California, Arizona
Certified Specialist, Immigration & Nationality Law, State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization
Former Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association, USCIS Ombudsman Liaison Committee
Former Chair, American Immigration Lawyers Association, California Service Center Liaison Committee
Former Chair, American Immigration Lawyers Association, Southern California Chapter
Former Chair, Orange County Bar Association Immigration Section
Former Director, Orange County Bar Association
Member, Orange County Bar Association Board of Directors
Former President, Orange County Asian American Bar Association
Chair, Orange County Bar Association Charitable Fund, Annual Golf Tournament Committee
Member, Arizona State University Alumni Group
Provided immigration counsel to companies that employ highly educated scientists working on cutting-edge wireless communication technologies
Worked with entertainment studios, video game developers, and other companies in the computer graphics design field
Secured an intracompany transfer visa for the Chief Technical Officer of a company that designs and develops custom applications for major online social networking websites and brand name high technology products
Obtained green cards for scientists and engineers working in biotechnology, alternative energy sources, and wildlife conservation through National Interest Waivers and other immigrant visa classifications
Publications and Lectures
Quoted, “Trump Orders Freeze on Many Work Visas Through End of Year (3).” Bloomberg Law Daily Labor Report, 23 June 2020. Presenter, “Immigration Impact of COVID-19.” Octane, 13 May 2020. Quoted, “Fragomen guides US visa holders through fog of pandemic.” Daily Journal, 20 April 2020. Quoted, “Caution Student-Employees Against Travel Abroad During ‘Cap-Gap’ Period.” Society for Human Resource Management, 18 April 2019. Moderator, “Managing Client Expectations.” 2018 American Immigration Lawyers Association Annual Conference on Immigration Law, June 2018. Moderator, “Building a Practice of Extraordinary Clients.” 2017 American Immigration Lawyers Association Annual Conference on Immigration Law, June 2017. Discussion leader, “Show Me the Money! Corporate Law for the Immigration Practitioner.” Web conference, American Immigration Lawyers Association, March 15, 2016. Discussion leader, “My ‘Professional’ Employee Doesn’t Have a Degree! NIV Options for Non-Degreed Professionals.” Presentation, American Immigration Lawyers Association Annual Conference, Washington, D.C., June 17, 2015. Author, “What happens to work visas when employees are laid off?” Daily Journal, June 3, 2015: n. pag. Web. Panel presenter, “CBP, You Have to Let Me Know—Should I Stay or Should I Go? Issues in Maintaining LPR Status.” American Immigration Lawyers Association Annual Conference, June 2015. Panel presenter, “The Dangers of Material Misrepresentation and Fraud in Immigration.” American Immigration Lawyers Association Annual Conference, June 2014. Panel presenter, “Keeping a Proper Scorecard – I-9 Compliance and E-Verify.” Southern California Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, February 2015. Panel presenter, “Hot Topics in PERM.” Southern California Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, January 20, 2010. Panel presenter, Nexus Journal, Immigration Law Symposium, Chapman University of Law, February 20, 2008. Panel Presenter, “Immigration Update.” 80th Annual Meeting of the State Bar of California, September 28, 2007. |
Panel presenter, “O’s and P’s: Getting Results.” Southern California Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, February 24, 2004.