Partner
Jennifer Holt Estrella
Country / Territory
Get in touch
Languages
- English
Contact information
Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP
800 NW 62nd Avenue, Suite #590
Miami FL 33126
United States
Jennifer leads the firm’s Miami office and provides counsel on all aspects of corporate U.S. immigration, including nonimmigrant visas, permanent residence, citizenship, I-9 audits and compliance, consular processing, wage and hour compliance, and ICE investigations. With a focus on the hospitality industry, she is also among a specific group of immigration attorneys with experience counselling clients on complex, ever-evolving H-2B visas—a category reserved for temporary or seasonal workers. As this sector of the economy continues its post-pandemic rebound, this visa class is crucial to counter hospitality labor shortages. Jennifer also works with luxury hotels helping them secure the important L-1 visas for the intra-country transfer of their talent.
Additionally, Jennifer serves as an advisor to companies in the following industries: civil engineering, paper manufacturing, advanced filtration materials, universities, travel services, corporate benefit solutions, supply chain solutions and marine refurbishment.
As a first-generation American herself, she has a tremendous appreciation for the human story behind every immigration case she handles. Her personal experience of assimilation, as well as being educated and living abroad, shaped her into who she is—both personally and professionally. It was the opportunity to live abroad in Singapore and Sri Lanka as a young adult that served as the impetus for Jennifer’s decision to attend law school.
Education
- Seton Hall University School of Law, J.D., 2002
- Rutgers University, B.A., 1995
More from Jennifer
Admissions
Bar Admissions: Florida, New York, New Jersey
Practice Limited to Federal Immigration & Nationality Law
Awards
Named to “Best Mentors”, Daily Business Review, 2021
Named to "Florida Trailblazers", Daily Business Review, 2020
Listed in Chambers and Partners USA, 2021 to 2024
Listed as a “Recognised Practitioner” in Chambers USA, 2018 to 2019
Featured in South Florida CEO Magazine as the “Next Generation” of leaders in South Florida, May 2005
International Group of the YMCA of the USA’s “International Rookie of the Year Award,” in recognition of outstanding leadership, 1997
Professional accomplishments
Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
US Customs & Border Protection Port of Miami Liaison Committee Member, AILA South Florida Chapter, 2010-2011, 2012-2013
US Citizenship & Immigration Services Miami District Office Liaison Committee Member, AILA South Florida Chapter, 2011-2012
Congressional Liaison Committee Member, AILA South Florida Chapter – 2013-2014
Florida Department of Motor Vehicles Liaison Committee Member, AILA South Florida Chapter, 2014-2015
Homeland Security/Immigration Customs and Enforcement Investigations Committee Member and Co-Chair, AILA South Florida Chapter, 2015-2016
Member, Florida Bar Association, 2006
Experience
Developed an entire labor program to help support a major construction project in Miami. Program included obtaining visas for managers, executives and technical personnel on a variety of visa types, including Blanket L visas. E-2 visas, B visas and more.
Helped hotel chain expand its H-2B program from two to eight properties. Streamlined and standardized processes to ensure maximum efficiency as the program expanded to include additional properties.
Represented companies in connection with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Form I-9 (employment eligibility verification) audits.
Represented companies in connection with Department of Labor (DOL)/Wage and Hour Division H-2B Temporary Non-Agricultural Program audits and investigations.
Served as Co-Counsel before the Administrative Review Board in relation to H-1B Specialty Occupation Worker DOL Wage and Hour Investigation.
Prepared successful appeals before the USCIS Administrative Appeals Office related to the I-140 Multinational Manager Immigrant Preference Category and I-140 Immigrant Petition Petitioner’s Ability to Pay the Proffered Wage.
Prepared successful Requests for Reconsideration before the USCIS Texas, Vermont, California, and Nebraska Service Centers.
Prepared successful Requests for Reconsideration before the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration.
Provided pro bono representation of unaccompanied minors from Central America before the Immigration Court.
Publications and lectures
Co-author, “New Issues Emerge for Sponsoring Foreign RNs.” Legal Review, January 2006.
Co-author, “Immigration Law.” National Association for Healthcare Recruitment Handbook 2005, February 2005.
Author and Contributor, Electronic Immigration News Bulletin, 2003-2007.
Jennifer’s insights
June 10, 2024 | Awards
June 2, 2023 | Awards
February 27, 2023 | Fragomen news
