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Contact information
Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP
7500 N Dreamy Draw Dr #230
Phoenix AZ 85020
United States
For almost 30 years, Sandra has provided legal advice and strategic program management support to multinational companies and organizations across a number of industries, including technology, healthcare, semiconductors, pharmaceutical and biotech, entertainment, infrastructure, engineering and higher education. She partners with clients in the mobility context, planning the legal strategy, government engagement, and continually improving and streamlining the processes and communications around large-scale moves of temporary assignees.
Sandra heads a team of immigration professionals in Phoenix and Los Angeles and regularly engages with Fragomen Partners from offices across the United States and the Fragomen Consular Practice to ensure that the most appropriate resources of the firm are brought to bear to effectively service clients’ needs. She serves as a global engagement partner, leading teams across the firm in managing immigration inbound into jurisdictions across the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Additionally, Sandra serves on Fragomen’s Executive Committee, where she helps set and drive the firm’s strategic vision and philosophy, manage its worldwide operations and ensure it remains progressive, agile, efficient, innovative and consistent across all its jurisdictions.
Sandra has extensive experience in State Department related matters, including J-1 program designations, program administration and J-1 waivers, and in representing companies and individuals before U.S. consular posts and the State Department. She has also met with USCIS leadership to advocate for improvements to L-1 adjudications.
Education
- King's College, B.Sc., Summa cum laude , 1991
- The George Washington University, J.D., 1994
- Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Especialista Universitario en Derechos Humanos, 1995
More from Sandra
Admissions
Bar Admissions: Arizona, District of Columbia, Pennsylvania
Practice Limited to Federal Immigration & Nationality Law
Awards
Member of the Somali 92 Volunteer Team that was awarded the Arthur C. Helton Memorial Human Rights Award in recognition of outstanding service in advancing the cause of human rights, 2019
Arizona Business Leader for Immigration Law, Az Business Leaders, 2019, 2022
Listed in Southwest Super Lawyers, Arizona, 2012-2016
Top Pro Bono Attorneys in Arizona, Foundation for Legal Services and Education of the Arizona Bar Foundation, 2015
Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholar, Madrid, Spain, 1994-1995
Professional accomplishments
Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
Chair, AILA State Department Liaison Committee, 2020-2022
Vice Chair, AILA State Department Liaison Committee, 2018-2020
Member, AILA State Department Liaison Committee, 2012-2018
Adjunct Professor, Arizona State University Law School, Spring 2009; Guest lecturer for Immigration Law class on business immigration topics, 2010, 2013-2016
Adjunct Professor, Business Immigration Law Seminar Session, Arizona State University Law School, October 8, 2013
Experience
Advocated on behalf of corporate and individual clients before several U.S. Consulates, including Guadalajara, Ciudad Juarez, Matamoros, Halifax, Toronto, Montreal, Tel Aviv, San Jose, Manila, Chengdu, Kuala Lumpur, Shenyang, Chennai, Beijing and Dublin.
Advocated on behalf of corporate clients before the U.S. State Department.
Orchestrated multiple temporary moves of 150-850+ employees to the U.S. for a Fortune 100 company.
Managed labor certification process for a Fortune 100 company.
Served as an Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) for a Fortune 100 company’s J-1 programs.
Served on the AILA State Department Liaison Committee from 2012-2022, including acting as Waiver Review Division (WRD) Liaison, penning the monthly Check-In With Charlie column about the Visa Bulletin for over six years, and serving as Vice Chair (2018-2020) and Chair (2020-2022).
Publications and lectures
Speaker, “Fragomen Webcast: Decoding The Latest U.S. Immigration Updates And Trends.” Fragomen, Webinar, 2 August 2023.
Panelist, “Waiving the J-1 Two-Year Home Residency Requirement under INA §212(e).” AILA, Webinar, 24 January 2023.
Speaker, “Everything Medical and J Waivers.” Catholic Charities Legal Services of Miami, Webinar, 21 July 2022.
Panelist, “Hot Topics and Updates from the Annual Conference Open Forums.” AILA, Webinar, 28 June 2022.
Speaker, “U.S. Department of State (DOS) Open Forum.” 2022 AILA Annual Conference and Webcast on Immigration Law, New York, NY, 16 June 2022.
Speaker, “Hot Topics – Lava Flowing from Kilauea – It’s Getting Hot in Here!: EB-5 RC re-authorization, Expansion of Premium Processing, Ukraine/Afghanistan, TCNs, visa interview waivers/dropbox and other consular issues.” 2022 AILA Asia Pacific Annual Conference, Honolulu, Hawaii, 28 April 2022.
Speaker, “Tips, Tricks and Pitfalls in Current Consular Processing.” AILA Chicago Chapter Midwest Regional Conference, 11 March 2022.
Speaker, “Liaison Updates: Conversation with the AILA DOS Liaison Committee.” 2022 AILA University Roundtable, 11 February 2022.
Speaker, “Post-NIEs/ Consular Catch Up.” 2022 AILA Midwinter Virtual Conference, 3 February 2022.
Speaker, “Conversation with the AILA DOS Liaison Committee.” AILA Roundtable Webinar, 29 October 2021.
Panelist, “Navigating Immigrant and Nonimmigrant Visa Backlogs and National Interest Exceptions.” AILA South Florida Business and Investment Committee, 7 October 2021.
Panelist, “Breaking Through the Backlog: Employment-Based Visa Interviews After COVID.” AILA, Webinar, 23 September 2021.
Moderator, “Regional Bans and National Interest Exceptions: Liaison, Litigation, and Best Practices for Dealing with consulates and CBP.” AILA, 8 July 2021.
Speaker, “U.S. Immigration Scenario Under the Biden Administration.” AMCHAM India, Webinar, 21 April 2021.
Speaker, “Visa Bulletin and High-Volume Post.” AILA, Webinar, 24 March 2021.
Speaker, “Consular Updates.” AILA South Florida 42ndAnnual CLE, 24 February 2021.
Speaker, “U.S. Immigration Update.” US India Strategic Partnership Forum, 23 February 2021.
Speaker, “Lessons from COVID-19 and How It Has Changed the Global Immigration Landscape.” SHRM 2020 Global Mobility & Immigration Symposium, 17-20 November, 2020.
Speaker, “COVID-19 Session1: Travel Bans and their exception in-depth.” AILA Business & Investment Committee/South Florida Chapter, 2 October 2020.
Panelist, “U.S. Department of State (DOS) Open Forum.” 2020 AILA Spring CLE Conference & Webcast, Washington, DC, March 6, 2020.
Panelist, “Ain’t Stopping Us Now – J-1 Waivers.” 41st Annual AILA South Florida Chapter Immigration Law Update, Miami, FL, February 27, 2020.
Panelist, “Simply the Best – The Extraordinary, Exceptional and in the National Interest.” 41st Annual AILA South Florida Chapter Immigration Law Update, Miami, FL, February 27, 2020.
Panelist, “Don’t Stop Me Now – Solutions for Entrepreneurs.” 41st Annual AILA South Florida Chapter Immigration Law Update, Miami, FL, February 27, 2020.
Speaker, “State Department Affairs: An Insider's Perspective.” 2020 AILA Midwinter CLE Conference, Curaçao, January 24, 2020.
Speaker, “J-1 Visa Waivers.” Catholic Legal Services Conference, Miami, FL, August 23, 2019.
Speaker, “Strategies and Possibilities After Wait, Denial at the Consulate or Notification of Revocation.” Catholic Legal Services Conference, Miami, FL, August 23, 2019.
Speaker, “J-1 Waivers for Newlyweds.” American Immigration Lawyers Association Annual Conference on Immigration Law, Orlando, FL, June 22, 2019.
Speaker, “U.S. Department of State (DOS) Open Forum.” American Immigration Lawyers Association Annual Conference on Immigration Law, Orlando, FL, June 21, 2019.
Panelist, “U.S. Department of State (DOS) Open Forum.” 2019 American Immigration Lawyers Association Spring CLE Conference, Washington, DC, April 12, 2019.
Moderator, "Engaging with U.S. Consular Posts." Council for Global Immigration 2018 Symposium, Arlington, VA, June 12, 2018.
Presenter, “H-1B Strategies: Before and After the Cap.” Workshop, Council for Global Immigration 2017 Symposium, Arlington, VA, June 12, 2017.
Presenter, “Strategies for Oversubscribed Countries.” American Immigration Lawyers Association, webinar, February 23, 2017.
Moderator, “STEM OPT--The New Frontier.” Lecture, Council for Global Immigration Annual Symposium, Washington, D.C., June 21, 2016.
Moderator, “J-1 Mega Session, Part 2: Host Organizations and Sponsor Perspectives.” Panel presentation, Council for Global Immigration 2015 Symposium, Washington, D.C., June 11, 2015.
Moderator, “Have visa--will travel! Navigating the thorny area of business travel.” Panel presentation, Council for Global Immigration 2014 Annual Symposium, Alexandria, Virginia, June 5, 2014.
Presenter, “Best Approaches for Business Travel Compliance.” Council for Global Immigration, webinar, January 21, 2014.
Presenter, “J-1 Visa Training,” Arizona Chapter, American Immigration Lawyers Association, January 25, 2013.
Presenter, “Non-Immigrant Visas in the Non-Profit Sector.” ACIP Annual Symposium, June 2012.
Presenter, “Non-Immigrant Visas for Non-Profits.” ACIP Annual Symposium, June 2011.
Presenter, “J-1 Visa Waivers.” NAFSA Region II Conference, Albuquerque, NM, October 28, 2009.
Presenter, “Choosing the Best Training Visa: H-3 or J-1.” ILW Teleconference, July 15, 2009.
Presenter, “Immigration Implications of Corporate Reorganizations, Lay-offs and Mergers & Acquisitions.” Presentation, 2009 Arizona Bar Annual Convention, Phoenix, AZ, June 26, 2009.
Presenter, “Sending Employees to the U.S. for Training – Why H-3 & J-1 Visa Familiarity is Not Enough.” Workshop, 2009 American Council on International Personnel (ACIP) Annual Symposium, Arlington, VA, June 17, 2009.
Presenter, “Short Term Needs.” ILW Teleconference, May 14, 2009.
Presenter, “Travel Issues for Foreign Nationals.” Presentation, American Council on International Personnel (ACIP) Teleconference, October 2, 2008.
Round Table Coordinator, AILA 2008 Annual Conference, Vancouver, June 2008.
Presenter, “Trainees and Interns.” Workshop, 2008 ACIP Annual Symposium, Arlington, VA, June 12, 2008.
Presenter, “Late Breaking Updates from the U.S. Consulate in Juarez.” Presentation, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Teleconference, January 31, 2008.
Editor, “Business Immigration Law: Strategies for Employing Foreign Nationals.” J Visa Status Chapter, 2008.
Presenter, “Immigration Practice Management and Other Issues.” Arizona State Bar, Immigration Section and Law Office Management Assistance Program, February 22, 2007.
Presenter, “Immigration Compliance Topics.” Arizona Employer Conference, 2007.
Presenter, “Impact of U.S. Immigration Law on a Typical Labor and Employment Practice.” Presentation, Arizona State Bar, Labor and Employment Section, Sedona, AZ, September 29, 2006.
Presenter, Sterling Educational Services Immigration Law Update Seminar, September 15, 2005.
Presenter, Arizona State Bar Annual Conference, June 2004.
Presenter, “Staffing and Immigration.” American Health Lawyers Association Annual Meeting, July 3, 2002.
Sandra’s insights
June 27, 2024 | Media mentions
January 17, 2024 | Webinar
October 12, 2023 | Webinar