Immigration Services

• Employment Based Permanent Residence ("Green Cards" - EB-1, EB-2 and EB-3)
• Extraordinary Ability, Outstanding Professor or Researcher, Exceptional Ability, National Interest Waiver, Multinational Executives and Managers
• Labor Certification  (PERM Professional and PERM Optional Special Recruitment - “Special Handling”)
• Nonimmigrant Status/Visas (i.e., E-3, H-1B, H-2B, J-1 (including waiver of foreign residence requirement), K, L-1A, L-1B, O-1, P-1, R-1)
• F-1 Status/Visas (i.e., OPT, CPT, change of status)
• NAFTA-TN Professionals (Border and ServiceCenter Applications)
• Physicians and healthcare professionals
• Family Based Permanent Residence
• Citizenship Applications (USCIS and Department of State)
• Consular Processing
• I-9 self-audits
• Immigration processes and procedures audits
• Prevailing wage disputes with State Workforce Agencies (“SWA”) and United States Department of Labor (“DOL”)
• Visitor Visas (B-1, B-2, VWP)/Honoraria Issues
• Social Security and Drivers License Issues
• Spousal Work Eligibility Issues (e.g., TD, L-2, H-4, J-2)
• Hiring and employment policies and procedures
• Estate and Tax Planning

The primary contact at Dunn, Willard, Arkell, Bugg & Patterson for immigration services is Thomas J.  Arkell.  Mr. Arkell was a scholarship athlete at the University of Notre Dame where he enrolled as an international student and became a permanent resident before obtaining his United States citizenship. He earned both his undergraduate and law degrees from Notre Dame. His immigration experience includes representing colleges, universities, professors, researchers, scientists, physicians, professional athletes, administrators, healthcare professionals and corporations on various issues. Mr. Arkell has presented at national and regional conferences and meetings sponsored by entities such as: the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Law School; the University of Notre Dame; Bradley University; the Canadian Consulate General,Chicago; and the National Association of College and University Attorneys on topics such as TN Status, the transition from OPT to H-1B to permanent residence and options for  permanent residence for foreign faculty members, and the educational consequences of heightened security. Mr. Arkell has conducted I-9 and immigration practices and procedures audits at several universities and presented to university faculty, department heads, department chairpersons and  provosts about the immigration process. He also speaks to international undergraduate students and graduate students at major universities regarding F-1 optional practical training, H-1B and permanent residence issues to assist them in finding suitable employment. He is licensed to practice law in Illinois, Minnesota and the District of Columbia.