The primary contact at the firm for immigration services is Thomas J. Arkell. Born in Canada, 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. Mr. Arkell has been named a Leading Lawyer in immigration law by his peers for many consecutive years. His immigration experience includes more than twenty years of representing colleges, universities, professors, researchers, scientists, administrators, physicians, healthcare professionals, corporations and professional athletes on various issues.
Mr. Arkell has presented at national and regional conferences and meetings all over the United States including: Harvard, MIT, the University of Notre Dame, USC, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Law School, the University of Michigan, Penn State University, The Ohio State University, Ohio University, the University of California San Diego, University of Florida, Florida International University, University of Alaska Fairbanks, University of Oklahoma, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, the Canadian Consulate General in Chicago; Society of Human Resource Management and the National Association of College and University Attorneys. He has presented on topics such as TN Status, the transition from F-1 student to H-1B temporary worker to permanent resident, options for permanent residence for foreign faculty members, and the educational consequences of heightened security in the United States. Mr. Arkell has presented to university provosts, department chairpersons and faculty members about the immigration process, as well as conducted I-9 and immigration practices and procedures audits at several major state universities. He also frequently speaks to international undergraduate and graduate students at large universities regarding F-1 optional practical training, H-1B and permanent residence issues in order to assist them in finding suitable post-graduation employment.
He represents some of the most prestigious universities in the United States, a company with over $11 billion dollars in annual revenue, several storied major professional sports franchises, professional athletes, including MVPs, Olympic Champions, World Champions and Hall of Famers. He has represented thousands of accomplished researchers, professionals, and scientists in different stages of their career from F-1 students to tenured faculty members to founders of successful companies. When necessary, Mr. Arkell will litigate for his clients – one case he successfully litigated in federal court was highlighted in Business Week. Mr. Arkell takes great pride in the success of his clients and he is able to represent immigration clients located anywhere in the United States and throughout the world.
The Arkell Immigration Team has extensive experience with complex immigration matters, including:
- Employment-Based Permanent Residence (“Green Cards” )
- EB-1 category petitions: Extraordinary Ability, Outstanding Professor or Researcher, Multinational Executives and Managers
- EB-2 category petitions: National Interest Waiver, Advanced Degree Professionals and Schedule A, Group II petitions
- EB-3 category petitions: Professional and Skilled Workers
- EB-5 category petitions: Immigrant Investor/Entrepreneur
- Labor Certification (PERM Professional and PERM Optional Special Recruitment for faculty members
- 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 Service Center 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 Driver’s 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
Our firm can obtain translation services and/or interpreters for most languages, if requested.