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Corporate Immigration – Higher Education

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To remain competitive in today’s global workplace, educational institutions and university systems must attract and retain top talent from around the world. While U.S. employers have the opportunity to select the best workers from a pool that extends beyond the domestic workforce, hiring a foreign worker presents many unique legal challenges. Our Immigration Law Practice Group includes immigration attorneys that work across New York state, in New York City, in New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Our immigration lawyers focus on strategies – including immigrant visas for permanent U.S. resident status and temporary visas for foreign nationals – to ensure colleges and universities are able to hire, transfer and retain the brightest and best non-U.S. talent.

Through our decades of service, Harris Beach Murtha immigration attorneys have earned the trust and respect of clients in a wide variety of disciplines. By developing and implementing global talent acquisition programs, allowing clients to plan for and support the onboarding of the best talent from anywhere in the world, our attorneys have become respected advisors to large university systems, university-affiliated hospitals and small private colleges and universities around the country. Our team has a record of success, throughout the country, with a suite of nonimmigrant and immigrant visas, as well as complex J-1 waiver issues and immigration compliance issues.

We have a sophisticated understanding of the laws, regulatory bodies and the intricacies of immigration processes and compliance standards. While much of our practice involves preparation, submission and prosecution of immigration applications, we also spend a significant amount of time advising and counseling our higher education clients on general immigration issues. We apply ingenuity with an eye toward what is practical and cost-effective.

Nonimmigrant (Temporary) Visas

We assist clients with obtaining nonimmigrant visas that allow foreign faculty and professional staff to work in the United States. We have extensive experience helping clients navigate the complex regulatory and procedural maze to secure the following nonimmigrant visas: practical training for F-1 students; TN visa for Canadian and Mexican professionals admitted under NAFTA; H-1B visa for faculty and professional staff; E-3 for specialty occupations; and O-1 visa for extraordinary ability workers and performers. We also maintain proficiency in complex J-1 visa waiver processes for faculty, researchers and scholars.

Immigrant Visas (Green Cards)

Our immigration attorneys have in-depth experience obtaining immigrant visas on behalf of clients seeking permanent U.S. resident status. We routinely process permanent resident petitions in accordance with established guidelines and policies for employment-based and family-based visas. We provide counsel on all facets of the employment-based permanent residence visa process including PERM-based labor certification applications under “Special Handling,” national interest waivers, outstanding researcher and extraordinary ability foreign nationals.

Harris Beach Murtha’s immigration attorneys provide monitoring and interpretation of ever-shifting federal and state-level immigration laws affecting employers; and we translate that knowledge into practical, proactive advice. We assist clients in complying with electronic employment verification rules and I-9 auditing, easing their burden of examining documents to prove employee identity and employment authorization. When appropriate, we also offer information and seminars to foreign employees regarding maintenance of status and immigration options.

What You Can Expect from the Immigration Education Team Professionals:
  • Superior client service: don’t be surprised to receive a prompt email response, seven days a week.
  • Invested attorneys who care! When you’re lying awake at night strategizing over a case, so are we.
  • Sound and creative immigration solutions provided through a team approach.
  • A broad depth of knowledge in immigration law.
  • Efficient and streamlined processes based on the latest technology.
  • Responsiveness and the ability to efficiently handle emergency issues that arise during business hours, as well as nights and weekends. Stakeholders will be given personal cell phone numbers to handle emergency calls.

Leader(s)

Leonard J D'Arrigo

Leonard J. D'Arrigo

Member

(518) 701-2770

ldarrigo@harrisbeachmurtha.com

Team

Brendan Venter

Brendan J. Venter

Member

(518) 701-2773

bventer@harrisbeachmurtha.com

  • Represents institutions of higher education in securing, maintaining and managing visa status and employment authorization for employees, including faculty and professional staff, as well as medical professionals (hospitalists, fellows and residents) at university health centers and affiliated facilities.
  • Process high-volume “Special Handling” cases for PERM labor certification.
  • Immigration counsel to the largest system of public universities in the country.
  • Represents university affiliated research organizations in securing, maintaining and managing visa status and employment authorization for employees, including faculty and staff, as well as medical professionals (hospitalists, fellows and residents) at university health centers and affiliated facilities.
  • Presents to colleges and universities across the country on immigration topics affecting foreign faculty, processional staff and students.
  • Develops immigration sponsorship policies for educational institutions.
  • Counsel colleges and universities on non-discriminatory hiring practices when recruiting faculty and staff.

Resources

Insights
News
Events
insights

The New Public Charge Framework: Key Changes and Considerations

insights

ICE Has Raised the Cost of I‑9 Mistakes

insights

Court Temporarily Extends Work Authorization for Certain TPS Holders

insights

DHS Proposes End to “Duration of Status” for F and J Nonimmigrants

insights

Jus soli Preserved: U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Birthright Citizenship

insights

Supreme Court Clears Path to End TPS for Haitian and Syrian Nationals

See All Insights For Corporate Immigration – Higher Education
news

Immigration Attorney Weighs in on Connecticut Residents Losing Temporary Protected Status

news

Media Outlets Spotlight New Immigration Attorneys

news

Immigration Attorney Receives Widespread Media Attention for ICE Case

news

Law360 Spotlights Heidi Snyder’s Move to Harris Beach Murtha

news

Attorneys’ Legal Alert Among Most Read on JD Supra

news

Harris Beach Murtha Adds Seasoned Immigration Attorney Dedicated to Removal and Deportation Defense

See All News For Corporate Immigration – Higher Education
See All Events For Corporate Immigration – Higher Education

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Contact

Corporate Immigration – Higher Education

Focus

Capabilities
People
Harris Beach Murtha Attorneys at Law

Corporate Immigration – Higher Education

Focus

Profile

To remain competitive in today’s global workplace, educational institutions and university systems must attract and retain top talent from around the world. While U.S. employers have the opportunity to select the best workers from a pool that extends beyond the domestic workforce, hiring a foreign worker presents many unique legal challenges. Our Immigration Law Practice Group includes immigration attorneys that work across New York state, in New York City, in New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Our immigration lawyers focus on strategies – including immigrant visas for permanent U.S. resident status and temporary visas for foreign nationals – to ensure colleges and universities are able to hire, transfer and retain the brightest and best non-U.S. talent.

Through our decades of service, Harris Beach Murtha immigration attorneys have earned the trust and respect of clients in a wide variety of disciplines. By developing and implementing global talent acquisition programs, allowing clients to plan for and support the onboarding of the best talent from anywhere in the world, our attorneys have become respected advisors to large university systems, university-affiliated hospitals and small private colleges and universities around the country. Our team has a record of success, throughout the country, with a suite of nonimmigrant and immigrant visas, as well as complex J-1 waiver issues and immigration compliance issues.

We have a sophisticated understanding of the laws, regulatory bodies and the intricacies of immigration processes and compliance standards. While much of our practice involves preparation, submission and prosecution of immigration applications, we also spend a significant amount of time advising and counseling our higher education clients on general immigration issues. We apply ingenuity with an eye toward what is practical and cost-effective.

Services

Nonimmigrant (Temporary) Visas

We assist clients with obtaining nonimmigrant visas that allow foreign faculty and professional staff to work in the United States. We have extensive experience helping clients navigate the complex regulatory and procedural maze to secure the following nonimmigrant visas: practical training for F-1 students; TN visa for Canadian and Mexican professionals admitted under NAFTA; H-1B visa for faculty and professional staff; E-3 for specialty occupations; and O-1 visa for extraordinary ability workers and performers. We also maintain proficiency in complex J-1 visa waiver processes for faculty, researchers and scholars.

Immigrant Visas (Green Cards)

Our immigration attorneys have in-depth experience obtaining immigrant visas on behalf of clients seeking permanent U.S. resident status. We routinely process permanent resident petitions in accordance with established guidelines and policies for employment-based and family-based visas. We provide counsel on all facets of the employment-based permanent residence visa process including PERM-based labor certification applications under “Special Handling,” national interest waivers, outstanding researcher and extraordinary ability foreign nationals.

Harris Beach Murtha’s immigration attorneys provide monitoring and interpretation of ever-shifting federal and state-level immigration laws affecting employers; and we translate that knowledge into practical, proactive advice. We assist clients in complying with electronic employment verification rules and I-9 auditing, easing their burden of examining documents to prove employee identity and employment authorization. When appropriate, we also offer information and seminars to foreign employees regarding maintenance of status and immigration options.

What You Can Expect from the Immigration Education Team Professionals:

  • Superior client service: don’t be surprised to receive a prompt email response, seven days a week.
  • Invested attorneys who care! When you’re lying awake at night strategizing over a case, so are we.
  • Sound and creative immigration solutions provided through a team approach.
  • A broad depth of knowledge in immigration law.
  • Efficient and streamlined processes based on the latest technology.
  • Responsiveness and the ability to efficiently handle emergency issues that arise during business hours, as well as nights and weekends. Stakeholders will be given personal cell phone numbers to handle emergency calls.

Experience

  • Represents institutions of higher education in securing, maintaining and managing visa status and employment authorization for employees, including faculty and professional staff, as well as medical professionals (hospitalists, fellows and residents) at university health centers and affiliated facilities.
  • Process high-volume “Special Handling” cases for PERM labor certification.
  • Immigration counsel to the largest system of public universities in the country.
  • Represents university affiliated research organizations in securing, maintaining and managing visa status and employment authorization for employees, including faculty and staff, as well as medical professionals (hospitalists, fellows and residents) at university health centers and affiliated facilities.
  • Presents to colleges and universities across the country on immigration topics affecting foreign faculty, processional staff and students.
  • Develops immigration sponsorship policies for educational institutions.
  • Counsel colleges and universities on non-discriminatory hiring practices when recruiting faculty and staff.

People

Practice Leader(s)

Leonard J. D'Arrigo

Member
(518) 701-2770
ldarrigo@harrisbeachmurtha.com

Team

Brendan J. Venter

Member
(518) 701-2773
bventer@harrisbeachmurtha.com
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. © 2026 Harris Beach Murtha Cullina PLLC
Content current as of September 6, 2026 8:31 pm