Most immigration attorneys are familiar with the B visa and the scope of permissible activities in the United States. Annotated “Special Purpose” B visas seem to be maligned by the State Department and hotly debated by practitioners and government officials, but are they still an option? The experts on this intermediate panel will discuss what happens when we go beyond the scope of the standard B-1 visa. They will provide guidance on how and when to use these “in lieu” visas for training, domestic service, after-sales service, and work on special projects in the United States.

Featured Topics

• Is the B-1 in Lieu of H-1B Still a "Thing"?
• Other "Special Purpose" B Visas in the FAM
• After-Sales Service, H-3 Training, Domestic Assistance: How to Document the Purpose for the Visa to the Embassy’s Satisfaction
• What Is Allowed When Using These Visas and What Goes Beyond Their Scope
• How to Use ESTA for the Same Purposes as These "Annotated" B Visas

Faculty

Amanda Brill (DL), Consular Processing Online Course Committee Chair and AILA University Committee Co-Chair London, UK

Amanda Brill is a partner at TL Brill Parisi in London. She has practiced immigration law since 2005 and has extensive experience with a wide range of business-related immigration issues including consular processing. She earned her J.D. from Boston University. Ms. Brill is past Chapter Chair of AILA’s RDC-EMEA Chapter and has served on numerous AILA national committees including Chair of AILA University’s Consular Processing Course and Chair of the inaugural ACES conference in LA.

Stephen Pattison, Consular Processing Online Course Committee Vice Chair, Portsmouth, NH

Stephen Pattison owns the Law Offices of Stephen Pattison, LLC in New Hampshire. He is a graduate of Southern Methodist University and the University of Texas Law School. Steve spent 28 years with the Department of State as a consular officer and worked in London for Magrath LLP and in Washington D.C. for Maggio and Kattar before opening his own offices in 2014. He is past president of the Rome District Chapter and serves on AILA’s DOS Liaison Committee.

Avi Friedman, Santa Monica, CA

Avi Friedman is a partner with Wolfsdorf Rosenthal, LLP. He served seven terms on the AILA Department of State Liaison Committee and eleven terms as the Consular Affairs Liaison for the AILA Southern California Chapter. Mr. Friedman received his J.D. from Loyola Law School (Los Angeles/1995).

Rebecca R. Massiatte, Dallas, TX

Rebecca R. Massiatte is a founding member of JMA Firm, PLLC, a global immigration law firm. Former member of AILA's Annual Conference, Verification and Documentation, and Distance Learning Committees. Ms. Massiatte received her MSW and JD from Washington University in St. Louis.

Free Downloadable Seminar Recording Included with Live Registration Included with registration, participants in the live seminar will receive a free downloadable recording of the seminar. It will be available in participant's Agora Digital Library approximately 4-7 business days from the seminar date.