The Immigration Lawyers Podcast | Discussing Visas, Green Cards & Citizenship: Practice & Policy

In-Depth Discussions, Interviews, and Legal Analysis of Immigration Law and Practice with Professionals in the Field, with Host John Khosravi, Esq. Visas, Green Cards, and US Citizenship. Intended for Immigration Lawyers and Attorneys. Attorney Advertisement, please consult with an attorney. [email protected]

#498 Decades Inside DHS, DOS & the Visa Bulletin with Nicholas Perry, Esq. 10/12/2026

#498 Decades Inside DHS, DOS & the Visa Bulletin with Nicholas Perry, Esq. What really happens on the other side of the immigration system? In Episode 498, John Q. Khosravi, Esq. sits down with Nicholas Perry, Esq., a former government attorney who has worked at nearly every corner of the immigration bureaucracy: INS, ICE, USCIS, DHS Office of the General Counsel, EOIR and the State Department Visa Office. Nick shares what it was like to write the STEM OPT regulations, why the 2017 travel ban rollout was chaos from the inside, how the Dates for Filing chart came to life in the Visa Bulletin, and why TRIG exemptions are one of the most underused tools in immigration law. If you’ve ever wondered how the policies you deal with every day actually get made, this one is for you. (1) Learn more about eimmigration: https://get.eimmigration.com/ILT (2) Start your law firm Marketing: ImmigrationLawyersToolbox.com/Constellation TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Opening 00:33 Intro 01:21 Immigration Lawyers Toolbox Magazine 02:33 The new ILT Chrome extension 04:12 Meet Nicholas Perry, Esq. 05:03 From tour guide to congressional immigration caseworker 06:02 First job at EOIR 06:45 INS attorney in San Francisco and El Paso during 9/11 07:31 ICE and USCIS national security work 07:57 Seven years at DHS Office of the General Counsel 09:07 Writing the STEM OPT regulations 09:33 How a regulation actually gets made 11:03 Public charge, H-2A, H-2B and EB-5 rules 12:33 The new I-864 and skipping notice and comment 13:04 Working in the State Department Visa Office 13:47 The 2017 travel ban from the inside 15:42 Administrative processing and security advisory opinions 17:11 ILT Community and Constellation 18:37 Nebraska Service Center years 19:43 Changing administrations and early retirement 21:12 Launching Perry Immigration Law 22:36 How the Visa Bulletin works behind the scenes 23:55 Creating the Dates for Filing chart 25:58 How policy decisions reach the Visa Bulletin 26:46 TRIG and Iranian cases 27:25 What TRIG covers under INA 212(a)(3)(B) 28:33 TRIG exemptions and why they’re underused 30:58 Final thoughts and how to reach Nick | | | Get a free website (first 10 sign-ups) and special pricing on marketing for your firm from Follow eimmigration by Cerenade: | | Start your Business Immigration Practice! (US LAWYERS ONLY - SCREENING REQUIRED): Get Started in Immigration Law! Our Website: ImmigrationLawyersToolbox.com Not legal advice. Consult with an Attorney. Attorney Advertisement. #podcaster #Lawyer #ImmigrationLawyer #Interview #Immigration #ImmigrationAttorney #USImmigration #ImmigrationLaw #ImmigrationLawyersToolbox /episode/index/show/immigrationlawyerspodcast/id/43253848

#497 Scaling to 65 Employees, Daily TikTok & Federal Court with Saman Movassaghi Gonzalez, Esq. 10/07/2026

#497 Scaling to 65 Employees, Daily TikTok & Federal Court with Saman Movassaghi Gonzalez, Esq. In Episode 497 of the Immigration Lawyers Toolbox Podcast, John Q. Khosravi, Esq. sits down with Saman Movassaghi Gonzalez, Esq., a Miami immigration attorney with 23 years of experience who has grown her full service firm from 7 people during Covid to 65 employees today. Saman shares her story, from growing up in East Texas as the daughter of Iranian parents who came to the U.S. on student visas in 1971, to graduating law school at 22, closing her first firm because she wasn't ready yet, and relaunching it in 2009. She explains how she committed to posting a video every day on TikTok for three straight years, why being accessible to clients has been her biggest draw, and how hiring a COO, CFO, IT director and client relations team let her step away from day to day business decisions so she could focus on practicing law. She also talks about her firm's pivot into federal litigation for family based petitions and removal cases going into 2027. (1) Learn more about eimmigration: (2) Start your law firm Marketing: ImmigrationLawyersToolbox.com/Constellation Timestamps: 00:00 Opening 00:33 Intro 01:56 ILT Chrome Extension: N400 & I751 Calculators, PDF Creator 03:42 Growing Up in East Texas with Iranian Immigrant Parents 04:56 Choosing Immigration Law & Law School in Miami 06:54 NSEERS and the Post 9/11 Crackdown 07:41 Opening (and Closing) Her First Firm at 22 09:21 Relaunching Her Firm in 2009 10:17 Full Service: Every Practice Area Except Adoptions 11:34 How She Posts So Consistently on Social Media 14:52 TikTok, Covid & the Butcher Videos 17:06 ILT Community & Constellation 18:42 Posting Every Day for 3 Years Straight 19:54 Growing From 7 to 65 Employees 21:28 Hiring a COO, CFO & Business Team 24:40 Wearing the Lawyer Hat vs. the Business Hat 25:50 Pivoting to Federal Litigation Going Into 2027 27:42 How to Connect with Saman | | | Follow eimmigration by Cerenade: | | Start your Business Immigration Practice! (US LAWYERS ONLY - SCREENING REQUIRED): Get Started in Immigration Law! Our Website: ImmigrationLawyersToolbox.com Not legal advice. Consult with an Attorney. Attorney Advertisement. #podcaster #Lawyer #ImmigrationLawyer #Interview #Immigration #ImmigrationAttorney #USImmigration #ImmigrationLaw #ImmigrationLawyersToolbox /episode/index/show/immigrationlawyerspodcast/id/43209858

#496 AI, the ABS Model & the Future of Immigration Practice with Jeff Joseph, Esq. 10/04/2026

#496 AI, the ABS Model & the Future of Immigration Practice with Jeff Joseph, Esq. What happens when a law firm has no partners, every lawyer owns shares, and AI prepares the first draft of the petition? In Episode #496 of The Immigration Lawyers Toolbox Podcast, John Q. Khosravi, Esq. talks with Jeff Joseph, Esq., past AILA President and now President of Immigration Strategy at Manifest Law, about how the firm is changing the business of immigration practice. Jeff explains Manifest's two-part structure: a technology company, Manifest OS, and a separate law firm whose attorneys own shares in it. The company raised about $72 million in its Series A at a valuation of over $750 million. He also covers the ABS model, why immigration was the strategic choice, how AI reviews filings and cut human error rates by 15%, the plan to expand into removal defense and family immigration, and what solo and small firms need to do to stay competitive over the next 2 to 3 years. Timestamps 00:00 Opening 00:33 Intro 03:05 Welcome Jeff Joseph, Esq. 03:11 From his own firm to BAL to Manifest 03:37 What is Manifest Law? 04:46 Two companies, one mission: Manifest OS and the law firm 05:28 Attorney-led marketing 06:23 How Manifest attorneys earn: salary, origination and production credits 07:11 Two disruptions: AI and the ABS model 07:55 Why Manifest chose immigration 08:41 W-2 vs. 1099: B2C and B2B attorneys 09:31 Inside the technology: an H-1B case walkthrough 11:01 Is USCIS using AI too? 11:12 ILT Community and Constellation 12:58 AI reduced human error by 15% 13:21 Jeff's role: President of Immigration Strategy 13:59 Growth strategy heading into 2027 15:02 Expanding into removal defense and family 15:14 How cancellation of removal compares to an O-1 16:33 EOIR and ICE attorneys are using AI in court 16:50 Will Manifest license its technology? 17:22 The next 2 to 3 years for solo and small firms 18:28 Guardrails, and letting AI take the work lawyers hate 19:32 Stepping away from case work 20:07 Immigration practice keeps reinventing itself 20:51 How to connect with Jeff 21:21 Outro | | | Get a free website (first 10 sign-ups) and special pricing on marketing for your firm from Follow eimmigration by Cerenade: | | Start your Business Immigration Practice! (US LAWYERS ONLY - SCREENING REQUIRED): Get Started in Immigration Law! Our Website: ImmigrationLawyersToolbox.com Not legal advice. Consult with an Attorney. Attorney Advertisement. #podcaster #Lawyer #ImmigrationLawyer #Interview #Immigration #ImmigrationAttorney #USImmigration #ImmigrationLaw #ImmigrationLawyersToolbox /episode/index/show/immigrationlawyerspodcast/id/43163778

#495 AI, Form Changes & Staying Sane in Immigration Practice w/ Ruby Powers, Esq. 09/30/2026

#495 AI, Form Changes & Staying Sane in Immigration Practice w/ Ruby Powers, Esq. Ruby Powers, Esq. returns to the Immigration Lawyers Toolbox Podcast to talk with John Q. Khosravi, Esq. about running an immigration practice today. They cover why many law firm owners find they are the bottleneck in their own firm, how to build a team culture that actually uses the tech you pay for, and how AI can help lawyers digest long regulations and compare new form versions. They also get into vicarious trauma and resilience, the lasting effects of detention, Federal Tort Claims Act claims, growing processing delays and when mandamus makes sense, USCIS denials without RFEs, and the move toward online filing. Timestamps: 00:00 Opening 00:33 Intro 03:22 New DOS FOIA request form for community members 04:13 Ruby Powers joins the show 04:40 Inside the Denver law firm retreat 07:04 The big lesson: owners are the bottleneck 08:46 Tech stacks and tools firms aren't fully using 10:23 Small tech wins and building a kaizen culture 12:54 Keeping up with sudden policy changes 13:38 Form changes: I-864, I-485, I-539, I-765 14:19 Using AI to read regulations and compare form versions 16:19 AI and confidentiality concerns 17:04 AILA Fall Conference in Atlanta 18:26 AILA Texas chapter fall conference in Santa Fe 19:41 Wellness talk: saunas, steam rooms, and acupuncture 22:15 ILT community page and Constellation Marketing 23:49 Self care in a high-stress practice 24:46 AI and legal marketing: GEO vs. SEO 25:52 Tracking leads and marketing ROI 26:42 Why law firm owners should be on LinkedIn 28:52 Vicarious trauma and vicarious resilience 31:38 The trauma of detention and reentry 35:25 Federal Tort Claims Act claims 36:26 I-130 delays and mandamus 37:42 Immigration court and pending I-130s 38:55 The real cost of detention: habeas and bond 39:33 Voter registration and voting plans 41:33 Naturalization and adjustment delays 42:01 Myth: mandamus leads to retaliation 44:09 USCIS denials without RFEs 45:02 Moving to online filing 49:01 Outro | | | Get a free website (first 10 sign-ups) and special pricing on marketing for your firm from Follow eimmigration by Cerenade: | | Start your Business Immigration Practice! (US LAWYERS ONLY - SCREENING REQUIRED): Get Started in Immigration Law! Our Website: ImmigrationLawyersToolbox.com Not legal advice. Consult with an Attorney. Attorney Advertisement. #podcaster #Lawyer #ImmigrationLawyer #Interview #Immigration #ImmigrationAttorney #USImmigration #ImmigrationLaw #ImmigrationLawyersToolbox /episode/index/show/immigrationlawyerspodcast/id/43086423

#494 NIWs, the 2-Year I-130 Wait and more with Beatriz Ballerini, Esq. 09/17/2026

#494 NIWs, the 2-Year I-130 Wait and more with Beatriz Ballerini, Esq. On this episode of The Immigration Lawyer's Toolbox Podcast, host John Khosravi sits down with Beatriz (Trillos) Ballerini, Esq., a Houston based immigration attorney, AILA Region 4 Director, and immediate past chair of the Texas AILA Chapter, to talk about the 54% NIW denial rate and why she's stopped taking new NIW cases, the growing uncertainty around adjustment of status and I-130 processing times, how she's rebuilt her retainer agreements for this administration, what's ahead for the Texas AILA Chapter including its November 18 to 20 conference in Santa Fe, the political shift underway in Colombia, and her own family's immigration story from Cali, Colombia to holding three passports today. Timestamps: 00:00 Opening 00:33 Intro 03:58 Welcoming Beatriz to the show 04:20 Growing up in Houston and finding immigration law 04:49 Her earlier career litigating international plane crashes 06:31 Launching her own practice in 2006 08:14 From family cases to 80% business immigration 10:18 Firm size, staffing, and long-tenured team members 12:11 Why NIW cases are so stressful right now 13:04 Adjustment of status and detention risk uncertainty 16:00 Managing client expectations and putting it in writing 16:26 Retainer updates with ethics counsel Craig Dupzyk 18:08 AILA's lawsuits pushing back on policy changes 18:34 Her role as AILA Region 4 Director 19:26 Leading the Texas AILA Chapter 20:12 Texas Chapter conference, November 18 to 20 in Santa Fe 23:05 Coordinating a chapter spread across Texas, Oklahoma & New Mexico 27:44 A growing chapter and mentoring new members 29:20 What's stressing Beatriz: the 54% NIW denial rate 30:00 Worrying about approved EB-1A clients stuck in limbo 31:00 Colombia's political shift under President de la Espriella 32:13 Direct filing I-130s at consulates for exceptional circumstances 34:10 USCIS's overseas offices and the new Ethiopia unit 34:43 Deportations to third countries and the human toll 36:07 Increased ICE activity around Houston 37:14 Holding three passports and dual citizenship through marriage 38:22 Her family's immigration story from Colombia 39:15 Discovering her own immigration history through a FOIA request 40:52 Her father's decision to naturalize after being strip searched 41:13 Comparing notes on growing up in immigrant families 43:08 The unpredictability of 30 day RFE deadlines 44:33 Where to find and follow Beatriz Ballerini 44:50 Closing thoughts | | | Follow eimmigration by Cerenade: | | Start your Business Immigration Practice! (US LAWYERS ONLY - SCREENING REQUIRED): Get Started in Immigration Law! Our Website: ImmigrationLawyersToolbox.com Not legal advice. Consult with an Attorney. Attorney Advertisement. #podcaster #Lawyer #ImmigrationLawyer #Interview #Immigration #ImmigrationAttorney #USImmigration #ImmigrationLaw #ImmigrationLawyersToolbox /episode/index/show/immigrationlawyerspodcast/id/42940037

#493 H-1B Uncertainty, PERM Layoffs & the Truth About EB-1A with Judy Wong, Esq. 09/14/2026

#493 H-1B Uncertainty, PERM Layoffs & the Truth About EB-1A with Judy Wong, Esq. In this episode, John sits down with Judy Wong, Esq., a Bay Area business immigration attorney for tech companies, to talk about the EB-1A hype nobody wants to admit is hype, the uncertainty H-1B and L-1 employees are living with right now, and what happens when a reduction in force derails a case that's been years in the making. Judy also shares her path through AILA NorCal leadership and her role helping plan the AILA California Chapters Conference this November in San Francisco. Timestamps: 00:00 Opening 00:33 Intro 02:46 Welcome Judy Wong, Esq. 02:56 Judy's background: growing up in LA, child of refugees 03:33 Law school in San Francisco and discovering immigration law 04:35 Why she left LA for the Bay Area 05:38 Commuting and remote work since COVID 06:17 Public charge scrutiny and the affidavit of support memo 07:57 H-1B and L-1 uncertainty around adjustment of status vs. consular processing 09:01 ICE picking up people with pending cases at airports 09:24 Judy's practice: corporate tech immigration clients 10:06 Reduction in force and its impact on the PERM process 11:35 Sponsor: ILT community page and Constellation partnership 13:09 Rising RFEs, NOIDs and denial rates 13:39 The EB-1A and EB-2 NIW marketing hype problem 14:23 How Judy got involved with AILA NorCal 16:24 AILA NorCal structure: liaisons, coordinators, advisory council 17:33 CBP's continued engagement with AILA liaisons 18:15 California Chapters Conference planning update 19:07 Conference dates, location and program tracks 19:54 How to connect with Judy Wong 20:49 Outro Constellation Law Firm Marketing Service: https://immigrationlawyerstoolbox.com/constellation Read the latest issue of the | | | Follow eimmigration by Cerenade: | | Start your Business Immigration Practice! (US LAWYERS ONLY - SCREENING REQUIRED): Get Started in Immigration Law! Our Website: ImmigrationLawyersToolbox.com Not legal advice. Consult with an Attorney. Attorney Advertisement. #podcaster #Lawyer #ImmigrationLawyer #Interview #Immigration #ImmigrationAttorney #USImmigration #ImmigrationLaw #ImmigrationLawyersToolbox /episode/index/show/immigrationlawyerspodcast/id/42894680

#492 Federal Court Update [July/Aug.2026] w/ Kevin A. Gregg, Esq. 09/06/2026

#492 Federal Court Update [July/Aug.2026] w/ Kevin A. Gregg, Esq. It's the monthly case law roundup fans keep coming back for: John Q. Khosravi, Esq. sits down with Kevin A. Gregg, Esq. to unpack the federal circuit court decisions reshaping immigration practice right now, from a major 4th Circuit win on vacated convictions to a widening circuit split on bond hearings for people who entered without inspection, a big post-Riley v. Bondi ruling on withholding-only proceedings, and the real-world fallout from the government's abrupt shutdown of consular visa processing worldwide. Along the way, John and Kevin get candid about the human toll of the current enforcement climate, the history behind mandatory detention law, and why this may be the most consequential year for immigration case law either of them has covered. Whether you're an immigration attorney, paralegal, or just trying to keep up with what's changing, this is the episode to catch up on. Timestamps: 00:00 Opening 00:33 Intro 03:09 Kevin Gregg joins the show 03:41 How wild 2026 has been for case law (8 decisions in one week) 07:43 Getting into this month's cases 08:10 Honorable mention: 11th Circuit on Matter of Lozada compliance 09:31 Case 1: 4th Circuit takes down Matter of Pickering on vacated convictions 17:29 Case 2: 9th Circuit rules EWI entrants get a bond hearing 22:33 Sponsor: ILT private community 23:36 Back to the show: mandatory detention under INA 236(c) vs. 235 29:54 Case 3: 4th Circuit on withholding-only proceedings after Riley v. Bondi 33:05 Honorable mention: 75-country travel ban pause and the consulate shutdown 33:50 A client caught in the consulate shutdown 36:52 The affidavit of support form change 39:47 Outro Constellation Law Firm Marketing Service: https://immigrationlawyerstoolbox.com/constellation | | | Follow eimmigration by Cerenade: | | Start your Business Immigration Practice! (US LAWYERS ONLY - SCREENING REQUIRED): Get Started in Immigration Law! Our Website: ImmigrationLawyersToolbox.com Not legal advice. Consult with an Attorney. Attorney Advertisement. #podcaster #Lawyer #ImmigrationLawyer #Interview #Immigration #ImmigrationAttorney #USImmigration #ImmigrationLaw #ImmigrationLawyersToolbox /episode/index/show/immigrationlawyerspodcast/id/42799640

#491 The New I-864 Credit Check Rule & the End of Grace Periods w/ John Q. Khosravi, Esq. 09/04/2026

#491 The New I-864 Credit Check Rule & the End of Grace Periods w/ John Q. Khosravi, Esq. Immigration attorney John Q. Khosravi, Esq. breaks down a packed week of immigration law changes on episode 491 of The Immigration Lawyer's Toolbox Podcast covering a surprise new I-864 edition that requires sponsors to unlock their credit reports for USCIS, the elimination of the 60-day work visa grace period, a federal contempt ruling against DHS over the removal of asylum-seeking minors, a wrongful deportation of a U.S. citizen, a major DACA advance parole ruling on the 3/10-year bar, DACA renewal delays, a massive marriage fraud bust, faster RFI turnaround times affecting I-751 divorce waiver strategy, and more, plus a practical AI tip for A/B testing your firm's marketing. Timestamps: 00:00 – Opening 00:33 - Intro 02:36 – New Form I-864 Edition: Credit Report Authorization & Filing Deadlines 05:19 – Consular Processing Delays: Why You Must Follow Up With Embassies 06:00 – State Department to Close Smaller Consulates 06:22 – DHS Held in Contempt Over Deporting 107 Asylum-Seeking Minors 06:44 – U.S. Citizen Wrongfully Deported 07:00 – Birthright Citizenship Executive Orders & Birth Tourism Crackdown 07:49 – Courts Block Travel Ban — But State Department Halts Visa Processing Anyway 08:21 – Diversity Visa Lottery Lawsuit & Risk for This Year's Winners 08:51 – Grace Period Eliminated for Terminated Work Visa Holders 09:40 – New Public Charge Bond System at DOS & USCIS 10:15 – DACA Advance Parole & the 3/10-Year Bar Ruling 11:15 – DACA Renewal Delays & "Last In, First Out" Processing 11:40 – Massive Marriage Fraud Bust (1,000+ Couples) 12:33 – BIA's New 10-Day Rule to Secure Counsel 12:54 – Faster I-864 RFIs (33 Days) & I-751 Divorce Waiver Strategy 14:56 – ILT's Private Community for Immigration Lawyers 15:28 – Using AI to A/B Test Newsletter Subject Lines 17:12 – Reflecting on the State of Immigration Law 18:56 – Why Consistent Marketing Matters for Your Firm 21:18 – Closing Thoughts | | | eimmigration Website: get.eimmigration.com Heroes Spotlight nomination page: heroes.eimmigration.com Deadline for nomination: September 25 Follow eimmigration by Cerenade: | | Start your Business Immigration Practice! (US LAWYERS ONLY - SCREENING REQUIRED): Get Started in Immigration Law! Our Website: ImmigrationLawyersToolbox.com Not legal advice. Consult with an Attorney. Attorney Advertisement. #podcaster #Lawyer #ImmigrationLawyer #Interview #Immigration #ImmigrationAttorney #USImmigration #ImmigrationLaw #ImmigrationLawyersToolbox /episode/index/show/immigrationlawyerspodcast/id/42714535

#490 Should You Sell Your Immigration Practice? Inside Law Firm M&A with Roman Zelichenko, J.D. 08/13/2026

#490 Should You Sell Your Immigration Practice? Inside Law Firm M&A with Roman Zelichenko, J.D. On this episode of The Immigration Lawyer's Toolbox® Podcast, host John Khosravi sits down with returning guest Roman Zelichenko, J.D. to unpack what's really happening in the growing wave of immigration law firm M&A: how firms are actually valued, why some attorneys inflate their revenue numbers with filing fees, the difference between a true acquisition and a "merger" that's really more of a hire, why clean books can make or break a deal, and what private equity's track record in dentistry, HVAC, and plumbing suggests about where legal consolidation is headed. Whether you're thinking about selling, buying, merging, or just want to run your firm like it's sellable, this episode is full of practical insight on the business side of immigration law. Sponsor: Get a free website (first 10 sign-ups) and special pricing on marketing for your firm from Constellation at . Timestamps: 00:00 Opening 00:33 Intro 04:24 How hard is it for practitioners to value and sell their firm? 04:53 B2B/corporate vs. B2C firms: why recurring revenue is valued higher 05:30 The filing-fees-in-revenue trick that inflates valuations 06:36 What sellers actually want: fair price vs. emotional attachment 07:54 How clean (or messy) books affect due diligence 09:43 Bookkeepers, GMI Rocket, and staying on top of your numbers 11:29 Mergers vs. acquisitions: when a "merger" is really a hire 13:12 Larger firm mergers and fade-out deal structures 13:52 New fee memos, attorney burnout, and the push toward litigation 16:13 Consolidation, specialists, and the rise of AI-native law firms 19:00 Lessons from private equity roll-ups in dentistry, HVAC, and plumbing 20:17 Community page & Constellation SEO/marketing sponsor break 21:20 Back to the show: will the free market self-correct? 21:33 Envoy Global: an example of PE-backed immigration firms done right 24:19 Scaling without sacrificing service quality 26:15 The M&A trend among solo and small firm owners who want out 29:01 Creative deal structures, equity, and the "Built to Sell" mindset 33:13 Why QuickBooks and clean numbers drive better marketing and growth decisions 36:26 Outro | | | Follow eimmigration by Cerenade: | | Start your Business Immigration Practice! (US LAWYERS ONLY - SCREENING REQUIRED): Get Started in Immigration Law! Our Website: ImmigrationLawyersToolbox.com Not legal advice. Consult with an Attorney. Attorney Advertisement. #podcaster #Lawyer #ImmigrationLawyer #Interview #Immigration #ImmigrationAttorney #USImmigration #ImmigrationLaw #ImmigrationLawyersToolbox /episode/index/show/immigrationlawyerspodcast/id/42386610

#489 30 Years of Referrals: Building a Law Firm with Jeff Goldman, Esq. 08/11/2026

#489 30 Years of Referrals: Building a Law Firm with Jeff Goldman, Esq. On this episode of the Immigration Lawyer's Toolbox Podcast, host John Khosravi sits down with Jeff Goldman, Esq., founder of Goldman & Partners Immigration and co-founder of Build Talent Labs, for a candid look at how a "serendipitous" career turn into immigration law became a 30+ year, 32-person firm built almost entirely on referrals from the client who talked him into immigration law after a real estate closing, to the EB-1A case for an MIT researcher that opened the door to a decade of extraordinary-ability petitions, to how he set (and steadily raised) his fees at Testa, Hurwitz & Israel and beyond. Jeff also breaks down his current work at Build Talent Labs, the cap-exempt H-1B, J-1, and O-1 agent sponsorship model he co-founded with his daughter Danielle, his eight years as immigration advisor to the Governor of Massachusetts, and what it's really like working with CBP at Logan Airport, including a firsthand story of getting a client released after 48 hours in secondary inspection. Connect with Jeff Goldman, Esq.: 🔗 🔗 🔗 LinkedIn: Jeff Goldman Sponsor: Get a free website (first 10 sign-ups) and special pricing on marketing for your firm from Constellation at . | | | Timestamps 00:00 – Opening 00:33 – Intro 03:42 – Welcome, Jeff Goldman 03:45 – Jeff's background: growing up near Boston 04:06 – Deciding to go to law school (the LSAT "dare") 05:20 – The client who talked Jeff into immigration law 06:04 – Jeff's first immigration CLE course (1993, right before IRIRA) 07:02 – The neighbor who became his first referral source 08:22 – Filing his first H-1B petitions 09:04 – Hanging a shingle as a solo immigration attorney 09:53 – The Russian EB-1A client who changed everything 11:39 – Landing MIT and Chinese postdoc EB-1A clients 12:47 – Building a 32-person immigration firm 13:17 – Office hours at Harvard Business School and MIT Sloan 13:47 – How do you price a case like an EB-1A? 14:06 – Joining Testa, Hurwitz & Israel's immigration group 15:51 – The urgent phone call that led to a job offer 16:20 – When the firm imploded (and Jeff kept the $2.5M immigration book) 17:29 – Setting fees at a big law firm 18:38 – Going solo again — and raising his fees 19:15 – Toolbox community: our private Circle page 20:08 – Sponsor: Constellation (legal marketing & web design) 21:42 – Back to the interview 22:11 – Why clients pay for reliability, not just price 22:40 – Career advice: build referral relationships with corporate lawyers 24:02 – Lesson from the Global BIO Conference 25:26 – A day in Jeff's life today 25:56 – Build Talent Labs: the cap-exempt H-1B model, explained 27:30 – Eight years as immigration advisor to the Governor of Massachusetts 27:52 – Jeff's relationship with CBP at Logan Airport 30:35 – When a client was detained 48 hours — and what Jeff did next 31:59 – Proactively coordinating with CBP before a client travels 33:11 – How to reach Jeff Goldman 33:30 – AILA mentorship and LinkedIn presence 35:42 – Build Talent Labs: J-1 programs and O-1 agent sponsorship 36:30 – The O-1 agent documentation risk lawyers overlook 36:52 – Closing & outro Follow eimmigration by Cerenade: | | Start your Business Immigration Practice! (US LAWYERS ONLY - SCREENING REQUIRED): Get Started in Immigration Law! Our Website: ImmigrationLawyersToolbox.com Not legal advice. Consult with an Attorney. Attorney Advertisement. #podcaster #Lawyer #ImmigrationLawyer #Interview #Immigration #ImmigrationAttorney #USImmigration #ImmigrationLaw #ImmigrationLawyersToolbox /episode/index/show/immigrationlawyerspodcast/id/42386555

#488 Business Immigration & the $100K H-1B Fee with Jioselin Juarez Contreras, Esq. 08/09/2026

#488 Business Immigration & the $100K H-1B Fee with Jioselin Juarez Contreras, Esq. In this episode, host John Q. Khosravi, Esq. sits down with business immigration attorney Jioselin Juarez Contreras, Esq. to talk about her path from a first-generation Mexican American law student to a high-volume H-1B practice — including her brief detour into nonprofit removal work before returning to the same business immigration firm, how her firm (which also handles corporate litigation and taxation, with a CPA-licensed managing partner) keeps every department aligned on fast-moving immigration changes, and the real-world impact of the new $100,000 H-1B fee on employers and change-of-status filings during this year's cap season. They also preview the upcoming AILA California Chapters Conference (November 5–7 in San Francisco), which Jioselin is helping plan, and close with a look at annual firm planning and the importance of actually taking breaks during immigration law's busiest seasons. Timestamps: 00:00 Opening 00:33 Intro 03:16 Welcome Jioselin Juarez Contreras, Esq. 03:26 Growing up in Southern California & getting into immigration law 04:45 How she built business immigration experience early on 05:04 The detour into nonprofit removal work, and coming back 07:36 Practicing immigration inside a multi-department firm (corporate, litigation, CPA/tax) 09:41 The $100K H-1B fee: real impact on clients and filings during cap season 11:36 AILA California Chapters Conference preview (San Francisco, Nov 5 to 7) 15:01 Firm planning: annual goals and the next six months 17:08 Balancing cap season crunch with actual vacation time 20:58 How to connect with Jioselin 21:13 Outro Get a free website (first 10 sign-ups) and special pricing on marketing for your firm from Constellation at | | | Follow eimmigration by Cerenade: | | Start your Business Immigration Practice! (US LAWYERS ONLY - SCREENING REQUIRED): Get Started in Immigration Law! Our Website: ImmigrationLawyersToolbox.com Not legal advice. Consult with an Attorney. Attorney Advertisement. #podcaster #Lawyer #ImmigrationLawyer #Interview #Immigration #ImmigrationAttorney #USImmigration #ImmigrationLaw #ImmigrationLawyersToolbox /episode/index/show/immigrationlawyerspodcast/id/42367640

#487 Judges Deny Marriage Green Cards & WebEx May Leave Court with John Q. Khosravi, Esq. 08/07/2026

#487 Judges Deny Marriage Green Cards & WebEx May Leave Court with John Q. Khosravi, Esq. This month on the Immigration Lawyers Toolbox Podcast, host John Q. Khosravi, Esq. skips the interview format for a rapid-fire rundown of the news, memos, and courtroom curveballs immigration attorneys need on their radar right now from USCIS quietly closing affirmative asylum cases without an interview and a judge denying a marriage-based green card under a new discretion memo, to the $100,000 H-1B fee proposal resurfacing for F-1 students, a biometrics-rescheduling trick that can save your client weeks, and a fresh court order pausing parts of USCIS's TPS and asylum-fee enforcement. It's the practice-management update that keeps you ahead of USCIS before your clients call you first. Timestamps: 00:00 Opening 00:33 Intro 02:57 my.USCIS.gov website glitch (false approvals/denials) 04:10 OPT denials tied to arrests & good moral character 05:24 FT report: 80% of US embassies lack an ambassador 06:07 Join the free private attorney community (Circle) 07:14 SB-1 returning resident visa risks 08:46 USCIS closing affirmative asylum cases without interview 10:49 Ciudad Juárez getting strict on affidavit of support 13:27 Sponsor: Constellation (websites/marketing for law firms) 15:07 TPS-to-marriage adjustment withdrawal trap 16:34 Immigration judge denies adjustment citing discretion memo 17:07 WebEx possibly leaving immigration court 17:39 $100K H-1B fee may extend to F-1 students 18:01 Biometrics rescheduling trick (switch ASC location) 19:14 DC court pushes back on 75-country travel pause (EB-5 case) 19:52 New civil penalties for contempt in immigration court 20:11 Court stays USCIS TPS EAD & asylum fee policies (Venez v. USCIS) 22:37 NVC shuffling Iranian cases between embassies 23:20 Lawsuit blocks travel ban on Afghan I-730 cases 23:50 Wrap-up & how to join the community/courses 24:11 Outro | | | Follow eimmigration by Cerenade: | | Start your Business Immigration Practice! (US LAWYERS ONLY - SCREENING REQUIRED): Get Started in Immigration Law! Our Website: ImmigrationLawyersToolbox.com Not legal advice. Consult with an Attorney. Attorney Advertisement. #podcaster #Lawyer #ImmigrationLawyer #Interview #Immigration #ImmigrationAttorney #USImmigration #ImmigrationLaw #ImmigrationLawyersToolbox /episode/index/show/immigrationlawyerspodcast/id/42353355

#486 The Houston ICE Shooting Case & EOIR's Attorney Contempt Rule with Ruby Powers, Esq. 08/04/2026

#486 The Houston ICE Shooting Case & EOIR's Attorney Contempt Rule with Ruby Powers, Esq. Ruby Powers, Esq. joins John to break down the detained witness case she just took over following a fatal ICE shooting in Houston, including her habeas, U visa, and parole strategy, plus a wave of changes hitting immigration law right now: EOIR's proposed rule to fine attorneys for "contempt" while exempting government attorneys, reports that Webex hearings may be phased out, asylum cases being referred without an interview, OPT/F-1 clients getting NOIDs over minor arrests, work permits now taking 5 to 6 months instead of one, rising bond amounts, and the upcoming affidavit of support changes, along with law practice management lessons from Ruby's recent AILA conference booth experience. Connect with Ruby Powers: LinkedIn: Ruby L. Powers Podcast: Power Up Your Practice Book: Power Up Your Practice (available on Amazon) Get a free website (first 10 sign-ups) and special pricing on marketing for your firm from Constellation at Timestamps: 00:00 Opening 00:33 Intro 02:05 Catching up with Ruby Powers 02:36 Taking over the Houston ICE shooting case 03:22 U visa certification, habeas, and parole strategy 03:31 The ICWC v. Nome decision on detained VAWA/U applicants 05:30 Sealing habeas filings for client privacy 06:18 EOIR proposes eliminating Webex hearings 06:39 EOIR's new contempt and sanctions rule for attorneys 07:43 Flying for court and a last minute hearing cancellation 09:56 Trains vs. planes and managing travel burnout 12:18 Reading the proposed contempt rule 14:31 Judges threatening attorneys with contempt 15:07 Asylum cases now referred without an interview 16:04 OPT/F-1 clients getting NOIDs over minor arrests 17:02 A 9 year asylum case finally approved 17:52 Turning hard times into a stronger practice 19:32 Conference recap: ABA Tech Show, Neostella, AILA 21:57 Ruby's AILA exhibit booth experience 26:34 Consultation energy and being an introvert on air 28:53 Why they moved to hour long consultations 32:53 Explaining fast moving rule changes to clients 33:14 Can non-attorneys help with consultations? 34:11 The document collection grind 35:57 New I-589 edition and the affidavit of support rush 38:06 Adjustment interview delays 40:34 Work permit delays and advance parole advice 44:35 ICE detaining people at airports 45:30 Rising immigration bond amounts 46:30 A positive note: sleep, pillows, and surfing 47:23 Where to find Ruby Powers and Power Strategy Group | | | Follow eimmigration by Cerenade: | | Start your Business Immigration Practice! (US LAWYERS ONLY - SCREENING REQUIRED): Get Started in Immigration Law! Our Website: ImmigrationLawyersToolbox.com Not legal advice. Consult with an Attorney. Attorney Advertisement. #podcaster #Lawyer #ImmigrationLawyer #Interview #Immigration #ImmigrationAttorney #USImmigration #ImmigrationLaw #ImmigrationLawyersToolbox /episode/index/show/immigrationlawyerspodcast/id/42310785

#485 The $100K H-1B Fee & F-1 Duration of Status Rule with Anne Rowley, Esq. 07/27/2026

#484 New Attorney Discipline Risks, Missing I-751 Receipts & F-1 Overhaul w/ John Khosravi, Esq. 07/25/2026

Building an Immigration Law Brand in the Age of AI Search w/ Patrick Carver, Constellation Marketing 07/21/2026

Building an Immigration Law Brand in the Age of AI Search w/ Patrick Carver, Constellation Marketing Learn more at ImmigrationLawyersToolbox.com/constellation John sits down with Patrick Carver of Constellation Marketing to talk about how immigration lawyers can build real visibility online in 2026. They cover the shift from Google-only search to AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, why consistent branding and content across your website, social media, and review platforms matters more than one-off SEO hacks, and how firms can avoid the outdated, clunky websites that turn prospective clients away. Patrick also breaks down Constellation's packages for immigration firms, including a special offer for Immigration Lawyers Toolbox listeners. Timestamps: 00:00 – Opening 00:33 – Intro 00:41 – Patrick's background and how Constellation Marketing started 02:00 – Immigration as a federal practice: local vs. national marketing 04:15 – What "visibility" means online in 2026 (SEO, AI, search fracturing) 06:34 – How AI search transition is going / Google's shrinking share 09:47 – Consistency, brand-building, and avoiding marketing plateaus 11:12 – Helping attorneys who dislike being on camera or writing 14:16 – Special ILT listener packages (pricing, "business in a box") 15:03 – Importance of updated websites/branding (McDonald's/Starbucks analogy) 16:33 – Why to start marketing early (lag time for SEO/AI to kick in) 16:49 – How to reach Patrick, Constellation's track record 18:03 – Outro | | | Follow eimmigration by Cerenade: | | Start your Business Immigration Practice! (US LAWYERS ONLY - SCREENING REQUIRED): Get Started in Immigration Law! Our Website: ImmigrationLawyersToolbox.com Not legal advice. Consult with an Attorney. Attorney Advertisement. #podcaster #Lawyer #ImmigrationLawyer #Interview #Immigration #ImmigrationAttorney #USImmigration #ImmigrationLaw #ImmigrationLawyersToolbox /episode/index/show/immigrationlawyerspodcast/id/42160365

#483 Federal Court Update [Jun. 2026] w/ Kevin A. Gregg, Esq. 07/21/2026

#482 Case Date Errors, Stokes Interview Traps & Growing Visa Bond List w/ John Khosravi, Esq. 07/17/2026

#482 Case Date Errors, Stokes Interview Traps & Growing Visa Bond List w/ John Khosravi, Esq. In this month's episode, John Khosravi, Esq. shares practical tips and recent case notes from his immigration law practice: catching I-130/I-485 date discrepancies before they trip up I-751 renewals, evidence tourist visa clients need for extensions, lessons from two Stokes interviews, ESTA cancellation glitches, ongoing DACA advance parole delays, the "arrest vs. detained" misrepresentation trap on DS-160s, a wave of AI-translation and AI-software outreach hitting immigration lawyers, a consular processing refusal over credit card debt/public charge, and the growing list of visa bond countries. Plus updates on the ILT magazine, the marriage green card course's new mentorship option, and sponsors eimmigration by Cerenade and Constellation. Timestamps: 00:00 – Opening 00:33 – Intro 01:11 – ILT Magazine – call for contributor topics 01:35 – Sponsor message (case management software via Serenade) 02:40 – Marriage Green Card Course update 03:41 – Tip 1: I-130 vs. I-485 date mix-up on I-751 filing 05:17 – Tip 2: Tourist visa extensions – keep your travel evidence 06:37 – Tip 3: AOS interview inconsistencies (Stokes referral) 09:11 – Tip 4: ESTA cancellation glitches 09:43 – Tip 5: DACA advance parole delays 10:41 – Tip 6: RFEs over "arrested" vs. "detained" wording 12:52 – Tip 7: Translator spam & in-house AI software overload 14:23 – Immigrant visa refusal over credit card debt (public charge) 16:38 – Sponsor: Constellation (marketing/SEO) 18:17 – Growing list of visa bond countries 20:00 – Wrap-up & outro | | | Follow eimmigration by Cerenade: | | Start your Business Immigration Practice! (US LAWYERS ONLY - SCREENING REQUIRED): Get Started in Immigration Law! Our Website: ImmigrationLawyersToolbox.com Not legal advice. Consult with an Attorney. Attorney Advertisement. #podcaster #Lawyer #ImmigrationLawyer #Interview #Immigration #ImmigrationAttorney #USImmigration #ImmigrationLaw #ImmigrationLawyersToolbox /episode/index/show/immigrationlawyerspodcast/id/42125245

#481 AILA Election Talk, Burnout & The Cost-Benefit Rule w/ Nicholas Mireles, Esq. 07/15/2026

#481 AILA Election Talk, Burnout & The Cost-Benefit Rule w/ Nicholas Mireles, Esq. On this episode of the Immigration Lawyers Toolbox Podcast, John sits down with Nicholas Mireles, Esq., who's running for re-election as AILA Regional Director for the West Coast under AILA's newly restructured governance model. They dig into the mounting stress and anxiety of practicing immigration law under the current administration, why setting cost-benefit boundaries around which cases you take is the key to protecting your sanity and your sleep, and how the always-on nature of this work demands real emotional boundaries. They also recap AILA National in San Diego, from the swag that actually lasted to the shift toward more organic, relationship-driven elections, and look ahead to next year's conference in DC. Timestamps: 00:00 – Opening 00:33 – Intro 04:02 – Catching up with Nicholas 05:38 – Sleep, health, and managing practice-related stress 07:16 – Handling stress/anxiety as an immigration attorney 09:11 – Emotional toll of the work vs. "sociopath" leadership tangent 10:11 – Transition to AILA regional director race 10:19 – What AILA's new "Regional Director" role is 12:05 – How the new board structure works (from ~100 seats to ~26) 13:16 – Old vs. new board structure comparison 14:29 – How voting works now (XCOM, secretary, regional seats) 16:03 – Timing change: election now happens after conference 17:20 – New campaign style: meet people in person vs. mailers 20:38 – Sponsor: Constellation Marketing (free website offer) + community page plug 21:03 – Outro | | | Follow eimmigration by Cerenade: | | Start your Business Immigration Practice! (US LAWYERS ONLY - SCREENING REQUIRED): Get Started in Immigration Law! Our Website: ImmigrationLawyersToolbox.com Not legal advice. Consult with an Attorney. Attorney Advertisement. #podcaster #Lawyer #ImmigrationLawyer #Interview #Immigration #ImmigrationAttorney #USImmigration #ImmigrationLaw #ImmigrationLawyersToolbox /episode/index/show/immigrationlawyerspodcast/id/42100765

#480 AILA AC26 Recap, AI in Immigration Marketing & USCIS Burnout w/ Roman Zelichenko, J.D. 07/06/2026

#479 AILA AC26 Recap, AOS Memo, 39 Country Pause & CBP Updates w/ John Q. Khosravi, Esq. 06/29/2026

#479 AILA AC26 Recap, AOS Memo, 39 Country Pause & CBP Updates w/ John Q. Khosravi, Esq. Attorney John Q. Khosravi, Esq. is back with episode 479 of the Immigration Lawyers Toolbox Podcast, fresh off the AILA Annual Conference 2026 in San Diego. In this episode, John covers the latest developments shaking up immigration practice including the 39 Country Pause and ongoing USCIS case delays, the May 22 2026 USCIS memo on Adjustment of Status and what discretion factors are showing up in RFEs, U.S. embassy shutdowns across Africa, Treasury red flags tied to ITIN holders and undocumented clients, mass master hearings in immigration court, VAWA travel risks on Advance Parole, I-864W waiver updates, and key takeaways from the AILA CBP liaison meeting (AILA Doc No. 26060403). Whether you are navigating a tough AOS case or trying to stay ahead of policy changes, this episode gives you the practical insights you need. Timestamps: 00:00 Opening 00:33 Intro 04:18 What went down at AC26 San Diego 05:40 Cost of going to AILA conferences 08:30 39-country pause 10:14 May 22, 2026 USCIS Memo Adjustment of Status 13:58 Exceptions 15:48 Shutdowns of U.S. embassies in Africa 16:43 domestic violence survivors temporarily suspended a Trump administration policy 17:35 Always use capitalized letters when filling out USCIS software 18:44 Be careful when sending data on USCIS software 19:19 Treasury warns banks of red flags tied to customers in the US illegally 20:23 mass master hearings in immigration court 20:51 Intent of marriage while asylum pending 22:25 VAWA traveling on AP advanced Parole 23:13 Form I-864 Updates 25:10 AILA CBP Talk AILA Doc number 26060403. 28:45 Why reading AILA Doc meetings are important for your practice 29:07 Outro 30:41 Closing | | | Show Notes: eimmigration Website: get.eimmigration.com Heroes Spotlight nomination page: heroes.eimmigration.com Deadline for nomination: September 25 Follow eimmigration by Cerenade: | | Start your Business Immigration Practice! (US LAWYERS ONLY - SCREENING REQUIRED): Get Started in Immigration Law! Our Website: ImmigrationLawyersToolbox.com Not legal advice. Consult with an Attorney. Attorney Advertisement. #podcaster #Lawyer #ImmigrationLawyer #Interview #Immigration #ImmigrationAttorney #USImmigration #ImmigrationLaw #ImmigrationLawyersToolbox /episode/index/show/immigrationlawyerspodcast/id/41861265