Business Immigration Counsel for Employers and the People They Hire
Immigration Counsel Built on Three Decades of Focused Practice
Lisa Ventresca has concentrated her practice in immigration law for over 34 years, representing employers, HR departments, and foreign national employees through every stage of the visa and green card process — from initial work authorization to permanent residence.
How Employer Immigration Works — and Where Things Go Wrong
Sponsoring a foreign national employee for a work visa is a federal process with strict procedural requirements, agency deadlines, and documentation standards. Employers who attempt to manage it without experienced immigration counsel routinely encounter delays, requests for evidence, denials, and compliance exposure that could have been avoided.
The process typically begins with the right visa category for the employee's role, nationality, and timeline. From there, the employer assumes legal obligations that extend well beyond filing a petition — including maintaining proper documentation, notifying USCIS of material changes, and in many cases, pursuing a permanent residence pathway to retain the employee long-term.
Our immigration practice serves employer clients nationwide. Because immigration law is federal, Lisa Ventresca represents businesses and their employees across the United States and internationally — not only in the Pittsburgh and Wexford markets.
Work Visa and Immigration Services for Employers
H-1B Visa
The H-1B is the most widely used visa category for employers hiring foreign nationals in specialty occupation roles — technology, engineering, finance, healthcare, and related fields. We handle cap-subject petitions, cap-exempt filings, extensions, and amendments.
TN Status for Canadian and Mexican Professionals
TN status is available to Canadian and Mexican citizens working in specific professional categories under the USMCA trade agreement. It is efficient, renewable, and often faster to obtain than an H-1B.
L Visa
The L-1A and L-1B categories allow multinational companies to transfer executives, managers, and specialized knowledge employees from a foreign affiliate or subsidiary to a U.S. office.
Employer-Sponsored Immigration
Employers who want to retain a valued foreign national employee long-term often need to pursue a formal sponsorship pathway. We counsel employers through the obligations, costs, and timelines involved in sponsoring employees for permanent residence.
Employment-Based Green Cards
Employment-based green cards provide permanent residence for foreign national employees. The path involves multiple steps, agency filings, and in most cases, a labor certification process. We guide both employers and employees through each stage.
PERM Labor Certification
PERM is the Department of Labor process required before most employment-based green card petitions can be filed. Errors in the recruitment process or application documentation can result in denial or audit. We prepare and file PERM applications with the precision this process demands.
Family-Based Immigration
We assist U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents in petitioning for qualifying family members, and we counsel foreign nationals on adjustment of status and consular processing pathways.
Citizenship and Naturalization
For eligible lawful permanent residents ready to pursue U.S. citizenship, we prepare naturalization applications, advise on eligibility questions, and provide representation through the process.
What HR Directors and Employers Can Expect Working With Us
Managing immigration for a workforce — even a small one — creates ongoing legal obligations that require consistent, responsive counsel.
Here is what distinguishes our approach:
- You work directly with Lisa Ventresca, not a paralegal or junior associate, on every matter we handle.
- Same-day consultations are available when your situation is time-sensitive. We aim to respond to every inquiry within 24 hours, and typically sooner.
- We have been practicing immigration law since 1992. The policy environment changes; the depth of experience we bring to each case does not.
- Because our firm also handles business law and taxation, employer clients can address immigration, corporate, and tax questions without engaging separate counsel.
- Our immigration practice is national in scope. We represent clients across the United States and internationally, regardless of where the employer or employee is located.
Our Process Makes It Simple
Here’s how we make estate planning in St. Louis approachable and efficient:
Practical Guidance, Not Pressure
Book a 15-minute call—we’ll discuss your needs and answer your questions.
2. Explore Your Options
We’ll explain wills vs. trusts and help you decide what works best for your life.
3. Draft and Review
Every document is carefully created and clearly explained.
4. Sign With Confidence
You leave knowing exactly what your plan covers and how it works.
Frequently Asked Questions About Employer Immigration
How does an employer sponsor a foreign national for a work visa?
The process depends on the visa category, but most employer-sponsored work visas follow the same general structure: the employer files a petition with USCIS establishing that the position qualifies and that the foreign national employee meets the requirements. For H-1B visas, this involves demonstrating that the role is a specialty occupation and that the employee holds a qualifying degree. The employer assumes legal obligations once the petition is approved, including maintaining documentation and notifying USCIS of any material changes to the employment. An experienced employer immigration lawyer can identify the right category, manage the filing, and keep the employer in compliance throughout the authorization period.
What is the difference between a work visa and an employment-based green card?
A work visa provides temporary authorization to work in the United States in a specific role for a specific employer. An employment-based green card confers permanent residence, meaning the employee can live and work in the United States indefinitely. Many employers sponsor employees for a work visa first and then pursue a green card pathway to retain them long-term. The green card process typically takes longer and involves additional steps, including PERM labor certification in most cases.
Can a small or mid-sized business sponsor a foreign national employee?
Yes. Employer size is not a disqualifying factor for most work visa categories. What matters is that the employer is a legitimate U.S. business entity, that the position qualifies under the relevant visa category, and that the employer can demonstrate the ability to pay the required wage. We work with businesses of all sizes, from individual employers to large corporations.
What happens if an employee's visa status changes or their petition is denied?
A denial or a request for evidence from USCIS is not necessarily the end of the process. Depending on the circumstances, options may include filing a response, pursuing a different visa category, or seeking other forms of relief. Prompt action matters — immigration status gaps can create compliance problems for the employer and jeopardize the employee's ability to remain in the United States. We advise clients on their options as quickly as possible when these situations arise.
Does immigration law apply only in the state where the employer is located?
No. Immigration law is federal, which means our representation is not limited by state borders. Lisa Ventresca represents employer clients and foreign national employees across the United States and internationally, regardless of where the employer's offices or the employee's work site is located.
Ready to Talk Through Your Immigration Matter?
Whether you are hiring your first foreign national employee or managing immigration for an established workforce, we are ready to help. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
