Immigration Law, Family Based Immigration, Citiaenship & Naturalization, Employment Based Immigration. Current clients include universities, colleges, public schools, hospitals and professional staffing companies, corporations, investors and individuals.
Nicole Pares is our resident Law Student Intern, assisting on a variety of cases with a focus on Consular Immigrant and Nonimmigrant Visa Processing. Nicole is a third- year law student at the University of South Carolina School of Law and possesses a B.S. in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina Upstate. She currently serves as the President of the University of South Carolina School of Law’s Pro Bono Board, as a Senior Articles Editor for the South Carolina Journal of International Law and Business, and as a Pupil Member of the John Belton O’Neall Chapter of the American Inn of Court. Nicole has experience in the fields of criminal law, international law and policy, children’s law and social work. Nicole enjoys working closely with clients to help them navigate the immigration process.
Foreign nationals may qualify as B-1 business visitors if they (1) maintain a foreign residence with no intention of abandoning; (2) receive no salary or fee from a U.S. source; (3) are not engaged in either skilled or unskilled local labor in the U.S. and (4) have adequate financial means to travel. Activities which are encompassed under B-1 status include: (a) commercial transactions not involving employment; (b) negotiating contracts; (c) consulting with business associates; (d) participating in conferences or seminars; and (e) performing duties as a member of a board of directors of a U.S. company.
Lawrence J. Needle, a graduate of both the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and Law Center, has more than twenty years of professional experience in immigration law, nationality law and employment law. Mr. Needle is an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and of the South Carolina State Bar Association. Mr. Needle has chaired the Immigration Law subsection of the Employment and Labor Law section of the South Carolina Bar Association, has served as Treasurer of the Carolinas Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and speaks and writes extensively on immigration and employment issues.
Our family immigration practice handles all types of US family based immigration matters. We are focused on helping families stay together through obtaining lawful permanent residence for family members. Whether you have been living or working in the United States legally or illegally, we can help you evaluate your options, plan a winning strategy, and obtain the results that you need. If you are a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident and wish to sponsor a spouse, parent or child living abroad, we can represent you from start to finish with the complex procedures involved with consular processing of family-based immigrant visas. Immigrants who are the spouses or children of a U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents sometimes find themselves trapped in situations involving abuse; we have a great deal of experience assisting such immigrants in a sensitive, confidential manner.
Employment Immigration
There are 140,000 visas available each year for those who are eligible to immigrate to the United States based on employment considerations. Before a visa will be issued to an intending, employment-based immigrant, however, an employer must normally first obtain a “labor certification” from the Department of Labor confirming that there is no willing and qualified U.S. worker who meets the minimum qualifications for the job for which the foreign national is being hired. Under new regulations, labor certifications may take 60-90 days to conclude. Employment based immigration is divided among several preferences. They are as follows...
Green Cards
Business Immigration
Helping your business navigate the complexities of immigration law is our top priority at Lawrence J. Needle, PA. We assist employers and their human resources department resolve all aspects of their employees’ immigration cases. We represent businesses on their behalf and can advise them on employer compliance issues including any sanctions. In business immigration, a commitment to expedited yet high quality service is the cornerstone of our efforts. Our employment based immigration attorneys have experience representing a wide range of businesses from major hospitals to small and mid-sized companies in sectors that include information technology and manufacturing. Contact us to schedule a consultation.
Work Visas
Whether you are seeking an immigration benefit such as an employment visa, a green card or naturalization or you are facing a complex immigration problem such as removal proceedings, a loved in immigration detention or a visa denial, the experienced immigration attorneys at Lawrence J Needle, PA are prepared to help you successfully navigate the complex immigration system of the United States. With more than 20 years of experience and offices in Columbia & Charleston, South Carolina, our firm is able to represent both individuals and companies in a wide range of immigration matters. We provide our clients with reliable advice and ethical representation.