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Welcome to Laurence F. Johnson's website. Founded by Laurence F. Johnson, immigration attorney & counselor since 1977, our company helps immigrants through the immigration and naturalization processes. Mr. Johnson provides his clients with an array of skills not available at most other law firms. Our attorneys and staff members are from countries throughout the world. We have a unique appreciation for the immigration process, because many of us have experienced it first-hand. We incorporate this knowledge to provide you with the guidance and counsel necessary to make educated decisions about your future including possibilities that some lawyers do not know about or do not know how to win. We are experts at expediting citizenship (naturalization) applications still pending more than 4 months after the interview. We have successfully helped some people who could not read and write English become naturalized citizens We have won many difficult "Labor Certification" and marriage cases that other lawyers lost or did not even want to try. At Law Offices of Laurence F. Johnson, LLC we focus on immigration issues including green cards, work visas, fiance visas, student visas, nurse visas, as well as advice on deportation, removal processes, citizenship, naturalization, asylum, refugee or foreign investors. We handle hundreds of immigration cases on behalf of clients throughout the United States and from around the world. We can help you no matter where you live. Call to schedule an appointment for a consultation in person or by phone.Our business hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time. We accept credit cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express & Discover. Attorney Profile Laurence F. Johnson, Immigration Attorney & Counselor since 1977 Admitted: 1974, Maryland; 1977, U.S. Supreme Court; 1977, U.S District Court, District of Maryland; 1977, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit; 1978, District of Columbia; 1979, U.S District Court, District of Columbia; 1980, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Law School: University of Maryland, J.D., 1973. College: University of Maryland, B.A., 1970. Member: American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) since 1982; Bar Association of Montgomery County, MD (Chair, Immigration Section; 1986-1994, Maryland State, and American Bar Associations. Biography: Author: Maryland Law Forum, Book Review, "America, Inc., 1972" Faculty. Immigration Seminars, Bar Association Montgomery County, Maryland, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995. Faculty Member: Annual Conference on Immigration Law, Washington, D.C., June, 1990; Maryland Institute on Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers (MICPEL) 1993, 1995 and 1997, etc. Assistant, U.S. Congressman Michael D. Barnes, 1979-1980; Maryland Public Service Commission, 1977-1978 (Special Assistant). Vice President, Washington D.C. Chapter, American Immigration Lawyers Association, 1993-1994. Chair, American Immigration Lawyers Association National Office Technology & Economics Committee, 1989; Chair, National Tele-Communications Committee, 1991-1993. Co-Chair AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association). Essential Workers Task Force & Committee 1998, 1999, 2000. Mr. Johnson's attorney work has been limited almost entirely to immigration and citizenship for over 30 years with special emphasis on corporate, family and employment based immigration matters. He first handled immigration and visa matters in January 1977, while in private practice in Bethesda, Maryland. Later, he worked briefly for the State of Maryland and for United State Congress handling mostly immigration matters. On July 1, 1980, Mr. Johnson left Congress to return to private law work. Mr. Johnson has been an owner of Laurence F. Johnson, P.C., Johnson & Freedman, P.C., L. Johnson & Associates, P.C., Johnson & Yang, P.C., Johnson, Yang & Ullman, P.C., and Law Offices of Laurence F. Johnson, LLC. Awards: Selected as an "Outstanding Young Man of America"; "Knight of the Year Award" 1966; Life member, National Eagle Scout Association; Silver Beaver, National Capital Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, 2005; Wood Badge Beads BSA 1975; Certificate of Appreciation "for outstanding service to the Members . . . in securing passage of legislation. . . ." - Greenbelt Consumer Services, Inc. 1978. "Award of Special Recognition for Outstanding Leadership of the Immigration Section", 1988-1996, Bar Association of Montgomery County, Maryland. References: AV highest rating by other lawyers Martindale-Hubbell--largest directory of lawyers in the world; listed in Bar Register of Pre-Eminent Lawyers, 2004 by Martindale-Hubbell; AILA President's Commendation, 2000. Languages: Spanish. Born: Dallas, Texas, 1948 ISLN: 906138456 Family Based Petition Immigration though a Family Member Certain family relationships are eligible for immigrant sponsorship. A preference system exists based on the categories listed below. Family based petitions are assigned a "priority date" based on the date of receipt by USCIS (formerly "INS"). Family members who are not "immediate relatives" must await the "availability of an immigrant visa number" also called "waiting for the quota" before being eligible to complete the process of obtaining permanent residency ("green card"). However, classifications that qualify as "immediate relatives" (see below) do not have to wait for an immigrant visa number to become available. Instead, visa numbers are immediately available for them and they may proceed through the I-130 petition and green card application process simultaneously if the beneficiary is in the US. Eligibility In order for a relative to sponsor you to immigrate to the United States, they must meet the following criteria:
The relatives who may be sponsored as immigrants vary depending on whether the sponsor is a U.S. Citizen or a lawful permanent resident.
Lawful permanent residents may petition for the following relatives to immigrate to the U.S.:
In all cases, the sponsor must be able to provide proof of the relationship. Family applicants may also apply through a job offer or other category at the same time. Employment Based Petitions 1st Preference (EB1 Priority Workers) Extraordinary Ability in the Sciences, Arts, Education, Business or Athletics - Applicants in this category must have extensive documentation showing sustained national or international acclaim and recognition in the field of expertise. Applicants in the Extraordinary Ability category are not required to have a specific job offer so long as they are entering the U.S. to continue work in the field in which they have extraordinary ability. No labor certification is required and such applicants can file their own petition with the USCIS, rather than through an employer. Outstanding Professors and Researchers - Professors and researchers who are recognized internationally as outstanding in their field and who have at least three years experience in teaching or research may apply for permanent residence in this category. Labor certification is not required, but a prospective employer must provide a job offer and file a petition with the USCIS. Multinational Managers and Executives (International Transferees)- Certain executives and managers who have been employed for at least one of the three preceding years by an overseas affiliate, parent, subsidiary, or branch of a U.S. employer may be sponsored by the U.S. employer for permanent residence. The applicant must be coming to work for the U.S. employer in a managerial or executive capacity and must have worked for the related company abroad for at least one year in a managerial or executive position. The "managerial" capacity may be met by someone who performs either traditional supervisory duties or manages an essential function of the operation. A prospective U.S. employer must provide a job offer and file a petition with the USCIS. The requirements are similar to that of the temporary L-1A Intracompany Transferee, but the permanent classification is only available for managers or executives and not for those serving in the specialized knowledge category. 2nd Preference (EB-2 Advanced Degrees or Exceptional Ability) - Requires Labor Certification or the "National Interest Waiver"Petitions in the Second Preference category require a "Labor Certification" from the Department of Labor before filing and there must be an offer of employment from a petitioning U.S. employer or a "National Interest Waiver" (Labor Certification must needed). There are two types: Professionals holding Master or PhD's, and Persons of Exceptional Ability in the Arts, Sciences or Business. Exceptional Ability in the Arts, Sciences or Business (Labor Certification) - Exceptional ability means having a degree of expertise significantly above that ordinarily encountered within the field of expertise. Advanced Degree (Labor Certification) - Professionals holding an advanced degree (beyond a baccalaureate degree), or a baccalaureate degree and at least five years of progressive experience in the profession. 3th Preference (EB-3 Skilled Workers, Professionals and other workers) Require an offer of future employment from a petitioning U.S. employer and a labor certification approved by the U.S. Department of Labor before filing. There are three types of Third Preference categories: Professionals holding Baccalaureate (Bachelor's) degrees, Skilled Workers and Other Workers also called "Essential Workers". Professional Workers with Bachelor's Degrees (Labor Certification) - Professionals must hold a U.S. Bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent degree that is normally required for the profession and the position offered by the petitioning U.S. employer. Work experience may sometimes be combined with education to substitute for the degree. Skilled Workers (Labor Certification) - Skilled Worker positions require at least two years of experience or training and they are not seasonal or temporary. The training requirement may be met through relevant post-secondary education. Other Workers (also called "Essential Workers") (Labor Certification) – Other worker also called "Essential" worker positions require less than two years of education after high school, training, or experience. 4th Preference Employment-Based (EB-4 Special Immigrants) Former Employees of the U.S. Government Abroad, and certain Foreign National Religious Workers. 5th Preference Employment-Based (EB-5 Immigration through Investment) ("employment creation") For investing at least $1,000,000 in a new business (or at least $500,000 in a "targeted employment area", with unemployment of at least 150 per cent of the national average rate or a designated rural area), and by creating at least 10 full-time jobs or, where the capital investment is being made in a "troubled business," maintaining the number of existing employees for at least two years. Non-immigrant Visas Immigration Classifications and Visa Categories
Job Opportunities Top Navigation Operations Research Analyst: Use math & statistics to help management analyze problems and plan for the future using computer applications. Evaluate firm policy, organization & plans. Conduct research. Develop recommendations. Present proposals. Write reports. Work with staff to implement findings. Requires BS Operations Research, Engineering or Math & MS in Business or MBA. Send resume to: 2730 University Boulevard West, Suite 500, Silver Spring, MD 20902. Administrative Services Manager, Silver Spring, MD: Manage support staff & office operations to improve efficiency & customer service including reception, payroll, A/P, A/R, mail, billing systems, equipment, office supplies, orientation, training, insurance & benefits. Requires BA/BS & two years experience. Send resume to: 2730 University Boulevard West, Suite 500, Silver Spring, MD 20902.
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