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Conference Program:

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2010

7:45A.M.-8:15A.M.
Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:15A.M.-8:30A.M.
Opening Remarks
Stuart Karden, Esq., Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

8:30A.M.-9:40A.M.
L's-Dealing with the Difficult issues
-Specialized Knowledge, Does it Still Exist?
-Is Anyone a Functional Manager?
-Is there a real difference between Manager and Executive?
-Strategies for building a better L
-What to do when the company is sinking
Anis Saleh, Esq., Miami, FL (moderator)
Jack Finkelman, Esq., Coral Gables, FL
Chuck Kuck, Esq., AILA Past-President, Atlanta, GA
Larry S. Rifkin, Esq., Miami, FL

9:40A.M.-10:45A.M.
Sailing through Turbulent Seas
-H-1B termination issues and strategies for the employer and employee
-Pay and Hourly Reduction and impact on H status
-Adjustment portability, to provide notice or not, Timing Issues
-Layoff ramifications for E's and L's
-Employment gaps in OPT
-Hiring Freeze and Layoffs, Implications for Labor Certification
Tammy Fox-Isicoff, Esq., (AILA BOG) Miami, FL. (moderator)
Denise Sabagh, Esq. AILA Past-President, Washington, D.C.
H. Ronald Klasko Esq., Philadelphia, PA
Robert Divine, Esq., (Former Chief Counsel USCIS) Chatanooga, TN

10 :45A.M.-11 00A.M.
Coffee Break

11:00A.M.-12:00P.M.
Consular Processing, Making the Process as Smooth as Possible
-Preparing your Client for the Consular Interview
-Bad Consulates-is Consulate Shopping Possible
-Dealing with Bad Consular Decisions
-Learning the Procedures and Nuances at a Consulate
-Consular "Animals" What does the Consular Designation Mean, and What is the Impact?
Jeff Bernstein, Esq., Miami, FL (moderator)
Robert Divine, Esq., Chatanooga, TN
John Myers, Esq., Miami, Florida

12:15P.M.-1:45P.M.
Lunch (included in registration fee)
Hot Topics
David Shahoulian, Esq. (invited), Counsel Subcommittee on Immigration Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law

1:45P.M.-3:00P.M.
DOL Now--
-Dealing with the New Perm Form
-Audits (Pre and Post Approval)
-Federal issuance of prevailing wage
-Supervised Recruitment
-Processing Times
-What is Normal?
-LCA-Nuances of New Process
Sharryn Ross, Esq. Boston, MA (moderator)
Chuck Kuck, Esq. Atlanta, GA
Elaine Weiss, Esq., Coral Gables, FL
Kari Ann Fonte, Esq, Miami, FL

3:00P.M.-4:00 P.M.
Strategies for Maintaining Residence and Complex Citizenship Issues
-Dealing with Extended Periods of Absence
-Do's and Don't's for Residence Maintenance
-Possible Tax Ramifications
-Preserving your Client's Right to Apply for U.S. Citizenship
-What can USCIS consider in Denying Citizenship
Stephen Bander, Esq., Miami, FL (moderator)
Dilip Patel, Esq. Oldsmar, FL
Carmen DiPlacido, Esq. (Former head of US Citizenship Services) DOS, Arlington, VA

3:45P.M.-4:00P.M.
COFFEE BREAK

4:00P.M.-5:15P.M.
EB Petitions-Point-Counter-Point
-EB 5, What does Every Lawyer need to Know?
-EB 5 vs. other Routes to Residence
-EB 5, What is the Risk?
-Regional Center vs. Individual EB5
Denyse Sabagh, Washington, D.C. (moderator)
Tammy Fox-Isicoff, Esq., Miami, FL
H. Ronald Klasko, Esq., Philadelphia, PA

5:15P.M.-7:00P.M.
Cocktail Reception-Talk to the Experts.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2010
8:30A.M.-10:00A.M.
Sophisticated Defenses to Removal
-Life after Silva-Trevino
-Impact of Silva-Trevino Reasoning on other Removal Grounds
-Is it a Drug Crime?
- The Impact of Enhancement Provisions
-Crimes of Violence and Domestic crimes
Stuart Karden, Esq. Palm Beach Gardens, FL (moderator)
Mary Kramer, Esq., Miami, FL
Jeff Joseph, Esq. (AILA BOG), Denver, CO
Linda Osberg Braun,Esq. Miami, FL
The Honorable Denise Slavin, Immigration Judge, Krome North Processing Center, Miami, FL (invited)

10:00A.M.-10:15A.M.
Coffee Break

10:15A.M.-11:45A.M.
Winning Applications for Removal Relief
-212(c) and cancellation
-212(h) and emerging issues
-212(i) and 237 (a)(1) (H)
-Combining applications
-Novel arguments and emerging trends in eligibility
John Pratt, Esq., Miami, FL (moderator)
Antonio Revilla, Esq., Miami, FL
Julie Ferguson, Esq., Miami, FL
Lourdes Martinez Esquivel, Immigration Judge, Miami, FL (invited)

12:00-1:30P.M.
Lunch (included in registration fee)
Esther Olavarria, Esq., Deputy Asst. Secretary for Policy DHS (invited)

1:30P.M.-2:45 P.M.
Forum Shopping- After Brand X
-Impact of Brand X on Circuit Court Decisions
--The best circuits for 212(c), 212(h), categorical approach, EB-5 and adjustment portability in proceedings
-The best circuits for finding judicial review over legal aspects of discretionary
Determinations
-Are there "Immigrant Friendly Circuits?"
-11th Circuit Update
Jeff Joseph, Esq.,Denver, CO. (moderator)
Gerald Seipp, Esq., Oldsmar, FL
Ira Kurzban, Esq., Miami, FL (invited)

2:45P.M.- 3:45P.M.
Enhanced Employer Enforcement under Obama
-Advising Employer Clients on Constructive Knowledge Issues
-The Employer's Role in the Labor Certification Process and Ethical Implications
-Avoiding Obstruction of Justice Charges
-Employer/Employee Rights on CIS Fraud Investigation
-Recommendations about how and whether to use E-Verify
-State laws requiring E-Verify
H. Ronald Klasko, Esq., AILA Past-President, Philadelphia, PA (moderator)
Robert Amsel, Esq. Miami, FL
Tim Murphy Esq., Miami, FL
Sharryn Ross, Esq., Boston, MA

3:45P.M.-4:00P.M.
Coffee Break

4:00P.M.-5:00P.M.
Family Based Immigration
-Adjudicatory delays and problems (emphasis on Florida perspective)
-What documentation is required
-VAWA
-I-751s
-Affidavits of support and increased liability
Michael Shane, Esq., Miami, FL (moderator)
Randy McGrorty, Esq., Miami, FL
David Berger, Esq., Miami, FL
Bruce Marmar, USCIS Senior Adjudications Officer, Miami, FL