Joel Pfeffer

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Areas of practice

Education

  • J.D., University of Pittsburgh School of Law
  • B.T.S. (Bachelor of Talmudic Studies), Beth Medrash Govoha
  • M.R.T.S. (Master of Rabbinic & Talmudic Studies), Beth Medrash Govoha

Bar Admissions

  • Pennsylvania

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. Tax Court

Biography

Joel Pfeffer is a Pittsburgh based immigration attorney, and member of the firm’s Corporate & Business Law and International & Immigration Law practice groups. He works primarily in the areas of immigration, nationality, and corporate law, serving clients, locally, nationally and internationally.

Professional/Community Involvement

  • American Immigration Lawyers Association, Member
    • Past Speaker at its National Conference
  • AILA Pittsburgh Chapter, Past Chairman
  • Allegheny County Bar Association, Member
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association, Member
  • Board of the Community College of Allegheny County Educational Foundation, Former Member
  • Board Member of the Hebrew Free Loan Association of Pittsburgh, Former Member
  • Jewish Family and Children’s Services, Former Assistant Treasurer
    • Former Member of Finance Committee

Representative Matters

  • Extensive experience in handling immigration and naturalization matters on behalf of both foreign and U.S. based companies, as well as individuals.
  • Obtained Labor Certification, Temporary Visas, and Permanent Resident Status for numerous foreign applicants.
  • Estate Planning and Administration for U.S. and foreign nationals.

Education

  • J.D., University of Pittsburgh School of Law, 1985
    • University of Pittsburgh Law Review, Staff Member
  • M.R.T.S. (Master of Rabbinic & Talmudic Studies), Beth Medrash Govoha, 1980
  • B.T.S. (Bachelor of Talmudic Studies), Beth Medrash Govoha, 1976

Communications

  • Presenter, “Religious Workers, A Practical Guide,” Allegheny County Bar Association, February 13, 2023.
  • Presenter on the subject on immigration, MUS webinar, November 8, 2021.
  • “What will halting green cards mean for Pittsburgh’s tech companies?” Pittsburgh Business Times, April 22, 2020.
  • “Joel Pfeffer: Now is not the time for Trump’s immigration order,” TribLive, April 28, 2020.
  • “’Public charge’ proposal could thwart hopes & dreams,” TribLive. November 6, 2019.
  • “Joel Pfeffer: Immigration must shift to employment model,” TribLive. June 15, 2019.
  • “’Public charge’ proposal could thwart hopes & dreams,” TribLive. November 6, 2019.
  • “Joel Pfeffer: Immigration must shift to employment model,” TribLive. June 15, 2019.
  • Interviewed as a guest on PGHTech Fuse on May 24, 2019 to discuss the immigration topics impacting foreign workers within the technology industry and the path the citizenship for students and highly skilled professionals.
  • Interviewed by NPR Pittsburgh Radio on March 18, 2019 discussing changes in lottery system for immigration selection and how it could impact the H-1B visa process.
  • Presenter, American Immigration Lawyers Association Annual Conference, June 20, 2019.
  • Presenter, “Tax Exempt Status” American Immigration Lawyers Association Annual Conference, August 23, 2018.
  • “Supreme Court travel ban could have ‘marginal effect’ on Pittsburgh,” Pittsburgh Business Times. June 29, 2017.
  • Featured presenter during webinar on June 21, 2017 on the topic of: How the Trump Administration is Changing U.S. Immigration – A Six Month Look Back.
  • “Immigration Law Update,” Presenter, Sterling Education Services, March 29, 2017 – Morgantown, WV.
  • “How the Trump Administration is Changing US Immigration,” Meritas Capability Webinar, March 1, 2017.
  • “Essentials of Employment Law,” Presenter, Sterling Education Services, February 22, 2017 – Pittsburgh, PA.
  • “Pittsburgh schools, lawyers discourage travel for those affected by Trump order,” Pittsburgh Business Times. January 31, 2017.
  • Foreign Direct Investment, Co-author, Global City Media, 2016.
  • “Intra-Company Transferees – The “L” Visa,” Immigration Law Forum, PBI, September 23, 2016 – Philadelphia, PA.
  • “Break the Immigration Stalemate,” Author, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 27, 2016.
  • “The Visa Lifecycle for Religious Workers,” Co-author, Immigration & National Law Handbook (AILA 2016-17 Ed.).
  • “The Ins and Outs of Employing Foreign Nationals in the United States,” Presenter, What’s Hot in International Business Transactions, PBI, May 11, 2016 – Philadelphia, PA.
  • “Immigration and Employment Law,” Presenter, Sterling Education’s Essentials of Employment Law CLE Seminar, March 30, 2016 – Morgantown, WV.
  • “Be Prepared for Delays During M&A Deals with Chinese Businesses,” Co-author, The Legal Intelligencer, June 5, 2015.
  • “Immigration Reform is Long Overdue,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, December 14, 2014.

MUS Client Advisories

  • “Immigration Client Alert: New H-1B Selection Process Begins March 1,” January 28, 2020.
  • “‘Public Charge’ Moves Towards More Restrictive Standard,” October 4, 2019.
  • “H-1B Visa Applications Can be Filed on April 1,” February 6, 2019.
  • “Administration Proposes New Rules to Test ‘Public Charge’,” December 20, 2018.
  • “H-1B Visa Applications Can Be Filed on April 2,” March 6, 2018.
  • “Employing Foreign Nationals Through TN Visas,” October 23, 2017.
  • “Revised I-9 Forms Must Be Used Starting 9/18/2017,” August 28, 2017.
  • “E-3 Visas Exclusive to Australian Citizens,” August 3, 2017.
  • “Work Options for Foreign Students,” July 5, 2017.
  • “Supreme Court Reinstates Travel Ban: Here’s What Your Need to Know,” June 30, 2017.
  • “Companies Should Prepare for an Increase in I-9 Audits,” May 4, 2017.
  • “H-1B Visa Applications Can Be Filed On April 3,” Co-Author, March 2, 2017.
  • “President Trump’s Executive Orders on Immigration,” Author, February 14, 2017.
  • “Client Reminder: New I-9 Forms Must Be Used Starting 1/22/2017,” Author, December 2, 2016.
  • “H-1B Visas: Be Prepared to Submit Applications,” Co-author, February 17, 2016.
  • “Take Advantage of ‘E’ Category Trader and Investor Visas Co-author,” January 28, 2016.
  • “Proposed Rule for F-1 Nonimmigrant Students with STEM Degrees,” Co-author, December 1, 2015.
  • “L-1B Visas – New Policy Memo Issued on Intracompany Transfers,” Co-author, August 19, 2015.
  • “‘E’ Category Trader or Investor Visas,” Co-author, June 26, 2015.
  • “Certain H-4 Dependent Spouses May Seek Employment Authorization – Effective May 26, 2015,” Co-author, March 5, 2015.
  • “H-1B Visas: Be Prepared to Submit Applications on April 1st,” Co-author, February 10, 2015.

Awards/Honors

  • Included in The Best Lawyers in America® for Immigration Law in 2023
  • Named the Best Lawyers® 2016 and 2021 Immigration law “Lawyer of the Year” in Pittsburgh