Bill’s legal work focuses on immigration and nationality law, as well as outbound emigration and related international law. He regularly represents clients in immigration matters before the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of Labor, as well as before US and foreign consulates.
During law school, he served on the editorial board of the Houston Journal of International Law.
Experience
viewpoints
USCIS Announces More H-1Bs Eligible for Premium Processing
February 19, 2019 | Alert | By William Coffman
Read about the USCIS’s plan to resume premium processing eligibility for additional H-1B petitions filed on or before December 21, 2018, starting on Tuesday, February 19.
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Fall 2018 Regulatory Agenda Signals Immigration Priorities for Federal Agencies
November 15, 2018 | Blog | By William Coffman, Molly O’Malley
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Labor (DOL), and Department of State (DOS) released their fall 2018 Regulatory Agendas. Issued twice per year (fall and spring), this notice forecasts possible regulations that may be promulgated in the coming months.
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State Department to Limit Visas for Specific Chinese Citizens
June 15, 2018 | Alert | By William Coffman
As part of the continuing trade and intellectual property war with China, the U.S. Department of State has implemented a new policy to limit visa validity periods and impose additional security clearances before visa issuance to citizens of the People’s Republic of China.
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USCIS Reaches Statutory Limit of H-1B Cap Cases for Fiscal Year 2019
April 6, 2018 | Alert | By William Coffman
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced today that it has received enough H-1B petitions to reach the statutory cap of 65,000 petitions for fiscal year (FY) 2019. USCIS also received more than the limit of 20,000 H-1B petitions filed under the U.S. advanced degree exemption, also known as the “master’s cap.”
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Potential Government Shutdown and Impact on Immigration Processes
January 23, 2018 | Blog | By William Coffman
As of 4 pm on Friday, January 19, 2018, the US Senate had not reached an agreement on the terms of a continuing resolution to keep the US government running. The US House passed a 30-day resolution on Thursday, but this must also pass the Senate and President Trump must sign it before midnight, January 19, 2018 to avoid a shutdown.
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Two Supreme Court Orders Reinstate Trump’s Travel Ban
December 19, 2017 | Blog | By William Coffman
On Monday, December 4, 2017, the U.S. Supreme Court issued two separate, but related, orders staying lower courts’ preliminary injunctions against President Trump’s most recent travel ban (see our previous alert). The practical impact of these Supreme Court orders is that the latest travel ban reinstates President Trump’s Presidential Proclamation of September 24, 2017.
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Travel Ban Court Update on Family Members’ as “Bona Fide” Relationship
September 8, 2017 | Alert | By William Coffman
On Thursday, September 7, 2017, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals let stand the Hawaii District Court temporary injunction against the Trump administration’s revised travel ban.
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Rescission of DACA: FAQs for Employers of DACA Beneficiaries (a.k.a. Dreamers)
September 6, 2017 | Alert | By Susan Cohen, William Coffman
Q. When is the DACA program ending?
A. The Trump Administration rescinded the DACA program on September 5, 2017, but is phasing out the program over a six-month period that will end on March 5, 2018.
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A. The Trump Administration rescinded the DACA program on September 5, 2017, but is phasing out the program over a six-month period that will end on March 5, 2018.
Trump Administration Suggests Potential Cuts to Cultural Exchange Visas
August 29, 2017 | Blog | By William Coffman
The Trump Administration is evaluating potential reductions to U.S. cultural exchange programs that allow young people from across the world the opportunity to work temporarily in the US. The potential cuts would impact five programs that are part of the J-1 visa exchange visitor program.
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U.S. Mission in Russia to Temporarily Suspend NIV Issuance
August 22, 2017 | Blog | By William Coffman
In a continuation of the diplomatic tit-for-tat with Russia, the U.S. Embassy in Moscow announced on Monday, August 21, 2017, that it would suspend issuance of nonimmigrant visas for eight days starting August 23rd. Nonimmigrant visa issuance will resume at the Embassy on September 1st, but will be suspended indefinitely at other posts in Russia.
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News & Press
USCIS Fee Increases May Have Unintended Consequences
February 15, 2024|
Twenty-Eight Mintz Attorneys Named To Boston Magazine’s Top Lawyers List
November 22, 2022|
Best Lawyers® recognized 108 firm attorneys in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Notably, two Mintz attorneys – Poonam Patidar and Scott M. Stanton – received 2023 “Lawyer of the Year” awards, and 28 firm attorneys were included in the inaugural edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.
One Hundred Mintz Attorneys Ranked as Leaders by Best Lawyers 2020
August 15, 2019|
Immigration Compliance Essentials For 2019
January 22, 2019|
Best Lawyers named 85 Mintz attorneys to its 2018 list of The Best Lawyers in America. In addition, Mintz attorneys Matthew J. Gardella and Samuel M. Tony Starr were named “Lawyer of the Year” in their respective practice areas.
Events & Speaking
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Dec
6
2018
Immigration Compliance & Risk Management Webinar Series
Part II: Creating Compliance Policies for a New Era
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Oct
25
2018
Immigration Compliance & Risk Management Webinar Series
Part I: Keeping DHS in Your Sights: Site Visits & Record Keeping
Panelist
Aug
10
2018
2018 AILA Employer Compliance and Worksite Enforcement CLE Conference
Sheraton Boston Hotel, 39 Dalton St., Boston, MA
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May
30
2017
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May
24
2017
Employment-based Immigration: Talent Acquisition, Retention & Compliance under a New Administration
Mintz Levin
San Diego, CA
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Feb
16
2017
A Round-up of Recent Immigration Law Changes and a Roadmap for Compliance in a New Administration
Mintz Levin
New York, NY
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Recognition & Awards
Best Lawyers in America: Immigration Law (2013 – 2027); Lawyer of the Year (2025)
Chambers USA: Massachusetts – Immigration (2021 – 2026)
Recommended by The Legal 500 United States for Labor & Employment: Immigration (2014, 2020 – 2025)
International Who’s Who of Corporate Immigration Lawyers (2016 – 2019)
Top Author in the semiconductor industry, JD Supra Readers' Choice Awards (2016)
Boston Magazine: Top Lawyers – Immigration (2021)
Involvement
- Panelist, AILA's Employment-Based Green Card Applications: Considerations and Strategies webinar
- Member, Boston Bar Association
- Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association
Recent Insights
2027 Business Immigration Outlook for Employers
October 30, 2026| Webinar
