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
Work and Travel Guidance for F-1 Students with Pending H-1B “Change of Status” Applications and “Cap-Gap” Employment Authorization for FY16
June 23, 2016 | Advisory | By Susan Cohen, William Coffman
This advisory summarizes key travel and employment issues if you are an F-1 student with Optional Practical Training (OPT) employment eligibility and an H-1B change of status filing on your behalf has been accepted by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Read more
Immigration Policy By Lottery? Another Year, Nothing Changes.
April 18, 2016 | Blog | By William Coffman
The diversity visa green card lottery has been an important part of U.S. immigration law for the last 20 years. It allows 55,000 foreign nationals to immigrate each year and was implemented to fulfill the worthy goal of increasing the diversity of immigrants in the U.S.
Read more
2nd Circuit Court Requires I-140 Revocation Notice: Analysis
January 21, 2016 | Blog | By William Coffman
On December 30, 2015, the US Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit ruled that US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) must notify either the beneficiary of an approved I-140 or successor employer, of any intent to revoke the petition prior to revocation (Mantena v. Johnson, Docket No. 14-2476-cv, (2nd Cir., Dec. 30, 2015)).
Read more
2017 Diversity Visa Lottery Registration Begins Today
October 1, 2015 | Alert | By Douglas Hauer, William Coffman
On October 1, 2015, the US Department of State will begin accepting requests to register for the 2017 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV-2017), also known as the Green Card Lottery.
Read more
October Visa Bulletin Revised: New EB-2 India and China Filing Dates Retrogress
September 25, 2015 | Blog | By William Coffman
It’s September 25th, not April 1st! Like a cruel April Fool’s joke, the October Visa Bulletin has just been revised and the new India & China EB-2 filing dates have retrogressed. The instructions in bold type in the new bulletin indicate that this revised bulletin is to be used to determine who is eligible to file on October 1st.
Read more
USCIS Temporarily Suspends Adjudication of I-485s
September 24, 2015 | Blog | By William Coffman
"suspend final adjudication of employment-based Form I-485 applications... because the Department of State reports that the statutory cap has been reached for the employment-based preference categories for fiscal year (FY) 2015."
Read more
A HYPOTHETICAL: Testimony of a U.S. Business Owner Before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security
August 27, 2015 | Blog | By William Coffman
Mr. Chairman, I’m pleased to provide my testimony today as a follow-up to previous appearances before this committee. I’ve testified on two other occasions to explain the need for a more certain and predictable way to attract and retain the talent my company and others need—even if that means foreign talent.
Read more
Federal Court Ruling Puts STEM OPT Extension in Jeopardy
August 17, 2015 | Blog | By William Coffman
On August 12th, 2015, the US District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that the US Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) did not follow required procedures when it promulgated regulations allowing for certain extensions of F-1 Optional Practical Training (“OPT”) employment authorization.
Read more
Federal Court Rules on OPT Extension
August 14, 2015 | Advisory | By William Coffman
On Wednesday, August 12, 2015, the US District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that the US Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) did not follow required procedures when it promulgated regulations allowing for certain extensions of F-1 Optional Practical Training (“OPT”) employment authorization.
Read more
USCIS Releases Final Guidance on H-1B Job Site Changes
July 23, 2015 | Blog | By William Coffman
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released final guidance on a recent Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) decision requiring amended or new H-1B petitions for workers who change job sites.
Read more
News & Press
USCIS Fee Increases May Have Unintended Consequences
February 15, 2024|
BOSTON –Mintz announced today that 39 of its practices and 81 of its attorneys earned recognition in the 2023 edition of Chambers USA, a guide to the country’s leading law firms.
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|
Events & Speaking
Speaker
Speaker
Speaker
Speaker
Speaker
Speaker
Speaker
Speaker
Speaker
Speaker
Dec
6
2018
Immigration Compliance & Risk Management Webinar Series
Part II: Creating Compliance Policies for a New Era
Speaker
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
Speaker
Speaker
May
30
2017
Speaker
May
24
2017
Employment-based Immigration: Talent Acquisition, Retention & Compliance under a New Administration
Mintz Levin
San Diego, CA
Speaker
Speaker
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
Speaker
Speaker
Speaker
Speaker
Read less
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
