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William L. Coffman

Special Counsel

[email protected]

+1.617.348.1890

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Bill’s legal work focuses on immigration and nationality law, as well as outbound emigration and related international law. Bill 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.

viewpoints

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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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A. The Trump Administration rescinded the DACA program on September 5, 2017, but is phasing out the program over a six-month period that will end on March 5, 2018.

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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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Effective immediately, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will resume premium processing for select cap-exempt H-1B petitions. Cap-exempt petitioners who are eligible for premium processing can file Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, along with the filing fee of $1,225.
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As a follow-up to the April 7, 2017 announcement that the H-1B cap had been reached, on Monday, April 17, USCIS revealed that it has now completed the random selection of the 85,000 petitions for the quota and that in total, the agency received 199,000 H-1B cap-subject submissions.
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FAQs for Entering the U.S.—Entry Inspection and Electronic Devices

April 6, 2017 | Blog | By William Coffman, Cassie Ramos

All individuals entering the U.S. at international ports of entry are inspected by US Customs & Border Protection (CBP).  This occurs at either the arrival airport in the U.S., Pre-Flight Inspection if flying from most Canadian airports, or border crossings into the U.S. from either Canada or Mexico.
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Increased Scrutiny of Visa Applications and Possible Delays

March 28, 2017 | Alert | By William Coffman

On March 17, 2017, the Department of State (“DOS”), through the Secretary of State, issued a cable to all US consulates and embassies with guidance on enhanced screening and vetting of applications for US visas and other immigration benefits.
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DHS Site Visits and Inspections — Be Prepared

March 9, 2017 | Alert | By Susan Cohen, William Coffman

From time to time, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) conducts site visits at the offices of employers petitioning for temporary work visas on behalf of their employees. These visits are funded by the $500 “anti-fraud” fee that is a component of the filing fee for H-1B and L-1 visas.
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News & Press

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187 Mintz attorneys have been recognized by Best Lawyers® in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Notably, three Mintz attorneys received 2025 “Lawyer of the Year” awards, and 64 firm attorneys were included in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.

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Mintz announced today that 42 of its practices and 83 of its attorneys earned recognition in the 2024 edition of Chambers USA, a guide to the country’s leading law firms. Of those included in the guide, 18 attorneys and seven practice areas were awarded Chambers’ highest ranking, Band 1. The firm obtained new listings in three practice areas and 10 of its lawyers were recognized for the first time.

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Mintz attorneys Juan Steevens and William Coffman co-authored an article in Law360 exploring the unforeseen impacts arising from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services’ final rule on adjusting filing fees for the majority of petitions and applications.

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Mintz is pleased to announce that 120 firm attorneys have been recognized as leaders by Best Lawyers® in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.

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BOSTON – Mintz has earned top rankings in the 2023 edition of Legal 500 United States guide. The firm is recognized in 14 practice categories, and 59 individual attorneys are also recognized in the guide, some in more than one category.

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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.

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In its second annual edition, 28 Mintz attorneys were named to Boston Magazine’s Top Lawyers list.

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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.

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In the latest guide, Mintz garnered rankings as a top national firm in eight practice areas, and 32 firm attorneys were individually recognized.
This Law360 “Expert Analysis” column discusses how important compliance is in today’s aggressive immigration enforcement environment. The column is authored by a team of Mintz attorneys – Susan Cohen, Bill Coffman and Kevin McNamara.
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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.
Best Lawyers named 73 Mintz attorneys to its 2017 list of The Best Lawyers in America. Mintz attorneys selected for inclusion in this year’s list span 44 practice areas. 
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Events & Speaking

Speaker
Nov
4
2021
Webinar Reference Image
Speaker
Oct
29
2020

Navigating the New H-1B Regulations

View the Webinar Recording

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Speaker
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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
Dec
16
2015

Immigration Law: MCLE BasicsPlus!

MCLE New England

Boston, MA

Speaker
Jul
9
2015
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Recognition & Awards

  • Chambers USA: Massachusetts - Immigration (2021 – 2024)

  • Recommended by The Legal 500 United States for Labor & Employment: Immigration (2014, 2020)

  • Best Lawyers in America: Immigration Law (2013 – 2025), Lawyer of the Year (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)

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Involvement

  • Panelist, AILA's Employment-Based Green Card Applications: Considerations and Strategies webinar
  • Member, Boston Bar Association
  • Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association
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