M. Alejandra Vargas concentrates her practice in the area of immigration law. Ms. Vargas represents companies in a wide variety of industries including, financial, consumer goods, tech and artificial intelligence companies. She also assists individuals and families in connection with nonimmigrant and immigrant visa matters as well as naturalization. Ms. Vargas is also a volunteer attorney in the Firm's Pro Bono group.
Ms. Vargas is the Co-Chair of the firm’s associates committee, and a member of the Hispanic/Latino employee resource group and the Marketing Committee of the New York office.
Ms. Vargas is a graduate of University Pontificia Bolivariana in Colombia, and she was awarded an LL.M. by Brooklyn Law School and an LL.M. (Matrise and Master II) in Private Law from the University Panthéon- Assas (Paris II) in France. She is fluent in French and Spanish.
Areas of Practice
- Inbound and Outbound Temporary Visa Petitions: Inbound U.S. Business Visitors (B); Investors (E); Specialty Workers (H-1B); Temporary Workers (H-2B); Trainees (H-3); Intra-company Transferees (L); Extraordinary Ability (O); Canadian and Mexican Professionals (TN). In reference to Outbound Visas, Ms. Vargas works with expert local counsel in the outbound country to facilitate and streamline the visa process.
- Permanent Residency Applications: Extraordinary Ability, Outstanding Researchers and Professors; Multinational Managers (EB-1) Advanced Degree Professionals (EB-2); Skilled Workers and Professionals (EB-3) PERM Labor Certifications; Family Based Petitions in all categories, waivers and consular processing
- Corporate Immigration Compliance: I-9 Policies, compliance programs, training, audits, ICE investigations; E-Verify advice and counsel, training, compliance programs and risk/benefit analysis; electronic I-9 vendor reviews, merger and acquisition immigration compliance review, remediation and risk analysis.
Admissions
- New York
- Colombia
Education
- Brooklyn Law School, LL.M. , 2015
- Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, J.D., 2011
- Panthéon-Assas University Paris II, LL.M., 2009
- Panthéon-Assas University Paris II, Maîtrise, 2008
Professional Activities
- Bar Association of the City of New York
- Immigration Committee
-Mindfulness & Well-Being in Law Committee - American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
- French American Chamber of Commerce, New York Chapter
Honors and Awards
- “Top Lawyer Under 40” by the Hispanic National Bar Association
- Lexology Client Choice Awards, Corporate Immigration in USA New York Award, 2024
- New York Law Journal Rising Star Award, 2023
- Listed in New York Metro Super Lawyers Rising Stars
Selected Publications
- Co-author,"Surrendering Your Green Card - Tax and Immigration Issues to Consider," Duane Morris Alert, August 26, 2024
- Co-author, "Summer 2024 Sees Developments in H-1B Visas," Duane Morris Alert, August 9, 2024
- Co-author, "USCIS Announces Trial Launch of E-Verify+," Duane Morris Alert, June 12, 2024
- Co-author, "New Year, New Opportunities: Trends and Upcoming Developments in Immigration Law," Duane Morris Immigration Law Blog, January 24, 2024
- Co-author, "White House Artificial Intelligence Executive Order Impacts Myriad Sectors of the Law," Duane Morris Alert, November 6, 2023
- Co-author, "Homeland Security Announces New Form I-9 and Optional Alternative to Physical Document Examination for Employment Eligibility Verification," Duane Morris Alert, July 27, 2023
- Co-author, "President Biden Extends COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Set to Expire Under Previous Administration," Duane Morris Alert, January 27, 2021
Media Hits
- Quoted, "Top 5 Immigration Policy Developments Of 2023," Law360, December 15, 2023
Selected Speaking Engagements
- Speaker, “Managing a Global Company and Workforce,” El Encuentro by The Hispanic National Bar Association and The Mexican Bar Association, Colegio De Abogados, A.C. (BMA), Mexico City, June 28, 2024
- Speaker, “U.S. Immigration Status Tips & Tricks for International Lawyers,” New York County Lawyers Association, New York City, June 6, 2024
- Speaker, "Developments in Workplace Law and Practice: Current Trends in Employment, Labor, Benefits, and Immigration and Their Impact on Your Business," Duane Morris LLP, New York City, May 8, 2024
- Speaker, "Impact of immigration in Governance and Employment Diversity," University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School LALSA’s Annual Conference, February 24, 2024
- Moderator, "Complex Tax, Estate, Immigration and Corporate Strategies for Pre-Immigration and Cross-Border Planning for High-Net-Worth Families and Their Businesses," Latin America Private Clients Services event, October 18, 2023
- Speaker, "Pathways to Bar Passage Program," American Bar Association International Law Section, March 29, 2023
- Speaker, "When Two Worlds Collide: Wage Transparency Laws, RIFs, and other Challenges Facing US Employers Hiring Foreign Talent in 2023," HNBA CCC, March 9th, 2023
- Speaker, "Workshop for Founders & Start-Ups: Legal 101," Latinas in Tech Webinar, February 15, 2022
- Speaker, “Rein Them In or Let Them Fly? International and Hybrid Word: Legal Considerations and Employee Retention,” Duane Morris LLP, June 21, 2022
- Speaker, "2022 Business Immigration Outlook: Navigating in Unprecedented Times," French American Chamber of Commerce and Duane Morris LLP Webinar, February 17, 2022
- Speaker, Program and Reception For International LL.M. Candidates, New York City Bar Association, October 21, 2021
- Speaker, "2022 Business Immigration Outlook: Navigating in Unprecedented Times," French American Chamber of Commerce and Duane Morris LLP Webinar, February 17, 2022
- Speaker, "Immigration Updates," The New Reality of Workplace Law and Practice in the COVID-19 Era, Duane Morris LLP, Webinar, November 9, 2020
- Speaker, "PERM Sponsorship in Our New Normal: Building Successful Applications in an Uncertain Job Market," Duane Morris Institute (DMi), July 16, 2020