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Becki Young, founding Partner, is a seasoned business immigration attorney with three decades of experience in the field.
Becki regularly provides immigration law advice to clients in a broad range of industries, including investment banking and securities, information technology (with a particular focus on startups), nonprofit, manufacturing, and healthcare. She boasts extensive experience with investment cases (E2 and EB5) for individual investors and startup companies as well as extraordinary ability cases for clients in business, science, and the arts.
In addition, Becki is well known for her immigration work with hospitality employers. She has represented more than 100 of the world's most prominent hotels and restaurants, and facilitated the sponsorship of foreign trainees, interns, professionals, and individuals of extraordinary ability.
Becki’s depth of experience and knowledge of the intricate immigration landscape enable her to utilize a wide array of immigration solutions to serve her clients with a responsive and client-centric approach, for which she has received many accolades. She has guided numerous foreign nationals through the permanent residency process and has counseled U.S. employers on international recruitment and immigration issues. In addition to her work with employment-based clients, Becki has assisted many family-based applicants with complex U.S. immigration matters.
Previously, as Of Counsel with Baker & McKenzie in Washington, DC, Becki was a senior member of the firm's Global Immigration & Mobility Practice. While there, she oversaw the provision of global immigration services to some of the world's largest companies. Prior to joining Baker & McKenzie, Becki managed her own immigration law practice, focusing on employment-based immigration law.
Becki is an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), serving on various committees and mentoring lawyers around the U.S. on business immigration issues. She frequently speaks at legal, business and hospitality conferences, and regularly contributes insight through published articles and commentary. Her engaging personality, extensive experience, and intricate knowledge of immigration issues enable her to address complex immigration issues in a clear, straightforward manner.
Education
- JD, Georgetown University Law Center
- Bachelor’s, University of Pennsylvania
Admissions/Memberships
- Maryland State Bar
- District of Columbia Bar
- United States District Court for the District of Columbia
- American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
Accolades
- Washington D.C.’s Best Lawyers, Washingtonian Magazine, 2015-present.
- Recognized by Best Lawyers, Immigration Law, U.S. News and World Report, 2016-present.
- Listed in Chambers & Partners USA and Global Guides: Band-2, USA-District of Columbia: Immigration (2019-2023); Band-3 USA-Nationwide: Immigration (2019-2023); Band-3, Global: Immigration: Business (2021-2023).
- “Top 10 Most Influential Business Immigration Lawyer,” Business Today, 2023.
- Lawdragon 500, 100 Leading Immigration Lawyers, 2023.
- Best Law Firms U.S. News & World Report National Ranking: Tier 1 in Immigration, 2016-2023.
- Best Law Firms U.S. News & World Report Washington, D.C. Ranking: Tier 1 in Immigration, 2016-2023.
- Recognized as a top immigration lawyer in Maryland, Super Lawyers, 2020-2023.
- Global Leader in Corporate Immigration, Who’s Who Legal, 2015-2023.
- Lawyer of the Year in Immigration Law, Best Lawyers, U.S. News and World Report, 2022.
- Dynamic Women Spotlight, DC Magazine, September 2022.
- Recognized as a Leading Lawyer in Immigration, Nationwide, The Legal 500, 2019-2022.
- Recognized as a Leading U.S. Corporate Employment Lawyer, Lawdragon 500, 2020-2022; 40 Up and Comers in Corporate Employment Law, Lawdragon, 2017-2019.
- President’s Commendation for Outstanding Volunteer Service, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), 2021.
- Leadership in Law Award, Maryland Daily Record, 2016.
Professional Activities/Pro-Bono
- AILA National Committees:
- Member, USCIS HQ (Benefits Policy) Committee (2023-2024) and Leader, Technology Subcommittee.
- Chair, Client Resources Committee (2020-2023).
- Member, AILA National: ACES (Athletics, Culture, Entertainment, and Science) Committee (2016); Annual Conference Committee (2014); Practice Management Committee (2013); Board of Publications (2011); H-2B Ad Hoc Committee (2008)
- AILA RDC-EMEA Chapter Conference Committee 2022, 2023 (Co-Chair).
- Recipient of the George Akst Memorial RDC EMEA Scholarship, 2023.
- Member of the inaugural Editorial Board: AILA Law Journal, 2019-2021.
- AILA DC Chapter Committees:
- Chair, Maryland Bar Liaison Committee (2010-2011).
- BWI Airport Liaison, Customs & Border Patrol Liaison Committee (2009-2010).
- Citizenship Day Site Coordinator and Publicity Chair (2009); Publicity Chair (2010).
- YMCA International Career Advancement Program Trainee Advisory Committee (2004-2005).
Selected Publications
- Transitioning to a Paperless Office , American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), August 3, 2021.
- Becki Young on How Employment Based Immigration is Changing, SHRM All Things Work Podcast, May 14, 2021 | America Needs Talent, SHRM, May 14, 2021 (companion article by Tammy Lytle, Becki Young quoted).
- Worksite Enforcement Through the Lens of the No-Match Letter, AILA Law Journal, vol. 1 no. 2, October 2019.
- Walk the Line, Construction Today, Vol. 17, Issue 4, September 9, 2019.
- How to Handle an SSA No-Match Letter, Modern Restaurant Management, May 22, 2019.
- No-Match Letter Raise 4 Areas Of Concern For Employers, Law360, May, 8, 2019.
- What to do After Receiving a ‘No-Match’ Letter, Restaurant Hospitality, May 1, 2019.
- Actions Speak Louder Than Words Trump’s Policies on Legal Immigration will Decrease U.S. Competitiveness for Decades to Come, Bender’s Immigration Bulletin, November 15, 2018 (with Sandra Grossman and Hannah Stambaugh).
- The Broad Impact of H-1B Premium Processing Suspension, Law360, October 3, 2018 (with Yeon Me Kim and Ali Nasserghodsi).
- International recruitment: A solution to the U.S. chef shortage?, Restaurant Hospitality, March 12, 2018 (with Cynthia Billeaud).
- How Employers Can Support Temporary Protected Status Beneficiaries, Restaurant Hospitality, March 3, 2018 (with Claudia Lainez).
- Top 10 Q&As for Tough I-9 Issues, Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), July 17, 2017.
- How to become extraordinary, Restaurant Hospitality, Mar. 29, 2017.
- So You Want A Second Passport: How U.S. Citizens Can Obtain Citizenship In Another Country Based On Ancestry, The Huffington Post, Jan. 25, 2017.
- What Will DOL’s Immigration Policy Look Like Under Puzder?, Law360, Jan. 11, 2017.
- Top 10 Employment and Immigration Law Tips for New Restaurant Hires, Modern Restaurant Management, Nov. 16, 2016 (with Julie Reddig).
- Immigration Predictions Under A Trump Presidency, Law360, Nov. 14, 2016.
- Forming and Dissolving Partnerships, Article for Immigration Practice Pointers (2016-17 Ed.).
- How do Clinton and Trump differ on immigration?, Inside Counsel, May 24, 2016. *This article originally appeared on InsideCounsel.com, an ALM website.
- Where the presidential candidates stand on immigration – Trump, Clinton and Sanders hardly see eye to eye on policies critical to the restaurant industry, Restaurant Hospitality, May 12, 2016.
- Cracking the labor code, Restaurant Hospitality, Mar. 7, 2016.
- Is the L1B visa for specialty chefs dead?, Restaurant Hospitality, Mar. 1, 2016.
- My stagiaire doesn’t need a visa, right?, Restaurant Hospitality, Jan. 7, 2016.
- Less Is More—Solo and Small Firm Practices That Make It Big, Article for Immigration Practice Pointers(2015-16 Ed.).
- Will eliminating tips solve the chef shortage?, Restaurant Hospitality, Dec. 10, 2015.
- Challenges In H-1B Adjudications: Credentials Evaluations, Law360, Sept. 27, 2015.
- Data Privacy Tips for Small & Medium Sized Practices, Article for AILA’s Immigration Practice News, 2014.
- Immigration Options for Essential Workers, Book, June 30, 2008 (with Deborah J. Notkin).
- Trafficking of Humans across United States Borders: How United States Law Can Be Used to Punish Traffickers and Protect Victims, Georgetown Immigration Law Journal 13 (1998): 73–104 (authored by Becki Young).
Publication Series Foodservice Monthly
- David Deshaies: Another Great DC Immigrant Chef, Immigration: Working in America, Feb. 2017.
- Senegal Cuisine Finds Home in Hyattsville with the Best of Traditional Dishes, Immigration: Working in America, Aug. 2016.
- Celia Laurent: Family Knows No Bounds at Kinship, Immigration: Working in America, July 2016.
- The Convivial Cedric Maupillier, Immigration: Working in America, June 2016.
- Et Voila!… Claudio Pirollo, The Journey, Immigration: Working in America, May 2016.
- Sebastian Watteau: DC’s Very Own ‘French-Mex’ Chef, Immigration: Working in America, Apr. 2016.
- Mohammed Hanif: From Motherless Boy to Ambassador’s Chef to Washington Entrepreneur, Immigration: Working in America, Mar. 2016.
- Koli Zeka Is a Lucky Guy, Immigration: Working in America, Feb. 2016.
- Franco Landini: Don’t Ever Forget Where You Came From, Immigration: Working in America, Jan. 2016.
- I’d Probably Be Dead, Immigration: Working in America, Dec. 2015.
- Spike Mendelsohn, a Proper World Citizen, Immigration: Working in America, Nov. 2015.
- Luigi Diotaiuti: From Native Country to Adopted Homeland, Celebrating His Roots, Immigration: Working in America, Oct. 2015.
- 2013 Diversity Visa Lottery Program, Oct. 2011.
- DHS Announces Initiatives to benefit Entrepreneurs and Skilled Workers, Sept. 2011.
- Using Technology to Master I 9 Intricacies, Apr. 2011.
- Employment Eligibility Verification: Are You I-9 Compliant? Feb. 2011.
- A Primer on Family-Based Visa Priority Dates, Jan. 2011.
- Andy Shallal: Immigrant, Restaurateur, Artist, Political Activist, Immigration: Working in America, Sept. 2010.
- Susan Limb: Pastry Chef, Restaurateur, Immigration: Working in America, Aug. 2010.
- The Visa Lottery: Fast Track to a Green Card, June 2010.
- Profile of an Immigrant: Larry La, May 2010.
- Increase Your Staff Diversity with Summer Work Travel Students, All Year Round, Apr. 2010.
- Profile of an Immigrant: Fiona Cameron-Williams, Mar. 2010.
- Profile of an Immigrant: Jennifer Ward, Feb. 2010.
- H-1B Employer Audits On The Rise, Jan. 2010.
- Five Rules For Creating An “Audit Proof” PERM Case, Dec. 2009.
- New Naturalization Test as of October 2009, Nov. 2009.
- Profile of an Immigrant: Natalia Nastovici, Oct. 2009.
- Just Coffee: Coffee and U.S. Immigration Policy, Sept.2009.
- Profile of an Immigrant: Roberto Donna, Aug. 2009.
- The Immigrant Visa ‘Traffic Jam,’ July 2009.
- Profile of an Immigrant: Kaz Okochi, June 2009.
- Visa Classifications for Hospitality Workers, May 2009.
- Profile of an Immigrant: Emmet Gallagher, Apr. 2009.
- Working Holiday Visas – A Limited Time Offer, Mar. 2009.
- H-1B Season – The Time Is Now, Feb. 2009.
- Obama and Immigration, Jan. 2009.
- Layoffs and the Green Card Process, Dec. 2008.
- Five Steps to Immigration Compliance, Nov. 2008.
- Summer 2008 Immigration Enforcement Update, Oct. 2008.
Publication Series Going Global in AILA Voice
- Argentina: Not Just a Tourist Destination, 2015.
- Not Always A Carnival: Business Visitors in Brazil, 2015.
- Business Visitor Travel to Hong Kong, 2014.
- Licensing Requirements for Recruiters in Canada, 2013.
- Attracting Foreign Talent and Investment to Spain, 2013.
- Non-EU Business Travelers to Italy, 2013.
- Changes to Migration Law in the Netherlands, 2013.
Selected Presentations
- “Preserving Permanent Residence and Eligibility to Naturalize,” Live CLE Seminar, Federal Bar Association and MyLawCLE, March 21, 2023.
- Masterclass: “Living your American Dream” | Masterclasse: “Vivre son rêve américain,” presented remotely to Ecole Ferrandi (Paris, France, Jan. 28, 2021), ESG Ecole de Commerce, (Paris, France, Mar. 15, 2021), Ecole Ferrières (Ferrières-en-Brie, France, Nov. 25, 2020; March 2, 2022; December 13, 2022; April 12, 2023).
- “Thinking Smartly About Money Matters,” AILA Business School for Immigration Lawyers, Las Vegas, NV, December 6, 2022.
- Hospitality Panel, AILA RDC-EMEA Fall Virtual Conference (Discussion Leader), November 29, 2022.
- “Strategies for Essential Support Personnel,”2021 AILA Fall Conference and Webcast: Athletics, Culture, Entertainment, and Science (ACES) and Business Hot Topics, October 12, 2021.
- “What the %$&# Are Uniform Naming Conventions and Why Do We Need Them Yesterday?,” AILA University Live Video Roundtable, September 10, 2021.
- “Navigating the U.S. Visa Landscape,” 2021 SelectUSA Investment Summit, June 9, 2021.
- “The Lawyer as a Manager,” AILA Annual Conference 2021, Virtual, June 9-12, 2021.
- “Getting to a Paperless Office and What to Do When You Arrive: Best Practices for Remote Case Assembly and Filings,” AILA 2021 Midwinter Virtual Conference (Discussion Leader), March 2, 2021.
- “Extraordinary and Outstanding: O-1As and EB-1s for Science and Business,” AILA National Webinar (Discussion Leader and Co-Author of Practice Pointer), January 19, 2021.
- “Trends in NIV Cases,” AILA-DC Chapter Annual Fall Conference, Washington, DC, November 13, 2019.
- “Merging, Buying, Selling” AILA Law Practice Management Conference , Washington, DC, October 17, 2019.
- “HR & Immigration: Hiring and Retaining Top Foreign Talent in Today’s Contentious Immigration Climate,” DC SHRM® Legal Conference, Washington, DC, October 16, 2019.
- “Global HR & Mobility: A Holistic Approach,” Northern Virginia SHRM, September 10, 2019.
- “The Young Artist,” 2019 AILA Athletics, Culture, Entertainment, and Science (ACES) Conference, Hollywood, California, August 2, 2019.
- “Protecting your Business Amidst Changes: Form I-9 and E-Verify Compliance,” SHRM® 2019 Annual Conference & Exposition, Las Vegas, Nevada, June 23-26, 2019.
- “Don’t be the Panda in the Room: Protecting your Business from ICE Actions – I9 & E-verify Compliance. What’s New and Best Practices for Protecting Your Business During Audits, Site Visits, and Raids,” 2019 SHRM® Virginia State Conference, The Mermaid and the Mariner: The Magical and & the Practical of HR, Norfolk, VA, April 8, 2019.
- “I-9 and E-Verification Compliance: What is new and how can you protect your business?” SHRM® 2019 Employment Law and Legislative Conference, Washington, DC, March 19, 2019.
- Television interview on Dakhil ‘Inside’ Washington regarding the current state of U.S. immigration law and policy, December 7, 2018.
- “Immigration Law Developments Under the New Administration,” NAFSA Region VIII Annual Meeting, Richmond, VA, November 8, 2018 (with Rita McCarthy).
- “Make America Hospitable Again: Immigration Options for the Food and Hospitality Industry,” AILA RDC Fall Conference, Johannesburg, South Africa, October 9, 2018.
- “I-9 and E-Verification Compliance: What has Changed and How to Protect Your Business,” Paylocity Elevate Conference, Chicago, IL, Oct. 3-5, 2018.
- “Restaurant Panel on Immigration,” in conjunction with “RAMW” (Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington), Radiator, Washington, DC, September 5, 2018.
- “Protecting Your Business Amidst Changes: Form I-9 and E-Verification Compliance,” SHRM 2017 Annual Conference & Exposition, New Orleans, LA, June 19, 2017, and June 18, 2018.
- “The Lawyer as Manager,” 2018 AILA Annual Conference, San Francisco, CA, June 2018.
- “Immigration Update,” Covington & Burling LLP, with Sandra Grossman, May 16, 2018.
- “Setting and Collecting Fees,” AILA’s Lunch & Learn Video Series, with Jill Wayland, Bethesda, MD, Apr. 11, 2018.
- “FDNS & LCA Practice Audits,” Audiosolutionz LLC, Mar. 28, 2018.
- “I-9/E-Verify Compliance and Personal Liability for Human Resources Officials,” Lerch, Early & Brewer, Bethesda, MD, Mar. 14, 2018.
- “Post-Termination Options for TPS Recipients,” Ayuda, Washington, DC, with Sandra Grossman, Feb. 14, 2018.
- “Immigration Issues for Restaurant Employers”, in conjunction with el Restaurante Magazine, with Sandra Grossman, Feb. 9, 2018. (en Español)
- “Breaking Immigration Law Developments Under The New Administration,” 2017 NAFSA Region VIII Conference, Morgantown, WV, Nov. 14-17, 2017.
- “Ethical Issues in Immigration Practice,” 2017 AILA-DC Chapter Annual Fall Conference, Rockville, MD, Nov. 8, 2017.
- “Managing Your Firm’s Finances,” virtual session speaker for AILA’s Lunch & Learn Video Series, Nov. 1, 2017.
- “The Latest on I-9s, E-Verify, DACA and Other Worksite Verification Issues,” CFGI Webinar, Oct. 18, 2017.
- “The Administration’s decision to rescind the entrepreneurial parole provision, Price of Business,” SoundCloud, July 17, 2017 (download available).
- “Immigration and Technology: The Final Frontier,” AILA Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA, June 2017.
- “Avoid These Common Mistakes When Completing Form I-9,” SHRMofficial, YouTube, June 20, 2017.
- “Building a Biotechnology Company: Learn First-Hand From Industry Experts,” guest speaker hosted by the NIH/FAES Graduate School Program Tech 566 Class, Rockville, MD, May 2, 2017.
- “New Form I-9 and Related Compliance Issues,” Bar Association of Montgomery County, MD, Apr. 18, 2017.
- “What the Executive Orders Mean for Restaurants,” National Restaurant Association, with Rachel Zoghlin, Mar. 9, 2017.
- “Immigration Issues and Your Restaurant,” webinar series hosted by el Restaurante trade magazine for owners/managers of Mexican and Latin restaurants in the U.S., Feb. 28, 2017 and Mar. 2, 2017.
- “The Administration’s New Immigration Policies,” Covington & Burling LLP, with Sandra Grossman, Feb. 13, 2017.
- “L is for Lottery,” AILA DC Chapter New Members Division (NMD) ABC’s event, Feb. 7, 2017.
- “Contingency And Succession Planning For Solos And Small Firms (‘Engaging The Borg!’)”, 2016 AILA Solo and Small Firm Practice Management Conference, Orlando, FL, Dec. 8-9, 2016.
- “‘Van der Who?’ Advanced L Visa Discussion: Extensions and Blankets and RFE’s,” AILA RDC EMEA Chapter Fall Conference, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Oct. 18-20, 2016.
- “New technology, remote employment relationships and the cross-border duty of care obligations of multinational employers,” International Bar Association Annual Conference, Washington, DC, Sept. 22, 2016.
- “Forming and Dissolving Partnerships,” AILA National Conference, Las Vegas, NV, June 23, 2016.
- Law Student Panel presentation, AILA National Conference, Las Vegas, NV, June 22, 2016.
- “From Visas to E-Verify: What the Presidential Candidates’ Views on Immigration Mean for Your Business,” Roundtable for Tech Council of Maryland, Rockville, MD, June 16, 2016.
- “What you Need to Know About Immigration Law,” Price of Business, YouTube, Feb. 22, 2016.
- “From Good to Great: Practice Management Tips for an Efficient and Profitable Practice,” MSBA Solo Conference, Linthicum Heights, MD, Nov. 6, 2015.
- “U.S. Visas For Foreign Entrepreneurs,” U.S.-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce (USACC), with Denise Hammond, Washington, DC, Oct. 2015.
- “I-9 and E-Verify Compliance,” presented to Professor N. Lawrence’s class at American University Law School, with Denise Hammond, Washington, DC, Oct. 2015.
- “H-1B Visa Program & Alternatives,” Tech Council of Maryland, Rockville, MD, Sept. 15, 2015.
- “I-9 and E-Verify Compliance,” Bar Association of Montgomery County Immigration Law Section, Rockville, MD, Sept. 3, 2015.
- “July Immigration Series,” National Restaurant Association, July 22, 2015.
- AILA Rome District Chapter Podcast on Practice Management, 2015.
- “How To Navigate Employment Based Immigration – PERM-Based I-140 Petitions,” AILA DC Chapter Fall Conference, Washington, DC, 2014.
- “How to Run Your Law Practice from a Tropical Island,” podcast recorded for AILA National, 2014.
- “Immigration for the Hospitality Industry,” Hotel Human Resource Directors Association of Northern Virginia, McLean, VA, 2014, 2013, 2008.
- “Non-immigrant Visa ‘Boot Camp,’” DC Bar, Washington, DC, 2014.
- “Opening a New Practice: What I Wish I Knew When I Started,” AILA National Conference, Boston, MA, Article for Immigration Practice Pointers (2014-15 ed).
- “Immigration Reform Proposals & Potential Impact on Hospitality Industry,” television interview on Biz Asia America/CCTV News, Apr. 23, 2013.
- “Legal Concepts in Preparing an H-1B Petition,” AILA National Paralegal Conference, Washington, DC, 2013.
- “Launching an Immigration Practice,” video recorded for AILA National, Feb. 19, 2013.
- “Canada’s New Compliance Rules and Global Immigration Audit Tips,” Canadian Employee Relocation Council webinar, 2011.
- “Everything You Wanted To Know About Coming To The U.S. Temporarily,” AILA DC Chapter Fall Conference, Washington, DC, 2011.
- “U.S. Immigration Overview: How To Get and Keep Legal Immigration Status,” Indonesian American Association/ Embassy of Indonesia, Washington, DC, 2011, 2007.
- “Working in the U.S. for International Hospitality Managers,” Vatel Hotel School, Nimes, France, 2010.
- “60 Practice Management Tips in 60 Minutes,” Maryland State Bar Association Solo and Small Firm Conference, Linthicum Heights, MD, 2010.
- “Independence Day – Immigration Law and the Solo Practitioner,” AILA National Conference, Washington, DC, 2010.
- “Ain’t No Road Too Long: The Ways to Successful Labor Certifications & I-140 Petitions,” AILA DC Chapter Fall Conference, Washington, DC, 2009.
- “PERM for Non-Professionals and Small Businesses,” AILA DC Chapter Fall Conference Washington, DC, 2006.