Joshua Mirer primarily practices U.S. immigration law, focusing on business immigration. His practice involves advising employers about nonimmigrant and immigrant visas for their employees and preparing visa petitions for submission to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Mr. Mirer serves as primary outside counsel concerning U.S. immigration matters for national companies. He also counsels health centers and physicians groups in obtaining waivers of the two-year home residency requirement for J-1 physicians and advises employers on the Immigration Reform and Control Act and related issues. Mr. Mirer has overseen the strategic filing of over 200 applications for labor certification under PERM since its inception in 2005. Mr. Mirer coauthored a chapter concerning worksite compliance in a Matthew Bender publication about labor and employment law. He served as a peer editor on the American Immigration Lawyers Association's treaties on business immigration law, specifically, the chapter on immigrant visas. Mr. Mirer served as a faculty member for Sterling Educational Services' immigration series in Boston, Hartford, and Long Island. He speaks annually for the Connecticut Business & Industry Association and the Connecticut Bar Association on business immigration and related topics. Professional Associations - American Bar Association, 2000 to present - Connecticut Bar Association, 2000 to present - American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), 2001 to present - AILA, Connecticut Chapter, 2001 to present - Foreign Medical Graduate Task Force, 2008 to present - Connecticut Technology Council, 2009 to present - Connecticut United for Research Excellence, Inc. (CURE), 2010 to present Community Involvement - The Village for Families & Children, Board Member Experience - Representation of a Danish-owned publically traded company to bring Danish nationals to the U.S. as managers and specialized knowledge personnel. Robinson & Cole filed documentation to register the company with the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen as an E-2 Trader Investor. Also filed substantial documentation with the E-2 application regarding the company's real estate leases, corporate acquisitions, current employees and their immigration status, and the company's initial investment in the U.S. - Representation of a Connecticut-based global technology company concerning one of its employees who was denied a pending PERM application. The U.S. Department of Labor indicated that the company did not list all of its requirements on the PERM application even though the requirements were listed in the ad and that this was prejudicial to U.S. workers. Robinson & Cole refiled the PERM application and successfully argued that the requirements were in fact listed on the application as an alternative and that this was appropriate. The case was reopened relatively quickly, and the employee received her permanent resident status. - Representation of a New York City-based global management consulting firm to secure an approved L-1 Blanket petition. Converted the majority of its H-1B workforce to L-1B status at U.S. Consulates in India and China. This has allowed for more flexibility regarding staffing, compensation, and client service and no further concerns about H-1B dependency. - Apply for waivers of the two-year home residency requirement for physicians and other J-1 professionals. - Routinely apply for and obtain permanent resident status for employees of our corporate clients through the Alien Labor Certification process under Reduction in Recruitment. - Enabled biotechnology companies, educational institutions, and hospitals to retain valuable key scientists, researchers, chemists, professors, and physicians by obtaining both temporary and permanent immigration status. - Provided immigration training to human resources professionals, recruiters, executives and managers, business owners, and in-house counsel for a variety of clients and business organizations, including Fortune 100 and Global 500 companies and one of the world's largest chemical and pharmaceutical companies. - Assisted multinational software services company in staffing their new U.S. offices by successfully obtaining H-1B and L-1 status for their vice president and a team of computer professionals. - Counseled one of the 30 largest financial institutions in the United States with regard to post-acquisition I-9 compliance issues and provided guidance for self-audit. Publications & Presentations Presentations - "Immigration Issues and Compliance" (9/22/06) presented at Connecticut Business & Industry Association - "Perm Talk: How to Avoid Stalling on the Road to Permanent Residence" (9/20/06) presented at Cambridge, Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce News 5.21.10, Robinson & Cole's Naughton, Mirer, and Sharubina Named Pro Bono Legal Champion's by the Center for Children's Advocacy 4.05.10, Robinson & Cole Attorney Elected to Board of Directors of the Village for Families & Children, Inc. 3.05.10, Robinson & Cole Immigration Attorneys Honored by Center for Children's Advocacy 11.12.08, Robinson & Cole Announces New Partners |