Litwin & Smith, A Law Corporation

Litwin & Smith, A Law Corporation Litwin & Smith, A Law Corporation represents employers, employees, outstanding individuals, and their families across the U.S., and around the world.

Litwin & Smith is a well-regarded law firm based in Northern California, specializing exclusively in immigration and nationality law. With offices in the San Francisco Bay Area, including South San Francisco and Santa Clara, the firm has built a national reputation for its expertise and high success rate in handling complex immigration matters. Founded by Edward R. Litwin in 1980, the firm has ove

r 45 years of experience and is known for its meticulous approach. It dedicates significant time to each case to achieve favorable outcomes for its clients. The firm serves a diverse clientele, approximately 40% of which are individual clients, and the rest comprise large, multinational corporations. Its practice focuses on both business and family immigration, offering services such as work visas (e.g., H-1B, L-1), labor certifications (PERM), permanent residence (green cards), investment visas (EB-5), and family-based visa petitions. Litwin & Smith is particularly renowned for its work in labor certifications, boasting a near-perfect approval rate, a record that sets it apart in the field. Led by a team of experienced attorneys, including Edward R. Litwin—a certified specialist in immigration and nationality law by the California State Bar—and Donald E. Smith, the managing shareholder, the firm emphasizes personalized attention, responsiveness, and professionalism. It caters to industries like technology, bioscience, and telecommunications, especially in Silicon Valley, while also assisting investors, employers, and families worldwide. Litwin & Smith prides itself on delivering strategic, effective immigration solutions, maintaining competitive fees, and achieving results that exceed industry standards, such as its strong track record with H-1B cap registrations and appeals.

What can I do if DHS Terminates TPS for my Home Country?: On February 03, 2025, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi No...
02/06/2025

What can I do if DHS Terminates TPS for my Home Country?: On February 03, 2025, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem determined that conditions in Venezuela no longer support the 2023 designation of Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). TPS and related benefits associated with the 2023 designation will no longer be in effect starting 60 days after publication of the Federal Register notice, “Termination of […]

What can I do if DHS Terminates TPS for my Home Country?: On February 03, 2025, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem determined that conditions in Venezuela no longer support the 2023 designation of Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). TPS and related benefits associated with the 2...

FY 2026 H-1B Cap Initial Registration Period Opens on March 7: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announc...
02/06/2025

FY 2026 H-1B Cap Initial Registration Period Opens on March 7: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the initial registration period for the fiscal year 2026 H-1B cap will open at noon Eastern on March 7 and continue until noon Eastern on March 24, 2025. During this time, prospective petitioners and their representatives must use a USCIS online account to register each beneficiary electronically […]

FY 2026 H-1B Cap Initial Registration Period Opens on March 7: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the initial registration period for the fiscal year 2026 H-1B cap will open at noon Eastern on March 7 and continue until noon Eastern on March 24, 2025. During this time, ...

ICE Conducts I-9 Audits at Silicon Valley Employers: Our firm has received reports that Immigration and Customs Enforcem...
01/23/2025

ICE Conducts I-9 Audits at Silicon Valley Employers: Our firm has received reports that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is visiting Silicon Valley employers to conduct I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification audits. ICE does not need a warrant to conduct an I-9 audit. Instead, ICE will send an employer a Notice of Inspection (NOI) at least three days before the audit. If ICE visits […]

ICE Conducts I-9 Audits at Silicon Valley Employers: Our firm has received reports that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is visiting Silicon Valley employers to conduct I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification audits. ICE does not need a warrant to conduct an I-9 audit. Instead, ICE will sen...

USCIS Updates Guidance on EB-2 Advanced Degree Professionals, Exceptional Ability, Professional Athletes, and National I...
01/16/2025

USCIS Updates Guidance on EB-2 Advanced Degree Professionals, Exceptional Ability, Professional Athletes, and National Interest Waiver Petitions: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is updating its policy guidance to clarify how we evaluate eligibility for the second preference employment-based (EB-2) classification for immigrant petitions filed with a request for a national interest waiver (NIW). An employer generally files an EB-2 petition using Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, after obtaining a labor certification from the Department of Labor. […]

USCIS Updates Guidance on EB-2 Advanced Degree Professionals, Exceptional Ability, Professional Athletes, and National Interest Waiver Petitions: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is updating its policy guidance to clarify how we evaluate eligibility for the second preference employment-base...

DHS Publishes Federal Register Notices Extending Temporary Protected Status for Ukraine, Sudan, and Venezuela.: The Depa...
01/16/2025

DHS Publishes Federal Register Notices Extending Temporary Protected Status for Ukraine, Sudan, and Venezuela.: The Department of Homeland Security announced on January 10, 2025, the extension of Temporary Protected Status for Ukraine, Sudan, and Venezuela. The Temporary Protected Status for Ukraine has been extended for 18 months, from April 20, 2025, to October 19, 2026, due to the armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions in Ukraine that prevent […]

DHS Publishes Federal Register Notices Extending Temporary Protected Status for Ukraine, Sudan, and Venezuela.: The Department of Homeland Security announced on January 10, 2025, the extension of Temporary Protected Status for Ukraine, Sudan, and Venezuela. The Temporary Protected Status for Ukraine...

DHS Extends TPS for El Salvador: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the extension of Temporary Prot...
01/14/2025

DHS Extends TPS for El Salvador: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for El Salvador for 18 months, from March 10, 2025, to September 9, 2026. This extension allows eligible Salvadoran nationals to maintain TPS and employment authorization due to environmental conditions that prevent individuals from safely returning. Re-registration is limited to […]

DHS Extends TPS for El Salvador: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for El Salvador for 18 months, from March 10, 2025, to September 9, 2026. This extension allows eligible Salvadoran nationals to maintain TPS and employment auth...

Modernizing H-1B Requirements, Providing Flexibility in the F-1 Program, and Program Improvements Affecting Other Nonimm...
01/06/2025

Modernizing H-1B Requirements, Providing Flexibility in the F-1 Program, and Program Improvements Affecting Other Nonimmigrant Workers: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a final rule titled “Modernizing H-1B Requirements, Providing Flexibility in the F-1 Program, and Program Improvements Affecting Other Nonimmigrant Workers, effective January 17, 2025. In response to this rule change, Litwin & Smith is offering “free” H-1B company cap registrations this year because of an increased […]

Modernizing H-1B Requirements, Providing Flexibility in the F-1 Program, and Program Improvements Affecting Other Nonimmigrant Workers: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a final rule titled “Modernizing H-1B Requirements, Providing Flexibility in the F-1 Program, and Progra...

Visa Bulletin For January 2025: The Dept of State has posted the January 2025 Visa Bulletin. It lists final action dates...
12/31/2024

Visa Bulletin For January 2025: The Dept of State has posted the January 2025 Visa Bulletin. It lists final action dates and filing dates for January 2026. This bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during January for: “Final Action Dates” and “Dates for Filing Applications,” indicating when immigrant visa applicants should be notified to assemble and submit required documentation […]

Visa Bulletin For January 2025: The Dept of State has posted the January 2025 Visa Bulletin. It lists final action dates and filing dates for January 2026. This bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during January for: “Final Action Dates” and “Dates for Filing Applications...

A new J-1 Skills List! Effective December 9th: The Department of State has revised the Exchange Visitor Skills List effe...
12/10/2024

A new J-1 Skills List! Effective December 9th: The Department of State has revised the Exchange Visitor Skills List effective December 9, 2024. The Skills List identifies countries that require specialized knowledge or skills, determining if J nonimmigrant exchange visitors are subject to the two-year foreign residence requirement under Section 212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The list is updated based […]

A new J-1 Skills List! Effective December 9th: The Department of State has revised the Exchange Visitor Skills List effective December 9, 2024. The Skills List identifies countries that require specialized knowledge or skills, determining if J nonimmigrant exchange visitors are subject to the two-ye...

USCIS Reaches Fiscal Year 2025 H-1B Cap: USCIS has received enough petitions to reach the congressionally mandated 65,00...
12/07/2024

USCIS Reaches Fiscal Year 2025 H-1B Cap: USCIS has received enough petitions to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa U.S. advanced degree exemption, known as the master's cap, for fiscal year (FY) 2025. USCIS will send non-selection notices to registrants through their online accounts over the next few days. The status for properly submitted […]

USCIS Reaches Fiscal Year 2025 H-1B Cap: USCIS has received enough petitions to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa U.S. advanced degree exemption, known as the master's cap, for fiscal year (FY) 2025. USCIS will send non-selection notices to reg...

DHS Publishes Federal Register Notice Designating Lebanon for Temporary Protected Status: The Department of Homeland Sec...
11/27/2024

DHS Publishes Federal Register Notice Designating Lebanon for Temporary Protected Status: The Department of Homeland Security posted a Federal Register notice today designating Lebanon for 18 months of Temporary Protected Status. The designation of Lebanon for TPS allows an estimated 11,000 Lebanese nationals (and individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in Lebanon) who have been continuously living in the United States since Oct. 16, 2024, and […]

DHS Publishes Federal Register Notice Designating Lebanon for Temporary Protected Status: The Department of Homeland Security posted a Federal Register notice today designating Lebanon for 18 months of Temporary Protected Status. The designation of Lebanon for TPS allows an estimated 11,000 Lebanese...

Trump Administration Expectations: As the weeks have progressed, we have been inundated with employers' queries about th...
11/26/2024

Trump Administration Expectations: As the weeks have progressed, we have been inundated with employers' queries about the potential implications of the upcoming Trump Administration. The primary concern is the impact on their employees and the future recruitment of skilled individuals, particularly in the context of employment-based visas. Immigration law is complex, and having an attorney can provide invaluable […]

Trump Administration Expectations: As the weeks have progressed, we have been inundated with employers' queries about the potential implications of the upcoming Trump Administration. The primary concern is the impact on their employees and the future recruitment of skilled individuals, particularly ...

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5820 Stoneridge Mall Road, Suite 216
Pleasanton, CA
94588

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Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm

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Employment and Family-based Immigration Law Firm