MATTHEW KOLODZIEJ
Partner
Business Immigration
Family Immigration
I-9 Compliance
BIOGRAPHY
Matthew Kolodziej has over 20 years of experience in international employee mobility, immigration compliance, and business- and family-based immigration. He advises companies and individuals on visas for investors (EB-5, E-2), skilled workers (H-1B, E-3, TN), extraordinary ability (O-1), and intra-company transferees (L-1), and provides high-level strategic planning for the modern international workforce. His clients have included tech startups, high-end Asian restaurants, a Spanish renewable energy company, a multinational Chinese biotech firm, fashion boutiques, a French music production studio, and other creative and innovative businesses. He has also advised leading technology companies, media organizations, hospitals, financial institutions, think tanks, and non-profits on their international employee mobility needs, and has litigated before the immigration agencies, the immigration courts, and the federal courts of appeals. Other areas of expertise include permanent residence based on investment, labor certification (PERM), outstanding research (EB-1B), extraordinary ability (EB-1A), and the national interest (NIW), in addition to family relationships and marriage. Prior to joining JLG he was Counsel at an international Am Law 100 firm where he assisted major corporations and investors with their global mobility needs. Before that he was a Legislative Fellow with the American Immigration Lawyers Association in Washington, DC, where he provided legal and policy analysis of immigration reform legislation proposed by the 113th Congress.
Matthew Kolodziej is honored to have been appointed Chair of the Investment Committee of the American Immigration Lawyers Association for the 2023-2024 year. He has been serving on this committee since 2021. Additionally, he has been appointed by the AILA national to serve on the AILA Department of State (DoS) Liaison Committee for the 2023-2024 year.
He is fluent in Spanish and French.
CREDENTIALS
Matthew earned a J.D. from George Washington University Law School and is a graduate of Universidad Complutense and Sarah Lawrence College. He is a member of the New York Bar Association and the American Immigration Lawyers Association. He is admitted to the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
PUBLICATIONS
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Navigating DHS Uncertain H-1B Overhaul
Jan 10, 2019 Publication description：Law360
Proposed changes to the H-1B application process are creating confusion, prepare applications as normal while anticipating the process may change up to 2 weeks before the April 1 filing deadline.
See publication Navigating DHS Uncertain H-1B OverhaulSee publication
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EB-1A: The Holy Grail Of Immigration Categories
Mar 2, 2018 Publication description：Law360
See publication EB-1A: The Holy Grail Of Immigration CategoriesSee publication
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Immigration-Related-Worksite Enforcement Visits to Increase in 2018: How Companies and Visa Holders Can Protect Themselves
27, 2018 Publication description：Jia Law Group
As the Trump administration ramps up enforcement actions against immigrants and the U.S. companies that employ them we discuss how to ensure immigration compliance and minimize exposure.
See publication Immigration-Related-Worksite Enforcement Visits to Increase in 2018: How Companies and Visa Holders Can Protect ThemselvesSee publication
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Administration Considers Major Reductions in J-1 Cultural Exchange Program
Sep 1, 2017 Publication description：The National Law Review
Analysis of announcement of possible cuts to J-1 exchange visitor program.
See publication Administration Considers Major Reductions in J-1 Cultural Exchange ProgramSee publication
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U.S. Suspends Nonimmigrant Visa Issuance in Russia
Aug 24, 2017 Publication description：JDSupra
Blog describing temporary suspension of U.S. visa processing and ongoing limited capacity due to Russian limitation of consular staffing.
See publication U.S. Suspends Nonimmigrant Visa Issuance in RussiaSee publication
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What To Know About High Court's Travel Ban Ruling
Jul 6, 2017 Publication description：Law360
My analysis of the US Supreme Court's partial lifting of the injunction against the Trump travel ban and the administration's guidance on implementation.
See publication What To Know About High Court's Travel Ban RulingSee publication
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Trump Begins “Extreme” Visa Vetting, New Questionnaire Requests 15 Years of Information and Social Media Info
Jun 13, 2017 Publication description：JD Supra
Analysis of new Trump administration visa vetting procedures and expanded employment and social media investigations.
See publication Trump Begins “Extreme” Visa Vetting, New Questionnaire Requests 15 Years of Information and Social Media InfoSee publication
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Delays And Uncertainty Surround Trump's Latest Travel Ban
Mar 22, 2017 Publication description：Law360
Analysis of history and context of litigation of President Trump's executive orders banning entry to the U.S. for nationals of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
See publication Delays And Uncertainty Surround Trump's Latest Travel BanSee publication
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BREAKING: Hawaii District Court Applies the Brakes to Second Version of President Trump’s Immigration Travel Ban
Mar 17, 2017 Publication description：The National Law Review
Analysis of temporary restraining order (TRO) blocking implementation of key portions of the second version of the executive order (EO) issued by President Donald Trump banning entry into the United States by nationals of six designated countries: Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.