Overview

Matthew assists employers and individuals in meeting their immigration objectives by providing trusted and compassionate counsel and by zealously advocating for clients through every stage of the immigration process.

Matthew practices in the field of employment-based immigration and nonimmigrant visas for diverse employers of all sizes, with a special focus on immigration strategies for healthcare organizations, international physicians, and medical device manufacturers. Matthew also assists clients with family, naturalization, asylum, humanitarian immigration matters and federal immigration litigation. With extensive experience in employment law, Matthew has expertise in immigration compliance issues, including I-9 audits, structuring and implementing immigration policies, and training on I‑9 compliance. He also draws on his experience in litigation and appeals to advocate for his clients.

Matthew is a frequent speaker at regional meetings, workshops, CLEs, and conferences on immigration issues and healthcare recruiting. He is also the Chair of the Minnesota/Dakotas Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Matthew has taught immigration law and legal writing at the University of Minnesota Law School.

Services

Experience

Health Care/Higher Education

  • J‑1 Conrad Waivers
  • HHS Waivers/Regional Commission J-1 waivers
  • Nurses and Allied Health Staff
  • Outstanding Professors and Researchers

Corporate

  • H‑1B Petitions
  • PERM
  • Self-Sponsored Cases for Permanent Residence
  • EB‑1 Extraordinary Abilities
  • O‑1
  • Nonimmigrant Visa Strategies
  • L‑1A/L‑1B
  • TN
  • E‑3

Individuals and Families

  • Marriage
  • Asylum
  • Naturalization
  • Deportation Defense
  • I‑9 Trainings/Audits
  • Consular Processing

Credentials

Education

  • University of Minnesota Law School, J.D., magna cum laude
  • Pennsylvania State University, Schreyer Honors College, B.A.

Admissions

  • Minnesota, 2011
  • U.S Court of Appeals for the Eight Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas

Languages

Recognition

  • Associate Volunteer of the Year, Fredrikson & Byron, 2023
  • Minnesota Super Lawyers Rising Star, Immigration: Business, 2020-present
  • North Star Lawyer, Minnesota State Bar Association, 2014-present
  • Pro Bono All Star, Minnesota State Bar Association, 2020
  • Human Rights Volunteer Award (Somali 92 Team Member), The Advocates for Human Rights, 2019 
  • Arthur C. Helton Memorial Human Rights Award (Somali 92 Team Member), American Immigration Lawyers Association, 2019
  • Order of the Coif

Civic & Professional

Professional Activities

  • Minnesota State Bar Association
  • Hennepin County Bar Association
  • Federal Bar Association
  • American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), MN/Dakotas, Chair (2023-present), Vice Chair (2022), Secretary (2021), Treasurer (2020)
  • University of St. Thomas, Adjunct Faculty (Immigration Law), 2020
  • University of Minnesota Law School, Adjunct Instructor (Legal Writing), 2012-2017
  • University of Minnesota Law School, Adjunct Instructor (Immigration Law), 2012-2016
  • Minnesota State Bar Association Immigration Section, Council Secretary and Treasurer, 2013-2015
  • The Advocates for Human Rights, Volunteer Attorney
  • Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, Volunteer Attorney
  • Volunteer Lawyers Network, Volunteer Attorney

Community

  • St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church, President and Vice President, 2016-2020
  • Minnesota Justice Foundation, Board Member, 2015-2017

News & Insights

Publications & Presentations

Co-Presenter, “Hiring & Firing: The Basics and Best Practices of I-9 Compliance – Including the New Form I-9 and New Remote Inspection Rule,” Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, December 19, 2023

Co-Presenter, “Immigration Issues and Tax Laws: Unexpected Interactions,” The 83rd Annual Tax Institute, December 11, 2023

Speaker, “Immigration Pathways for Recruitment,” Maine Rural Health and Primary Care Program, October 17, 2023

Speaker, “Healthcare Immigration Prescriptions – Immigration Strategies for Physicians and Allied Health Staff in both Clinical and Academic Healthcare Practices,” September 28, 2023

Speaker, “CLE: Taxing Questions for Foreign Nationals: Tax Law Basics Every Immigration Attorney Should Know,” AILA MN/Dakotas Chapter, September 27, 2023

Speaker, “How Not to Get A-NOID When Responding to RFEs, NOIDS & Denials on Employment-Based Cases,” AILA MN/Dakotas Upper Midwest Immigration Law Conference, Minneapolis, MN, May 19, 2023

Moderator, “Xenophobia Past and Present: A Conversation with Author Erika Lee,” AILA Minnesota/Dakotas Chapter, January 18, 2023

Co-Presenter, “CLE: Expediting in the Days of Delays – A Discussion of Agency, AILA, Judicial, and Congressional Expedite Requests,” AILA Minnesota/Dakotas Chapter, November 30, 2022

Presenter, “ND Healthcare Immigration Strategies: Immigration Solutions for Recruitment and Retention,” North Dakota Recruiter Network, July 13, 2022

Co-Presenter, “Life in the Slow Lane: Employment-Based Immigrant Visa Backlogs,” AILA Minnesota/Dakotas Chapter Upper Midwest Immigration Law Conference, May 20, 2022

Co-Presenter, “NM Healthcare Immigration Strategies: Immigration Solutions for Recruitment & Retention in the Land of Enchantment,” New Mexico Health Resources, May 18, 2022

Presenter, “Healthcare Immigration Strategies,” Pennsylvania Primary Care Career Center, May 17, 2022

“Healthcare Immigration Strategies,” New Mexico Health Care Workforce Committee, April 11, 2022

Co-Presenter, “Two Timely Topics for 2/22/22: EB-2 Downgrades and H-1B Registration,” AILA MN/DAK Chapter CLE, February 22, 2022

Co-Presenter, “Healthcare Immigration Strategies: Docs, Dentists, Nurses, Allied Health Staff,” North Dakota Center for Rural Health- Primary Care Office, January 20, 2022

Co-Presenter, “Utah Department of Health – From J-1 to Day One: A Conversation about the Benefits and Process of Hiring International Medical Professionals,” Utah Department of Health, November 17, 2021

Co-Presenter, “Demystifying the Immigration Process for Maine’s Physician Recruiters,” Maine Rural and Primary Care Office, May 18, 2021

Co-Presenter, “Demystifying the Immigration Process,” 3RNET, April 20, 2021

Co-Presenter, “Captaining the H-1B Cap Season: Background, Updates and Tips on Registration, and the Latest Developments on the 2021 H-1B Cap Season,” AILA MN/DAK Chapter CLE, February 25, 2021

Co-Presenter, “A New Dawn: A Look at U.S. Immigration Policies and Practices at the Start of the Biden Administration,” Fredrikson & Byron Immigration Webinar, February 23, 2021

Co-Presenter, “Breaking the Blockade: Strategies for Essential Foreign Workers,” Fredrikson & Byron Immigration Webinar, October 8, 2020

Co-Presenter, “International Physicians: A Guide to Expanding Healthcare Access Webinar,” Fredrikson & Byron Immigration Webinar, May 12, 2020

Co-Presenter, “Play Offense: Be Prepared for I-9 Audit/Enforcement Trends and the SSA No Match Letters,” Fredrikson & Byron Immigration Webinar, August 27, 2019

Co-Presenter, “Non-Immigrant Visas & Unlawful Presence,” Fredrikson & Byron Immigration Seminar, May 8, 2019

Co-Presenter, “Immigrant Visas, Travel and Compliance,” Fredrikson & Byron Immigration Seminar, May 8, 2019

Moderator, “Conversation with Foreign Consular Officials,” AILA CLE, March 14, 2019

Panelist, “Federal Litigation for Employment-Based Practitioners,” AILA Seminar, February 6, 2019

Co-Presenter, “Immigration Issues for Employers Under the Buy American and Hire American (BAHA) Executive Order,” Fredrikson & Byron’s Annual North Dakota Employment Law Seminar, October 19, 2018

Co-Presenter, “Anatomy of an I-9 Audit,” Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, May 21-22, 2018

Co-Presenter, “Anatomy of an I-9 Audit,” Fredrikson & Byron Immigration Seminar, May 9, 2018

Co-Presenter, “What Now? What Next? Hiring Foreign Nationals in Uncertain Times,” Fredrikson & Byron Immigration Seminar, May 9, 2018

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