Tom advises U.S. employers on effective immigration strategies to attract, retain, and empower global professionals essential to their success.
He also represents highly skilled individuals whose work advances the U.S. national interest, including those with extraordinary ability or outstanding achievements in academia and research.
A recognized leader in the field, clients rely on Tom to simplify the U.S. immigration process and manage interactions with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the Department of Labor, and the Department of State. For nearly three decades, he has helped colleges, universities, healthcare institutions, corporations, major league sports teams, professional athletes—including major league hall of famers and MVPs—scientists, and researchers navigate complex, ever-changing regulations where errors can have serious consequences. As a former special assistant attorney general for the State of Illinois, he is prepared to litigate when necessary to protect their interests.
Many of his clients hold advanced degrees from prestigious universities and work at the forefront of their fields. He routinely prepares and files National Interest Waiver (NIW) petitions, enabling faculty members, researchers, Ph.D. candidates, and scientists—across disciplines such as physics, chemistry, biology, aerospace, nanotechnology, medicine, engineering, materials science, sociology, and genetics—to pursue permanent residence without the need for employer sponsorship or labor certification. His command of NIW standards and documentation allows him to respond to questions immediately and decisively so the NIW petition can be prepared, filed, and approved expeditiously.
In addition to NIW cases, Tom assists clients with citizenship applications, green cards, work visas, and related filings. He has extensive experience with EB-5, J-1 waivers, H-1B, P-1, O-1, TN, PERM, I-140, I-485, citizenship, and various family-based applications. He has successfully represented scientists, researchers, executives, entrepreneurs, and elite athletes in EB-1A Extraordinary Ability cases, as well as universities seeking EB-1B Outstanding Professor/Researcher classifications for accomplished faculty and researchers. As former board counsel for the board of trustees of a state university, Tom is well-acquainted with university operations.
Tom also opines on Name, Image, and License (NIL) issues for international student-athletes.
A highly sought after speaker on immigration matters, he presents at national and regional conferences and meetings across the U.S.
Having personally navigated the immigration system—from F-1 student to permanent resident to U.S. citizen—Tom understands the stress, urgency, and high stakes his clients face. Clients value his empathy, accessibility, and results-oriented approach, as well as a concierge service model, which includes a dedicated case manager and real-time case updates through a secure client portal. Together, Tom and his team work toward one clear goal: securing approval of each client’s application or petition as efficiently and smoothly as possible.