Xavier Francis is an Associate Attorney at Global Immigration Associates. His practice focuses on nonimmigrant visas, including H-1B, L-1, E-3 and TN visas before the Department of Labor, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services and the Department of State. Xavier also advises companies on U.S. immigration and nationality law, policy and regulatory compliance.
Prior to joining GIA, Xavier worked for a prominent corporate immigration firm in the Washington D.C. metro area, where he practiced a broad range of U.S. and global immigration law. He has consulted Fortune 500 clients in the financial services, healthcare and information technology industries on best practices and strategies for developing and executing robust global mobility programs for their workforce.
Xavier has been invited to conferences and podcasts to speak on matters involving U.S. immigration law and has also delivered guest lectures on U.S. immigration law at his alma mater, The George Washington University Law School. Xavier has written about complex legal issues arising in U.S. immigration law, policy, and regulatory compliance, with some work published in journals such as Law360 and Bloomberg.
Xavier volunteers pro bono at nonprofit services and advocacy organization, CASA de Maryland, Inc., where he consults low-income immigrants on their eligibility for U.S. Citizenship. He has also participated in workshops at his alma mater where he consulted F-1 (student) nonimmigrant visa holders on strategies for seeking employment or starting their own business in the U.S.
The George Washington University Law School, J.D.
Fairfield University, B.A.
Xavier is licensed to practice in the District of Columbia
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
Author, “H-1B Employer Hurdles When Sponsoring MBA Graduates,” Bloomberg Law Professional Perspective, Dec. 2019
Speaker, Global China Connection, “Tightened US Visa Policy: Chinese Non-Immigrants and Immigrants,” Washington, DC, Nov. 2019
Author, “Employer Visa Challenges Inspire Forward-Thinking Bill,” Law360 Expert Analysis, May 2019
Author, “Will Congress Tackle Immigration Reform,” BAL Perspectives, Apr. 2019
Author, “5 Immigration Changes to Follow to in 2019,” LinkedIn, Jan. 2019
Author, “Potential Pitfalls of Hiring without Degree Requirements,” Law360 Expert Analysis, Nov. 2018
Author, “USCIS Delivers One-Two Punch With New Policy Guidance,” Bloomberg BNA, July 2018
Author, “Common Challenges Associated with B-1 Visa Compliance,” Law360 Expert Analysis, May 2018
Author, “F-1 Visa Holders Changing to H-1B Face New Risks,” Law360 Expert Analysis, May 2018