Best Immigration Lawyers in Oregon
Looking for employment-based U.S. immigration support? Beyond Border helps founders, executives, researchers, technology professionals and other accomplished individuals explore immigration pathways such as the O-1 visa, EB-1A green card and EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW). It works with independent U.S. immigration attorneys under separate
Oregon immigration attorneys
Oregon has immigration attorneys and law firms serving individuals, families, employers, international professionals and investors. While Portland has a concentration of immigration practices, legal services are also available in Beaverton, Lake Oswego, Eugene, Salem, Medford and Bend.
1. Irina S. Batrakova, The Batrakova Law Office
Office: 1155 SW Morrison Street, Suite 200, Portland, OR 97205.
Batrakova is an Oregon immigration attorney licensed since 2005 (Oregon State Bar No. 051538), according to her Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute profile. Her practice includes business immigration, employment visas, investor immigration and family immigration.
The firm's services include temporary work visas, permanent residency, F-1 student matters and J-1 waivers. Batrakova also speaks Russian, making her practice relevant to Russian-speaking individuals and businesses. Her public Cornell profile lists a $350 consultation fee.
2. Gretel M. Ness, Parker, Butte & Lane, PC
Office: 1336 E. Burnside Street, Suite 200, Portland, OR 97214.
Ness focuses on employment-based immigration, temporary worker visas, skilled-worker immigration, family immigration and citizenship matters. Her firm represents businesses and individuals across the United States.
According to the firm's attorney profile, Ness has served as a shareholder since 2002 and advises employers on immigration planning, foreign employee sponsorship and employment verification compliance. Her background may be relevant to businesses recruiting international professionals and individuals pursuing employment-based immigration.
3. Harshi M. Waters, Brindle McCormack & Williams, P.C.
Office: 121 SW Salmon Street, Suite 1225, Portland, OR 97204.
Waters handles business, employment-based and family immigration matters. Her employment immigration practice includes H-1B, L-1, TN, E-3 and O-1 visas, along with employment-based permanent residency through PERM labor certification.
She has worked with multinational companies, small businesses and entrepreneurial investors. Her profile states that she has been an Oregon State Bar member since September 2003 (OSB No. 03376). Her experience may be relevant to employers and professionals evaluating temporary work authorization or employment-based green card options.
4. Andrea Bartoloni, Buchalter
Office: 805 SW Broadway, Suite 1500, Portland, OR 97205.
Bartoloni is a partner at Buchalter and co-chair of its immigration practice. His work includes temporary employment visas, labor certification, employment-based permanent residency, extraordinary-ability immigration and investor visas.
He also advises businesses on corporate and international business matters. His combination of immigration and corporate law experience may be useful to employers, investors and international professionals whose immigration plans involve business operations or investment activities.
Buchalter confirms his Oregon and Washington bar admissions on its attorney profile.
5. Scott Aldworth, Kell, Alterman & Runstein, LLP
Office: 520 SW Yamhill Street, Suite 600, Portland, OR 97204.
Aldworth handles immigration matters through the firm's immigration practice, which emphasizes employer immigration issues and employment-based visas.
The firm provides legal strategies for businesses and individuals dealing with employment-related immigration requirements. Its Portland office serves clients in Oregon and Washington.
Prospective clients considering employer-sponsored immigration can contact the firm to ask about its experience with their specific visa category, sponsorship arrangements and permanent residency options.
6. Erick Christopher Widman, Passage Immigration Law
Office: 1470 NW Overton Street, Suite A, Portland, OR 97209.
Widman is the founder of Passage Immigration Law and has practiced law since 2004. His immigration practice includes asylum, citizenship, deportation defense, family visas, green cards, investment visas, student visas and work visas.
His professional background includes previous in-house legal work at Philips Corporation involving international and immigration matters. He is admitted to practice in Oregon, California and Washington and serves clients nationally because immigration law is federal.
7. Kendra Jimenez Baughman, Three Sisters Law
Office: 915 NW Gasoline Alley, Suite 205, Bend, OR 97703.
Baughman is a founding partner of Three Sisters Law, an immigration practice based in Bend. Her work includes immigration court proceedings, asylum, family immigration, humanitarian applications and representation before USCIS.
Her professional background includes work with immigrant communities, migrant farmworkers and detained women and children. She is a member of the New Mexico State Bar and notes that her federal immigration practice allows her to assist clients in other U.S. states and abroad.
8. Raquel E. Hecht, Alliance Legal, LLC
Office: 329 E. 8th Avenue, Eugene, OR 97401.
Hecht is the founding attorney of Alliance Legal and has been a licensed immigration attorney in Oregon since 1993. Her work focuses on immigrant rights, community-based legal services and immigration representation.
She previously founded Hecht & Norman, LLP, which operated in Eugene and Salem before dissolving in 2025. Her professional experience includes community education, advocacy and participation in Oregon legal and human rights organizations.
Her background may be relevant to individuals and families seeking immigration guidance in the Eugene area.
9. Callie Killebrew, Bend Immigration Group, LLC
Office: 1537 NE 4th Street, Suite 100, Bend, OR 97701.
Killebrew is the founding partner of Bend Immigration Group, which serves immigrant families in Central Oregon. Her practice includes immigration and naturalization matters, family petitions, consular processing, asylum, waivers and other immigration applications.
Her profile in the American Immigration Lawyers Association directory identifies her as an Oregon-admitted attorney and lists Spanish among the languages spoken at the law office. The practice provides a regional option for individuals and families who need immigration assistance in Central Oregon.
How to choose an immigration lawyer in Oregon
The right attorney depends on your immigration category and the complexity of your case. A lawyer experienced in employer-sponsored visas may not specialize in asylum or deportation defense.
- Check the license: Search the attorney's name in the Oregon State Bar Licensee Directory and review their licensing information. Attorneys licensed in other states may also handle federal immigration matters in Oregon.
- Match the immigration category: Ask whether the attorney handles O-1, EB-1A, EB-2 NIW, H-1B, family petitions, citizenship or removal defense cases similar to yours.
- Understand the fees: Request a written breakdown of attorney fees, USCIS filing fees, translation expenses and other potential costs.
- Ask who handles your case: Confirm which attorney will provide legal advice, prepare the petition, review supporting evidence and communicate with you.
- Confirm the office details: Verify the current address, consultation arrangements and availability before visiting.
How Beyond Border helps with U.S. immigration
Beyond Border focuses on employment-based immigration pathways, including O-1, EB-1A, EB-2 NIW, L-1 and E-2 visas. Its services are designed for founders, executives, technology professionals, researchers and other skilled individuals exploring U.S. immigration opportunities.
Depending on the engagement, Beyond Border can:
- Review a professional background to identify potential immigration pathways.
- Help organize professional achievements, qualifications and supporting documentation.
- Coordinate case preparation materials for review by an independent immigration attorney.
- Help applicants understand the immigration process and the documentation involved.
The appropriate pathway depends on individual qualifications, professional achievements, proposed activities and applicable immigration requirements.
Beyond Border works with independent U.S. immigration attorneys under separate attorney-client agreements. It does not provide legal advice or representation.
Disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It does not create an attorney-client relationship with Beyond Border or any attorney mentioned.
Frequently Asked Questions
Identify your immigration category, shortlist attorneys with relevant experience, review their professional backgrounds and verify their licensing information. The Oregon State Bar and American Immigration Lawyers Association directories can help.
Fees vary depending on the application and complexity. For example, publicly available profiles list a $350 consultation fee for Irina Batrakova, while Portland Immigration Law advertises a one-hour consultation for $300. Ask attorneys for a written fee estimate before hiring. Government filing fees are separate.
Yes. Attorneys with employment-based immigration experience may assist with O-1 petitions. Ask about their experience preparing extraordinary-ability cases and evaluating supporting evidence.
Yes. U.S. immigration law is federal, and attorneys may represent clients in immigration matters across state boundaries, subject to applicable professional rules and court requirements.
No. The attorneys are included for informational purposes only. Their inclusion does not establish an affiliation, endorsement or business relationship with Beyond Border.
Eligible Oregon residents may apply for assistance through Equity Corps of Oregon, which provides free immigration legal services subject to eligibility requirements. The Oregon State Bar Legal Referral Service also connects individuals with attorneys and offers an initial meeting of up to 30 minutes for no more than $50.
