Biography • Corporate Immigration

Timothy G Payne, a partner, joined the firm in 1995 and leads the firm's immigration practice. His practice focuses primarily on temporary and permanent residence processing for executive transferees, specialised knowledge workers, and other professionals. In addition to handling immigration filings, he advises clients on immigration policy, compliance and best practice matters. He regularly represents clients in a wide range of industries, including information technology, banking, consulting, engineering, medical products and manufacturing. He also provides immigration assistance to hospitals, universities, research organisations and other non-profit companies. Over the years he has helped clients navigate through the full range of business-related nonimmigrant visa options, including B, E, H, J, L, O, and TN visas. Mr Payne helps foreign national physicians, outstanding professors and researchers, and individuals with extraordinary ability find the most efficient and cost-effective path to live and work in the United States. As entrepreneurs and investors look to start up new US ventures, Mr Payne helps to devise strategies to ensure the smooth transfer of international personnel under the L-1, E-1 and E-2 visa programmes. He also assists wealthy investors seeking permanent residence through the EB-5 immigrant investor programme.

In the wake of mergers, acquisitions and other corporate changes, Mr Payne partners with the firm's corporate and litigation practices in performing due diligence related to the continued employment and sponsorship of foreign national employees. Over the past 10 years, Mr Payne has been a regular speaker on business immigration issues.

Mr Payne is a member of the National Immigration Bar and a member of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. He received his JD from Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology, in 1993 and his BA from the University of Illinois in 1988. He is admitted in Illinois.