Pamela D. Nieto

Counsel

Houston
T +1.713.646.1372
F +1.713.751.1717

Overview

Pam Nieto’s practice focuses on helping businesses of all sizes address their immigration needs. Whether a company desires to transfer employees from an office abroad, needs to hire foreign nationals to fill vacant positions, is interested in obtaining work visas in connection with opening an office or starting a new venture in the U.S. or seeks to assist foreign national employees obtain their green cards, Pam advises clients of their options and explains the requirements, issues and processes involved. She also provides training and assistance in setting up, improving and auditing compliance programs to meet various immigration-related requirements, including those covering the I-9 employment verification process, utilizing E-Verify, H-1B/Labor Condition Application public access files and Program Electronic Review Management application audit files.

Pam serves as a resource to the due diligence review process by assessing the impact a proposed action, such as a merger or an acquisition, might have on existing foreign national employees’ authorization to continue their employment. In addition, Pam handles citizenship-related issues, working with clients interested in pursuing naturalization as well as others considering relinquishing their citizenship.

Select Experience

  • Obtained Blanket L approval and E-2 company registration for a U.S. organization with multiple companies in the U.S. and abroad in order to facilitate the transfer of employees. Allowed qualifying workers to apply for L-1 or E-2 visas directly at U.S. consulates abroad, bypassing U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and thereby saving time and money.
  • Worked with a health care organization that sought to hire a foreign national physician willing to care for patients in an underserved area. Obtained a waiver of the physician’s J-1 two-year home residency requirement and H-1B visa classification approval to authorize the doctor’s employment.
  • Conducted an I-9 audit and provided employee verification to a firm client’s human resources employees after the client became aware of an increase in Form I-9 inspections being conducted by the government, as well as an increase in immigration-related discrimination actions being pursued against employers.
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Experience

  • Obtained Blanket L approval and E-2 company registration for a U.S. organization with multiple companies in the U.S. and abroad in order to facilitate the transfer of employees. Allowed qualifying workers to apply for L-1 or E-2 visas directly at U.S. consulates abroad, bypassing U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and thereby saving time and money.
  • Worked with a health care organization that sought to hire a foreign national physician willing to care for patients in an underserved area. Obtained a waiver of the physician’s J-1 two-year home residency requirement and H-1B visa classification approval to authorize the doctor’s employment.
  • Conducted an I-9 audit and provided employee verification to a firm client’s human resources employees after the client became aware of an increase in Form I-9 inspections being conducted by the government, as well as an increase in immigration-related discrimination actions being pursued against employers.
  • Counseled a client in connection with planned trips to the U.S. by foreign national employees of an overseas affiliate. Advised on types of activities that would be permitted to be carried out by individuals while in the U.S. on business visitor status and activities that would require actual work visas. Assisted the client in preparing the necessary letters to support business visits.
  • Provided guidance to a firm client on U.S. citizenship renunciation in order to advance business ventures. Advised on immigration rules and potential ramifications that renunciation could cause.

Recognitions and Memberships

Recognitions

  • The Legal 500 United States (2020 to 2021)
    • Recommended in Labor and Employment - Immigration

Memberships

  • American Immigration Lawyers Association
  • State Bar of Texas: Immigration and Nationality Law Section
  • Houston Bar Association
  • American Bar Association: Immigration and Naturalization Committee
  • Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT), Houston Chapter: 
    • Board Member (2006 to 2012)
    • V.P. of Legal Affairs (2006 to 2008, 2011) 
    • Treasurer (2009 to 2012)
  • Texas Aggie Bar Association
  • College of the State Bar of Texas

Pro Bono

  • Assisted a mother in being appointed legal guardian of her disabled adult child after a hospitalization experience in which hospital personnel were not authorized to share information with her.
  • Participated in the Houston Bar Association’s Will-A-Thon by preparing simple wills and medical directives for low-income senior citizens in the Houston area.

Admissions

  • U.S. Court of International Trade, 2008
  • U.S. Court of Federal Claims, 1991
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas, 1988
  • Texas

Education

  • J.D., University of Houston Law Center, 1984
  • B.S., Texas A&M University, 1981, cum laude

Languages

  • Spanish