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George N. Lester, IV
Associate
Boston
George Lester assists employers and individuals with a full spectrum of immigration and naturalization services. He represents clients in all steps of the processes necessary for foreign nationals to obtain temporary or permanent immigration status in U.S., including advocacy before the federal Departments of Homeland Security, Labor, State and Justice, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, and United States Customs and Border Protection, various state employment service agencies (such as the Massachusetts Division of Career Services), and other relevant government agencies.
A significant part of George's practice is helping U.S. employers that seek to hire foreign professionals, scientists, business persons and artists. His clients are companies of all sizes, from start-ups to established multinationals, and in a broad variety of high tech, scientific, manufacturing, academic and other fields. On their behalf George files petitions for "H-1B" temporary professional workers and "L-1" intracompany transferees, and files related "labor certification" applications, immigrant petitions and applications for permanent residence. He also helps employers with all required steps in the immigration process for "H-2B" temporary or seasonal workers. As part of his immigration counsel, George helps companies with large numbers of foreign national employees to develop cost efficient, effective strategies for high volume processing of immigration petitions and applications.
For individual clients, George prepares immigration related petitions and applications in the U.S., and assists with visa application procedures at U.S. consulates abroad. He has been particularly successful in complex matters involving temporary (O-1) and permanent classification for "aliens of extraordinary ability" and "outstanding researchers," the "national interest waiver" of labor certification and waiver of the two-year home country residence requirement for "J-1" exchange visitors. He also has a notable record in Motions to Reopen or Administrative Appellate work for previously complex or problematic cases. George also represents foreign musical artists seeking to tour the U.S. in concert and other entertainment industry clients.
Bars and Court Admissions
Massachusetts
Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts
U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit
professional / civic involvement
Active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association at national and local level; has served as New England chapter Media Liaison.
Regularly speaks to business and academic groups on immigration issues
Regular speaker and panelist for immigration issues at training seminars and conferences by Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc.
Former Treasurer and Board Member of the Political Asylum/Immigration Representation Project (PAIR), a nonprofit organization which coordinates pro bono representation among major Boston law firms in political asylum and related matters
Elected member of Planning Board of Town of Medfield, Massachusetts
Former Board Member, Treasurer and Secretary of Eastern New England Council of American Youth Hostels, Inc.
SPEECHES AND CONFERENCES
"Immigration Options for Artists and Musicians," Lecture, New England Conservatory of Music, April 15, 1999, Boston, Massachusetts
"Permanent Residency and The Labor Certification Process," Conference Presentation, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Immigration Law Basics Conference, March 3, 2000, Boston, Massachusetts
"Immigration Options for Artists and Musicians," Lecture, New England Conservatory of Music, April 5, 2000, Boston, Massachusetts
"Employment-Based Immigrant Visas - Labor Certification," Conference Presentation, Mass. Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) Immigration Law Basics Seminar, January 23, 2001, Boston, Massachusetts
"Special Problems in Labor Certification Applications and Immigrant Petitions," Panel Presentation, Mass. Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) Business Immigration Law Seminar, August 7, 2001, Boston, Massachusetts
"Gotta Get a Green Card: How to Get a Labor Certification Approved," Conference Presentation, Mass. Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) Immigration Law Conference 2002, May 10, 2002, Boston, Massachusetts
Seminar Chair, "Strategies for Business: Employing foreign nationals on Hs, Ls, TN and other visas," a 3 Part Telephone Seminar, Immigration Lawyers on the Web (ILW.Com), July 29, August 29 and September 30, 2002
"Immigrant Visas - Employment Based, Labor Certification Applications," Panel Presentation, Mass. Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) Immigration Law Basics Conference, November 18, 2002, Boston, Massachusetts
"Tips for Running a Successful Immigration Practice," Panel Presentation, Mass. Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) Immigration Law Basics Conference, November 19, 2002, Boston, Massachusetts.
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