Biography
Avalyn Castillo Langemeier is a partner at Foster LLP in the Houston office and is Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. She has been recognized by Who’s Who Legal: Corporate Immigration, Best Lawyers in America, The Legal 500 Next Generation Partners, and the 2023 Lawdragon 100 Leading Immigration Lawyers. Avalyn focuses her practice on business immigration and immigration compliance. She represents employers and individuals, including in service, academia and healthcare, on employment-based immigration processes. She has extensive experience with corporate compliance and immigration policy; nonimmigrant visas including H-1Bs, Ls, TNs and R-1s; J-1 waivers; specialty visas like O-1 nonimmigrant visas; employment-based permanent residency, including based on PERM labor certification, EB-1, and EB-2 national interest waiver; naturalization and citizenship, and Form I-9 compliance.
Avalyn received her J.D. from The University of Texas at Austin, and graduated cum laude from Harvard University. She is licensed to practice in the State of Texas and previously was an employment attorney in California and Texas before she began practicing immigration law exclusively more than 20 years ago.
Avalyn is an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and volunteers for nonprofit organizations, including serving as a board member for nonprofits. She presents frequently on a variety of immigration topics at HR professional symposiums and AILA immigration bar conferences, and is a guest writer for mobility and workforce magazines on corporate immigration matters.
Why Did You Decide To Become An Immigration Attorney?
I was born in the Philippines, which is where my Mexican-American dad met my mom while he served as one of the first U.S. Peace Corps volunteers under President Kennedy. I grew up in Texas with a wonderful mix of people, cultures, languages, and foods. I also grew up believing that it is important to help others. By becoming an immigration lawyer, I can help others from all walks of life and from different cultures and countries – whether that person is an educator, healthcare worker, religious worker, child, or a Human Resource person seeking assistance to comply with immigration laws. – Avalyn Langemeier
Activities
- January, 2022 – Co-presented on “Immigration: Are You Ready for 2022?” in a Foster webinar.
- November, 2021 – Presented on “U.S. Immigration: Recap of 2021 and Strategic Planning for 2022” at HR Houston General Meeting in Houston, TX.
- November, 2021 – Presented on “Thinking outside the box: O-1 and P visas, TPS and DACA” in a webinar hosted by Foster LLP.
- October, 2021 – Presented on “I-9 Compliance and Covid-19 Accommodations” in the 2021 Foster Fall Seminar.
- August, 2021 – Presented on “An Introduction to Various Immigration Documents and their Use or Significance” at the Gulf Coast Symposium on HR Issues in Houston, TX.
- March, 2021 – Presented on “Obtaining H-1B Status and Employment-Based Immigration” in a virtual employment seminar for the University of Houston.
- October, 2020 – Presented on “Immigration 101 For All Employers, Including During the Pandemic” at the 2020 Asian Chamber of Commerce Virtual Business Conference and Expo.
- October, 2019 – Presented an immigration overview to students at Rice University Office of International Students & Scholars in Houston, TX.
- May, 2019 – Presented on immigration issues and possible harsh consequences for students at the Annual Conference Committee of NAFSA Association of International Educators in Washington D.C.
- March, 2019 – Hosted and presented a medical immigration seminar for researchers and physicians in Houston, TX discussing J-1 issues, the J-1 waiver process, and H-1B specialty occupation and O-1 extraordinary work visas.
- January, 2019 – Presented to Houston’s human resource professionals at HR Houston’s General Meeting in Houston, TX.
- May, 2017 – Presented on “Drugs, Alcohol, and Immigration,” at the Gulf Coast Symposium on HR Issues in Houston, TX.
- December, 2016 – Presented on “Fast Track for Permanent Residence: Academic Physicians and Researchers” at the Physician Immigration Law Institute event in Washington, D.C.
- October, 2016 – Presented on “Religious Occupations and Vocations: From the R-1 Temporary Work Visa to the EB-4 Special Immigrant Visa, and Everything in Between,” at the University of Texas Conference in Austin, TX.
- May, 2016 – Co-panelist on “Overview and Best Practices: Extraordinary, Outstanding, NIW,” at the Federal Bar Association’s Immigration Law Conference in New Orleans, LA.
- September, 2015 – Presented on “Legal Answers Small Businesses Need to Know,” at the 2015 Governor’s Small Business Forum (GSBF).
Media
- Mobility Magazine (July, 2018), “Tips On Hiring Gig or Independent Workers”
- Workforce Magazine (October, 2016), “5 Ways to Manage the Workplace Immigration Process”
- Mobility Magazine (September, 2016), “Sharing the Cost of Immigration Sponsorship,”
- Law 360 (August, 2015), “Congress Must Keep Conrad 30 To Aid Ailing Health System”
- “New M-274 Handbook For Employers Fills Gaps In Form I-9 Guidance,” Published in: Bender’s Immigration Bulletin – Daily Edition, http://www.bibdaily.com (January, 2011); British-American Business Council (BABC) – Houston, http://www.babchouston.org (January, 2011); ILW.com’s Immigration Daily, http://www.ilw.com (January, 2011); and Tracker’s E-Verify & I-9 News, http://www.everifyandi9news.com (January, 2011).
Awards
- Best Lawyers in America (2021, 2022)
- The Legal 500 Next Generation Partners (2020)
- Who’s Who Legal: Corporate Immigration (2013-present)
- The Legal 500 United States 2013’s editorial for Labor and Employment Law