Firm

For nearly 30 years, firm-founding attorney Barbara Marcouiller’s practice has been dedicated exclusively to immigration law and I-9 compliance, with a focus on custom immigration solutions for businesses and families.  Marcouiller PLLC is based on providing attentive, customized immigration services and solutions to businesses, employees, and those with family-based immigration and citizenship needs.

Employment-Based Visas
2019 AILA Member and 2021 ABA Member- Barbara Marcouiller - Bellevue Immigration Lawyer copy

A great deal of our firm’s practice is devoted to helping employers determine the best path to secure U.S. work visas for key employees.  We have extensive experience assisting clients in the following areas: employment-based first preference and second preference with national interest waiver applications for multi-national executives, outstanding researchers and professors, scientists, medical researchers, artists, and others; PERM applications; all aspects of family-based immigration, naturalization, nationality; and temporary visas including H1B, H-2B, H-4, O1, L1, TN, B1, B2, and F.

I-9 Compliance – Audits and Due Diligence

Not complying with federal I-9 regulations can have serious consequences for employers, even if all employees of a company are U.S. citizens.  We counsel employers on the complexities and requirements of I-9 compliance programs.  This includes developing representative audit programs and protocols necessary to alleviate discrimination claims and issues.  We also provide advice and counsel to companies that receive federal investigative notices relating to I-9 compliance, and social security no-match letters.

Family-Based Immigration

We assist individuals and families seeking “green cards” and permanent residency as U.S. citizens.  The process for obtaining permanent residency and citizenship is complex.  We analyze each client’s detailed history to determine the most advantageous approach for each client.  We then advise clients on potential issues, prepare the required legal documentation, and represent clients in connection with correspondence and proceedings before the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of State, Department of Labor, and Department of Justice.

Background and Personal

As the principle attorney of Marcouiller PLLC, immigration attorney Barbara Marcouiller’s background in international business includes a master’s degree in international business and economics through the prestigious Institute of Latin American Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. Her graduate level work includes country risk analysis, international finance, international business operations, and economic development of the third world.  Barbara is a Co-Editor of “Ethics and Your Immigration Practice,” published by AILA, and is fluent in Spanish.

Education:

  • J.D., Loyola University of Chicago
  • B.A., University of Texas at Austin
  • B.A., St. Mary’s College at Notre Dame

Admitted:

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
  • State of Illinois (voluntarily inactive due to presence in Washington)
  • State of Washington

Professional & Civic Involvement:

  • American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
  • East King County Bar Association – volunteers her time at the immigration legal clinics
  • St. James Immigrant Assistance
  • French American Chamber of Commerce

Publications and Presentations (not all inclusive):

  • “Identifying and Ethically Handling Fraud in Marriage Cases,” AILA Annual National Conference in Orlando, FL 06/19/2019
  • “Advanced Issues in Adjustment of Status and IV Consular Processing: Current Hot Topics and Trends,” AILA Northwest Regional CLE Seattle, WA 02/14/2019
  • “H-1B Status: What’s It All About?” East King County Bar Association CLE for non-immigration attorneys, Bellevue, WA  01/24/2019
  • “Consumer Protection and Immigration Services Fraud Prevention Acts,” Organizer and moderator on behalf of AILA WA Consumer Protection and Professional Responsibility Committee, half-day CLE including participants from WSBA Office of Disciplinary Counsel, WA Attorney General’s office, ICE, and more.
  • “Annual Ethics CLE,” Organizer and moderator on behalf of AILA WA Consumer Protection and Professional Responsibility committee, including participant from EOIR in Washington, DC.
  • “Post H-1B Issues: Job Changes and More,” Speaker, AILA WA CLE
  • “Death of the Petitioner” panel presenter, American Immigration Lawyers Association Northwest Regional CLE in Portland, OR
  • “Immigration Law 101” by LawReview CLE, sole speaker at a 4 hour long CLE on immigration law for other lawyers
  • “Grounds of Inadmissibility,” panel presenter, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) annual national conference in Las Vegas, NV. Standing room only session of several hundred attorneys.
  • Discussion Leader of USCIS panel consisting of the District Director of the Seattle, WA office and the District Director of the Portland, OR office of USCIS. AILA Northwest Regional CLE
  • “Managing Complex Family Cases,” Moderator and panel participant, Northwest Regional Immigration Conference CLE, Seattle, WA.  Also co-author of the written article for the CLE.
  • “Representing Cancellation of Removal Cases,” Speaker, sponsored by the King County Bar Association and the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, Seattle, WA
  • “Ethics Issues in Family-Based Immigration Cases,” Speaker, Northwest Regional Immigration CLE jointly sponsored by AILA and the King County Bar Association, Portland, OR
  • Ethics and Your Immigration Practice,  Co-Editor, book published by AILA National
  • “Methods of Obtaining Permanent Residence,”  Speaker, Northwest Regional Immigration conference jointly sponsored by AILA and the King County Bar Association, Seattle, WA
  • Loyola University of Chicago, School of Law, guest lecturer in International Human Rights law class teaching asylum law.

Leadership Positions (Summary; not all inclusive):

  • American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Washington State Chapter (also previously active in the Chicago Chapter)
    • Membership Chair, 2019-2020
    • Co-chair USCIS Liaison, 2019-2020
    • Chair, Vancouver Consulate Liaison, 2018-2019
    • Co-chair Professional Responsibility Committee 2016-2018
    • Treasurer 2008-2009
    • Chair CIS Liaison Committee 2013-2015, 2010-2012, and 2004-2005 during very active year when CIS moved its offices from Seattle to Tukwila, instituted the InfoPass procedure, and changed over to direct filing.
    • Co-Chair Department of Homeland Security Liaison Committee
    • Co-Chair U.S. Consulate in Vancouver, BC Liaison Committee
    • Consumer Protection and Professional Responsibility Committee 2010-2017
  • Advisory Board, St. James Cathedral Immigrant Assistance Program 2013-2017
  • Legal consultant on cases for St. James Immigrant Assistance 2017- Present

This is general information and does not constitute legal advice; each case must be analyzed independently. Nothing here creates an attorney/client relationship; each potential client must set up an appointment for proper analysis, and written agreement if after a full analysis we both agree in writing that we accept to represent the case and you also agree that you want us to represent your case as detailed specifically in the written contract.

We do not endorse the content on this website in translations other than English, unless officially translated by our law office.