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Overview
Melany represents clients of all sizes from a variety of industries, guiding employers and foreign nationals through the maze of immigration laws. She handles a wide range of nonimmigrant work visas, including specialty occupation categories, intracompany transfers, extraordinary ability in business and arts, internationally recognized artists and performers, religious workers, cultural exchange workers, and TN NAFTA status for Canadian and Mexican nationals. Additionally, Melany has extensive experience with PERM labor certifications, and immigrant visa petitions for multinational executives and managers, as well as individuals meeting the extraordinary ability threshold.
Melany’s most recent pro bono work has helped crime victims, with U visa petitions. She has also provided pro bono services to several organizations involved in immigration matters, including Surviving Spouses Against Deportation, and securing artists’ visas for participants in Portland-area arts events and festivals.
Melany’s interest in art is more than legal. She studied Byzantine mosaic techniques in Ravenna, Italy and has created and installed custom mosaics in tile and stained glass.
Melany’s most recent pro bono work has helped crime victims, with U visa petitions. She has also provided pro bono services to several organizations involved in immigration matters, including Surviving Spouses Against Deportation, and securing artists’ visas for participants in Portland-area arts events and festivals.
Melany’s interest in art is more than legal. She studied Byzantine mosaic techniques in Ravenna, Italy and has created and installed custom mosaics in tile and stained glass.
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Featured Work
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Community Involvement & Activities
Art4Life
2015–Present, Board Member
Business for Culture and the Arts
Art of Leadership Program 2016
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Professional Memberships
American Bar Association
American Immigration Lawyers Association
Multnomah Bar Association
Oregon Women Lawyers
American Immigration Lawyers Association
Multnomah Bar Association
Oregon Women Lawyers
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Recent News
9.22.2020
Business Immigration Webinar Looks at the Impact of COVID-19 and Trump
On September 10, Tonkon Torp’s Immigration Practice Group launched a recurring webinar series to help businesses navigate and preview changes affecting business immigration. Attorneys Melina LaMorticella, Alan Perkins, and Melany Savitt hosted the…
4.27.2020
Chambers USA Names 20 Tonkon Torp Attorneys in 2020 Ranking
Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business has recognized 20 Tonkon Torp attorneys in seven practice areas in its 2020 USA Guide. Eighteen of the Tonkon Torp attorneys named have been previously ranked by Chambers.
3.20.2020
Melina LaMorticella and Melany Savitt Review 2020 H-1B Season for AILA Oregon
Tonkon Torp partners Melina LaMorticella and Melany Savitt led a CLE program for the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Oregon chapter on the 2020 H-1B lottery season. The attorneys reviewed the competitive H-1B program from both the…
3.11.2020
Immigration Group Speaks to International Students at Reed College
On February 11, Turid Owren, Melany Savitt, and Erika Robles Jones spoke to international students at Reed College about their options for U.S. employment after they graduate. They reviewed optional practical training, the process for obtaining an H…
2.25.2020
Tonkon Torp Immigration Attorneys Brief Employers on the 2020 H-1B Cap Season
On February 6, attorneys from Tonkon Torp’s Immigration Practice Group held a briefing for employers to help them prepare for the upcoming H-1B Cap season. Attorneys Melina LaMorticella, Turid Owren, Alan Perkins, and Melany Savitt led a program that…
12.11.2019
Tonkon Torp Announces Three New Partners
Tonkon Torp LLP has elected Claire Brown, Melina LaMorticella, and Melany Savitt to the partnership, effective January 1, 2020.
9.30.2019
Tonkon Torp Hosts Employers for Worksite Enforcement Business Immigration Briefing
Tonkon Torp Business Immigration lawyers Alan Perkins, Turid Owren, Melina LaMorticella, and Melany Savitt hosted their annual business immigration briefing for employers focusing on worksite enforcement by ICE, DOL, and USCIS.
5.20.2019
Annual L&E Law Update Prepares Employers for the Ultimate Game
Attorneys from the Tonkon Torp Labor & Employment and Business Immigration practice groups hosted their annual Employment Law Update at the Oregon Zoo for 200 human resource professionals and other business leaders.
2.15.2019
Melany Savitt Discusses PERM for NW Immigration Law Conference
Melany Savitt was a featured speaker at the NW Regional Immigration Law Conference on February 14 at Seattle University School of Law. Melany's session was entitled "Advanced PERM and PERM-Based I-140 Issues."
1.8.2019
Business Immigration Attorneys Host Annual Employer Briefing
On December 7, Tonkon Torp Business Immigration lawyers Alan Perkins, Turid Owren, Melina LaMorticella, and Melany Savitt hosted their annual year-end briefing for employers to review business immigration changes in 2018 and forecasts for 2019.
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Recent Alerts
6.23.2020
Trump Proclamation Suspends Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants
On June 22, 2020, President Trump issued a Presidential Proclamation temporarily suspending entry into the United States of foreign nationals seeking certain nonimmigrant (temporary) work visas.
4.23.2020
Trump Proclamation Suspends Entry of Immigrant Visa Applicants Into U.S. for 60 Days
On April 22, 2020, President Trump issued a Presidential Proclamation temporarily suspending entry into the United States of certain foreign nationals outside the United States seeking immigrant visas. The Proclamation has several exceptions, and…
3.25.2020
The Impact of COVID-19 on Business Immigration
COVID-19 is rapidly affecting business immigration in multiple ways. Below is an outline of key impacts to date. Additional current information and details can be provided by attorneys in the Immigration and Labor and Employment practice groups.
12.10.2019
H-1B Cap Electronic Registration: March 1-20, 2020
USCIS has announced that it will utilize a new electronic registration process for FY2021 H-1B cap petitions. Registrations must be submitted from March 1 through March 20, 2020. USCIS will charge a $10 registration fee.
10.1.2019
2021 DV Lottery Registration Oct. 2 to Nov. 5
Online registration for the 2021 DV Lottery (DV2021) begins Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), and will end Tuesday, November 5, 2019 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Standard Time (EST) (GMT-5).
1.29.2019
New (Cap) H-1B Filings: April 1-5 Deadline
H-1B season is underway! U.S. employers can file for new H-1B visas on behalf of prospective or existing employees beginning April 1, 2019. The anticipated window for filing new H-1B petitions under the USCIS H-1B quota for FY2020 is April 1 through…
10.30.2018
2020 DV Lottery Registration Deadline is Nov. 6
There is still time to register for the 2020 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV Lottery). Online registration for the DV Lottery began Wednesday, October 3, 2018 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), and will end Tuesday, November 6…
9.22.2017
Diversity Visa Lottery 2019 Open October 3 to November 7
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has announced registration dates for the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program 2019 (DV Lottery). Online registration for the DV Lottery opens Tuesday, October 3, 2017 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4…
9.21.2017
Premium Processing Resumes for H-1B Cap Cases
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it has resumed premium processing for all H-1B petitions subject to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 cap.
8.31.2017
USCIS to Require In-Person Interviews for Employment-Based Permanent Residence Applicants
On August 28, 2017, USCIS announced that it will be phasing in interviews for employment-based applicants for adjustment of status to permanent residence. The phase-in will begin October 1, and requires employees in temporary nonimmigrant status who…
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Publications & Presentations
"Trump Proclamation Suspends Entry of Immigrant Visa Applicants Into U.S. for 60 Days," Tonkon Torp Legal Update, April 2020
"H-1B Cap Season 2020," American Immigration Lawyers Association, Oregon Chapter, February 2020
"U.S. Employment Options Post-Graduation for International Students," Reed College, February 2020
"H-1B Cap Season 2020," February 2020
"Worksite Enforcement Business Immigration Briefing," September 2019
“Visas – Who Can Come? Who Can Stay?” Annual Labor & Employment Law Update, May 2019
"Advanced PERM and PERM-based I-140 issues," NW Regional Immigration Law Conference, Seattle University, February 2019
"Business Immigration Review and 2019 Forecast Briefing," December 2018
"Business Immigration for Startups," November 2018
"L1A/L1B Petitions and Multinational Executives/Managers Immigrant Petitions: Overview, RFE Trends, & Practice Pointers," Annual Northwest Regional Immigration Law Conference, American Immigration Lawyers Association, Seattle, March 2018
"H-1B Breakfast Briefing," March 2018
"Worksite Enforcement, Compliance Best Practices & Forms I-9," June 2017
"H-1B Cap Season 2017 and Trump Administration Executive Orders," February 2017
"Business Immigration 2017," February 2017
"Employment-Based Immigration," American Immigration Lawyers Association, Oregon Chapter, May 2016
"H-1B Cap Subject Petitions," NW Regional Immigration Law Conference, Seattle, March 2016
"L1 Visas: Overview, RFE Trends, & Practice Pointers," Annual Northwest Regional Immigration Law Conference, American Immigration Lawyers Association, March 2015
"The Role of the Human Resource Department in Facilitating International Assignments," Global Special Interest Group of PHRMA, February 2015
"Employment Based Immigration Update," Labor & Employment Law Seminar, May 2013