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Overview
Turid has practiced immigration law since 1988. She founded the firm’s Immigration Practice Group in 1999 and served as its chair for more than 18 years. Turid advises clients on employment-related immigration and other immigration matters. Her diverse client base includes both startups and international companies, as well as individuals.
Turid currently serves as Chair of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Business Immigration Response Team, which issues practice advisories on current topics to attorneys nationally. She previously served as a member of the USCIS HQ Benefits Committee, and as AILA's liaison to the USCIS Administrative Appeals Office for eight years. She is a past member of AILA's Service Center Operations Committee, a past member of AILA's Ombudsman Liaison Committee, a past Chair of AILA's USCIS Nebraska Service Center Liaison Committee, and a past Chair of the Oregon Chapter of AILA. She is a speaker at AILA conferences both regionally and nationally. Turid has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America®, Chambers and Partners USA, and Who’s Who Legal: Corporate Immigration for her achievements in immigration law.
Turid has been active in the local bar throughout her career. She served as a mentor for young lawyers through the Multnomah Bar Association Mentor Program, a program she helped launch in 1993. Turid is a past member of the Executive Committee of the International Law Section of the Oregon State Bar, a past Chair of the Multnomah Bar Association’s Professionalism Committee, and a past President of the Young Lawyers Section of the Multnomah Bar Association.
In the community, Turid currently serves on the Board of Directors of Portland Center Stage @ The Armory. Previously, she served on the Board of Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest, and before that as the Director of Mentors for Minds Matter of Portland, Inc. Turid also served as legal advisor for more than 10 years to Friendly House, a neighborhood social services agency for senior citizens and families in transition.
Turid is married to E. Walter Van Valkenburg and is the mother of two children. Her interests include education, reading, writing, traveling internationally, and walking.
Turid currently serves as Chair of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Business Immigration Response Team, which issues practice advisories on current topics to attorneys nationally. She previously served as a member of the USCIS HQ Benefits Committee, and as AILA's liaison to the USCIS Administrative Appeals Office for eight years. She is a past member of AILA's Service Center Operations Committee, a past member of AILA's Ombudsman Liaison Committee, a past Chair of AILA's USCIS Nebraska Service Center Liaison Committee, and a past Chair of the Oregon Chapter of AILA. She is a speaker at AILA conferences both regionally and nationally. Turid has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America®, Chambers and Partners USA, and Who’s Who Legal: Corporate Immigration for her achievements in immigration law.
Turid has been active in the local bar throughout her career. She served as a mentor for young lawyers through the Multnomah Bar Association Mentor Program, a program she helped launch in 1993. Turid is a past member of the Executive Committee of the International Law Section of the Oregon State Bar, a past Chair of the Multnomah Bar Association’s Professionalism Committee, and a past President of the Young Lawyers Section of the Multnomah Bar Association.
In the community, Turid currently serves on the Board of Directors of Portland Center Stage @ The Armory. Previously, she served on the Board of Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest, and before that as the Director of Mentors for Minds Matter of Portland, Inc. Turid also served as legal advisor for more than 10 years to Friendly House, a neighborhood social services agency for senior citizens and families in transition.
Turid is married to E. Walter Van Valkenburg and is the mother of two children. Her interests include education, reading, writing, traveling internationally, and walking.
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Get To Know
Turid is fascinated by people and cultures and loves to travel and visit the countries from which her clients emigrate. She attributes her affinity for people to her parents, who immigrated to the U.S. from Norway and encouraged her to be inquisitive of other cultures.
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Featured Work
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Community Involvement & Activities
American Immigration Lawyers Association
2018-Present, Chair, AILA Business Immigration Response Team
2004-Present, liaison on various AILA committees
1991-Present, Member
AILA Oregon Chapter
1991-Present, Member
2001-2002, Chapter Chair
Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest
2012-2018, Member, Board of Directors
Marathon Partners
2007-Present, Partner
Portland Center Stage @ The Armory
2018-Present, Member, Board of Directors
Reed College Women’s Committee
1990-Present, Member
1991-1992, Chair
Women Presidents’ Organization
2009-2012, Member, Board of Directors
Minds Matter of Portland, Inc.
2006-2010, Director of Mentors
Chapman Elementary School Site Council
2000-2002 and 2003-2005, Parent Member
2018-Present, Chair, AILA Business Immigration Response Team
2004-Present, liaison on various AILA committees
1991-Present, Member
AILA Oregon Chapter
1991-Present, Member
2001-2002, Chapter Chair
Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest
2012-2018, Member, Board of Directors
Marathon Partners
2007-Present, Partner
Portland Center Stage @ The Armory
2018-Present, Member, Board of Directors
Reed College Women’s Committee
1990-Present, Member
1991-1992, Chair
Women Presidents’ Organization
2009-2012, Member, Board of Directors
Minds Matter of Portland, Inc.
2006-2010, Director of Mentors
Chapman Elementary School Site Council
2000-2002 and 2003-2005, Parent Member
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Professional Memberships
American Immigration Lawyers Association
Multnomah Bar Association
Oregon State Bar
Multnomah Bar Association
Oregon State Bar
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Awards & Recognition
Who's Who Legal
2015-2021, Corporate Immigration
American Immigration Lawyers Association, Oregon Chapter
2011 – Gerald H. Robinson Excellence in Advocacy Award
American Immigration Lawyers Association
2007 – Presidential Award for Outstanding Leadership in Liaison
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Recent News
8.20.2020
Best Lawyers in America® Includes 49 Tonkon Torp Attorneys on 2021 List
Forty-nine Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 36 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2021. A majority of attorneys have been named to the peer-review list in past years, and most have been recognized for more…
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.
3.11.2020
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…
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.
8.15.2019
2020 List for Best Lawyers in America® Includes 48 Tonkon Torp Attorneys
Forty-eight Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 39 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2020. A majority of attorneys have been named to the list in past years, and most have been recognized for more than five…
4.29.2019
Chambers USA Names 23 Tonkon Torp Attorneys in 2019 Ranking
Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business has recognized 23 Tonkon Torp attorneys in seven practice areas in its 2019 USA Guide.
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.
12.31.2018
Tonkon Torp Donates to Portland Center Stage
Tonkon Torp made a donation to Portland Center State at the Armory, where Turid Owren serves on the board of directors. Portland Center Stage is the largest theater company in Portland, and among the top 20 regional theaters in the country.
9.20.2018
Tonkon Torp Hosts Employers for Business Immigration Briefing
On September 14, Tonkon Torp immigration lawyers Alan Perkins, Turid Owren, Melina LaMorticella, and Melany Savitt, along with labor and employment attorney Blerina Kotori, hosted an in-depth business immigration briefing for employers. The program…
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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.
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…
8.29.2018
USCIS Further Limits H-1B Premium Processing
On August 28, 2018, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will extend its current suspension of Premium Processing for cap subject H-1B petitions. Effective September 11, 2018, USCIS is also expanding the Premium…
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…
6.26.2017
U.S. Supreme Court Allows Travel Ban to Go Into Effect, With Limitations
On June 26, 2017, the U.S. Supreme Court (Court) permitted the "Travel Ban" set forth in the second Executive Order issued by President Trump on March 6, 2017 (EO-2) to temporarily go into effect, with constraints. EO-2 provided for a 90-day ban on U…
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Publications & Presentations
"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
"Business Immigration Review and 2019 Forecast Briefing," December 2018
"Practice Pointer: Overcoming H-1B Computer Programmer RFEs (Lessons Learned from 2017)," American Immigration Lawyers Association, June 2018
"H-1B Cap Season 2020," February 2020
"Worksite Enforcement Business Immigration Briefing," September 2019
"Business Immigration Review and 2019 Forecast Briefing," December 2018
"Practice Pointer: Overcoming H-1B Computer Programmer RFEs (Lessons Learned from 2017)," American Immigration Lawyers Association, June 2018