Leigh Cole

Specialization

Employment-based immigration for higher education, business, and health care

About Leigh's Practice

Leigh Cole advises institutions of higher education, businesses and health care employers regarding compliance with U.S. immigration laws and best practices for immigration compliance. She handles immigration cases for employment of college and university professors, physicians, health care workers, researchers, executives, managers, employees with specialized knowledge, and professionals and other eligible workers, and for international business owners. She advises colleges and universities on immigration matters for students and scholars. She is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA), and NAFSA: Association of International Educators.

Education

• Albany Law School of Union University, J.D., 1991
• Cornell University, B.A., 1985

Major Publications & Speaking Engagements

• Editor, Vermont Employment Law Letter
• Contributing Editor, New England Employment Law Letter
• Author, "Employers receiving notifications after 2022 H-1B visa lottery, Vermont Employment Law Letter, May 2022, and HR Daily Advisor, May 19, 2022
• Quoted, "DOL's Rule Delay Called Good News for Employers of Foreign Workers," HR Daily Advisors, May 18, 2021
• Author, "ICE extends temporary flexibility for I-9 forms during pandemic," Vermont Employment Law Letter, July 2021, and HR Daily Advisor, May 10, 2021
• Quoted, "Employers Hoping for Stability as Biden Immigration Plan Unveiled," HR Daily Advisor, January 21, 2021
• Quoted, "Supreme Court Ruling Called Win for DACA Recipients and Employers," HR Daily Advisor, June 18, 2020
• Quoted, "Employer Community Sees Downsides to Coronavirus Order Limiting Immigration," HR Daily Advisor, April 22, 2020
• Author, "New H-1B lottery preregistration process underway ahead of March 20 deadline," Vermont Employment Law Letter, April 2020, and HR Daily Advisor, March 12, 2020
• Senior Editor (since 1999), Immigration & Nationality Law Handbook, published annually by American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
• Quoted, "DACA Deadline Still Important Despite Court Rulings," HR Daily Advisor, March 5, 2018
• Author, "Border searches of electronic devices--what information is at risk?" Vermont Employment Law Letter, June 2017, and Technology for HR Blog, July 20, 2017 
• Author, "Looking at strategic alternatives to H-1Bs during H-1B cap season," Vermont Employment Law Letter, March 2016, and HR Hero Line, April 5, 2017
• Quoted, "Travel ban prompts questions about future of foreign workers in U.S.," HR Hero Line, February 3, 2017
• Author, "Alternatives to H-1B status and the H-1B cap," Vermont Employment Law Letter, April 2014, and HR Hero Line, April 25, 2014