Raymond G. Lahoud

Member | New Jersey/New York/Pennsylvania

Raymond G. Lahoud, Chair of the firm’s Immigration Law Practice Group, focuses exclusively on the area of immigration law and deportation defense for individuals, families, small to large domestic and multinational businesses and corporations, employers, international employees, investors, students, professors, researchers, skilled professionals, athletes, and entertainers, in every type of immigration or deportation defense matter—whether domestic or foreign. While Ray’s immigration practice is global in reach, with service to individuals and organizations across the United States and beyond, he is located primarily at the firm’s three globally-linked offices: New York, New York; Bridgewater, New Jersey; and Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Ray’s immigration practice is broad, ranging from areas of corporate and employment immigration and related compliance to immigration litigation before agencies and courts across the United States, for corporations and individuals alike. His experience includes immigrant and non-immigrant visas, visa overstays, immigrants who entered without inspection or authorization, EB-5 investor visas (serving investors, regional centers, and project developers), citizenship and naturalization claims, deportation and removal litigation at the immigration court and all appellate levels, E Visas, E-3 Visas, H-1B Visas, H-2B Visas, L Visas, O Visas, P Visas, Q Visas, R Visas, TN Visas, Exceptional Ability Immigrant Visas, Extraordinary Ability Immigrant Visas, Physician and Nursing Visas, K-1 Visas, K-3 Visas, Multinational Manager/Executive Immigrant Visas, Outstanding Professor/Researcher Immigrant Visas, PERM Labor Certification, Family Petitions, Adjustment of Status, Marriage Petitions, Asylum, VAWA applications, and Immigration Waivers, such as the Visa Waiver Program, National Interest Waivers, Hardship Waivers, and J Waivers.

Ray’s corporate immigration practice includes representing businesses of all sizes, in all corporate immigration and employer immigration compliance matters. He has served nearly every industry, including healthcare, education (community colleges, colleges, universities, students, professors, and researchers), manufacturing, global and domestic employment/talent recruitment, warehousing and distribution, pharmaceutical, economic development, local, county, and state government agencies, non-profit, religious, real estate development and EB-5 investor financing, information technology, marketing, entertainment, and sports. Ray’s corporate immigration and employer immigration compliance practice includes all non-immigrant and immigrant visas, recruitment of international talent and students, and consular processing, as well as Form I-9 and Department of Labor Wage & Hour Division compliance. Further, he has litigated corporate immigration matters before the Department of Labor’s Wage & Hour Division, the Department of Homeland Security’s investigative bodies and agencies, the State Department, the United States Court of Appeals for International Trade, the Customs & Border Protection review board, and federal appellate courts—seeking review of employer immigration compliance and other immigrant and non-immigrant visa issues.

Ray’s immigration litigation practice includes deportation defense of thousands of individuals, at the Immigration Court, the Board of Immigration Appeals, the Administrative Appeals Office, and federal district and circuit courts. In state and federal trial and appellate courts, he seeks post-conviction relief for the underlying crime that led to the removal proceedings, and serves as immigration counsel to non-citizens accused of removable crimes. Ray’s ability to understand each interaction of criminal law with immigration law has made him a leading expert on issues of “crimigration” before state and federal courts reviewing post-conviction relief claims.

As Chair of the Immigration Practice Group, Ray oversees a leading team of immigration attorneys, immigration review compliance experts, employer immigration auditors, and paralegals and legal assistants with extensive and continuing immigration law training and significant practice experience.

Ray has received numerous accolades. He has been awarded the Empire State Pro Bono Counsel Award each year since 2012, has been selected as Lead Counsel, received the Martindale-Hubbell Platinum Client Champion Award, and has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star, ranked as a Top Rated Immigration Attorney in the New York Metro Area. EB5 Investors, the leading online portal, conference series, and magazine for investors, developers, and EB-5 professionals, has named Ray one of the “Top 5 Rising Stars” nationally. He was also named one of the 40 young professionals from the Greater Lehigh Valley as the Lehigh Valley Business 2017 Forty Under 40 for his commitment to business growth, professional excellence, and the community.

In law school, Ray earned Dean’s List, received CALI awards in many courses, and worked on the Georgetown Immigration Law Journal. He was actively involved in additional programs and other organizations including the Barristers’ Counsel, ABA Law Student Division, ACLU at GULC, Catholic Student Association, and the Innocence Project, and worked for the Honorable Joanne Seybert, Federal District Court Judge for the Eastern District of New York.

At Lehigh, Ray was Editor of The Lehigh Review, earned Dean’s List, was named a President’s Scholar, was inducted into Phi Beta Delta, and received, among other awards, the Williams Award, Treen Scholarship, and Littner Scholarship.

He served as a United States Congressional Page under then-Congressman Ray LaHood (R-IL), and was a legislative aide to State Senator Lisa Boscola (D-PA).

Six Norris McLaughlin Attorneys Recognized by New York Metro Super Lawyers®

Ray Lahoud Speaks to Moravian Academy ‘Latinos in the Lehigh Valley’ Students

Ray Lahoud to Speak on “Immigration Law Amidst A Pandemic” at Emory University

Ray Lahoud Named Co-Vice Chair of Pennsylvania Bar Association Immigration Law Committee

Ray Lahoud to Speak on “Crimmigration” for Annual Immigration Law Basics Program

Ray Lahoud to Speak at New York Asylum & Immigration Law Conference

Ray Lahoud and Rich Somach to Speak at Pennsylvania Bar Real Estate Institute

Norris McLaughlin Attorneys to Present at Somerset County CLE Marathon Day

Ray Lahoud to Speak at 2019 Lehigh Valley Business HR Symposium

Ray Lahoud to Speak at Lehigh Valley Schools

Norris McLaughlin Sponsors 42nd Lebanese Heritage Days Festival

Norris McLaughlin Sponsors Easton Hispanic Cultural Festival

Ray Lahoud Named to Iraqi Children Foundation Advisory Board

Norris McLaughlin Sponsors the 34th Annual Lebanese Festival

Ray Lahoud to Present Immigration Law Basics

Ray Lahoud to be Interviewed for Montclair State University’s Live Broadcast

Raymond Lahoud to Present I-9 Compliance Seminar for Employers

JD Supra recognizes Norris McLaughlin Attorneys in 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards

Raymond Lahoud to Present for Keller Williams Realty

Raymond Lahoud to Present on Immigration Law and the Real Estate Industry

Raymond Lahoud to Present at New York Immigration and Asylum Law Conference

Raymond Lahoud to Present Immigration Law for Lehigh County Paralegal Association

Ray Lahoud to Present on Family Immigration

Raymond Lahoud to Present “Immigration in the United States” at Penn State Lehigh Valley

Norris McLaughlin Attorneys to Speak at Triple Play REALTOR® Convention & Trade Expo

Norris McLaughlin to Present EB-5 Financing Program for GLVR

Raymond Lahoud to Speak at East Stroudsburg University

Norris McLaughlin to Present I-9 Compliance Seminars for Employers

Norris McLaughlin Sponsors 2018 Cultural Festivals

Raymond Lahoud Named Chair of American Immigration Lawyers Association ICE Worksite Enforcement Committee

Raymond Lahoud to Be a Panelist for the 2018 EB-5 Convention Los Angeles

Raymond Lahoud a Panelist for HCCLV’s Immigration and Business Forum

Raymond Lahoud a Panelist at U.S. Immigration Law: Basics & Beyond

Raymond Lahoud Interviewed by New Jersey Business Magazine

Raymond Lahoud Accepted to NAFSA’s Trainer Corps

Raymond Lahoud Recognized as JD Supra Top Immigration Author

Raymond Lahoud Spoke to Greater Lehigh Valley REALTORS

JD Supra Recognizes Norris McLaughlin, P.A. in “2018 Readers’ Choice Awards”

Raymond Lahoud Presents on Form I-9 Requirements

Raymond Lahoud to Present Immigration Law and its Reach into Nearly Every Other Practice Area

Raymond Lahoud to Judge NYU 2018 National Immigration Law Competition

Chair of NMM Immigration Law Practice Raymond Lahoud Speaks on Asylum

Raymond Lahoud Named Top 5 Rising Stars Nationally by EB5 Investors

Ray Lahoud to Speak on Form I-9 for Somerset County Business Partnership

Ray Lahoud Receives Martindale-Hubbell Platinum Client Champion Award

Raymond Lahoud Honored as NYSBA Empire State Counsel®

Raymond Lahoud Featured in Metropolitan Corporate Counsel

Norris McLaughlin, P.A. Welcomes New Immigration Attorneys

“Remote Litigation Before Immigration Courts During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond,” Federal Bar Association Immigration Law Section, Webinar, December 17, 2020
“Immigration Amidst A Pandemic,” Behind the Glass: Immigration Reflections, Emory University, Webinar, September 29, 2020
“Latinos in the Lehigh Valley” Moravian Academy, Virtual Class, September 22, 2020
“I-9 Compliance Seminar: Employee Immigration Verification Before, During, Beyond COVID, and the Inevitable ICE Audit,” Norris McLaughlin, P.A., Webinar, August 12 and 19, 2020
“How to Navigate the American System as an International Student,” Moravian College, Virtual Presentation, August 11, 2020
“Crimmigration,” 2020 U.S. Immigration Law: Basics & Beyond, New Jersey State Bar Association, Live Webcast, June 24, 2020
“Immigration Law Update,” Pennsylvania Bar Association Immigration Law Committee, Webinar, June 23, 2020
Business Law 340 Summer Term 1, Sacramento City College, Online, June 2020
“The Impact of the COVID-19 Outbreak on H-1B, H-2A, H-2B, L Visa Employers and Workers, and America’s Global Workforce,” Norris McLaughlin, P.A., Webinar, May 19, 2020
“Responding to Coronavirus Orders and Adapting My Business – Is This the NEW NORMAL?,” Virtual Town Hall, March 31, 2020
“B-1 Intro to Asylum Law,” NYC Asylum Conference, New York, NY, February 28, 2020
“What to Know About the EB-5 Real Estate Investor Visa Program,” Triple Play REALTOR® Convention & Trade Expo, Atlantic City, NJ, December 11, 2019
“The (Hidden) Lucrative Intersections of Immigration Law and the Real Estate Industry,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute’s Real Estate Institute, Philadelphia, PA, December 5, 2019
“The Evolution of Immigration Law into Every Practice,” Somerset County Bar Association CLE Marathon Day, Raritan Valley Community College, Branchburg, NJ, October 14, 2019
“Is Your Business Struggling with Immigration Compliance?” Lehigh Valley Business HR Symposium, ArtsQuest at SteelSacks, Bethlehem, PA, September 25, 2019
“Borders, Nationalisms, Identities: The Ethics of Global Citizenship,” Muhlenberg College Center for Ethics, Allentown, PA, September 20, 2019
“Latinos in the Lehigh Valley,” Moravian Academy, Bethlehem, PA September 20, 2019
“EOIR (Removal and Deportation) and Immigration Courts,” NJICLE/NJSBA 2019 U.S. Immigration Law: Basics & Beyond, New Jersey Law Center, New Brunswick, NJ, June 27, 2019
“Are You I-9 Compliant?” Norris McLaughlin, P.A., Allentown, PA, April 24, 2019
“Focus: Immigration” Live Broadcast, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, April 10, 2019
“The Intersection of Immigration and Real Estate,” Keller Williams Realty, Moorestown, NJ, March 20, 2019
“Introduction to Asylum Law,” 2019 New York Asylum and Immigration Law Conference, New York Law School, New York, NY, March 8, 2019
“The Intersection of Immigration and Real Estate,” Hudson Gateway Association of REALTORS®, White Plains, NY, March 7, 2019
“A Confusing Immigration System: Facts, Myths, & Effects on Your Practice, What You Need to Know,” Bar Association of Lehigh County, Allentown, PA, February 26, 2019
“Seeking Family Immigration Benefits in Immigration Court,” NJICLE/NJSBA, New Jersey Law Center, New Brunswick, NJ, January 23, 2019
“Immigration in the United States,” Penn State Lehigh Valley Campus, PA, December 7, 2018
“The (Hidden) Lucrative Intersections of Immigration Law and the Real Estate Industry,” Triple Play REALTOR® Convention & Trade Expo, Atlantic City, NJ, December 5, 2018
“Best Practices for ICE Audits When It Comes to Form I-9,” Norris McLaughlin, Bridgewater, NJ, November 13, 2018
“How to Handle Form I-9 When Hiring and After,” Norris McLaughlin, Bridgewater, NJ, October 19, 2018
East Stroudsburg University’s 2018 Constitution Day, ESU Science and Technology Center, East Stroudsburg, PA, September 18, 2018
“A Deep Dive Into ‘At Risk’: How does USCIS interpret ‘risk’ and how should it? What are the practical implications?,” EB-5 Investor Magazine Annual Convention, Los Angeles, CA, July 24, 2018
“2018 U.S. Immigration Law: Basics & Beyond,” NJICLE/NJSBA, New Jersey Law Center, New Brunswick, NJ, June 27, 2018
“U.S. Visa and Entry Process for Students and Scholars,” Pennsylvania Convention Center, PA, May 28, 2018
“Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification Instructional Seminar,” Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, PA, April 13, 2018
“The Future of Immigration Law – How it Will Affect the Real Estate Industry,” Greater Lehigh Valley REALTORS, PA, March 16, 2018
2018 New York Asylum and Immigration Conference, New York Law School, NY, February 23, 2018
“Immigration Law and its Reach into Nearly Every Other Practice Area: What You Need to Know,” Bar Association of Lehigh County, PA, February 9, 2018
2018 National Immigration Law Competition (ILC), New York University School of Law Moot Court Board, NYU, February 2, 2018
“Immigration Law and its Reach into Nearly Every Other Practice Area: What You Need to Know,” Lehigh County Paralegal Association, Bar Association of Lehigh County, Allentown, February 2, 2018
“Understanding Asylum and Refugee Law,” New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education in cooperation with the NJSBA Immigration Law Section, Best Western Robert Treat Hotel, Newark, NJ, January 30, 2018
“Labor & Employment Year In Review,” Norris McLaughlin, P.A., Bridgewater, NJ, December 7, 2017
“Form I-9: Completing, Common Mistakes, Employer Compliance, and Increasing Fines and Enforcement,” Somerset County Business Partnership Human Resources Roundtable Group, November 15, 2017
“Employers Beware: ICE is Cracking Down on I-9 Compliance,” Norris McLaughlin, P.A., Bridgewater, NJ, October 20, 2017
“Employers Beware: ICE is Cracking Down on I-9 Compliance,” Norris McLaughlin, P.A., Bridgewater, NJ, September 22, 2017
“Immigration 101,” Norris McLaughlin, P.A., Allentown, PA, May 10, 2017

“Driving While On Pot Is Deportable Offense, 3rd Circ. Says,” Law360
Asan v. United States of America, 907 F.Supp.2d 426 (S.D.N.Y. 2012)
Bautista v. Sabol, 862 F. Supp. 375 (M.D.P.A. 2012)
Bautista v. Attorney General, 744 F. 3d 54 (3d 2014)
Frias-Camilo v. Attorney General, No. 15-3773 (3d 2016)
Javier v. Attorney General, Nos. 15-2781 and 15-3068 (3d 2016)
Asan v. United States, No. 13-179 (2d Cir. 2014)
Matter of Bautista, 25 I&N 616 (BIA 2011)
Woods v. Sabol, No. 14-CV-998 (M.D.P.A. 2014)
Plamen Ivkov Ayvazov v. Attorney General of the United States, Nos.: 14-4151, 15-1658, 15-3069 (3d Cir. 2016)
Ongoing representation of hundreds of other foreign and U.S. entities in visa matters involving the transfer of executives to the United States, including matters involving newly established businesses, permanent residence, temporary work visas, and immigration compliance matters.
Counsel to Pennsylvania developer in $55 million EB-5 regional center financing for a two-tower hotel project.
Counsel to Pennsylvania developer in $40 million EB-5 regional center financing project for industrial park development.
Counsel to California government infrastructure development fund in $70 million EB-5 Regional Center financing project for airport rail project.
Counsel to global logistics company before all matters before Customs & Border Protection related to compliance, tariffs, import classifications, classification disputes, and representation before the United States Court of International Trade.
Counsel to Pennsylvania restaurant chain in Department of Homeland Security investigation into employer immigration compliance fraud, leading to a financial settlement.
Counsel to Pennsylvania global distribution and logistics company in four-year Form I-9 and employer immigration compliance investigation, leading to a financial settlement and no criminal charges.
Counsel to New Jersey manufacturing company in multimillion-dollar Form I-9 federal investigation, leading to settlement and deferral of criminal charges.
Counsel to Pennsylvania regional health network (hospitals, care facilities, and physician practices) for all immigration matters, including medically underserved area designations, merger immigration compliance matters, nonimmigrant visas, and permanent residence petitions.
Counsel to Pennsylvania nursing home group in all immigration matters, including the recruitment of medical professionals from leading international medical institutions.
Counsel to leading regional physicians’ group on all immigration matters, including nonimmigrant visas and permanent residence.
Counsel to New Jersey Roman Catholic Diocese for all immigration matters, including R-1 religious worker visas, special immigrant visa petitions, and permanent residence.
Counsel to Pennsylvania Roman Catholic Diocese for all immigration matters, including R-1 religious worker visas, special immigrant visa petitions, and permanent residence.
Counsel to Maronite Catholic Diocese for all immigration matters, including R-1 religious worker visas, special immigrant visa petitions, and permanent residence.
Counsel to multinational plastic straw manufacturer with facilities in Allentown, Pennsylvania and China for all immigration matters, including L-1 and H-1B visas, permanent residence and complex immigration issues.
Counsel to multinational Information Technology company with offices in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and India for all immigration matters, including L-1, H-1B and E visas, permanent residence and complex immigration issues.
Counsel to global software development and Information Technology consulting firm in a federal Department of Labor audit of all H-1B visas and Labor Condition Applications (LCAs).
Counsel to multinational high-tech industrial manufacturing company in all immigration matters including Program Electronic Review Management (PERM) labor certifications, Employment-Based First Preference Immigration (EB-1) for multinational executives or manager positions and H-1B, L, and TN visa representations.
Counsel to recipient of Nobel Prize in securing permanent residence based on extraordinary abilities.
Counsel to worldwide nonprofit for all immigration matters, including the cross transfer of employees and continuing U.S. immigration law compliance.
Counsel to chain of bagel shops in federal I-9 compliance investigation.
Counsel to Chinese cement manufacturing plant construction company in structuring immigration-related elements of $200 million cement plant construction project.
Counsel to chain of Pennsylvania minimarkets in federal I-9 compliance investigation.
Counsel to leading theme park for J-1 and H-2B nonimmigrant visa programs.
Counsel to Pennsylvania summer resort in H-2B nonimmigrant visa program and permanent residency matters.
Counsel to leading New Jersey landscaping company in H-2B nonimmigrant visa program development, implementation, operation, and continuing compliance.
Counsel to New Jersey dairy farm in H-2A nonimmigrant visa program development, implementation, operation, and compliance.
Counsel to Canadian industrial seal manufacturing company with Pennsylvania and New Jersey operations, in securing L-1 and NAFTA related nonimmigrant visas.
Counsel to New Jersey global clothing manufacturer and distributor in Department of Labor investigation into H-1B and other related visa fraud matters, leading to a financial settlement.
Counsel to a global Information Technology company based in New York with offices in 30 countries, in both temporary worker and permanent residence matters.
Counsel to Chinese distribution company in customs matters, including implementation of the first-sale rule, tariff reduction measures, and designation classification negotiations with Customs & Border Protection.
Counsel to an Italian fashion designer in establishing a U.S. business in qualifying as a treaty entity under U.S.-Italian treaty.
Counsel to an Israeli investment fund in foreign direct investment matters in the United States and visas for management and other skilled employees.
Counsel to London-based luxury hotel chain in transfer of managers to the U.S. to begin chain expansion into the U.S. market.
Counsel to Australian professional services firm in securing treaty based investor visas to implement U.S. market growth plan.
Counsel to Mexican restaurateur in securing a treaty-based investor visa for the startup of Mexican food restaurant chain in Pennsylvania.
Counsel to Pennsylvania university for all immigration matters, including H-1B and TN visas, labor certifications and permanent residence.
Counsel to South African gold and diamond mining company in EB-5 investor visa program and subsequent nonimmigrant visas, permanent residence, and foreign direct investment into developing a U.S. logistics center.
Counsel to community college for all immigration matters, including SEVIS compliance audit, human resource training, and international student services outside counsel.
Counsel to New Jersey college on all immigration matters, including H-1B and TN visas, labor certifications and permanent residence.
Counsel to group of charter schools in securing foreign language teachers to meet staffing needs.
Counsel to Maryland Information Technology company in large scale Department of Labor investigation into H-1B fraud allegations, resulting in no criminal prosecution and a minor civil penalty.
Counsel to Chilean global marketing firm in nonimmigrant visa and Foreign Direct Investment matters, for organization’s expansion into the United States.
Counsel to New Jersey animal diets/food manufacturing company and research institute on all nonimmigrant and immigrant visa matters, including H-1B and permanent residence.
Counsel to California television production company in nonimmigrant visas for performers and actors.
Counsel to Major League Soccer team in all nonimmigrant visas for sports professionals
Counsel to Major League Baseball team in all nonimmigrant visas, foreign recruitment of professional athletes, and nonimmigrant visas for entry into the United States as professional athletes.
Counsel to U.S. Record Label in all immigration matters related to nonimmigrant visas for globally known performing artists.

Raymond G. Lahoud was selected to the 2020 Super Lawyers list. The Super Lawyers List is issued by Thompson Reuters. A description of the selection methodology can be found here.

Raymond G. Lahoud was selected to the 2016 Rising Stars Super Lawyers list. The Super Lawyers List is issued by Thompson Reuters. A description of the selection methodology can be found here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Raymond G. Lahoud has earned the Martindale-Hubbell Platinum Client Champion award. A description of the selection methodology can be found here.

Raymond G. Lahoud was selected to the JD Supra 2018 Readers Choice Awards list. A description of the selection methodology can be found here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Raymond G. Lahoud was selected to the JD Supra 2019 Readers Choice Awards list. A description of the selection methodology can be found here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Raymond G. Lahoud has earned the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Reviewed status. A description of the selection methodology can be found here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Areas of Practice
- Immigration
Education
- Georgetown University Law Center
  - J.D., 2009
- Lehigh University
  - B.A., English, summa cum laude, 2006
Bar Admissions
- New York
- U.S. District Court
  - Southern District of New York
  - Northern District of New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals
  - Second Circuit
  - Third Circuit
  - Fourth Circuit
  - Fifth Circuit
  - Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Services
- U.S. Court of International Trade
- U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation
- U.S. Tax Court
- Executive Office for Immigration Review
Professional Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- Federal Bar Association
- New York State Bar Association
- New York County Lawyers Association
- New York City Bar Association
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
  - Vice-Chair, Immigration Law Committee
- The International Bar Association
  - War Crimes Committee
  - Immigration and Nationality Law Committee
  - North American Regional Forum
- American Immigration Lawyers Association
  - Chair, New Jersey Chapter ICE Worksite Enforcement Committee
- National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild
- Association of Corporate Counsel’s Compliance and Ethics Committee
- Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC), US State Department, Bureau of Diplomatic Security
  - Representative Member, Latin American Regional Council
  - Country Council Member – Israel
  - Country Council Member – Lebanon
- Invest In the USA (IIUSA)
- NAFSA: Association of International Educators Trainer Corps
- Pennsylvania Council for International Education
  - Education Committee
- Boys & Girls Club of Easton
  - Board of Directors

Raymond G. Lahoud

Member | New Jersey/New York/Pennsylvania

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