Kate E. Tucker focuses her legal practice on Immigration Law. Having been through the U.S. immigration process herself as a British National, Ms. Tucker fully understands the far-reaching effects of immigration status on an individual’s entire life and provides individualized legal advice after a thorough review of her client’s short and long-term objectives. She provides valuable insight, reliable and efficient advice and step-by-step guidance to her clients throughout the complex immigration process.
Ms. Tucker’s clients include business entities, educational institutions and national laboratories, as well as individual foreign nationals. Her representation of corporate clients includes advice regarding general employment issues, employment and sponsorship of foreign nationals, preparation of the necessary petitions to effect such sponsorship, advice regarding issues that arise following approval (travel, layoffs, extensions, change or status, etc.) and I-9 compliance (including self audits, correction of I-9s, and Department of Homeland Security [DHS] audits).
Ms. Tucker’s representation of individual foreign nationals includes advice regarding planning the immigration process from start to finish, assessment of job offers and qualifications for employment-based visas, and assistance in preparation of employment-based and family-based petitions.
Ms. Tucker’s Immigration practice includes:
•Non-Immigrant (Temporary) Status (Employment and Family Based)
•U.S. Lawful Permanent Residence (Employment and Family Based)
•Consular Visa Processing (Non-Immigrant and Immigrant)
•I-9 Compliance, Training and Audits
Ms. Tucker has defended employers in several I-9 audits by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), resulting in no or lower penalties, as well as successfully negotiating down hefty government fines for I-9 violations. Ms. Tucker has also obtained approval on several petitions that were previously denied (or noticed with an intent to deny by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services [USCIS]) prior to her representation of the client.
Ms. Tucker also publishes and/or speaks regularly on the subject of immigration law, as well as provides training to her corporate clients regarding the employment of foreign nationals, sponsorship of foreign nationals, compliance with I-9 regulations, and other employment-related topics.
PUBLISHED WORKS
•'Expansion of the Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver Process', TBA Immigration Newsletter, October, 2016
•'Employment for Certain H-4 Dependent Spouses', TBA Immigration Newsletter, March, 2015
•'Remember to Use the Most Current Form I-9', KBA Corporate Counsel Newsletter, March, 2014
•'Expansion of the Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver Process', TBA Immigration Newsletter, September, 2013
•'The DOMA Decision and its Effect on Immigration', TBA Immigration Newsletter, July, 2013
•'Management Counsel Law Practice 101: Employers Must Use Revised Form I-9 by May 7, 2013', DICTA, May, 2013
•'Employers Must Use Revised Form I-9 by May 7, 2013', Kramer Rayson LLP Labor and Employment Journal, March, 2013
•'Tennessee Lawful Employment Act', TBA Journal, August, 2012
•'I-9 Compliance - Rehiring, Reorganization and Other Interruptions in Employment', Kramer Rayson LLP Labor and Employment Journal, July, 2012
•'DOMA to be Reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court', TBA Immigration Newsletter, November, 2011
•'Employer Obligations Under Tennessee’s Non-Mandatory E-Verify Law', Kramer Rayson LLP Labor and Employment Journal, October, 2011
•'I-9 Compliance for Remote or Off-Site Employees', Kramer Rayson LLP Labor and Employment Journal, March, 2011
•'H-1B Audits', Kramer Rayson LLP Labor and Employment Journal, September, 2010
•“Sessions Continues to Chip Away at the Independence of Immigration Judges,” TBA Journal, September 2018
CLASSES & SEMINARS
•Annual Seminar 'H-1B Non-Immigrant Visas' (Fall Semester), University of Tennessee
•Annual Seminar 'Lawful Permanent Residency' (Spring Semester), University of Tennessee
•“No Match Letters Resumed” (2019), American Immigration Lawyers Association Mid-South Fall Conference
•“Employment Law Panel” (2019), Kramer Rayson LLP Annual Employment Law Seminar
•“Employment Based Immigration” (2019), Lincoln Memorial University College of Law
•“Lawful Permanent Residency” (2018), Oak Ridge National Laboratory
•“Immigration Update & Impact on Employers” (2018), Society of Human Resources Managers
•“Impact of Immigration Changes on Employers” (2017), Knoxville Bar Association
•“Immigration Update & Impact on Employers” (2017), TN Human Resources Association
•“Immigration Update - Changes under the New Administration” (2017), Oak Ridge National Laboratory
•“Immigration Basics” (2017), Oak Ridge National Laboratory
•'Verifying Identification and Work Authorization (I-9, E-Verify, TLEA)' (2016), Construction Financial Management Association Meeting
•'Immigration Update' (2016), Kramer Rayson LLP Annual Employment Law Seminar
•'Verifying Identification and Work Authorization (I-9, E-Verify and TLEA)' (2016), Oak Ridge National Laboratory
•'Immigration Update' (2016), Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants Meeting
•'Temporary Protected Status - Nepal' (2015), University of Tennessee, Knoxville
•'I-9 Compliance' (2015), Oak Ridge National Laboratory
•'Special Handling Labor Certification Applications' (2015), Tennessee Wesleyan College
•'Visa Issues for User Facilities' (2015), Oak Ridge National Laboratory Spallation Neutron Source
•'Advanced Issues for H-1B Employers' (2015), Oak Ridge National Laboratory Labor and Employment Conference
•“Immigration Practice” (2015), University of Tennessee Immigration Clinic
•'Immigration Options for Entrepreneurs', (2013) University of Tennessee, Knoxville
•'The PERM Labor Certification Application Process' (2014), Oak Ridge National Laboratory
•'The New 2 Page I-9 Form' (2013), TBA Webcast
•'Immigration Hot Topics' (2013), Oak Ridge National Laboratory Labor and Employment Conference
•'Lawful Permanent Residency' (2012), University of Tennessee, Chattanooga
•'Tennessee Lawful Employment Act' (2012), Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants Meeting
•'Tennessee Lawful Employment Act' (2012), Tennessee Bar Association
•'Tennessee Immigration Law Update' (2012), Oak Ridge National Laboratory Labor and Employment Conference
•'Tennessee Immigration Law Update' (2012), Kramer Rayson LLP Annual Employment Law Seminar
•'The Path from Temporary Status to U.S. Citizenship' (2011), Oak Ridge National Laboratory
•'I-9 Audits' (2010), Gatlinburg Hospitality Association Meeting
•'I-9 Audits' (2010), Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants Meeting
•'Government Audits' (2010), Kramer Rayson LLP Annual Employment Law Seminar
•'I-9 Compliance & E-Verify' (2009), Kramer Rayson LLP Annual Employment Law Seminar
•'Identity Theft' (2007-2009), Knoxville Bar Association Community Workshop
HONORS & AWARDS
•One of Knoxville’s Best Immigration Lawyers, CityView Magazine
•Mid-South Super Lawyers Rising Stars in Business Immigration
•Rated as Notable by Martindale Hubbell
•Recognized by Best Lawyers in Immigration
•Named a “Rising Star” in Business Immigration by Mid-South Super Lawyers
•Designated as one of Knoxville’s “Top Attorneys” in Immigration & Naturalization by CityView Magazine
