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Immigration law · San Francisco Bay Area & Silicon Valley
Visas, green cards and citizenship for the people who build Silicon Valley.
Located in the heart of Silicon Valley — near Stanford University and Menlo Park's Sand Hill Road — Heller Immigration Law Group has counseled companies, venture-backed and early-stage startups, founders and HR teams on their immigration needs for more than 30 years. We serve clients both internationally and throughout the United States.
30+ yearspracticing U.S. immigration law in the San Francisco Bay Area — and throughout the United States
16 practice areasfrom H-1B and O-1 to EB-1, NIW and naturalization
Stanford & UC BerkeleyDesignated School Officials have turned to Paul Heller for advice
What we handle
Practice areas
Who we represent
Clients from the lab to the boardroom
HR & corporate teamsBuilding and managing a visa-sponsored workforce
Venture-backed companiesHiring global talent at startup speed
Talented individualsO-1, EB-1 and NIW self-petitions
Young entrepreneursFounders weighing E, L, O and H options
Postdocs & researchersFrom J-1 and F-1 to permanent residence
Visiting scholarsShort-term academic and exchange stays
Talk with an experienced immigration attorney.
Tell us about your situation and we will follow up to schedule your consultation.
Practice areas
Business and family immigration, handled personally.
Choose an area to see who it is for, how the process works and the government forms usually involved.
Paul M. Heller, Esq.
Founder & Principal, Heller Immigration Law Group
Paul M. Heller is an acclaimed immigration attorney in the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley — well known and highly respected by Silicon Valley executives, the venture capital community and HR managers.
Mr. Heller has practiced U.S. immigration law for more than 30 years from the San Francisco Bay Area. His practice centers on the visas and green cards that matter most to Silicon Valley: H-1B and O-1 work visas, L-1 intracompany transfers, E-3 and TN professionals, PERM labor certification, EB-1 extraordinary ability and the EB-2 National Interest Waiver for people with exceptional achievements.
He also represents families through marriage-based green cards, adjustment of status and naturalization, including same-sex couples and LGBTQ clients.
Relationships that help clients
- Long-standing working relationships with high-level officials at USCIS, the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Labor.
- Advisor to Designated School Officials (DSOs) at Stanford University and UC Berkeley on student and scholar immigration matters.
- A professional network of 20,000 first connections across technology, venture capital and academia.
How Paul works
Every matter gets direct attorney attention, from the first strategy call to the final approval. Clients get a clear plan, a realistic timeline and straight answers about risk.
Insights & Guides
Practical immigration guides from 30+ years of practice. No legal jargon, just straight answers.
"Chain Migration": The Boogeyman That Falls Apart on Contact With Facts
The term sounds scary. The reality is boring. Here's what family immigration actually looks like.
H-1B Cap Season: Your No-BS Survival Guide
The H-1B lottery is stressful, but with the right preparation it's very winnable. Here's what you actually need to know.
Election Got You Worried About Immigration? Breathe. Read This.
Elections bring anxiety. Here's a calm, clear look at what actually changes — and what doesn't.
Immigration Reform: The Bill That Never Comes
Congress has been promising immigration reform for decades. Here's why it never happens.
Came as a Tourist, Want to Stay? The Honest Truth About Your Options
You're here on a tourist visa and want to stay. Here's what's actually possible — and what's not.
I-9 Compliance: The Employer's Cheat Sheet
I-9 audits are increasing. Here's what employers need to get right.
The Visa Bulletin: Two Dates That Control Your Entire Green Card Case
Two dates on a government chart control your entire green card timeline. Here's how to read them.
Rule by Executive Pen: Why It's a Shaky Foundation for Your Case
Executive actions can change immigration policy overnight — and be undone just as fast. Here's what that means for you.
STEM OPT: How to Turn 1 Year of Work Authorization Into 3
The 24-month STEM OPT extension is the most underused tool in student immigration. Here's how to get it.
What I'm Watching in Immigration Right Now
After 30+ years, I've learned to watch the signals. Here's what's on my radar.
News
Latest news
The latest immigration news — updated live, newest first, with the official sources below.
For official immigration information, use the U.S. government's unified portal below. Immigration rules change often — confirm current requirements with us before acting on anything you read.
Official resources
America.gov — federal AI portal, thousands of government sites in one place.
USCIS Newsroom
Visa Bulletin (State Dept)
Times of India: Immigration
Client forms
Forms for new and current clients
All forms are in English. One form for everyone — start with the consultation request.
2 minutes
Consultation request
Tell us briefly what you need and how to reach you. Send an inquiry and I'll respond.
EngagementAttorney–client engagement agreement
The contract that sets the scope of work, fees and responsibilities once you decide to retain the firm.
For companiesEmployer / HR inquiry
For HR managers and companies bringing employee immigration matters — and I-9 compliance — to the firm.
Request a free consultation
For employers & HR
HR / Employers
Built for HR managers at small and mid-sized companies — whether this is your first immigration matter or you are moving a book of cases to a new firm. Tell us where things stand and we will map the road from here.
How to proceed
1. Send the inquiry. The button below takes you to the one consultation form — choose "An employer / company." Tell us who the employees or candidates are, what status they are in now, and how many matters you may wish to bring over to HILG.
2. Free consultation. We go through statuses, deadlines and options together, and you get a clear plan — no obligation.
3. We handle the filings. Petitions, registrations, renewals and compliance, end to end, with direct attorney attention.
I-9 compliance & audit protection
Every U.S. employer must complete Form I-9 for every person hired — and the government audits those files. ICE inspections are rising, and even paperwork mistakes can draw fines on a per-form basis. The time to find problems is before the government does: an internal I-9 audit run under counsel lets you correct what can be corrected, train the people who complete the forms, and walk into any inspection prepared. If your I-9s live in a drawer and nobody has reviewed them since the day they were signed, that is exactly where we start.
Start with the consultation form
One form for everyone. Choose "An employer / company" in the first pull-down and tell us about the employees or candidates it concerns — statuses, timelines, deadlines — in the summary box. A resume or CV for a key hire can be dropped right into the form.
Engagement agreement
Attorney–client engagement agreement
Fill in the matter details on the left. The agreement updates as you type and can be copied for signature.