WELCOME TO PETERSON IMMIGRATION
Your employment-based immigration legal team.
About UsWith a passion for the process and policy, and a commitment to relationship-based service, we help employers and employees work through the US immigration system.
At Peterson Immigration, we invest in building relationships that enable employers to on-board a global workforce, working predominantly with health care organizations and professionals, the high-tech industry and academia.
Award Winning Immigration Services
Award Winning Immigration Services
PEOPLE ORIENTED APPROACHWho We Help
Individuals
Peterson Immigration helps foreign professionals transition through the US immigration system by providing personalized and informed legal services.
Employers
From private corporations, to universities, to start-ups, and everything in between, Peterson Immigration provides experience and expertise to guide you through the complex immigration process.
Physician & Healthcare Immigration
Peterson Immigration has represented International Medical Graduates (IMGs) and the healthcare centers that employ them for over 20 years. We understand the complex IMG journey from J-1 waiver to H-1B to green card. Sarah Peterson is one of a small handful of specialized immigration lawyers who have been invited to testify before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee and other legislative bodies on immigration policy and reform.
University Research Scholars & Academics
Not all immigration cases are the same. Peterson Immigration has over 20 years experience handling the unique challenges faced by university research scholars and academics. We understand the unique challenges of higher education in the United States and provide informed legal counsel for this highly specialized immigration journey.
Meet Our Team
About The Founder:
Attorney Sarah K. Peterson
Between antiquated legislation, executive orders and an alphabet soup of classifications, the world of US immigration law is complex. Employers from Fortune 500 to start-ups know that hiring international talent can quickly become an expensive, confusing and lengthy process.
That’s where I come in. My name is Sarah Peterson and I am an immigration attorney focusing on employment based immigration including H-1B visas, J-1 Waivers, PERM applications, Extraordinary Ability Petitions, National Interest Waivers, consular processing, and I-9 compliance and audits. Basically, I help your company on-board the most competitive candidates from around the world.
I have practiced employment-based immigration law since 2006, helping transition foreign-born doctors, researchers, engineers, IT specialists and managers to some of our nation’s top universities and research facilities. I work with start-ups, non-profits, and high-tech corporations. I make your field my business.
I hold a joint law degree and master in public policy from the University of Minnesota Law School and the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. I am very active in our professional association, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). In 2012 I was elected as a Director on the AILA National Board of Governors. I chair the AILA Health Care Professionals/Physicians Committee, have previously served on the AILA Liaison committees with USCIS Service Centers, was selected as one of Minnesota’s Lawyer’s Up and Coming Attorneys for 2010, and am named in InternationalWho’s Who of Corporate Immigration Lawyers. When I’m not in Minneapolis, I’m traveling to speak nationally on immigration issues or to meet with leaders in Washington D.C. to make immigration reform a reality.
I am committed to providing relationship-based expertise and I hold myself to an impeccable standard of ethics and excellence. I serve clients with both enthusiasm and intellect. Our global economy necessarily requires global talent so let me help your team achieve its full potential.
Education
Juris Doctor (JD), cum laude, University of Minnesota Law School, Minneapolis, MN, May 2005
Master of Public Policy (M.P.P.), Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, Minneapolis, MN, June 2007
Intermediate French Language Studies, Foreign Language Area Studies Fellow (FLAS), Université de Savoie, Chambéry, France, Summer 2003
Bachelor of Art, Magna Cum Laude & Honors program graduate, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, MN, June 1998
International Affairs Studies, Vesalius College, Brussels, Belgium, July 1996 – August 1997
Legal Experience
Senior Attorney, Aronson & Associates, PA, Minneapolis, MN, May 2006 to December 2014
Practice areas included:
H-1B Professionals
L-1, Executives, Managers & Specialized Knowledge
J-1 Exchange Program students, scholars, trainees, teachers, research assistants, medical graduates
TN, Canadians and Mexicans entering under the NAFTA
Individuals with extraordinary ability (O-1 and EB-1)
Labor Certification Applications
National Interest Waivers (MUA and NYSDOT)
Immediate Relative Petitions
Citizenship
I-9 Audits
Research Assistant, Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, Minneapolis, MN, August 2004 – May 2005, Cram-Dalton Scholar
Contributed to the production of Equality and Women’s Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: A Guide to Implementation and Monitoring Under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Hennepin County Attorney's Office, Special Litigation Division, Appellate Team, Minneapolis, MN, March 2004 – January 2005
Authored two Appellate briefs to the Minnesota Court of Appeals
Researched complex constitutional issues
Community Involvement
Member, Public Policy Committee, Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, 2013-2016
About The Attorney:
Yer C. Vang
Yer C. Vang is an Attorney with Peterson Immigration advising employers and foreign nationals on a wide range of business immigration matters, including H-1B, TN, L-1, PERM labor certifications, and adjustment of status. Yer has particular expertise with the PERM labor certification process, where she strategically advises private companies and higher education on the nuances of this complex process. She also has extensive experience in helping to plan the entire lifecycle of an immigration journey – from securing the first visa, to obtaining a green card, to ultimately naturalizing as a U.S. citizen.
About The Attorney:
Nicole Bennett
Nicole Bennett is an Attorney at Peterson Immigration, where she advises employers and professionals on a broad range of U.S. business immigration matters. She represents clients across academia and diverse industries, including healthcare, information technology, and financial services. Nicole’s practice focuses on physician immigration, employment-based immigrant visa petitions, and nonimmigrant visa petitions, helping clients navigate complex immigration processes with practical, strategic guidance.
CLIENT STORIESTrusted by employers across the country.
From the strategy to hire a particularly critical employee to an HR team managing hundreds of foreign nationals, we treat every case with the same care and empathy.
“It was clear in my interactions with Sarah that she is extremely knowledgeable and updated in the field, as well as has a strong network of colleagues. [...] She listens carefully to client queries and comments and responds quickly and clearly with analysis and advice aimed directly at the issue. I consider Sarah Peterson one of the best in immigration law.”
Tanguy L-S
University of Chicago
“Sarah has taken great care of all of our company’s immigration needs and goes above the call of duty many times both for our foreign nationals and for our company. She also is a mentor to me as I learn the constantly changing field of immigration. Because of her, I feel that I have grown in my position with regards to immigration with my company.”
Debbie T
Sr Human Resources Compliance Manager
Questions?
Our dedicated team is here to provide
the assistance you need. Feel free to
reach out – we're ready to help!
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Peterson Immigration specializes in employment-based immigration, including H-1B, L-1, O-1, and TN visas, PERM labor certifications, EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 green card petitions, and I-9 compliance consulting. Whether you're an employer sponsoring talent or a foreign national seeking to work in the U.S., we have you covered. Peterson immigration is particularly well known for its thought leadership in physician immigration, ranging from J-1 waivers to Physician National Interest Waivers (PNIW) and beyond.
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Yes! We partner with employers and individuals across the country. Today’s immigration environment does not require meeting with clients in person. Rather, success does not come from meeting with a local attorney but rather from the application of strategic expertise that is individualized for your specific immigration challenges.
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Employment-based immigration is our expertise, which means we bring focused expertise and up-to-date knowledge to every case. We understand the urgency of hiring timelines and the stakes involved for both employers and employees — and we work efficiently to keep your business moving and your people protected. We offer state of the art technology at your fingertips that allows you to track the process of your case any time of the day or night.
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Fees depend on the type of visa or petition and the complexity of your case. We are upfront about our flat free pricing from the start. During your consultation, we will walk you through expected costs so you can plan accordingly. We also offer retainer arrangements for businesses with ongoing immigration needs, including fixed fees that allow you to plan and budget appropriately.
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We are not just your lawyer. We are your strategic partner as you navigate a complex and quickly changing immigration environment. We pride ourselves on individualized representation and strong communication to ensure that you feel supported throughout your immigration journey. Our goal is the same as yours: a successful and seamless immigration process. This is not just your journey; it is a journey we will walk together.
TOP RANKED PARTNER AND ADVOCACY LEADER
Navigating borders.
Empowering talent.
Peterson Immigration helps healthcare systems, universities, tech companies, and entrepreneurs move the world's best people across borders.