Trow & Rahal, PC

Trow & Rahal, PC Trow & Rahal is a business immigration law firm helping businesses, families, athletes & entrepreneurs.

Attorneys Stephen Trow, Linda Rahal, and Cynthia Hemphill, owners and shareholders of Trow & Rahal, P.C. are widely recognized as leading business immigration attorneys and have a solid reputation within the legal community, as evidenced by their inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America. Their reputation for high ethical standards has earned them recognition in the Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register

of Preeminent Lawyers. Having helped clients with their immigration issues for several decades, they know that immigration issues affect many aspects of an individual’s professional and personal life. Developing solutions quickly and effectively can be critical. As your immigration law firm, Trow & Rahal will stay on top of rapidly changing regulations, steer around the roadblocks in the system, and when needed, craft a customized solution to help you cross the finish line and receive the benefits you require.

José Andrés came to the United States from Spain in 1991 with $50 in his pocket and a job cooking in New York City. He w...
09/03/2026

José Andrés came to the United States from Spain in 1991 with $50 in his pocket and a job cooking in New York City.

He would go on to become one of the country's best-known chefs and restauranteurs, helping introduce Spanish cuisine to a much wider American audience. But his impact would eventually extend far beyond restaurant kitchens.

After traveling to Haiti following the devastating 2010 earthquake, Andrés saw how urgently people needed access to food in the aftermath of a disaster. That experience led him to establish World Central Kitchen.

Since then, the organization has provided hundreds of millions of meals to people affected by hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires, wars, and other crises around the world, often mobilizing local chefs, restaurants, and food producers to help communities quickly.

Andrés became a U.S. citizen in 2013 and has received numerous recognitions for both his culinary career and humanitarian work, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2025.

His story demonstrates the many ways an immigrant's impact can grow beyond the career that first brought them to the United States. Andrés built a culinary career here, then used the experience, relationships, and resources he gained to create an organization capable of feeding people in some of their most difficult moments.

🎉 Wednesday Wow: EB-1B Outstanding Researcher Case Approved with Premium Processing and No RFE 🎉This week, our team secu...
09/02/2026

🎉 Wednesday Wow: EB-1B Outstanding Researcher Case Approved with Premium Processing and No RFE 🎉

This week, our team secured approval of an EB-1B Outstanding Researcher petition for a professional researcher of applied statistics for survey research that was approved within 15 business days without a Request for Evidence (RFE).

What made this case especially interesting was that our client did not yet hold a Ph.D. However, he had built exactly the kind of professional research record that the EB-1B category is designed to support.

To put together a successful Outstanding Researcher case, it is essential to focus on the fundamental requirements: a qualifying employer, at least 3 years of professional research experience, and persuasive evidence that the researcher is recognized internationally as outstanding.

We did exactly this by building a cohesive, criteria-driven record in which every piece of evidence reinforced that our client met the criteria. We highlighted:

- His authorship of scholarly articles in internationally circulated and respected journals;
- His original scholarly contributions of real significance;
- Academic and governmental citations showing that other researchers, governments, and international organizations rely on the client’s work;
- Published materials about our client and his work in international media;
- His receipt of internationally recognized and competitive scholarships; and
Strong support letters from nationally and internationally recognized experts in the field.

Congratulations to our client and kudos to our team on another strong result. 🎉

: Check for blank pages in your passport before traveling, not just the expiration date. Depending on where you are tra...
09/01/2026

: Check for blank pages in your passport before traveling, not just the expiration date.

Depending on where you are traveling, you may need available passport pages for visas or entry and exit stamps.

Some countries have specific requirements for the number or type of blank passport pages travelers must have available. Even when there is no formal blank-page requirement, running out of usable space can create complications during international travel or when applying for a visa.

Before an international trip, check:

• Your passport expiration date
• The validity requirements for your destination
• How many blank visa pages remain
• Whether your destination requires a certain number of blank pages

If your passport is getting full, do not wait until the last minute to address it. The U.S. Department of State no longer adds extra visa pages to U.S. passports, so travelers who need additional space generally need to renew their passport.

A quick passport check well before departure can help prevent an unwelcome surprise at the airport or during the visa process.

08/31/2026

The September 2026 Visa Bulletin is here, closing out the final month of the federal fiscal year with significant movement in several family-sponsored categories and continued uncertainty for employment-based applicants.

For most countries, family-sponsored Final Action Dates moved forward substantially. F1 (unmarriedsonsand daughters of U.S. citizens) advanced by more than a year, F2B (unmarried sons and daughters 21 or older of permanent residents) by more than a year and a half, F3 (married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens) by more than two years, and F4 (brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens) by more than two years. F2A (spouses and children of permanent residents) also advanced by one month.

Employment-based categories, however, saw much less movement.

EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 Final Action Dates remain unchanged from August, while EB-4 advanced by two months.

The Department of State is also warning that visa availability could change before the fiscal year ends on September 30. EB-1 India could become unavailable if the annual limit is reached, while EB-2 worldwide could retrogress or become unavailable. Unreserved EB-5 could also become unavailable if demand reaches the annual limit.

The September Bulletin also provides some context for the movement. The Department of State reports that immigrant visa issuance from certain countries has decreased as a result of administration actions, including the immigrant visa ban of 75 countries, affecting visa processing. This has allowed dates in other categories to advance as the Department of State works to maximize use of available FY2026 visa numbers. However, the immigrant visa ban has just been struck down in federal court requiring that the applications from those countries must now commence.

With a new fiscal year beginning October 1, the October Visa Bulletin will be an important one to watch. We anticipate significant movement in the employment based visa categories.

Trow & Rahal will continue monitoring visa availability and other developments that may affect employment- and family-based immigration cases.

Where did the bow tie come from? One of the most widely accepted accounts of the bow tie’s history begins with Croatian ...
08/28/2026

Where did the bow tie come from? One of the most widely accepted accounts of the bow tie’s history begins with Croatian soldiers serving in France.

During the Thirty Years’ War in 17th-century Europe, Croatian mercenaries wore scarves tied around their collars. Their knotted neckcloths influenced the French “cravate”, a name derived from “Croate”, the French word for Croatian.

The cravat became part of the evolution of European neckwear and eventually helped inspire the modern bow tie. By the late 19th century, the bow tie had reached New York’s Tuxedo Club, where it became associated with formal evening attire and sophistication.

Today is National Bow Tie Day, making it the perfect time to recognize how this familiar accessory reflects centuries of cultural exchange.

The bow tie is a small but stylish example of how ideas and traditions travel across borders, evolve within new communities, and become part of cultures far from where their stories began.

Born in Manchester, England, in 1853, Elihu Thomson immigrated to the United States with his family when he was five yea...
08/27/2026

Born in Manchester, England, in 1853, Elihu Thomson immigrated to the United States with his family when he was five years old.

The family settled in Philadelphia, where Thomson developed an extraordinary aptitude for science. After graduating from Central High School, he was invited to teach there and became the school’s chair of chemistry at only 23 years old.

Thomson soon began experimenting with electricity alongside fellow teacher Edwin J. Houston. Their work led to the creation of an arc-lighting system and the company that eventually became the Thomson-Houston Electric Company.

In 1892, Thomson-Houston merged with Thomas Edison’s Edison General Electric Company to form General Electric.

Throughout his career, Thomson received nearly 700 patents covering generators, transformers, electric welding, lighting, meters, railways, X-ray technology, refrigeration, and other innovations.

He was also an early advocate for dedicated industrial research laboratories, helping establish a model that would influence generations of American scientific and technological development.

Thomson later served as acting president of MIT and received some of the highest honors available in science and engineering.

From a young immigrant fascinated by mechanical processes to one of the founders of the American electrical manufacturing industry, Elihu Thomson helped build the systems that brought electricity into modern life.

We're happy to share another successful outcome for a client!Recently, an H-1B extension was approved after USCIS issued...
08/26/2026

We're happy to share another successful outcome for a client!

Recently, an H-1B extension was approved after USCIS issued a Request for Evidence (RFE) regarding the Labor Condition Application (LCA). Because an alternate wage survey was used to determine the prevailing wage, USCIS requested additional documentation linking the selected wage and occupational classification to the position being offered.

Our team prepared a detailed response explaining how the position's duties, education, and experience requirements aligned with the chosen occupational classification.

We also provided supporting survey data and documentation to strengthen the case.

The result? ✅ H-1B Extension Approved

As USCIS continues to closely review wage levels and job requirements in H-1B cases, we expect to see more RFEs like this. Careful preparation and strong supporting evidence can make all the difference.

Congratulations to our client!

: Do not send original documents with your immigration filing unless USCIS specifically requires an original. Instead, ...
08/25/2026

: Do not send original documents with your immigration filing unless USCIS specifically requires an original.

Instead, submit clear, legible photocopies of supporting documents.

Birth certificates, marriage certificates, passports, immigration documents, and other records can be difficult, expensive, or sometimes impossible to replace.

In most cases, USCIS expects applicants to submit photocopies rather than the original documents. Originals may need to be presented later at an interview or provided if USCIS issues a specific request for them.

Sending an original when it was not requested does not necessarily strengthen an application. It may instead create the risk that an important personal document will be difficult to retrieve.

Before filing, review the instructions for the specific form carefully. Make sure every copy is complete and legible, including information, stamps, seals, or annotations appearing on the back of a document. Keep the originals organized and accessible in case they are needed later.

If USCIS requests an original document, follow the request carefully and submit it by the stated deadline.

08/24/2026

USCIS has announced that it will publish revised editions of Form I-539 and Form I-765 on September 15, 2026.

USCIS will accept the current editions if they are postmarked or electronically submitted before September 15. However, filings postmarked or submitted electronically on or after September 15 must use the new editions. Older editions will be rejected.

Form editions can be easy to overlook, especially when a form was downloaded or a filing was prepared in advance. A rejected application can result in lost time and may create additional complications when an applicant is facing a status or employment authorization deadline.

Before submitting any immigration filing, applicants should confirm that they are using the edition currently accepted by USCIS and review the latest filing instructions, fees, and addresses.

Trow & Rahal is monitoring these changes and will help clients ensure the correct forms are included in filings submitted on or after September 15.

The United States once required many prospective immigrants to prove they could read, but not necessarily in English. Th...
08/21/2026

The United States once required many prospective immigrants to prove they could read, but not necessarily in English.

The Immigration Act of 1917 introduced a literacy test for many people seeking admission to the United States.

Under the law, immigrants over the age of 16 could be asked to read a short passage of approximately 30 to 40 words.

However, the test was not designed specifically to measure English proficiency.

Applicants could generally complete it in English or another language or dialect of their choice.

The law even directed immigration officials to provide passages in multiple languages, reflecting the reality that many arriving immigrants could read and write but did not yet speak English.

The literacy requirement was part of a broader law that significantly restricted immigration. The Immigration Act of 1917 also expanded the categories of people who could be denied entry and created the “Asiatic Barred Zone,” which excluded immigration from much of Asia and the Pacific.

Supporters had pushed for literacy testing for decades, often arguing that it would limit the arrival of immigrants they viewed as undesirable. Presidents Grover Cleveland, William Howard Taft, and Woodrow Wilson each vetoed earlier versions of literacy-test legislation. Congress ultimately overrode President Wilson’s veto in 1917.

The literacy test remained part of U.S. immigration law for 35 years until it was eliminated by the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952.

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20814

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