Fariba Faiz, San Francisco Immigration Attorney

Fariba Faiz is the founder and principal attorney of Law Offices of Fariba Faiz, P.C., a San Francisco-based immigration law firm representing U.S. employers, entrepreneurs, investors, professionals, researchers, executives, and families in complex U.S. immigration matters.

With more than 28 years of immigration law experience, Ms. Faiz focuses her practice on employment-based immigration, extraordinary ability and national interest cases, investment immigration, corporate immigration, and family-based immigration. She has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® for Exceptional Expertise in Immigration Law, Chambers and Partners , Super Lawyers and Marquis Who's Who. 

Employment-Based and Corporate Immigration

Ms. Faiz advises companies and foreign nationals on temporary and permanent U.S. immigration strategies, including H-1B, L-1A, L-1B, O-1, TN, E-1, E-2, and employment-based green card matters.

Her permanent residence practice includes EB-1A extraordinary ability petitions, EB-1B outstanding researcher and professor cases, EB-1C multinational manager and executive petitions, EB-2 National Interest Waivers (NIW), PERM-based EB-2 and EB-3 cases, and adjustment of status and consular processing matters.

She works with employers ranging from startups and emerging companies to established organizations in technology, SaaS, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, finance, fintech, banking, architecture, design, education, and other professional industries.

Her clients include scientists, researchers, physicians, engineers, software and technology professionals, executives, entrepreneurs, architects, financial professionals, designers, artists, athletes, coaches, musicians, performers, and other individuals with specialized expertise or distinguished accomplishments.

EB-1A, O-1 and Extraordinary Ability Immigration

A significant part of Ms. Faiz's practice involves immigration matters for individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement in business, science, technology, medicine, the arts, athletics, and other specialized fields.

She advises clients on EB-1A extraordinary ability green cards and O-1 visa petitions, including evaluation of eligibility, development of evidentiary strategy, preparation of petitions, and responses to Requests for Evidence (RFEs), Notices of Intent to Deny (NOIDs), and previously denied or challenging cases.

Her approach emphasizes not simply collecting evidence, but demonstrating the significance, impact, and context of a beneficiary's accomplishments under the applicable immigration standards.

Investment Immigration: E-2 and EB-5

Ms. Faiz has substantial experience representing foreign entrepreneurs and immigrant investors pursuing U.S. immigration through business investment.

Her investment immigration practice includes E-1 treaty trader visas, E-2 treaty investor visas, and EB-5 immigrant investor matters, including direct investments and regional center projects.

She assists clients with issues involving qualifying investments, business operations, ownership and control, lawful source and path of funds, business plans, corporate documentation, consular processing, and immigration strategy for investors and their families.

Healthcare, Research and Specialized Immigration

Healthcare organizations, research institutions, physicians, scientists, and other professionals seek Ms. Faiz's counsel on immigration issues unique to their industries.

Her experience includes H-1B cap-exempt employment, J-1 waiver matters, physician immigration, research-based immigration petitions, extraordinary ability cases, and employment-based permanent residence strategies.

She works closely with organizations to understand the position, institutional structure, funding, professional requirements, and long-term immigration objectives before recommending a strategy.

Immigration Advice for Employees and Professionals

Ms. Faiz also advises foreign professionals navigating changes in employment or immigration status.

Her work includes consultations concerning H-1B portability, AC21 portability, I-140 portability and job changes, layoffs, termination of employment, grace periods, changes of employer, adjustment of status issues, and the immigration consequences of corporate restructuring or job loss.

She is frequently consulted for second opinions and strategic reviews of complex immigration cases, including pending petitions, RFEs, NOIDs, denials, and cases in which a change of immigration strategy may be appropriate.

Her approach is practical and candid. Clients receive an assessment of the legal and factual issues, potential risks, available options, and a clear roadmap for moving forward.

Immigration Compliance for Employers and HR Professionals

Ms. Faiz advises employers, HR directors, founders, and administrators on immigration-related workforce issues, including Form I-9 compliance, employment authorization, immigration-related wage and hour considerations, onboarding of foreign national employees, and company policies affecting non-U.S. personnel.

Her corporate immigration practice is designed to help employers coordinate immigration strategy with recruiting, workforce planning, compliance, and business operations.

Foreign Investment, Export Controls and Related Regulatory Issues

Through her professional network and trusted advisors, Ms. Faiz also assists clients in identifying regulatory issues that can arise when immigration, international business, technology, and foreign investment intersect.

These matters may involve foreign direct investment, U.S. export controls under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and restrictions affecting foreign investment or cross-border transactions.

Where specialized regulatory counsel is required, she coordinates with appropriate professionals so immigration strategy can be considered alongside the broader business and compliance framework.

Education and Professional Background

Fariba Faiz earned her law degree from Southwestern University School of Law and completed her undergraduate education at the University of California, Berkeley.

She has been a member of the State Bar of California since 1998 and is admitted to practice before several state and federal courts.

Ms. Faiz has also participated in continuing legal education programs, business immigration presentations, and events involving organizations such as the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, Innovation Norway, Opinno, and technology and startup organizations and incubators.

For more than two decades, her practice has centered on helping employers, entrepreneurs, investors, professionals, and families develop immigration strategies that account for both immediate immigration requirements and longer-term professional and business objectives.