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William L. Coffman

Special Counsel

[email protected]

+1.617.348.1890

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Bill’s legal work focuses on immigration and nationality law, as well as outbound emigration and related international law. Bill regularly represents clients in immigration matters before the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of Labor, as well as before US and foreign consulates.

During law school, he served on the editorial board of the Houston Journal of International Law.

viewpoints

"suspend final adjudication of employment-based Form I-485 applications... because the Department of State reports that the statutory cap has been reached for the employment-based preference categories for fiscal year (FY) 2015."
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Mr. Chairman, I’m pleased to provide my testimony today as a follow-up to previous appearances before this committee. I’ve testified on two other occasions to explain the need for a more certain and predictable way to attract and retain the talent my company and others need—even if that means foreign talent.
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On August 12th, 2015, the US District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that the US Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) did not follow required procedures when it promulgated regulations allowing for certain extensions of F-1 Optional Practical Training (“OPT”) employment authorization.
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On Wednesday, August 12, 2015, the US District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that the US Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) did not follow required procedures when it promulgated regulations allowing for certain extensions of F-1 Optional Practical Training (“OPT”) employment authorization.
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released final guidance on a recent Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) decision requiring amended or new H-1B petitions for workers who change job sites.
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On Tuesday July 21, 2015, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released final guidance on a recent Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) decision requiring amended or new H-1B petitions for workers who change job sites.
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The US Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs reports that the database responsible for handling biometric clearances has been restored and is undergoing testing.  As of today, June 24, 2015, 39 posts are back online and issuing visas.  These posts represent more than two-thirds of the visa issuing posts worldwide.
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Late yesterday afternoon, in anticipation of the increased workload to be created by the filing of applications for Employment Authorization Documents (“EADs”) by H-4 spouses of certain H-1B employees beginning May 26, 2015, USCIS announced that as of May 26, it “…will temporarily suspend premium processing for all H-1B Extension of Stay petitions until July 27, 2015.”
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The diversity visa green card lottery has been an important part of U.S. immigration law for the last 20 years. It allows 55,000 foreign nationals to immigrate each year and was implemented to fulfill the worthy goal of increasing the diversity of immigrants in the United States.
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Republican leaders and both branches of Congress failed Friday to come to a long-term agreement to provide fiscal year funding for the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) and provide confidence that a DHS shutdown will be avoided. A one-week funding extension was passed, and now DHS is poised to run out of money at midnight on March 6th.
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News & Press

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187 Mintz attorneys have been recognized by Best Lawyers® in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Notably, three Mintz attorneys received 2025 “Lawyer of the Year” awards, and 64 firm attorneys were included in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.

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Mintz announced today that 42 of its practices and 83 of its attorneys earned recognition in the 2024 edition of Chambers USA, a guide to the country’s leading law firms. Of those included in the guide, 18 attorneys and seven practice areas were awarded Chambers’ highest ranking, Band 1. The firm obtained new listings in three practice areas and 10 of its lawyers were recognized for the first time.

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Mintz attorneys Juan Steevens and William Coffman co-authored an article in Law360 exploring the unforeseen impacts arising from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services’ final rule on adjusting filing fees for the majority of petitions and applications.

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Mintz is pleased to announce that 120 firm attorneys have been recognized as leaders by Best Lawyers® in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.

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BOSTON – Mintz has earned top rankings in the 2023 edition of Legal 500 United States guide. The firm is recognized in 14 practice categories, and 59 individual attorneys are also recognized in the guide, some in more than one category.

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BOSTON –Mintz announced today that 39 of its practices and 81 of its attorneys earned recognition in the 2023 edition of Chambers USA, a guide to the country’s leading law firms.

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In its second annual edition, 28 Mintz attorneys were named to Boston Magazine’s Top Lawyers list.

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Best Lawyers® recognized 108 firm attorneys in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Notably, two Mintz attorneys – Poonam Patidar and Scott M. Stanton – received 2023 “Lawyer of the Year” awards, and 28 firm attorneys were included in the inaugural edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.

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In the latest guide, Mintz garnered rankings as a top national firm in eight practice areas, and 32 firm attorneys were individually recognized.
This Law360 “Expert Analysis” column discusses how important compliance is in today’s aggressive immigration enforcement environment. The column is authored by a team of Mintz attorneys – Susan Cohen, Bill Coffman and Kevin McNamara.
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Best Lawyers named 85 Mintz attorneys to its 2018 list of The Best Lawyers in America. In addition, Mintz attorneys Matthew J. Gardella and Samuel M. Tony Starr were named “Lawyer of the Year” in their respective practice areas.
Best Lawyers named 73 Mintz attorneys to its 2017 list of The Best Lawyers in America. Mintz attorneys selected for inclusion in this year’s list span 44 practice areas. 
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Events & Speaking

Speaker
Nov
4
2021
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Oct
29
2020

Navigating the New H-1B Regulations

View the Webinar Recording

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Speaker
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Dec
6
2018

Immigration Compliance & Risk Management Webinar Series

Part II: Creating Compliance Policies for a New Era

Speaker
Oct
25
2018

Immigration Compliance & Risk Management Webinar Series

Part I: Keeping DHS in Your Sights: Site Visits & Record Keeping

Panelist
Aug
10
2018

2018 AILA Employer Compliance and Worksite Enforcement CLE Conference

Sheraton Boston Hotel, 39 Dalton St., Boston, MA

Speaker
Dec
16
2015

Immigration Law: MCLE BasicsPlus!

MCLE New England

Boston, MA

Speaker
Jul
9
2015
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Recognition & Awards

  • Chambers USA: Massachusetts - Immigration (2021 – 2024)

  • Recommended by The Legal 500 United States for Labor & Employment: Immigration (2014, 2020)

  • Best Lawyers in America: Immigration Law (2013 – 2025), Lawyer of the Year (2025)

  • International Who’s Who of Corporate Immigration Lawyers (2016 – 2019)

  • Top Author in the semiconductor industry, JD Supra Readers' Choice Awards (2016)

  • Boston Magazine Top Lawyers – Immigration (2021)

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Involvement

  • Panelist, AILA's Employment-Based Green Card Applications: Considerations and Strategies webinar
  • Member, Boston Bar Association
  • Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association
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