Flora Houn Hoffman

Emeritus Advisor
(415) 395-9331 ext. 308
fhoffman@wsmimmigration.com

Ms. Hoffman merged her passions of travel and well-crafted stories to forge a career in business immigration. She thrives on giving voice to each client’s professional and personal history. Her own immigration story includes parents who came to the U.S. from China on student visas. Ms. Hoffman recalls fondly receiving a handwritten note of appreciation from the CEO of a Fortune 100 company during her first year as an attorney. She realized the impact she could make on helping the U.S. retain the world’s top talent.

Ms. Hoffman specializes in nonimmigrant visa and permanent resident strategies and has had particular success in obtaining EB-1 green cards for researchers and individuals of extraordinary ability. She has extensive experience advising companies on the intricacies of business immigration law. Prior to joining Weaver Schlenger LLP, Ms. Hoffman was a managing partner with an international immigration firm, where she worked with Fortune 500 companies and startups to establish, maintain and improve immigration policies and procedures. Ms. Hoffman provides in-depth immigration law training to human resource and legal professionals.

Education: Harvard University, A.B. English and American Literature and Language, 1987. University of CA Berkeley Law School, J.D., 1992. Associate Editor, CA Law Review.

Professional Memberships: California Bar Member; American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).

Recent Speaking Engagements: 

• 2024: "Non-PERM Immigrant Visas," March WSM Webinar. "L-1 Visas," May WSM Webinar.
• 2023:  "The Impact of Layoffs and a Down Economy on Your Immigration Program," January WSM Webinar; "Fiscal Year 2024 H-1B Registration and Lottery," February WSM Webinar; "Immigration Compliance," March WSM Webinar, "Nonimmigrant Visa Options," April WSM Webinar; "Permanent Residence Process," May WSM Webinar; "Immigration Program Management," June WSM Webinar; "Business Immigration Updates Fall 2023," September WSM Webinar. 
• 2022: "Nonimmigrant Visa Options," April WSM Webinar; "Developing Immigration Policies," February WSM Webinar.
• 2021: "Business Immigration 2022: What to Expect," December WSM Webinar; "Updates on International Travel & Consular Appointments (for Employers)," October WSM Webinar; "Immigration Compliance, Including I-9 Best Practices," September WSM Webinar; "PERM Labor Certification: Overview, Recruitment, and Remote Workers," July WSM Webinar; "F-1 STEM OPT Employer Obligations," June WSM Webinar; "Sponsoring Employees for Green Cards: An Overview," May WSM Webinar; "I-9 Best Practices During COVID and Preparing for Return to the Office," April WSM Webinar; "Nonimmigrant Visa Options," March WSM Webinar; "2021 Business Immigration Planning," January WSM Webinar.
• 2020: "Immigration Consequences of Working at Home, Layoffs, Reductions in Pay and Reductions in Hours," April WSM Webinar; "U.S. Non-Immigrant Visa Options (the H-1B and Beyond)," March WSM Webinar.

Publications: "Start H-1B Visa Planning for 2014" in SmartRecruiters BLOG, December 10, 2013.