Joshua Joseph Despain
Wilner & O'Reilly APLC
J.J. Despain is a managing attorney in Boise for W&O’. He is admitted to the Colorado State Bar and practices mostly family-based and employment-based immigration law. J.J. has represented clients in over 100 interviews with USCIS. He has participated in events at community centers in both Utah and Idaho to present issues in immigration law and speak about the many possibilities available to potential clients. J.J. graduated from Brigham Young University, where he earned a bachelor of arts in communications with an emphasis in print journalism. He spent two years as an opinions editor, sports editor, and web editor for the campus newspaper, The Daily Universe. J.J. also earned minors in both Spanish and political science. After his undergraduate studies, J.J. attended law school at the University of Iowa College of Law. In Iowa, J.J. was the president of the student chapter of the J. Reuben Clark Law Society, a managing editor of the Iowa Law Review, a judicial clerk for the Honorable Stephanie M. Rose of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, and was involved with the Latino Law Students Association and Sports Law Society.
J.J. previously worked with Catholic Charities of Central Texas in Austin, Texas, where he led the office’s DACA renewal process for clients, and also assisted with U-visas and I-601A waivers. He also worked in Austin with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid on cases involving housing disputes. Back in Iowa City, J.J. assisted with Cole & Vondra, PC, in putting on Know Your Rights seminars for the local immigrant community, and with the Iowa Legal Aid Pro Bono Project.
In his spare time, J.J. enjoys spending time with his wife and four children, exploring the Idaho outdoors, drawing, watching sports (especially BYU), and watching movies. J.J. and his family live in Boise.
- University of Iowa
- J.D. (2015) | Law
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- Honors: Boyd Service Award with Highest Honors Pro Bono Society
- Activities: Managing Editor of the Iowa Law Review President of J. Reuben Clark Law Society Latino Law Students Association International Law Society Sports Law Society Texas RioGrande Legal Aid Iowa Legal Aid Pro Bono Project Immigration Know Your Rights Seminar
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- Brigham Young University
- B.A. (2011) | Communications
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- Activities: Minor in Spanish Minor in political science
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- Managing attorney
- Wilner & O'Reilly APLC
- - Current
- Associate attorney
- Wilner & O'Reilly APLC
- - Current
- Practicing family-based immigration (U-visas; I-601A, I-601, and I-212 waivers; I-130 petitions; I-360 petitions, e.g., VAWA petitions and SIJS petitions; consular processing; adjustment of status; K1 visas; asylum) Practicing employment-based immigration (PERM labor certifications; I-140 petitions; H visas; E-2 visas; L-1 visas; TN visas) Advocating for clients in U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services interviews Representing clients in Executive Office for Immigration Review hearings Leading CLE seminars for the firm’s attorneys and paralegals Mentoring legal interns Presenting immigration issues at community events in Utah and Idaho Publication: H-1B Visa Program, RIVERSIDE LAWYER, vol. 68, no. 9, pp. 8–9 (Oct. 2018)
- Managing editor
- Iowa Law Review
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- Edited articles and notes, focusing on Bluebook format and other technical aspects
- Legal intern
- Catholic Charities of Central Texas - Immigration Legal Services
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- Led DACA status renewal process, including interviewing clients, and preparing applications Interviewed clients and prepared their applications, usually in Spanish, for U-visas, I-601A waivers
- Judicial extern for The Honorable Stephanie Rose
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
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- Wrote and researched for drafts of memoranda and orders Observed trials and hearings with judicial clerks
- J.J. Despain of Wilner & O’Reilly: “Optimism”
- Thrive Global
- What immigration options are possible for my family in Afghanistan?
- Wilner & O'Reilly
- Immigration Lawyer Talk, Driggs, ID
- Hispanic Resource Center of Teton Valley
- Boyd Service Award with Highest Honors
- University of Iowa College of Law
- Pro Bono Society
- University of Iowa College of Law
- Colorado Bar Association, Immigration Law Section
- Executive Council Member
- - Current
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- American Immigration Lawyers Association
- - Current
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- State Bar of Colorado # 49597
- Member
- - Current
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- Colorado Bar Association, Immigration Law Section
- - Current
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- Colorado
- Colorado Supreme Court
- ID Number: 49597
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- Executive Office for Immigration Review
- ID Number: EE162589
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- USCIS
- ID Number: 49597
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Free Consultation
First 30-minute consultation is free. - Credit Cards Accepted
- Immigration Law
- Asylum, Citizenship, Deportation Defense, Family Visas, Green Cards, Immigration Appeals, Investment Visas, Marriage & Fiancé(e) Visas, Student Visas, Visitor Visas, Work Visas
- English: Spoken, Written
- Spanish: Spoken, Written
- Q. I attend barber school with out a legal status in the US , but now that i finished I can't get my license cause of it
- A: I don't know much about barber school and barber licenses, but it is very possible that the school requires different credentials from the agency that issues the licenses. In other words, your immigration status or lack of status might have not been an obstacle to the school, but it still an obstacle to the agency that approves or denies your license. You may have another way to obtain immigration status. I would advise meeting with an immigration lawyer to find out if you have a pathway to immigration status separate from the school and license, so that you can then return to the license process and complete it.
- Q. I didnt file tax return. I didnt make enough. I am trying to help my husband... will he not be able to get his green
- A: Even if you know you did not make enough income to qualify as a sponsor, if you are the petitioner you will still need to fill out the I-864 affidavit of support form and include financial records. It should not disqualify the case as long as you find a joint sponsor who does meet the income requirements and also fills out an I-864 and includes his/her own financial records as well. More paperwork and makes the case a little more complicated, but nothing that should be a negative consequence.
- Q. If a person is a permanent resident, can he/she get their pension sent to another country outside of the USA?
- A: It depends on what you mean by "pension." For Social Security benefits, you can usually still get those outside of the United States. It depends on what country your citizenship is from and what country you are going to. However, Medicare benefits cannot go to someone outside of the United States. Here are couple of helpful resources: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10137.pdf https://www.ssa.gov/international/payments_outsideUS.html There are some other things to be aware of when a permanent resident leaves the United States. If he leaves the United States for more than a year, without getting a re-entry permit first, then he will lose his permanent residency. If he leaves the United States for more than six months, it could delay his eligibility for U.S. citizenship. Talk with a Social Security expert or other expert on pensions and retirement benefits to know for sure how a move might affect you.
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