Jan Pederson, Esq.
Senior Partner

Recognized by The Washington Post as one of "seven leading lawyers" in Washington, D.C., Ms. Pederson has been dedicated to the practice of immigration and nationality law for over twenty years. She has successfully represented thousands of clients and is masterful at resolving complex immigration issues. Ms. Pederson's impressive list of clients includes renowned physicians, urban and rural health care providers, Fortune 500 companies, television networks, entertainers, computer personnel and other professionals.

She is a leading advocate for the rights of J-1 Physicians in the United States and has been key to the passage of legislation to benefit them. She is also the publisher of J-1 Physician News; and lectures nationally and internationally to foreign physicians. She seeks solutions for her clients beyond the immigration laws and does not hesitate to seek solutions from The White House and Congress, if necessary. She has been a key advocate on the restoration of the National Interest Waivers for J-1 Physicians and in increasing the Conrad State 20 J-1 Waiver Program to the Conrad State 30 Program.

She served as president of the Washington, D.C. Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA); as an elected director of the national Board of Governors of AILA for eighteen years. She has served as a chairperson of the Physicians Task Force of AILA for many years and has also served as chairperson of the AILA Visa Office Liaison Committee and Refugee Committee. She was the recipient of the prestigious national award, The Edith Lowenstein Award, in 1997 for excellence in the advancement of the practice of immigration law.

The national media has recognized her expertise in immigration law and call upon her to comment on important issues and legislation. Ms. Pederson has been interviewed by CNN, ABC News, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Washington Times and The Legal Times of Washington, D.C., to name a few.

She is the founder and Editor of J-1 Physicians News, a newsletter focusing on issues of concern to J-1 physicians.

Education:

    Ms. Pederson graduated with honors from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and from Howard University with a Juris Doctor degree.

Professional and Community Associations:

    American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
    IMMLAW: The National Consortium of Immigration Law Firms
    The American Bar Association
    The District of Columbia Bar
    Bar Association of the District of Columbia
    International Bar Association
    Women's Bar Association
    French-American Chamber of Commerce

Admitted to practice before the following courts:

    United States Supreme Court
    U.S. Court of Military Appeals
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
    U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
    District of Columbia Court of Appeals

Articles, Books and White Papers:

    Editor-in-Chief: J-1 Physician News
    Editor: The Visa Processing Guide
    Contributing Author: Consular Processing of Nonimmigrant Visas: A Round Table Discussion
    Author: Representation of Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants at American Embassies and Consulates
    Author: Processing Visas for Iranian Nationals at U.S. Embassies and Consular Posts
    Author: Proper Utilization of the B-1 and H Working Visas
    Author: Adjustment of Status
    Author: Labor Certification: Procedures and Problems
    Author: The Refugee Act of 1980, An Operational Perspective
    Author: Refugee and Asylum Procedures
    Author: Refugee and Asylum Practice: Avoiding Discretionary Denials
    Contributing Author: AILA Monthly Mailing

2007, 2008, 2009

Seriously Outstanding

Only 5% selected each year!

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Jessica Marks, Associate Attorney
Pederson Immigration Law Group, P.C.

Ms. Marks is a dynamic part of the Pederson Immigration Law Group team and brings a extensive knowledge of immigration law to providing premium service to all the firms’ clients. She heads the Hardship Waiver and Consular Processing Departments of the firm. She has successfully represented clients in consular processing of non-immigrant and immigrant visas at American embassies and consulates throughout the world. She specializes in advising and representing applicants in their applications for treaty investor (E-2) visas. Ms. Marks is also an accomplished appellate advocate having successfully obtained reversals of USCIS hardship waiver denials.

Education:

Ms. Marks graduated with honors from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and a minor in Moral and Ethical Philosophy and from The George Washington University School of Law, having achieved the prestigious designation of George Washington Scholar, an honor bestowed on those few at the top of the graduating class. During law school, Ms. Marks was selected as a law journal editor in which capacity she mentored her fellow journal members and reviewed and finalized articles for publication.

Professional Memberships:

American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
American Bar Association
Foreign Medical Graduates Task Force
The Women’s Bar Association of DC
The Illinois Bar Association
University of Michigan Alumni Association
The George Washington University School of Law Alumni Association
Faculty, J-1/H-1B Foreign Physician Conference Series, American College of International Physicians

Joshua C. Teets, Associate Attorney
Pederson Immigration Law Group, P.C.

Mr. Teets focuses his practice on international medical graduates, health care workers, and professionals.  He specializes in J-1 waivers for international medical graduates, as well as H-1B visas, and National Interest Waivers.  He advises clients on all facets of the immigration process, from nonimmigrant visas through all the stages of legal permanent residency and naturalization.  Mr. Teets' experience includes assisting clients in a variety of legal matters, including family-based petitions, removal proceedings, self-petitions under the Violence Against Women Act, and self-petitions for victims of crime applying for U nonimmigrant visa status. He successfully represented clients before the Executive Office of Immigration Review, Orlando Immigration Court, and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Mr. Teets is admitted to practice in the state of Florida.

Education:
Mr. Teets graduated from the University of Maryland in 2001 with a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Government and Politics, and a minor in Journalism.  After studying under the tutelage of nationally renowned immigration attorneys, Mr. Teets attended the Stetson University College of Law in Florida, where he received his Juris Doctor, as well as the William F. Blews Award for exceptional dedication to pro-bono services.   During this time, Mr. Teets clerked for the Florida State Attorney General's Office, as well as the International Practice Group of one of the largest law firms in Florida. As a Florida Supreme Court certified legal intern, he provided immigration services to low-income immigrants through Gulfcoast Legal Services, Inc., a Florida not-for-profit dedicated to providing top-notch services to immigrants' in-need.

Professional Memberships:
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
AILA DC Chapter
Foreign Medical Graduates Task Force
American Bar Association
Florida Bar Association
Stetson University College of Law Alumni Association

Professional Activities:
Conference Committee, 2009 AILA DC Fall Conference
Day Coordinator, 2009 AILA Annual Conference, Las Vegas