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.
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
