Overview
Loan chairs Fredrikson’s Immigration Group and also leads its I‑9 audit and corporate immigration compliance, and its H‑2 temporary workers practice areas.
Loan focuses on employment‑based immigration, corporate immigration compliance, and global mobility solutions for employers, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to mid‑size companies, health systems, entrepreneurs/investors, and family‑owned farms by developing practical immigration policy and strategies to meet their global mobility and immigration goals. This includes drafting corporate immigration policies; counseling on I‑9 / E‑Verify policy and procedures; defending employers in civil and criminal worksite enforcement actions; and conducting immigration due diligence in mergers, acquisitions and other corporate transactions. Loan has extensive experience in advising clients in the agricultural, hospitality, food processing, life sciences, biotechnology, energy, healthcare (healthcare systems, hospitals and individual physicians), software and other high‑tech sectors, financial services and manufacturing industries. She partners with her clients in finding creative work visa solutions to meet their labor force needs including the use of the H‑1B for specialty occupations, L‑1 intra‑company visas for multinational employees, E‑1‑2 investor / trader visas, B1/H‑3/J‑1 trainee visas, and temporary H‑2A agricultural and H‑2B temporary nonagricultural visas.
Loan is a frequent speaker at national conferences and has written extensively on immigration issues. She has served as an expert and Independent Monitor on H‑2B visa matters. She is currently a member of the national American Immigration Lawyer’s Association’s Department of Labor Liaison Committee (she served as H‑2 Vice Chair from 2015‑2019). She is also a member of Fredrikson’s Board of Directors.
Services
Experience
Immigration Sponsorship Policy
- Drafts corporate immigration policy and compliance programs, including setting up immigration service models and processes for a Fortune 500 company.
Immigration/I-9 Compliance
- Represents companies of varying sizes in I‑9 audits before the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigation on I‑9 audits and compliance, employer sanctions, E‑Verify and in ICE/DOL investigations.
H-2B and H-2A Temporary Worker Programs
- Partners with Landscape/Nursery/Hospitality/Resort/ Golf Clubs/ and Manufacturing employers to supplement their permanent and seasonal workforce with foreign workers by guiding them through the H‑2B temporary non‑agriculture visa program.
- Represents H‑2A and H‑2B employers in Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigations and program audits
Healthcare Immigration Solutions
- Advises and represents healthcare systems, hospitals and individual physicians on waivers (Conrad, Hardship and Interested Government Agencies), nonimmigrant visas and lawful permanent options for physicians and other health care workers.
- Advises healthcare providers/systems on hiring strategies for allied professional positions including nurses and medical technologists.
Credentials
Education
- University of Houston Law Center, J.D., 1995
- University of Houston, B.A., Political Science & History, 1992, summa cum laude
Admissions
- Minnesota, 2002
- Texas, 1995
- U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, 2007
Languages
- Vietnamese
Recognition
- Lawyer of the Year in Minneapolis for Immigration Law, Best Lawyers, 2021, 2025
- Best Lawyers in America, Immigration Law, 2020-2025
- Top Lawyer – Immigration Law, Minnesota Monthly, 2024
- Notable Diverse Leader in Law, Twin Cities Business, 2024
- Women in Business Honoree, Minnesota/St. Paul Business Journal, 2024
- Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Minnesota - Immigration, 2022-2024
- North Star Lawyer, Minnesota State Bar Association, 2012, 2017-2019, 2023
- Who's Who Legal: Corporate Immigration, 2023
- Who's Who Legal: Thought Leaders, Corporate Immigration 2020, 2022
- Diversity and Inclusion Award, Minnesota Lawyer, 2021
- Lawyers of Color, Nation's Best List, 2019
- Hennepin County Bar Association's Excellence Award, 2019
- International Who’s Who of Corporate Immigration Lawyers, 2010, 2012, 2013
- Fellow, American Bar Foundation, 2013
- Top 40 Under 40, The Business Journal, 2002
Civic & Professional
Professional Activities
- American Bar Association
- Hennepin County Bar Association
- Minnesota State Bar Association
- Texas State Bar Association
- Fredrikson & Byron Board of Directors, Member, 2023-present
- Fredrikson & Byron Inclusion & Diversity Committee, Member, 2010-present
- American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Member
- AILA: MN/Dakotas Chapter Chair, 2005-2006
- AILA: DOL Liaison Committee, 2015-present
- H-2 Vice Chair, 2016-2019
- AILA: National—USCIS Policy Liaison Committee, 2006
- AILA: National—Essential Workers Committee, 2006
- AILA: National—Nebraska Service Center Liaison Committee, 2007 and 2009
- AILA: Office of Field Operations Liaison Committee, 2010-2011
- American Immigration Council, Former Board of Directors
- National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), 2008-present
- Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, Fellow, 2016
- Twin Cities Diversity in Practice Professional Development Committee, 2010-2013
- Society for Human Resource Management, 2010-present
Community
- Co-Founder, Women of Color in the Law Forum
- International Women’s Forum, Member
- Twin Cities’ Diversity in Practice, Professional Development Committee, 2009-2012
News & Insights
News
- Firm News
- Firm News
- Firm News
- Firm News
- Firm News
- Firm News
- Firm News
- Firm News
- Firm News
- Firm News
- Firm News
- Firm News
- Firm News
- Firm News
- Firm News
- Firm News
- Firm News
Speaking Engagements
- Event
- Event
- Event
- Event
- Event
- Event
- Event
- Event
- Event
- Event
- Event
- Event
- Event
- Event
- Event
- Event
- Event
- Event
- Event
- Event
- Event
- Event
Legal Updates
- Legal Update
- Legal Update
- Legal Update
- Legal Update
- Legal Update
- Legal Update
- Legal Update
- Legal Update
- Legal Update
- Legal Update
- Legal Update
- Legal Update
- Legal Update
- Legal Update
- Legal Update
- Legal Update
Publications & Presentations
Co-Presenter, I-9 Compliance, New Form I-9, and New Remote Inspection Rule – What All Employment Law Advisors and HR Professionals Need to Know, American Immigration Lawyers Association Webcast, August 6, 2024
Co-Presenter, The Seasonal Visas: H-2A and H-2B Temporary Yet Essential Workers, 2024 American Immigration Lawyers Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL June 14, 2024
Co-Presenter, What You Need to Know to Dive into an H-2B Practice, MN/Dakotas American Immigration Lawyers Association/Upper Midwest Immigration Law Conference, University of Minnesota Law School, Minneapolis MN, May 17, 2024
Co-Presenter, I-9 and E-Verify, Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers, May 7, 2024
Co-Presenter, Are Your I-9s in Top Form: I-9 Fundamentals, Best Practices and Updates on the New I-9 Form, E-Verify and Remote Inspection Rule, Fredrikson & Byron Immigration Webinar, Minneapolis MN, April 9, 2024
Exhibitor, Northern Green, January 23-25, 2024
Co-Presenter, The Basics and the Best Practices of I-9 Compliance, Minnesota CLE, December 19, 2023
Quoted in "New H-2 Visa Proposed Rule ‘Puts Employers on Notice’," by Roy Maurer, SHRM, October 2, 2023
Presenter, Global Mobility: Key Compliance Considerations & the Intersection Between Immigration and Tax Law, University of Minnesota Law School, Minneapolis MN, September 22, 2023
Co-Presenter, Job Changes After the PERM is Approved: Legal and Ethical Considerations for Experienced Practitioners, American Immigration Lawyers Association, August 24, 2023
Presenter, H-2A and H-2B Program and Compliance Updates, South Dakota Association of Cooperatives, August 7, 2023
Speaker, Driver’s Licenses for All: What Employment Lawyers and HR Professionals Need to Know About State Laws That Permit Undocumented Immigrants to Obtain Driver’s Licenses, 2023 Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, July 27, 2023
Co-Presenter, Immigration as a Recruitment Tool, Minnesota Hospital Association, Minneapolis MN, April 17, 2023
Speaker, Roving and Third-Party Placement Workers: Obligations for Both Petitioner and Clients, AILA, November 17, 2022
Moderator, AILA MN/Dakotas, H-2B Webinar, Minneapolis MN, November 16, 2022
Co-Speaker, International Physicians: A Guide to Expanding Healthcare Access, AAPPR, Minneapolis MN, August 2022
Presenter, The Basics and Best Practices of I-9 Compliance, Minnesota CLE's 2022 Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute Webcast, July 6, 2022
Co-Presenter, Opportunities for H-2B Visas for Seasonal/Short Term Positions: Beyond Hospitality and Leisure Occupations, AILA Annual Conference on Immigration Law, June 17, 2022
Co-Presenter, Consults, Issue Spotting and Dual Representation, AILA Upper Midwest Conference, May 20, 2022
Co-Presenter, Become An IMG Superstar…Making Immigration Work in Your IMG Recruitments, 2022 AAPPR Annual Conference, April 25, 2022
Speaker/Attorney, Advocates for Human Rights Pro Bono Asylum Clinic, Minneapolis MN, March 24, 2022
Co-Presenter, Immigration: A Review of the Biden Administration’s First Year and 2022 Trends, Fredrikson & Byron Immigration Webinar, January 18, 2022
Co-Speaker, What Are We So Afraid Of?, AILA Ohio Chapter Conference, H-2A /H-2B Practice Webinar, December 3, 2021
Co-speaker, AILA, What on Earth is the Wage? The State of Play on Prevailing Wages, Webinar, August 26, 2021
Co-Presenter, Immigration Under the Biden Administration for Healthcare Providers/Systems, Fredrikson & Byron Health Law Webinar Series, March 10, 2021
Co-Presenter, What Do the 2020 Election Results Mean for U.S. Immigration?, Fredrikson & Byron Immigration Webinar, November 17, 2020
Co-Author, Charting a Pathway to Immigrant Status for PGY-2 Residents: A Primer on Immigration from the American College of Physicians, ACP Website, December 2019
Co-Presenter, The H-2B and H-2A Temporary Work Visa Programs: Updates and Trends for the 2020 Filing Season, Fredrikson & Byron Immigration Webinar, October 23, 2019
Co-Presenter, Play Offense: Be Prepared for I-9 Audit/Enforcement Trends and the SSA No Match Letters, Fredrikson & Byron Immigration Webinar, August 27, 2019
Co-Presenter, The New Normal for Business Immigration Under ‘Hire American,’ Fredrikson & Byron Immigration Seminar, May 8, 2019
Quoted in “Reform Needed for Lasting H-2B Shortage Relief, Attys Say,” Law360, March 5, 2019
Presenter, H-2A and H-2B Work Visas: Trends and Immigration Compliance, Northern Green, January 17, 2019
Quoted in “Attys Prepare Employers For Increased H-2B Visa Audits,” Law360, December 19, 2018
Co-Presenter, A 360 View—Hiring and Work Visa Strategies for Foreign Nationals, Human Resources Association of North Iowa (HRANI) Employment Law Conference, November 13, 2018
Co-Presenter, Immigration Issues for Employers Under the Buy American and Hire American Executive Order, Fredrikson & Byron’s 34th Annual Employment & Labor Law Seminar, November 1, 2018
Co-Presenter, Immigration Issues for Employers Under the Buy American and Hire American (BAHA) Executive Order, Fredrikson & Byron’s Annual North Dakota Employment Law Seminars, October 18-19, 2018
Quoted in "More H-2B Visas for Seasonal Work Available This Summer," Society for Human Resource Management, June 1, 2018
Presenter, Anatomy of an I-9 Audit, Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, May 21-22, 2018
Co-Presenter, What Now? What Next? Hiring Foreign Nationals in Uncertain Times, Fredrikson & Byron Immigration Seminar, May 9, 2018
Co-Presenter, Employer Immigration Update, Fredrikson & Byron’s 33rd Annual Employment & Labor Law Seminar, November 3, 2017
“The H-2B Work Visa: Tips for H-2B Filings in 2018 and Program Updates,” MNLA Biz, September 2017
Quoted in "Trepidation in the Heartland," Twin Cities Business, August 2017
Quoted in "H-2B Visas And The Making Of An 'Ultra Vires' Regulation," Law360, July 25, 2017
Quoted in "DHS Grants Additional 15,000 H-2B Visas," Society for Human Resource Management, July 19, 2017
Co-Presenter, Employment Immigration Update, Fredrikson & Byron Webinar, March 13, 2017
Co-Presenter, Turning Immigration into a Powerful Physician Recruitment Tool, Fredrikson & Byron Health Law Webinar, February 8, 2017
Co-Presenter, The New Form I-9: Tips for Completion, Compliance and Audits, Fredrikson & Byron Webinar, January 24, 2017
Worksite Enforcement, Compliance and Employer Rights, Fredrikson & Byron’s Immigration Podcast, January 2017
Co-Presenter, Work Visa Options and Immigration Trends, Fredrikson & Byron’s 32nd Annual Employment & Labor Law Seminar, October 26, 2016
Speaker, Working With Foreign Nationals: Employment Sponsorship, Immigration Compliance and Community Integration, Fredrikson & Byron Immigration Seminar, Minneapolis, MN, September 22, 2016
Co-Author with Ashley J. Roth, “Employment-Based Visas: An Overview,” Immigration Practice Deskbook, 2015, 1st Edition, Edited by Nelson L Peralta
Speaker, Employment-Based Options for Beginners, AILA National Conference, Washington, D.C., 2015
Co-Presenter, Hiring and Work Visa Strategies for Foreign Nationals, Fredrikson & Byron’s Annual North Dakota Employment Law Seminars, October 15-16, 2015
Presenter, Navigating the Immigration Landscape: A Guide for Employers, Fredrikson & Byron Immigration Seminar, May 5, 2015
Co-Presenter, I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification and Compliance, Fredrikson & Byron’s Annual Employment Law Seminar, Fargo and Bismarck, ND, October 16-17, 2014
“Between a Rock and a Hard Place,” Minnesota’s Journal of Human Resource Management’s Employee Benefits Planner, Third Quarter 2014
Quoted in “Fines for I-9 Errors on the Rise,” by Scott Wooldridge, benefitspro, June 10, 2014
Speaker, EB Immigration: Can You Get There From Here, AILA Upper Midwest Regional Conference, St. Paul MN, May 9, 2014
Speaker/Panel Member, Options for Investors and Entrepreneurs, AILA Chicago Chapter Midwest Regional Conference, Chicago IL, March 14, 2014
Speaker, H1Bs, AILA Minnesota/Dakotas Chapter, Minneapolis MN, February 20, 2014
Speaker, Preparing for the ICE Storms and Worker Shortages in 2014: Immigration Worksite (I-9) Investigations and Immigration Compliance, North Dakota Agriculture Trade Show, Minot ND, January 29-30, 2014
Co-Author with Laura J. Danielson, “Don’t Wait for ICE to Knock on the Door: A Practical Guide to Preparing Employers for I-9 Compliance/Audits and Worksite Investigations (With Supplements: Sample Proposed I-9 Policy and Procedures, Form I-9 Verification Procedures-Guidelines For Employers, and Checklist For I-9 Audit And Correction Guidelines),” chapter in The Immigration Compliance Book 2009-2010 Edition, Editors: Angelo A. Paparelli, L. Batya Schwartz Ehrens, and Dan Siciliano. Copyrighted by ILW.COM