Yelena Vilk Esq.
Senior Associate Attorney
Philadelphia (U.S. Headquarters)
1524 Delancey Street, 4th Floor Philadelphia PA 19102 US
yvilk@gands-us.com
(215) 395-8959
Bio
Yelena G. Vilk is a Senior Associate Attorney in the Green and Spiegel U.S.’s Philadelphia Office. Her experience is extensive in an array of immigrant and nonimmigrant matters ranging from managing high-volume employment-based cases as well as family-based petitions. She is committed to helping U.S. companies secure and retain skilled individuals from abroad by navigating the challenging and ever-changing rules of the Department of Labor and Homeland Security.
Over the past six years, Yelena has focused her immigration practice on securing the foreign workforce of American businesses in a diversity of industries, including hospitality, restaurant, construction, landscaping, and agriculture. Her thorough knowledge and experience with H-2B and H-2A nonimmigrant visas benefits clients throughout the nation. With each H-2 case, Yelena strategically navigates seasonal employers through the requirements of the Department of Labor, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of State. She also represents clients through Department of Labor, Wage and Hour audits and appeals, including extensive settlement negotiations; U.S. DOL Employment and Training Administration audits; and Board of Alien Labor Certification appeals.
Yelena’s employment-based work also includes significant experience in assisting clients to secure their foreign workers on a long-term basis. She regularly guides employers through the complexities of the Permanent Labor Certification steps (PERM) and the Immigrant Petition process, as well as supports beneficiary workers and their families through their Adjustment of Status applications.
Previously, Yelena was a Law Clerk at a Philadelphia-area Am Law 100 Firm where she assisted with corporate immigration matters, including L-1A, L-1B, H-1B, TN, O-1, P-1, and E-3 visa classifications and all aspects of the labor certification process. During law school, Yelena focused on expanding her immigration law knowledge through her internship with the U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review (“EOIR”). At the EOIR, she assisted Immigration Judges by researching and drafting opinions on asylum and the protection of due process rights for mentally incompetent respondents.
Yelena’s continuous dedication to the practice of immigration law stems from her own refugee past. She strives to assist individuals through the evolving immigration regulations that allowed her and her family to immigrate to the U.S. and become the passionate advocate for immigrants that she is today.
Practice Areas
Languages
Russian
Education
- Juris Doctor, Ohio Northern University—Claude W. Pettit College of Law, 2013
- Bachelor of Science, Magna Cum Laude, Communications and Philosophy, Drexel University—Pennoni Honors College, 2009
Affiliations
- Bar Admission – New Jersey: 2014
- Bar Admission – U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey: 2021
- AILA – Member: 2015 to Present
- AILA – Department of Labor Liaison Committee Member: 2024-2025
- AILA Philadelphia Chapter – Annual CLE Planning Committee: 2024-2025
Community
- HIAS Pennsylvania – Pro Bono Attorney: 2015
Blog Posts
- Potentially New Schedule A Shortage Occupation Designations
- J-1 Program Foreign Residence Requirements – Policy Manual Updates
- Israeli Visa Waiver Application Available Immediately
- H-2 Temporary Visa Rule with Path to Citizenship Proposed by Homeland Security
- How Do Clubs Keep Grounds Immaculate? Seasonal Workers Are the Answer
- H-2B Cap Limit Reached For Second Half of Fiscal Year 2023
- H-2B Returning Worker Supplemental Cap for First Half of Fiscal Year 2023 Reached
- H-2B Supplemental Visas For Fiscal Year 2023
- H-2B Cap for the First Half of FY 2023 Reached
- Supplemental H-2B Cap for Returning Workers Reached
Events
