Recent Blog Posts

What Should I Do if I Want My Significant Other to Immigrate to the U.S.? -Bolour / Carl Immigration

This transcript was auto-populated. Transcript: 00:00:03 you're significant other to immigrate to the us so that means you're not married you're either let's say engaged to the significant other or even possibly dating what you'd want to do is most likely file for...

What Are Options for Immigration if My Spouse Is a U.S. Citizen? – Bolour / Carl Immigration

This transcript was auto-populated. Transcript: 00:00:03 you know there may be a number options but we're going to focus on two main options if you have a legal entry you're in the US and you're married to a US citizen then you can apply for permanent residency...

US Visas For Landscapers

The most common types of visas for landscapers are H-2B and H-2A visas, depending on the nature and duration of the work. Below is a general guide to the application process. Or you can contact our Culver City, CA immigration lawyer that has over twenty five years of...

Areas of Practice

Immigration Law – Business and Family Immigration – nonimmigrant and immigrant visas for employees, employers, entertainers, athletes and the like
Asylum and Refugee Matters
Removal Defense

Bar Admissions

California, 1996

Education

Southwestern University School of Law, Los Angeles, California
- Juris Doctor – May, 1996
- Honors: Dean’s List: Fall/Spring 1993/94
- Honors: American Jurisprudence Award: Constitutional Law II
- Honors: Exceptional Achievement Award: Immigration Law
Cornell-Paris Summer Institute, Universite Paris-Sorbonne, Paris, France – 1994
California State University, Fresno, California
- Master of Business Administration – May, 1990
California State University, Fresno, California
- Bachelor of Science – May, 1984
- Major: Business Administration

Honors and Awards

LA Gay and Lesbian Center, Legal Services Department – Outstanding Volunteer – 2009
Southern California Super Lawyers – 2011-2014
AILA President’s Commendation Award – 2016

Past Employment Positions

Escandari, Bolour & Jansezian, Beverly Hills, California, Partner (Fall 1996 – Fall 1998)
Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen and Loewy, P.C., Los Angeles, California, Law Clerk (Spring 1996)
Public Counsel, Los Angeles, California, Volunteer Intern (Spring 1996)

Pro Bono Activities

Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center, Volunteer Attorney, 2000 – Present
HIV & AIDS Legal Services Alliance (HALSA), Volunteer Attorney, 1999 – 2012
Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
Equality California (EQCA)
AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA)

Languages

Persian

Professional Associations and Memberships

California State Bar, 1996 – Present
American Immigration Council (AIC), AIC Ambassador to Los Angeles, 2007-2010
American Immigration Council (AIC), Member of the Board of Trustees, 2010-2016
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Elected Member of Board of Governors (2016-2020)
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Gay and Lesbian Interest Section
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), HIV Working Group – 2009-2012
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), LGBT Working Group – 2015-2016
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Congressional Liaison – DC Lobby Day – Southern California – 2003-2007
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Asylum Liaison – Southern California – 2009-2010
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), National Asylum Committee – 2010-2011
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Media Advocacy Committee – National – 2011-2016
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Co-Chair – Congressional Liaison Committee – Southern California – 2010-2011
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Annual Conference Committee – National – 2013
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Chair – Fundamentals of Immigration Law Conference – Orlando, FL – December 2016
Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Lawyers Association
Los Angeles County Bar Association
International Bar Association
Outright Action International (Formerly IGLHRC)– New York, NY, Board Member 2004 – 2010
Outright Action International (Formerly IGLHRC)– New York, NY, Co-Chair Member of the Board – 2007-2009
Immigration Equality, Los Angeles Chapter, Board Member, 2000-2001
Beverly Hills Bar Association, Immigration Law Section, Co-Chair, 1999-2000
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), LGBT Working Group , Vice Chair, 2016 – Present
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Congressional Liaison – DC Lobby Day – Southern California, 2011 – 2012
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Asylum Liaison – Southern California, 2015 – 2016
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Annual Conference Committee – National, 2016 – Present

Classes / Seminars

American Immigration Lawyers Association – Regional Chapters: Nevada – o To Tweet or Not to Tweet? Be A Master Of Ethical Marketing– Las Vegas, NV – March 2017
Annual National Conference: Marriages Are as Diverse as Bourbon Street: Bona Fides of a Marriage – New Orleans, LA – June 2017
American Immigration Lawyers Association – Regional Chapters: Colorado – Shotgun Weddings: Family Law Issues in Immigration Cases – Denver, CO – October 2011
American Immigration Lawyers Association – Regional Chapters: Nevada – Covering Your Assets: Drafting Ethical and Profitable Representation Agreements – Las Vegas, NV – February 2016
American Immigration Lawyers Association – Regional Chapters: Southern California – J-1 Visas for Mexican Nationals – Palm Springs, CA – March 2016
American Immigration Lawyers Association – Regional Chapters: Southern California – Immigration Options for LGBT Community – Mammoth, CA – April 2013
American Immigration Lawyers Association – Regional Chapters: Texas – Dysfunctional Junction: Surviving Asylum Processing Backlogs – San Antonio, TX – February 2015
California Chapters Conference: Credible and Reasonable Fear, Asylum & TPS – San Diego, CA – November 2015
California Chapters Conference: Waivers of Grounds of Inadmissibility, Form I-601A – San Jose, CA – November 2014
California Chapters Conference: Asylum – Particular Social Group – LGBT – Anaheim, CA – November 2013
California Chapters Conference: Bias – San Diego, CA – November 2012
California Chapters Conference: LGBT Immigration Options – San Francisco, CA – November 2011
California Chapters Conference: Cutting Edge Issues in Asylum – Monterey, CA – November 2010
California Chapters Conference: The Gay Community – Vibrant & Diverse – Bias – Marina del Rey, CA – November 2009
California Chapters Conference: Consular Practice Workshop For Business Visas – San Francisco, CA – November 2008
California Chapters Conference: Asylum Options for GLBT – Palm Springs, CA – November 2005
California Chapters Conference: Business and H-1B Visa Options – San Francisco, CA – November 2004
Annual National Conference: Advocating Equality for Your LGBT Clients – Las Vegas, NV – June 2016
Annual National Conference: Meeting the Extreme Hardship Standard – Las Vegas, NV – June 2016
Annual National Conference: Particular Social Group Analysis – Asylum – Nashville, TN – June 2012
Annual National Conference: HIV and Other Health Related Waivers – Vancouver, BC – Canada – June 2008
Annual National Conference: Immigration Consequences of Criminal Convictions – Orlando, FL – June 2007
Annual National Conference: Asylum for the LGBT Community – San Antonio, TX – June 2006
Webinars: Health-Related Grounds of Inadmissibility and Waivers – (HIV, Other Communicable Diseases, Substance Abuse, etc.) – August 2009
Webinars: Making It Art: O-1B Visa for People You May Not Have Considered – March 2014
Webinars: Get your O’s & P’s in Line. How to Smooth Out Thorny Issues – August 2014
Los Angeles County Bar Association – Immigration Law Training Course – March 2010-2017
Los Angeles County Bar Association – Immigration Law Training Course – September 2010-2015
Immigration Lawyers On The Web (ILW.Com) – Webinar – Asylum for Beginners – September 2009
Asian and Pacific Islanders for Equality (API-LA) – Immigration – Policy & Politics – Los Angeles, CA – August 2009
Los Angeles Gay And Lesbian Center: The REAL ID Act: Transgender and Immigration Legal Issues – Los Angeles, CA – February 2008
Grand Hyatt, Dubai, U.A.E.: Obtaining a Green Card through Million Dollar Investment in the United States – March 2007
Lavender Law Conference: Asylum Options for GLBT – San Diego, CA – October 2005
National Immigration Project: Asylum Options for GLBT – San Diego, CA – May 2005
Immigration Equality: Issues Facing Bi-National Couples – Los Angeles, CA – November 2004
Harvard University Lgbt Policy and Law Conference: Asylum Options for GLBT – Cambridge, MA – May 2004
Pillsbury Winthrop, Making a Case for Asylum for GLBT – Los Angeles, CA – April 2001

Contact Our Firm

While this website provides general information, it does not constitute legal advice. The best way to get guidance on your specific legal issue is to contact a lawyer. To schedule a meeting with an attorney, please call 323-857-0034 or complete the intake form below.

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Ally Bolour