When Stephen Blaker started his immigration law career nearly 15 years ago, he had no idea how complex the field was and how so much of the practice could radically change based on the federal administration. Today, as co-founder of Blaker & Granet (B&G), an LGBTQ+ and woman-owned immigration law firm in Los Angeles, he learns something new almost every day.

From International Relations Student to Immigration Law Pioneer

Stephen's path to immigration law began with a college focus on international relations and Spanish. During his senior year, he envisioned working on international transactions. But when law school arrived, he found himself drawn to something more personal.

"I was always kind of looking for that international flair," Stephen recalls. During law school, he landed a summer position at a boutique immigration firm in Los Angeles. The experience was transformative. "I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed that we're able to help individuals, but we're also working with large companies. I appreciate the international and personal aspects."

Stephen Blaker, Immigration Attorney: Understanding the Complexity

What struck Stephen most about immigration law was how vastly misunderstood it is. "I think a lot of people believe that immigration law is quite simple. It’s as simple as filling out a form with your information, filing the visa application and waiting for the government to conduct its review " he explains. The reality proved far different.

"U.S. immigration is so complex, particularly right now under the second Trump administration. I had no idea how complex immigration law is and still today I am always learning something new."

Stephen's practice focuses on business immigration, one of three main categories alongside family immigration and humanitarian cases. "There's business immigration, there's family immigration and then there's humanitarian immigration, deportation, asylum, withholding of removal and similar aspects of immigration that I don't handle.I think what I've really learned over the past nearly 15 years is how broad this area of law is. That variety within this niche practice area is something that I definitely underestimated when I first started working in it."

Co-Founding B&G: A Partnership Built on Shared Vision

January 3, 2017 marked a pivotal day in Stephen's career. That's when he and Jacki Granet started working together at their previous firm as the two newest attorneys of the firm’s immigration department. Their connection was immediate.

"From very early on working together, we just bonded personally and then professionally because we were the two newbies in the immigration department of that firm," Stephen remembers. They began sharing ideas, discussing how things were done at their previous firms, and exploring ways to implement better processes.

Their shared vision centered on modernizing immigration practice. "We were very keen on adopting a more modern approach to immigration, including modern technology," Stephen explains. "Technology has made and will continue to make so much of immigration process simpler. And we really wanted to use modern technology to try to take the stress out of the day-to-day work where possible."

The decision to start their own firm came naturally. "We wanted to have a firm that reflected our sensibilities rather than working in somebody else's sandbox."

B&G Immigration Law Firm: Leading with Authenticity

One of the most distinctive aspects of B&G is how openly the firm embraces the identities of its founders. The firm proudly identifies as LGBTQ+ and woman-owned, with Stephen being queer and Jacki being a woman.

"At the end of the day when somebody hires us, they hire us to work with us," Stephen explains. "There are plenty of immigration providers in the marketplace and we really like to bring our personality along with our excellent work product. And so we wanted to lead with who we are."

This authenticity permeates every aspect of the firm's culture. They send monthly newsletters featuring photoshopped images, like putting their heads on Ghostbusters characters with Jacki’s dog as Slimer. "Immigration law is difficult, particularly under the current administration. It's chaotic. There are changes almost every day. We try to add levity where we can, because the work is so serious and so important to us and to our clients."

They implement creative team-building practices, including a weekly question that provides insight into each employee's personality. "We want to be a team rather than just a bunch of individual workers. And by being ourselves, that really helps that collaboration, which ultimately helps our clients."

Stephen Blaker O-1 Visa Expert: Navigating the Current Landscape

B&G has carved out a particular expertise in O-1 visas, which now comprise approximately 40% of their practice. The O-1B visa category alone represents about 80% of their O-1 work, reflecting Jacki's focus on arts and entertainment clients.

Following recent H-1B policy changes, including the controversial $100,000 fee announcement, Stephen has seen a significant shift in corporate strategy. "After the H-1B announcement, there was a rush of questions about what would happen in the H-1B lottery in March 2026."

Companies are now exploring alternatives. For those with multinational operations, Stephen often recommends the L-1 visa route, sending employees offshore for a year of experience before transferring them back to the United States. But the O-1A category has emerged as another critical option.

"I think a lot more people are going to be looking towards the O-1A category because there's no lottery and you can apply at any time; it does not have the issues that come with the H-1B category like the $100,000 fee," Stephen explains. "Unfortunately, not everybody who qualifies for an H-1B will qualify for an O-1A."

Business Immigration Attorney Los Angeles: Practical Advice for O-1 Applicants

For individuals considering an O-1 visa, Stephen offers clear guidance. "Most people think that when they review the O-1A or O-1B criteria, “I have six reference letters or eight reference letters from previous employers or people in the field so I qualify.” That is not enough for an O-1A petition, Stephen says.

His primary piece of advice? "You need evidence to support what is in those letters. You need to get your name out there. You need to try to publish articles in a trade publication, maybe something in your field, or you need to try to get mentioned in press. You need to network within your field to try to meet people who could provide those reference letters."

Success comes from focus. "Sometimes I have people come to me and say, I want to do this, I want to do that, I want to do a third thing when I move to the United States. And it's too broad. For the O-1, the most successful petitions that we file are typically more narrow."

The Impact on American Innovation: A Broader Perspective

Stephen doesn't mince words about the broader economic implications of restrictive immigration policies. He recently noted statistics showing foreign student enrollment is down 30 to 40% this year compared to last year.

"Startups that employ at least one foreign national are more likely to be successful, more likely to raise capital," he observes. "By cutting off or really diminishing the pool of H-1B visa applicants, we are diminishing our own innovation."

He cites examples of immigrant success stories. "There are plenty of examples right here in California:Steve Jobs is the child of Syrian immigrants and the Chief Executive Officer of Google is a Stanford graduate who moved from India to attend Stanford. America really is this place where you can dream your American dream and you can build a business, a career, a life."

The corporate response has been telling. "In a word, frustrated," Stephen says of his clients' reactions. "A lot of my clients are nearshoring to Canada rather than even trying to work within the U.S. immigration process. Many of my clients are choosing not to sponsor anymore. That is a long-term  issue for the United States."

Immigration Law Challenges: The Consistency Problem

If Stephen could change one thing about the immigration system, it would be consistency in adjudications. "Sometimes we'll file an O-1 case, let's say an O-1A, and it's really strong case. But then we get a Request for Evidence. Maybe the officer isn't well-trained, or maybe the officer didn't actually review the petition."

Then a weaker case filed a week later gets approved without any requests for evidence. "There's a lot of inconsistency in adjudications," he notes. The same problem extends to the Department of State, where every U.S. Embassy and Consulate essentially has its own interpretation for reviewing visas like the E-2.

The solution? "More consistent interpretations of the regulations and law would be incredibly helpful right now," Stephen suggests. He points to the confusion around the recent H-1B $100,000 fee proclamation as an example. "That presidential proclamation was read seven different ways by seven different people. And over the weekend after the proclamation’s release, various government officials supposedly clarified the proclamation with statements. But still to this day, we don't really have clarity and people disagree on who is subject to the $100,000 H-1B visa fee."

Immigration Attorney Startup Focus: The PERM Challenge

For tech companies, Stephen identifies a particular bottleneck in the PERM labor certification process for green card sponsorship. "Right now, the PERM labor certification process takes about two years, and it's very difficult in PERM because there have been a lot of layoffs in tech."

When a tech employer posts a PERM job, they often receive an overwhelming response from qualified U.S. workers, which prevents them from moving forward with foreign national sponsorship. "I fully understand that the PERM process was created to test, to safeguard the U.S. labor market," Stephen acknowledges. "And at the same time it leaves us or leaves our clients and employers with an inability to sponsor their foreign national talent for green cards."

This creates a troubling cycle. "Foreign national talent typically drives innovation in the United States," he emphasizes.

Advice for Immigrants: Know Your Rights and Your Path

Stephen offers crucial guidance for individuals navigating the business immigration process. He recommends that foreign nationals consider engaging their own immigration counsel, separate from their employer's attorney.

"If you're on an H-1B working for a really large employer, that employer's immigration counsel is the employer's immigration counsel, not your individual H-1B counsel," he explains. "It doesn't hurt to have your own separate immigration attorneyif you have questions for your own best interest."

Many people make the mistake of obtaining a visa without understanding the bigger picture. "It's kind of like a marriage. When people get married, that's not the end of the road. You then have to be married to that person and have a long, hopefully long, relationship with that person. And so it's the same if you come over on an L-1 or an E-2, congratulations, you have the visa. That's amazing. But what does it look like next?"

Understanding the roadmap from the start proves essential. "What is the bigger picture? And I think that's really important to know from the get-go."

A Message of Hope: Perseverance in Uncertain Times

Despite the challenges and chaos in the current immigration landscape, Stephen maintains an optimistic outlook. His message to immigrants navigating the system today is clear and encouraging.

"Right now, immigration is pretty chaotic. It changes every day. It's somewhat of a moving target. However, despite that, we still have approvals every day. We still have people issued green cards every day. There are still people becoming U.S. citizens every day. America is still open, and it's still a land of opportunity."

He acknowledges the increased difficulty but emphasizes that success remains achievable. "It might be more difficult than it was in the past, but with perseverance, you can still live that American dream."

About Stephen Blaker and B&G

Stephen Blaker is co-founder of Blaker & Granet (B&G), an LGBTQ+ and woman-owned immigration law firm based in Los Angeles. With nearly 15 years of experience in business immigration law, Stephen specializes in working with start-up companies and established tech companies with their immigration needs. B&G is known for its modern approach to immigration law, combining cutting-edge technology with authentic, personality-driven client service.