Olivia is a dedicated immigration attorney with over a decade of experience guiding individuals, families, and businesses through the complexities of U.S. immigration law. She provides strategic counsel in matters such as visa applications, legal permanent residency (Green Cards), citizenship and naturalization, waivers and inadmissibility issues, and employment-based immigration. Her practice encompasses both family immigration law and business immigration law, including non-immigrant visas (H-1B, L-1, O-1, B1/B2), Labor Certifications (PERM), and I-140 petitions.
Olivia has established herself as a highly skilled EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) Specialist, developing a niche practice that reflects her exceptional experience and commitment to this specialized area. She is passionate about taking the burden of immigration-related stress off her clients' shoulders, viewing it as a profound privilege to support them on their unique journeys.
Prior to joining Shumaker, Olivia owned her own practice, where she built a reputation for zealous advocacy and client-focused representation. Before starting her practice, Olivia gained experience working for both a large, prestigious law firm and a smaller, more personalized practice. Since beginning her practice in 2014, she has successfully navigated intricate corporate compliance issues, advised businesses on global mobility strategies such as investor and business visas, handled complex inadmissibility waivers, and developed a deep understanding of the intricate legal frameworks governing U.S. immigration law.
Outside of the office, Olivia enjoys spending time with her husband, Nathan, her son, Cooper, and their rescue dog, Zoe.
Education
J.D., South Texas College of Law, 2014
B.A., Corporate Communications, Political Science, College of Charleston, 2011
Professional Associations
- American Immigration Lawyers Association, Member
- Global Migration Section, Member, 2016-2024
- Business Section, Member, 2016-2024
- Family Section, Member, 2016-2024
- American Immigration Lawyers Association, Carolinas, Member, 2019-2024
- Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), Palmetto Chapter, Member
Honors
- Legal Elite of the Lowcountry, 2022, 2023, 2024
- Avvo Client Choice Award, 2019
- First Place Recipient of the Harrison Randolph Calculus Exam
- First Place Recipient of Florentine Director's List of Best Essays Writing Competition
Representative Matters
- Successfully secured an EB-2 National Interest Waiver for a senior member of a leading global innovative solutions company within a two-month period by highlighting their significant contributions and expertise to the advancements of technology and business strategy, along with demonstrating their benefits to the U.S. national interest
- Guided a global IT firm through an extensive H-1B audit by thoroughly reviewing visa documentation and addressing government concerns. After passing the audit, she established a new, proactive compliance plan that included regular audits, updated procedures, and comprehensive HR immigration training. This strategic response not only resolved the audit concerns but fortified the firm's internal processes, significantly reducing future compliance risks
- Ensured an L-1 Blanket Approval was obtained for global technology firm. Included reviewing the company's organizational structure, the employee roles within the company, and international operations to ensure U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requirements were met. Resulted in a successful approval, simplifying future intracompany transfers and minimizing delays caused by immigration for a global workforce
- Obtained approval for an EB-1A visa for an individual mechanical engineer by demonstrating the individual's extraordinary ability in his field. After submission of a well-prepared case that highlighted his exceptional expertise and impact, client was approved and permanent residency within three months
- Assisted hundreds of individuals in navigating family immigration and the complex visa process, including B-2 visas, I-130 Petitions, fiancé visas, Adjustment of Status, Removal of Conditions of Residency, Consular Processing, Naturalization, and non-immigrant visas.