LAWYER PROFILE
Melina Villalobos

Melina Villalobos

USA 2026

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Chambers ranking badge

Ranked in 1 practice area

About

Provided by Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, PC

USA

Practice Areas

Immigration

Career

Melina serves as global immigration counsel to multinational corporations as well as small and medium-sized businesses across a broad spectrum of industries including staffing, architecture and engineering, manufacturing, information technology, oil and gas, hospitality, e-commerce, logistics, healthcare, and biotechnology. She works closely with clients to develop streamlined, cost-effective global immigration programs that allow them to recruit and retain global talent and maintain a competitive advantage.

Melina focuses on developing labor certification (PERM) programs; EB-1 petitions for aliens of extraordinary ability, outstanding researchers and multinational managers; as well as EB-2 and EB-3 petitions based either on PERM labor certifications or national interest waivers. She oversees the preparation of nonimmigrant visas, including H-1Bs, L-1s, TNs, E-3s, and O-1s. Additionally, Melina manages corporate immigration compliance, creating I-9 policies and programs for clients.

Professional Memberships

Co-Chair, Immigration Law Section, Hispanic National Bar Association

American Immigration Lawyers Association

Mentor, Leadership Council on Legal Diversity

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Chambers Guide to the USA

Immigration - North Carolina

Band 1
Band 1

Individual Editorial
Melina Villalobos works with a variety of multinational companies, as well as more localized businesses, on a broad range of immigration issues.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Melina is professional, friendly, responsive and a pleasure to work with.

    ImmigrationChambers Guide to the USA
  • Melina's knowledge and guidance have been invaluable to us.

    ImmigrationChambers Guide to the USA
  • Regardless of the complexity of the situation, Melina knows exactly what is needed.

    ImmigrationChambers Guide to the USA

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