Robert L.DeMoss, II
Staff Attorney
Immigration
rdemoss@seyfarth.com
Rusty is passionate about reaching the immigration result clients seek, through a combination of precise legal skill and caring customer service.
More About Rusty
Businesses face myriad challenges when it comes to the employment and legal status of top foreign national talent in a highly restrictive "culture of no" governmental environment. Clients turn to Rusty to help them navigate the increasing scrutiny and processing hurdles of petitions and applications for immigration benefits for those foreign nationals by the relevant administrative governmental agencies.
Rusty brings a wealth of knowledge, institutional history, and connections within the field of immigration law to present the most approvable case possible, and to break through impossible governmental red tape. He has worked in large-firm, boutique, and solo practices in both employment- and family-based immigration. Rusty understands how to handle high-volume, while retaining the personal touch with each foreign national beneficiary. He brings compassion and caring, along with legal acuity and precision, to his practice.
Rusty has more than a decade of experience as a senior liaison on a national level with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), primarily through the agency's national service centers, where cases are adjudicated. He has represented employers and individuals in the full spectrum—from in-person individual interviews at USCIS, to representation of employers at the USCIS appellate level. His areas of focus are on specialty occupation petitions for professionals, extraordinary ability cases for outstanding researchers and scientists, and family-based adjustment of status applications.
Over his nearly 30 years of experience in the business and family immigration law field, Rusty has authored numerous professional publications on immigration law and has spoken frequently on a national level. He is Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Florida Bar.
Rusty uses his in-depth knowledge of USCIS institutional history to bring breakthroughs in cases that are administratively stuck. He knows whom to call in liaison, how to communicate with the agency, and the tricks of the trade learned through the years to bring a successful result for the client.
Rusty's passion for immigration law and service to the firm's clients and related foreign nationals is fueled by that of his colleagues. He appreciates Seyfarth's immigration team—their depth of knowledge, wisdom, accessibility, collegiality, sense of humor, and positive, can-do spirit, all in the midst of a challenging adjudicative environment.
Rusty brings a wealth of knowledge, institutional history, and connections within the field of immigration law to present the most approvable case possible, and to break through impossible governmental red tape. He has worked in large-firm, boutique, and solo practices in both employment- and family-based immigration. Rusty understands how to handle high-volume, while retaining the personal touch with each foreign national beneficiary. He brings compassion and caring, along with legal acuity and precision, to his practice.
Rusty has more than a decade of experience as a senior liaison on a national level with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), primarily through the agency's national service centers, where cases are adjudicated. He has represented employers and individuals in the full spectrum—from in-person individual interviews at USCIS, to representation of employers at the USCIS appellate level. His areas of focus are on specialty occupation petitions for professionals, extraordinary ability cases for outstanding researchers and scientists, and family-based adjustment of status applications.
Over his nearly 30 years of experience in the business and family immigration law field, Rusty has authored numerous professional publications on immigration law and has spoken frequently on a national level. He is Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Florida Bar.
Rusty uses his in-depth knowledge of USCIS institutional history to bring breakthroughs in cases that are administratively stuck. He knows whom to call in liaison, how to communicate with the agency, and the tricks of the trade learned through the years to bring a successful result for the client.
Rusty's passion for immigration law and service to the firm's clients and related foreign nationals is fueled by that of his colleagues. He appreciates Seyfarth's immigration team—their depth of knowledge, wisdom, accessibility, collegiality, sense of humor, and positive, can-do spirit, all in the midst of a challenging adjudicative environment.
- JD, Harvard Law School
Immigration Law - MDiv, Nashotah House Theological Seminary
Cum laude
- BS, Southern Methodist University
PsychologySumma cum laude
Phi Beta Kappa
- Florida
- Not admitted to practice in Georgia. Practice limited to immigration and nationality law.
- Florida Supreme Court
Related Services
- The Florida Bar Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law (1995-present)
- American Immigration Lawyers Association (Presidential Commendation, 1993, 2009-2011; Joseph Minsky Young Lawyer Award, 1995)
- Listed in The International Who’s Who Legal for Corporate Immigration (2002–2009, 2011–present)
- American Immigration Lawyers Association, Board of Governors, Elected Director (2011 - 2014)
- American Immigration Lawyers Association, National Liaison Chair and Committees: USCIS Service Center Operations, Vermont Service Center, Texas Service Center, National Benefits Center, Headquarters (Benefits), US Customs and Border Protection, CIS Ombudsman
- American Immigration Lawyers Association, Central Florida Chapter, Chapter Chair (1997 - 1998)
- American Law Institute–American Bar Association, speaker
- State Bar of Georgia, Institute of Continuing Legal Education, speaker
- Editor Assisting, "Completing Form N-400, Application for Naturalization," AILA, 2012-13 FORMS & FUNDAMENTALS 339
- Editor (Update), "Adjustment of Status for Beginning Practitioners," AILA, 2007-08 NAVIGATING THE FUNDAMENTALS OF IMMIGRATION LAW 271, and AILA, 2005-06 IMMIGRATION & NATIONALITY LAW HANDBOOK 623
- Co-Author, "Preparing Special Immigrant Visa Petitions for Religious Workers: A Practical Guideline," IMMIGRATION OPTIONS FOR RELIGIOUS WORKERS 41 (2005), reprinted from AILA, II 2004-05 IMMIGRATION & NATIONALITY LAW HANDBOOK 21
- Co-Editor, "INS FORMS FOR APPLICATIONS AND PETITIONS." (4th ed., 1999; 3d ed., 1995; 2d ed., 1993)
- Co-Author, "Maintaining Valid NIV Status During Years of Immigrant Visa Processing: Creative Options When H or L Durational Limits Are Being Reached," STRATEGIC LAWYERING: GUIDING BUSINESS PERSONNEL THROUGH THE MINEFIELDS TOWARD PERMANENT RESIDENCY 25 (1998)
- "BALCA: The Important Trends," AILA, II 1994-95 IMMIGRATION & NATIONALITY LAW HANDBOOK 382
- "The Transferring Investor: Advantages of Using the L-1A Nonimmigrant Classification in Establishing Business in the U.S.," ADVANCED SEMINAR ON INVESTMENT RELATED VISAS 50 (1993) (AILA Central Florida Chapter)
- "Citizenship for Sale or Incentive for Economic Development?," 38 FED. B. NEWS & J. 442 (1991) (Federal Bar Association, Washington)
- "New Rules On Immigration," 79 NATION'S BUS., Sept. 1991, at 35 (U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Washington)
- "Liberty's Commerce Torch: Effects of the 1990 Immigration Act on Business in the U.S.," 16 INT'L LEGAL PRAC. 56 (1991) (International Bar Association, London), published also in 18 BARRISTER, Spring 1991, at 54 (American Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division, Chicago)
- "What Your Client Needs To Know About the Immigration Act of 1990," 37 PRAC. LAW., June 1991, at 61 (The American Law Institute-American Bar Association Committee on Continuing Professional Education, Philadelphia)
- Case Abstract, 1 INT'L J. REFUGEE L. 244 (1989) (Oxford University Press, Oxford)
-
Council on Foreign Relations, Washington, D.C.: “Innovation in the Visa Process” roundtable discussion member (2010 - 2011)
-
AILA Annual Conferences (1993 - 1996, 1998, 2001 - 2002, 2004 - 2005, 2009 - 2010, 2012, 2015 - 2016)
-
AILA Midyear Conference (1998)
-
2015 AILA Spring CLE Conference, Washington DC (April 2015)
-
2016 AILA Spring CLE Conference, Washington DC (April 2016)
- Anglican Immigrant Initiative
- The Immigration Alliance
Rusty is passionate about reaching the immigration result clients seek, through a combination of precise legal skill and caring customer service.
More About Rusty
Businesses face myriad challenges when it comes to the employment and legal status of top foreign national talent in a highly restrictive "culture of no" governmental environment. Clients turn to Rusty to help them navigate the increasing scrutiny and processing hurdles of petitions and applications for immigration benefits for those foreign nationals by the relevant administrative governmental agencies.
Rusty brings a wealth of knowledge, institutional history, and connections within the field of immigration law to present the most approvable case possible, and to break through impossible governmental red tape. He has worked in large-firm, boutique, and solo practices in both employment- and family-based immigration. Rusty understands how to handle high-volume, while retaining the personal touch with each foreign national beneficiary. He brings compassion and caring, along with legal acuity and precision, to his practice.
Rusty has more than a decade of experience as a senior liaison on a national level with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), primarily through the agency's national service centers, where cases are adjudicated. He has represented employers and individuals in the full spectrum—from in-person individual interviews at USCIS, to representation of employers at the USCIS appellate level. His areas of focus are on specialty occupation petitions for professionals, extraordinary ability cases for outstanding researchers and scientists, and family-based adjustment of status applications.
Over his nearly 30 years of experience in the business and family immigration law field, Rusty has authored numerous professional publications on immigration law and has spoken frequently on a national level. He is Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Florida Bar.
Rusty uses his in-depth knowledge of USCIS institutional history to bring breakthroughs in cases that are administratively stuck. He knows whom to call in liaison, how to communicate with the agency, and the tricks of the trade learned through the years to bring a successful result for the client.
Rusty's passion for immigration law and service to the firm's clients and related foreign nationals is fueled by that of his colleagues. He appreciates Seyfarth's immigration team—their depth of knowledge, wisdom, accessibility, collegiality, sense of humor, and positive, can-do spirit, all in the midst of a challenging adjudicative environment.
Rusty brings a wealth of knowledge, institutional history, and connections within the field of immigration law to present the most approvable case possible, and to break through impossible governmental red tape. He has worked in large-firm, boutique, and solo practices in both employment- and family-based immigration. Rusty understands how to handle high-volume, while retaining the personal touch with each foreign national beneficiary. He brings compassion and caring, along with legal acuity and precision, to his practice.
Rusty has more than a decade of experience as a senior liaison on a national level with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), primarily through the agency's national service centers, where cases are adjudicated. He has represented employers and individuals in the full spectrum—from in-person individual interviews at USCIS, to representation of employers at the USCIS appellate level. His areas of focus are on specialty occupation petitions for professionals, extraordinary ability cases for outstanding researchers and scientists, and family-based adjustment of status applications.
Over his nearly 30 years of experience in the business and family immigration law field, Rusty has authored numerous professional publications on immigration law and has spoken frequently on a national level. He is Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Florida Bar.
Rusty uses his in-depth knowledge of USCIS institutional history to bring breakthroughs in cases that are administratively stuck. He knows whom to call in liaison, how to communicate with the agency, and the tricks of the trade learned through the years to bring a successful result for the client.
Rusty's passion for immigration law and service to the firm's clients and related foreign nationals is fueled by that of his colleagues. He appreciates Seyfarth's immigration team—their depth of knowledge, wisdom, accessibility, collegiality, sense of humor, and positive, can-do spirit, all in the midst of a challenging adjudicative environment.
- JD, Harvard Law School
Immigration Law - MDiv, Nashotah House Theological Seminary
Cum laude
- BS, Southern Methodist University
PsychologySumma cum laude
Phi Beta Kappa
- Florida
- Not admitted to practice in Georgia. Practice limited to immigration and nationality law.
- Florida Supreme Court
Related Services
- The Florida Bar Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law (1995-present)
- American Immigration Lawyers Association (Presidential Commendation, 1993, 2009-2011; Joseph Minsky Young Lawyer Award, 1995)
- Listed in The International Who’s Who Legal for Corporate Immigration (2002–2009, 2011–present)
- American Immigration Lawyers Association, Board of Governors, Elected Director (2011 - 2014)
- American Immigration Lawyers Association, National Liaison Chair and Committees: USCIS Service Center Operations, Vermont Service Center, Texas Service Center, National Benefits Center, Headquarters (Benefits), US Customs and Border Protection, CIS Ombudsman
- American Immigration Lawyers Association, Central Florida Chapter, Chapter Chair (1997 - 1998)
- American Law Institute–American Bar Association, speaker
- State Bar of Georgia, Institute of Continuing Legal Education, speaker
- Editor Assisting, "Completing Form N-400, Application for Naturalization," AILA, 2012-13 FORMS & FUNDAMENTALS 339
- Editor (Update), "Adjustment of Status for Beginning Practitioners," AILA, 2007-08 NAVIGATING THE FUNDAMENTALS OF IMMIGRATION LAW 271, and AILA, 2005-06 IMMIGRATION & NATIONALITY LAW HANDBOOK 623
- Co-Author, "Preparing Special Immigrant Visa Petitions for Religious Workers: A Practical Guideline," IMMIGRATION OPTIONS FOR RELIGIOUS WORKERS 41 (2005), reprinted from AILA, II 2004-05 IMMIGRATION & NATIONALITY LAW HANDBOOK 21
- Co-Editor, "INS FORMS FOR APPLICATIONS AND PETITIONS." (4th ed., 1999; 3d ed., 1995; 2d ed., 1993)
- Co-Author, "Maintaining Valid NIV Status During Years of Immigrant Visa Processing: Creative Options When H or L Durational Limits Are Being Reached," STRATEGIC LAWYERING: GUIDING BUSINESS PERSONNEL THROUGH THE MINEFIELDS TOWARD PERMANENT RESIDENCY 25 (1998)
- "BALCA: The Important Trends," AILA, II 1994-95 IMMIGRATION & NATIONALITY LAW HANDBOOK 382
- "The Transferring Investor: Advantages of Using the L-1A Nonimmigrant Classification in Establishing Business in the U.S.," ADVANCED SEMINAR ON INVESTMENT RELATED VISAS 50 (1993) (AILA Central Florida Chapter)
- "Citizenship for Sale or Incentive for Economic Development?," 38 FED. B. NEWS & J. 442 (1991) (Federal Bar Association, Washington)
- "New Rules On Immigration," 79 NATION'S BUS., Sept. 1991, at 35 (U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Washington)
- "Liberty's Commerce Torch: Effects of the 1990 Immigration Act on Business in the U.S.," 16 INT'L LEGAL PRAC. 56 (1991) (International Bar Association, London), published also in 18 BARRISTER, Spring 1991, at 54 (American Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division, Chicago)
- "What Your Client Needs To Know About the Immigration Act of 1990," 37 PRAC. LAW., June 1991, at 61 (The American Law Institute-American Bar Association Committee on Continuing Professional Education, Philadelphia)
- Case Abstract, 1 INT'L J. REFUGEE L. 244 (1989) (Oxford University Press, Oxford)
-
Council on Foreign Relations, Washington, D.C.: “Innovation in the Visa Process” roundtable discussion member (2010 - 2011)
-
AILA Annual Conferences (1993 - 1996, 1998, 2001 - 2002, 2004 - 2005, 2009 - 2010, 2012, 2015 - 2016)
-
AILA Midyear Conference (1998)
-
2015 AILA Spring CLE Conference, Washington DC (April 2015)
-
2016 AILA Spring CLE Conference, Washington DC (April 2016)
- Anglican Immigrant Initiative
- The Immigration Alliance