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Area of emphasis

Colleges & Universities

Education

J.D., cum laude, Villanova University School
of Law

B.S., summa cum laude, Oklahoma City University

membership

National Association of College and University Attorneys

NAFSA: Association of International Educators

American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)

Kristen Repyneck Dennis
Rated by Super Lawyers


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Kristen Repyneck Dennis is a Partner and Chair of the Firm’s Higher Education Team.

Kristen has extensive experience in all aspects of immigration, with particular expertise in employment-based immigration for institutions of higher education, foreign scholars, and foreign students. As Co-Chair of the Firm’s Higher Education Team, Kristen provides strategic counseling on immigration issues in the hiring and retention of foreign national faculty and staff, managing nonimmigrant and immigrant processes for more than 15 colleges and universities and more than 300 foreign national employees. She provides counseling, training and policy development services to higher education employers, including Human Resource personnel and Department Chairs, regarding all aspects of employment-related immigration, and offers targeted seminars on various aspects of the nonimmigrant and immigrant visa processes. Since 2018, Kristen has been selected as a SuperLawyers Pennsylvania Rising Star in Immigration. Prior to joining the Firm, Kristen's practice also included advising employers in traditional employment law and commercial litigation matters. 

While attending law school, Kristen served as Managing Editor of Production for the Villanova Law Review, and from 2009-2010 served as a law clerk to the Honorable Norma L. Shapiro, U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 

publications/presentations

  • David Brandt, Kristen Repyneck Dennis, David Muusz, Practice Pointer: Working with Collective Bargaining Agreements in Employment-Based Immigration, in Immigration Options for Academics and Researchers (AILA 3rd ed. 2021).

  • Co-Presenter, Game Changer: International Student Athletes and New Stances on Name, Image, Likeness, NAFSA Region VIII Virtual Programming (July 26, 2022).

  • Presenter, Sponsoring Employees for Permanent Residence, University of Delaware, Center for Global Programs and Services (May 5, 2022).

  • Co-Presenter, Hot Topics in Employment-Based Practice, AILA Philadelphia Virtual Conference 2022 (April 22, 2022).

  • Co-Presenter, Employment-Based Permanent Residence for Medical Professionals, Thomas Jefferson University (February 23, 2022).

  • Presenter, Employment-Based Permanent Residence, Thomas Jefferson University (February 22, 2022).

  • Presenter, Hot Topics in Employment-Based Advising, Virginia International Educators (VIE) Fall 2021 Virtual Conference (December 6, 2021).

  • Presenter, Interdisciplinary Immigration: Alternatives for Global Campuses, Entrepreneurs, and Spin-Offs, NAFSA 2021 All-Region Summit (October 4-22, 2021).

  • Presenter, Beyond F-1: Preparing Students for Immigration Options After Graduation, NAFSA 2021 All-Region Summit (October 4-22, 2021).

  • Presenter, Employment-Based Sponsorship: Navigating Delays, COVID-19, and Other Challenges, NAFSA Region 8 Virtual Programming (July 29, 2021).

  • Presenter, Preparing F-1 Students for Immigration & Employment Options Post-Graduation, Pennsylvania Council for International Education 2019 Conference (October 25, 2019, 11:00 AM, State College, PA).

  • Presenter, Trends in Employment-Based Sponsorship: Navigating Delays, RFEs, & Other Challenges, NAFSA Region VIII Conference (November 12-15, 2019, Baltimore, MD).

  • Presenter, Beyond F-1: Preparing Students for Immigration & Employment Options After Graduation, NAFSA Region VIII Conference (November 12-15, 2019, Baltimore, MD).

  • Presenter, Immigration and Compliance, Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) Social Equity & Human Resources Conference, June 2019.

  • Presenter, Immigration Update for Human Resources, Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) Social Equity & Human Resources Conference, June 2019.

  • Co-Author, Preparing F-1 Students for Immigration and Employment Options After Graduation, NAFSA Annual Conference (presented May 2018).

  • Presenter, Immigration Update for Human Resources, Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) Social Equity & Human Resources Conference, June 2017.

  • Co-Presenter, Trump’s Travel Ban: Impact on Hiring, Employment, and HR, C4CM Human Resources Webinar, March 2017.

  • Presenter, University of Delaware Forum on President Trump's Executive Order on Immigration, Information Session and Academic Forum, February 2017.

  • Presenter, Immigration Issues in Hiring, Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) Social Equity & Human Resources Conference, June 2016.

  • Presenter, Life After Graduation: The University Role Advising & Advocating for Foreign Students, NAFSA Region VIII Conference, November 2015.

  • Poster Presenter, Lobby or Lose: Lack of Post F-1 Options Means Losing F-1 Recruits, NAFSA Annual Conference, May 2015.

  • Presenter, Lobby or Lose: DSOs Must Confront Lack of Options for Foreign Students, NAFSA Region VIII Conference, November 2014.

  • Co-author, Plain Old Vanilla with a Twist and a Kick: The New Immigration ‘Employer Sanctions’, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 2014.

  • Co-author, We Truly Are Family: Same-sex Marriages under the U.S. Immigration Laws post-Windsor, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 2014.