Jennifer S. Varughese is a member at Roth Jackson. Her practice focuses exclusively on U.S. immigration and nationality law, specifically in the areas of family-based immigration, naturalization, asylum, and litigation. Ms. Varughese has represented individuals and families from over 130 countries and throughout the United States. She regularly appears on behalf of clients before the U.S. Department of State (DOS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), and other federal courts.
Ms. Varughese has expertise in the effect of criminal convictions on immigration benefits. She is an aggressive litigator who is familiar with all forms of relief before the nation’s immigration courts: Asylum/Withholding of Removal/CAT, Adjustment of Status, Cancellation of Removal, Removal of Conditions, and Waivers related to criminal, fraud/misrepresentation, and other grounds of inadmissibility and removability.
Ms. Varughese also has an extensive practice devoted to writing briefs, motions, and responses to notice of intent to deny letters and requests for evidence. This has resulted in scores of approvals for clients seeking: I-601A provisional waivers, I-601/I-212 waivers, I-130 petitions following allegations of marriage fraud, I-130 petitions subject to the Adam Walsh Act, and Motions to Reopen/Reconsider.
Ms. Varughese has been quoted on immigration law topics in local and national publications including The Washington Post and Bloomberg BNA. She is a sought after speaker for continuing education courses, schools, religious organizations, and community groups. She is a committed advocate both for her clients and various pro bono causes.
Education
Regent University School of Law (J.D., 2005)
Vanderbilt University (B.A., cum laude, 2001)
Awards & Honors
Virginia Super Lawyers Rising Stars magazine – 2015 to present
D.C. Super Lawyers Rising Stars magazine – 2015 to present
Fairfax Bar Association Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year – 2010
Fairfax County Election Officer
Neighborhood Outreach Training for Volunteer Lawyers CLE instructor, sponsored by The Northern Virginia Pro Bono Law Center – 2012, 2016
Fredericksburg Bar Association Immigration Law CLE instructor – 2016
Immigration Consequences of Criminal Convictions CLE instructor, sponsored by George Mason University School of Law – 2011
Bar Admissions
Virginia State Bar
District of Columbia Bar
Fairfax Bar Association
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
Notable Cases
Sharma v. Taylor, 1:14cv240 (E.D. Va. Sep. 26, 2014) (whether a governor’s nunc pro tunc sentence commutation established good moral character for naturalization purposes);
Commonwealth v. Morris, 281 Va. 70 (Va. 2011), cert. denied, Oct 2, 2011 (whether an immigration-related ineffective assistance of counsel claim can be remedied by a Virginia writ of error coram nobis);
Markovski v. Gonzales, 486 F.3d 108 (4th Cir. 2007) (whether U.S. entry on a K-1 visa precluded employment-based adjustment of status under Section 245(i) of the Act);
Hussain v. Gonzales, 477 F.3d 153 (4th Cir. 2007) (whether the BIA erred in failing to address a motion to remand before denying a motion to reopen).
Professional Affiliations
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
Northern Virginia Pro Bono Law Center
Capital Area Immigration Rights (CAIR) Coalition
Law Office
Tysons and Maryland
Contact Information
(703) 485-3535 (main)
(703) 485-3525 (fax)
jvarughese@rothjackson.com
