Giacomo Jacques Behar

PRO

Giacomo Jacques Behar

also known as Giacomo Behar

4.9
Rating: 10.0

Licensed for 32 years

Immigration Lawyer at San Diego, CA
Practice Areas: Immigration

402 West Broadway, Suite 1520, San Diego, CA

Virtual Consultation Available

About Giacomo

Biography

Fluent In 7 Languages. CA Board Certified Specialist In US Immigration Law. Call For In-Depth Consultation 7 days/wk. No free consultations. Phone/Google Meet/Skype/Zoom Consultations available 7 days a week.

Fluent in 7 languages. CA Board Certified Specialist in U.S. Immigration. Call for in-depth consult 7 days/wk. No free consultations. Phone/Google Meet/Skype/Zoom Consultations available 7 days a week.

Practice Areas

1

Practice Area

Immigration 100%

Since 1993 I earned a solid reputation for creative advocacy. Taking time to fully grasp each client’s unique situation, am personally available to clients 24/7. Q’s are handled by an attorney speaking your own language (I am truly FLUENT in 7 languages!) & not by a secretary, as is often the case in other firms. Whether a family-based application, complicated business/employment visa, asylum or deportation case, I believe ea. client deserves the best of my personal, legal & creativ

33 years | 3,700 cases

100%

Fees and Rates

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer

Awards

Client's Choice
Client's Choice
2026 2025 2024
...
+ 12
Top Contributor
Top Contributor
2026 2025 2024
...
+ 12

Licenses

Licensed in California for 32 years

State: California

Acquired: 1993

Active

No misconduct found

Location

Behar International Counsel, PLC

402 West Broadway, Suite 1520, San Diego, CA, 92101

immigratingtousa.com

Giacomo Jacques Behar's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.9 /5.0

296 Client Reviews

Showing 1 - 5 of 9 reviews | Business

Posted by Fabio | December 22, 2022 | Hired Attorney | Business

10yrs renewal green card

Best immigration Lawyer in San Diego!!! Behar was raccomend to me by a dear friend. Absolutely first class from start to finish. Can’t believe it, in a just four months Behar was able to renew my 10 years green card .I sincerely recommend Mr Behar law firm as the best place to discuss anything immigr...ation or business.First and only choice i also had different immigration lawyers in my past nobody like him.Thank you for changing my life.

Posted by SerkanB | April 07, 2021 | Hired Attorney | Business

COMPLEX E-2 VISA WAS APPROVED AT THE CONSULATE!

I had a very complex E-2 Visa application with the U.S. Consulate Vienna. Mr. Behar worked very hard in putting together our business project which is hard to describe and comprehend and present my case after a big effort. Finally today my E-2 Visa got approved after 5 years. I am very grateful to M...r. Behar. He is the best Immigration Lawyer in San Diego, California.

Posted by Michel | April 04, 2019 | Hired Attorney | Business

SUCCESSFUL E-2 INVESTOR VISA APPLICATION

I opened a French Bistro/Coffee business in the US. I needed an E-2 visa for myself and my key employee – the pastry maker. Before we knew of Mr. Behar we went to see and started with another immigration lawyer in Los Angeles. I was getting more and more frustrated as my questions were increasing...ly not answered and my doubts grew by the hour. We were finally referred to Mr. Behar as an immigration law expert and French speaking lawyer. Myself and then business manager made a consultation appointment at Mr. Behar’s office. We were amazed to see how well Mr. Behar spoke French – better than us, in fact! All our questions were satisfactorily answered and I was finally given to understand how I should plan and execute my business investment and apply for & obtain the E-2 visas. Mr. Behar provided us with an “E-2 road map” for my business. Mr. Behar is a wonderful attorney. He is very passionate about his work and he infuses confidence, understanding, personal touch and compassion into his work. As a result, the cases are so incredibly customized and uniquely put together that the positive result is anything but guaranteed. We are extremely happy with how Giacomo handled our case and the result is a phenomenal legal work yielded to us. One more thing to mention: Mr. Behar and his staff were always extremely patient to speak with me and my manager day and night – he was never upset with me for my late-night frequent calls. He has an eternal patience of a saint. Thank you, Giacomo! We are eternally grateful to you! We will never forget what you have done for us. It changed our lives a gave us a new future in the USA. Michel

Posted by anonymous | March 19, 2019 | Hired Attorney | Business

Finally, a business-savvy, multilingual attorney who is passionate about his work and strategic in his advice

Mr. Behar was one of the few who not only took on a challenging case that other attorneys had little experience in, but also provided stellar advice and guidance that resulted in a successful outcome! I have been following Mr. Behar's clear, concise and highly informative answers on Avvo for a whi...le. What is particularly impressive is how knowledgable about business Mr. Behar is in addition to law; he is not like other attorneys who spent their careers in traditional, large law firms. Mr. Behar has rare, strategic, creative mind and is very well-read across many fields and news, which allows him to give more precise, practical, useful guidance. In addition, I was very impressed by Mr. Behar's fluency in several languages including German and French, as well as familiarity with Asia. He made himself available as best as he could, given his busy schedule. His legal assistant Ms. Persson was very attentive, professional, and kind. She put a lot of effort into preparing legal materials and coordinating communication and documents, which was critical to the process. As a client, don't expect to be handheld through every little step of the process, especially if your case is not typical: if you want the best outcome for yourself, you also have the responsibility to inform yourself, read provided materials, do your own additional research to come up with follow-up questions, and think through your own situation. I would highly recommend Behar International Counsel, especially after having considered several other attorneys (including large, corporate firms). Mr. Behar loves the work he does, and this is reflected in the quality of his advice and successful client outcomes.

Giacomo Behar

Replied last March 19, 2019

Vow, Hans! You never stop to impress me.. Do you realize that you now hold the record of being my youngest E-2 visa holder client? Enjoy your newly acquired E-2 visa for the time you'll still feel interested in holding it and of course I will be with you all the way to your Green Card and beyond! Vielen, Herzlichen Dank und bis Bald mein Junge! You made me real proud!

Posted by alma | July 27, 2017 | Hired Attorney | Business

E-2 VISA ISSUED IN ROME TO A SUCCESSFUL WOMAN ENTREPRENEUR

I recently had a very enjoyable experience with a wonderful, highly knowledgeable San Diego lawyer, Giacomo Behar, who assisted me in obtaining a very difficult Investor visa application in Rome, Italy. The process was complicated by the fact that I didn’t work for many years, but it was necessar...y to convince the US consul in Rome, that despite my gap in running a business I was still highly capable to it, and was therefore eligible to receive the visa. Mr. Behar succeeded in accomplishing this goal brilliantly. He custom-prepared my application, including very detailed and comprehensive business plan and supported me in my life-long dream of establishing an Art-caffe in the beautiful Gaslamp district in San Diego. Coming from Italy and appreciating the beauty and peacefulness of San Diego I always felt that synergy and thought it would be a wonderful project to bring to life. But, it was only the wisdom and creativity of lawyer Behar that helped me to realize my dream and bring it to fruition. Giacomo even agreed to fly to Rome to personally prepare me, in Italian, for the entire day before my interview at the US embassy. He then accompanied me to the embassy. My visa was instantly approved, despite some challenges that my case presented, i.e. a relatively small amount of investment, and a many year gap in running a business. None of this was unsurmountable for Giacomo Behar. He is a genius who brilliantly mastered my case and brought it to the desired result. I am now enjoying my life with my family, my grandson in San Diego and running a business I love. Who can ask for more? Thanking you for everything, dear Giacomo!

See All Client Reviews

Giacomo Jacques Behar's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Giacomo
Charles Christopher Adkins headshot
Charles Adkins

Immigration lawyer | Nov 04

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Giacomo Jacques Behar consistently provides insightful, accurate, and compassionate answers in Avvo’s Immigration Law Q&A forum. His responses reflect a deep knowledge of U.S. immigration law and extensive experience helping clients in San Diego and beyond navigate complex visa, asylum, and citizenship matters. He offers clear, practical advice with genuine empathy for those facing immigration challenges. I’m pleased to endorse Mr. Behar as a highly skilled and dedicated San Diego immigration attorney."

Alicia Khoo headshot
Alicia Khoo

Immigration lawyer | May 27

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse Attorney Giacomo Jacques Behar. His extensive experience, expertise, and diligence is highly sought after. He serves the community to the best of his ability and is one of the best minds in the field of immigration law."

Syed Ali Hussain Lahooti headshot
Syed Lahooti

Immigration lawyer | Feb 10

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse Giacomo because of his polite way and informational replies to the general public for their help with immigration questions."

Poonam Minhas headshot
Poonam Minhas

Immigration lawyer | Jul 01

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse Attorney Behar. He has a lot of knowledge in immigration law. His responses to queries on complicated immigration matters are straightforward and detailed; he provides alternative suggestions if needed."

Alexandria Jaquay headshot
Alexandria Jaquay

Immigration lawyer | Jan 20

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Attorney Behar provides a much needed service on Avvo. He donates his time to individuals who are in need of immediately legal answers."

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Steven Perrigo

Immigration lawyer | May 19

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer based on his thorough and knowledgeable answers on this forum."

Shawn Malachovsky headshot
Shawn Malachovsky

Immigration lawyer | Feb 03

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

David E. Anderson headshot
David Anderson

Immigration lawyer | Jan 03

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Incredibly knowledgeable and a valued part of the Avvo community, I endorse this lawyer."

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Zachary Wall

Unknown lawyer | Dec 19

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

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Derek Jacques

Immigration lawyer | Nov 12

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Mr. Behar has provided invaluable resources to the Avvo community. I would not hesitate to recommend his services to any person in need."

Glen Adam Kotten headshot
Glen Kotten

Immigration lawyer | Oct 09

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Very experienced and exceptional lawyer. He will be able to handle any of your immigration needs."

Douglas Aaron Cowgill headshot
Douglas Cowgill

Immigration lawyer | May 15

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Attorney Behar provides thoughtful and accurate information to people seeking legal advice in the field of immigration law"

Rahul Aggarwal headshot
Rahul Aggarwal

Immigration lawyer | Feb 20

Relationship: Other

"From one attorney to another, I endorse this lawyer. He has answered a large quantity of immigration questions posed by potential clients for their benefit at no charge. He is competent and sincere with all communications."

Zebulon Kelly Chandler headshot
Zebulon Chandler

Immigration lawyer | Jan 25

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Top Lawyer in the Immigration Field. Easily in the top 10 lawyers in the field globally."

Johnathon Hardaway III headshot
Johnathon Hardaway

Business lawyer | Dec 02

Relationship: Other

"I endorse this lawyer."

Gevork Arutunian headshot
Gevork Arutunian

Immigration lawyer | Sep 13

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I wholeheartedly endorse Mr. Behar. He provides an exceptional service to the immigration community. His solutions to legal inquiries on this forum are well reasoned, clear and sincere."

George Anthony Munoz headshot
George Munoz

Immigration lawyer | Aug 16

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"An extremely talented and well respected attorney in the legal community, I wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone looking for a lawyer who knows the law and truly cares about protecting the rights of his clients and getting them the most favorable result possible. I endorse this lawyer. - Anthony Munoz, Esq."

Christine A Thurston headshot
Christine Thurston

Immigration lawyer | Aug 15

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Stephen Arnold Black headshot
Stephen Black

Immigration lawyer | Aug 07

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"The Einstein of Immigration Law. Giacomo is an immigration law genius and this opinion is coming from a fellow immigration lawyer."

Colette Katz headshot
Colette Katz

Immigration lawyer | Jun 08

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Mr. Behar gets right to the point in his answers, and his reviews show him to be a pillar of the community."

View All Endorsements
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Ghazal Mehrani

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Colette Katz

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Stephen Black

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Immigration lawyer

Experience

Rating:  10.0 (Superb)

Honors

2014

Listed, Who's Who Legal

2014

Certified Specialist, Immigration & Nationality Law, The State Bar of California, Board Of Legal Specialization

2013

Listed, Who's Who Legal

2012

Semi- Finalist - Top Attorneys in Immigration Practice, San Diego Daily Transcript

2009

Valuable Speaker/Contributor, Jewish Community Center Paris

2009

Guest Columnist Award, Salom Quarterly Newsletter

2009

Registry Of Outstanding Professionals, 2009 - present, America's Registry Of Outstanding Professionals, 2009- present

1983

Top Contestant - Business Law Project, United States International University

1980

Top Volunteer Award, Swiss Confederation - Federal Office for Migration & Refugee Absorption

1979

Top writer - German Literature Essay Contest, Interpreters School, Zurich, Switzerland

Work Experience

1999 - Present

Lead Attorney, Behar International Counsel, PLC

1993 - 1999

Associate Attorney, McEntyre and Mitchell

Associations

2015 - Present

The State Bar of California, Board Of Legal Specialization

Certified Specialist, Immigration & Nationality Law

2010 - Present

The U.S. Court Of Appeals For The Ninth Circuit

2001 - Present

National Lawyers Guild, National Immigration Project

Participating Lawyer

1993 - Present

American Immigration Lawyers Association (San Diego chapter)

Chair

1993 - Present

State Bar of California

Active Member

1993 - Present

The Supreme Court of California

Active Member

2010 - 2012

Westwood Ambassador Home Owners Association

Board of Directors

2004 - 2005

American Immigration Lawyers Association (San Diego chapter)

Chair-CSC Liaison Committee

2003 - 2004

American Immigration Lawyers Association (San Diego chapter)

Chair - Consular Affairs Liaison Committee

Sample of Legal Cases

Extremely Complex Diversity Visa Case

Diversity Visas Ultimately Granted by USCIS over DOS objections

National Interest Waiver (NIW) Approval for Research Scientist

Approval

Treaty Investor (E-2) Visa Approval

Approval - 5 year visas granted

E-1 Treaty Trader Application Case

E-1 visa for 5 years granted

Complex Employment-Based Green Card - Labor Certif. w/Substitution of Alien

Permanent Residence Granted

See More Legal Cases

Education

1993

California Western School of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

1984

United States International University

MBA - Master of Business Administration

1983

United States International University

Bachelor's of Science - Business Administration

1980

Interpreters School, Zurich, Switzerland

Foreign Languages Translator; Conference Interpreter

Speaking Engagements

2016

Istanbul Investment Expo/Summit EB-5 and E-2 Investment Visas

2014

KUSI News Channel Television Newscast

Asylum or Refugee Status: Two Options For Immigrants

2013

Upcoming Immigration Reform

Immigration Law

2013

Upcoming Immigration Reform

Immigration Law

2013

Radio Newscast

EB-5 Investment Program in U.S.

2013

Radio Newscast

U.S. Immigration Reform Update

2012

Special Immigration Law Meeting

Immigration Law

2012

Radio Newscast

U.S. Citizenship Laws

2012

Radio Newscast

Political Asylum In The U.S.

2012

Radio Newscast

VAWA Eligibility For Adjustment Of Status

2012

Radio Newscast

Obtaining A Green Card In the U.S.

2012

Radio Newscast

Types Of U.S. Nonimmigrant Visas

2012

Radio Newscast

Deportation Defense In Immigration Court

2012

Radio Newscast

Responding to Immigrant community questions re. Deferred Action (DACA)

2012

Radio Newscast

Difficult Aspects Of Immigrating To USA

2012

Radio Newscast

DACA: Pitfalls in Processing

2012

Opportunities for Settling in the U.S.Through Work or Investment

Obtaining a Green Card Through Investment in the U.S.

2012

Monthly Meeting

Immigration Law

2010

Settling and working abroad

U.S. Immigration & Visa Laws

2010

Business opportunities in the U.S.

U.S. Visa Laws

2009

Monthly Meeting

Immigration Law

2009

E-2 Treaty Investor Visas & L-1 Multinational Executives

U.S. Immigration and Visa Laws

2008

Special Immigration Law Meeting

Immigration Law

2008

Settling and Working Abroad

U.S. Immigration & Visa Laws

2008

Business Opportunities in the U.S.

U.S. Visa Laws

2005

U.S. Business Law Seminar

U.S. Business Law Seminar

2005

Investment and Work Opportunities in America and U.S. Visa Laws

U.S. Immigration and Visa Laws

2004

Monthly Chapter Meeting

American Contracts Law vs. European Jurisprudence

2003

U.S. Business Law Seminar

Business & Contracts Law

2003

Monthly Chapter Meeting

American Contracts Law vs. European Jurisprudence

2002

Monthly meeting

American Contracts Law vs. European Jurisprudence

1995

U.S. Business Law Seminar

Business & Contracts Law

N/A

Radio Newscast

Fiancee Visa K-1

Publications

2007

Salom Quarterly Newsletter U.S. Non-immigrant Visa Categories Leading to Green Cards

1999

Union des francais a l'etranger Newsletter E-2 Investor Visas: How "Substantial" must the investment be?

1998

Uniion des francais a l'etranger newsletter Diversity visa/ green card lottery application process

1997

Union des francais a l'etranger newsletter No longer worth to overstay visa - the 3 & 10 year bars to readmission

Languages

French

Italian

Turkish

Hebrew

German

Spanish

English

Activity

Top Contributor

Giacomo earned significant contribution points in 2026.

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Avvo Rating Levels
10.0 - 9.0 Superb8.9 - 8.0 Excellent7.9 - 7.0 Very Good6.9 - 6.0 Good5.9 - 5.0 Average4.9 - 4.0 Concern3.9 - 3.0 Caution2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution