Licensed for 30 years

State CA

Acquired 1993

Status
Active No misconduct found

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

Giacomo Jacques Behar

Immigration Attorney at San Diego, CA

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Resume

Excellent Immigration Advice

Exceptional RFE Consultation: Attorney Giacomo Behar's Expertise Secured My Case Approval

I recently had the privilege of working with Attorney Giacomo Behar for a consultation session to address an RFE (Request for Evidence) response, and I couldn't be more pleased with the experience. Attorney Behar's expertise and professionalism truly exceeded my expectations, and I wholeheartedly recommend his services to anyone in need of legal counsel. From the moment our consultation began, it was evident that Attorney Behar had invested significant time and effort into thoroughly researching and understanding the intricacies of my case. His preparation was not just impressive; it was reassuring. He arrived at our meeting with a wealth of knowledge and a clear understanding of the challenges we were facing. What sets Attorney Behar apart is his ability to convey complex legal concepts in a clear and comprehensible manner. He walked me through the RFE response process step by step, breaking down the legal jargon into plain language. His guidance and advice were not only detailed but also practical, making it easy for me to grasp the necessary actions and understand the potential consequences of each decision. Thanks to Attorney Behar's meticulous and timely responses, my RFE response was submitted with confidence on time and resulted in the approval of my case. His dedication to achieving positive outcomes for his clients is evident, and it speaks volumes about his commitment to the legal profession. If you are seeking legal representation in immigration matters, I wholeheartedly recommend Attorney Behar. His expertise, thoroughness, and commitment to client success are second to none, and I am immensely grateful for the positive outcome he helped me achieve.

About Giacomo

Learn Giacomo’s areas of practice.

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
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30 years, 3,700 cases

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, Giacomo Jacques Behar is a Certified Specialist, Immigration & Nationality Law, The State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization. We are a full service immigration law firm headquartered in San Diego, California, with a second location in the Westwood area of West Los Angeles. Our firm specializes in U.S. immigration and Naturalization Law and has assisted clients in different U.S. states and from more than 40 countries around the world since 1993.

We offer a full range of family-based immigrant and non-immigrant visa and consular application services including K-1, R-1, H-1B, L-1, O-1, P-1, as well as our "house specialty", Treaty Investor (E-2) and Treaty Trader (E-1) visas and also specialize in employment-based permanent residence through Labor Certification ("PERM"). We also assist our clients with their political asylum applications and appear with clients at asylum interviews. In addition, our firm is also ideally equipped to speedily and efficiently process your and your family's citizenship applications. Last, but not least, we also offer to our clients expert personalized assistance on a full range of non-immigrant and work visa applications at U.S. Embassies and Consulates worldwide.

Meet your lawyer: Giacomo Jacques BEHAR

LICENCED BY THE STATE BAR OF CALIFORNIA SINCE 1993 - CERTIFIED SPECIALIST, IMMIGRATION & NATIONALITY LAW - THE STATE BAR OF CALIFORNIA, BOARD OF LEGAL SPECIALIZATION.

With now 27 years of practicing experience, I dedicate my practice exclusively to U.S. Immigration and Nationality law. Immigration Law is Federal & therefore uniform throughout the U.S. A world traveled multilingual polyglot, I am FLUENT in seven (7) languages: Spanish, French, Italian, Turkish, Hebrew, German and of course, English. For the last 26 years I take pride in having assisted clients in most of these languages, on an almost daily basis. I am myself an immigrant who arrived in San Diego 38 years ago from Switzerland to get my Masters in Business Administration (MBA) degree in the USA.

Awards

Client's Choice

2023 2022 2021 + 9 ...

Top Contributor

2023 2022 2021 + 9 ...

Contact Giacomo

Behar International Counsel, PLC

(619) 377-4202 Office

(619) 231-1775 Fax

402 West Broadway

Suite 770

San Diego, CA, 92101

immigratingtousa.com

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Behar International Counsel

(619) 377-4202 Office

1158 26th Street

Santa Monica, CA, 90403

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Reviews

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4.9 / 5.0

243 customer reviews

3 Star

Client's Choice

Client's Choice is an Avvo award granted to attorneys with a significant number of client reviews over 4 stars in a given year.

Posted by Sarah | September 4, 2023

Excellent Immigration Advice

Mr Behar is a brilliant immigration attorney. He was very accommodating in scheduling my husband and I for a urgent consultation. He gave us honest and direct advice on what options we have, as well as the pros/cons of the path forward. He is a creative thinker and clearly has an in-depth knowledge of not only US immigration but international affairs as well. Thank you Giacomo.

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Posted by Nima | August 26, 2023

Exceptional RFE Consultation: Attorney Giacomo Behar's Expertise Secured My Case Approval

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Posted by Air | August 25, 2023

Professionalism, expertise and genuine concern for my case

I had a very useful consultation with Mr Behar on my case. Mr Behar thoroughly understood the intricacies of my situation and outlined every step of the legal process with clarity and transparency. His ability to break down complex legal concepts into understandable terms is truly remarkable. Mr Behar's attention to detail, legal acumen and genuine care about the impact of the legal proceedings on my life and family make him a standout in the legal field.

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Posted by Etienne | August 21, 2023

G4 OUT OF STATUS TO GREEN CARD

Mr Behar is the one best immigration lawyer in San Diego, he is help me with my green card which wasn't easy process. I had very difficult case and even received two RFEs from USCIS, however, thanks to Mr Behar's creative efforts and expertly prepared responses. My case was ultimately approved without an in person interview. A big thank you to Mr Behar, best immigration lawyer in San Diego

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Posted by Michael | July 31, 2023

F1 VISA WITH UNIQUE SITUATION HANDLED EXPERTLY

Mr. Behar and his team took great effort to understand my case thoroughly and produced a strategy that worked efficiently in resulting in the positive outcome. Will definitely come back to him for my future immigration needs.

Posted by Tal | July 20, 2023

E-2 VISA APPROVED IN THREE MONTHS!

I am thrilled to express my sincere appreciation for Giacomo Behar and his exceptional team, particularly Rebeca, for their instrumental role in the successful acquisition of my E-2 visa. Their unwavering confidence, out-of-the-box thinking, and dedication were unmatched, making my dream of securing the E-2 visa a reality in just three months. Throughout the entire process, Giacomo Behar and his team provided unparalleled support and guidance, handling each step with professionalism and meticulous attention to detail. They left me feeling confident that my case was in the best possible hands. Giacomo Behar's creative approach and vast knowledge in immigration law impressed me beyond words, as he swiftly devised innovative solutions whenever obstacles arose. Thanks to him and his remarkable team, my case was successfully approved, defying the doubts and skepticism I had encountered with other attorneys.

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Posted by Melisa | June 30, 2023

Great Lawyer

I consulted Mr Behar for speficic issue, had questions. He answered to all my questions with his deep knowledge and experience. The way he was giving advice and answer my questions was very helpful. I strongly recommend him whoever needs help to resolve an issue or need answers for the questions which will change his/her flow of life.

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Posted by Kanos | May 13, 2023

I-751 WAIVER APPROVED! BEST IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY IN CALIFORNIA

After MyI-751 Waiver Based Petition was denied, I Was placed in Removal Proceedings. thanks to Mr. Behar's creative efforts I was able to refile a new I-751 Petition and he assisted me with preparing a strong infallible case, he even appeared in person to my I-751 interview while simultaneously keeping track of my case at immigration court. And my case got approved!!! I had the pleasure of working with Mr Behar, for my immigration case and I cannot recommend him enough. From start to finish, Mr Behar was professional, knowledgeable, and responsive. He walked me through the entire process, explaining each step in detail and answering all of my questions along the way. What impressed me the most was Mr Behar's attention to detail and his willingness to go above and beyond to ensure that my case was successful. They spent countless hours preparing my application, gathering evidence, and strategizing on the best course of action. Thanks to their hard work and expertise, RE-FILED I-751 WAIVER BASED PETITION APPROVED. Throughout the entire process, Mr Behar was always available to me, promptly returning my calls and emails and keeping me informed of any updates. He's truly care about their clients and it shows in the level of service they provide. If you are looking for an immigration lawyer who is dedicated, knowledgeable, creative, and trustworthy, then look no further than Mr Behar!!!. He's simply the best!

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Posted by Marco Locatelli | April 24, 2023

Great Attorney

Mr Behar and his staff were fantastic. I applied for an E2 Visa at the Rome consulate, and his help and knowledge was fundamental to prepare in the right way all the papers of my case and to be preparated for the interview. I will always be grateful to Mr Behar for the success achieved.

Posted by David | April 18, 2023

Highly informative, well knowledged and helpful. Highly recommend

I needed assistance ASAP regarding my J-2 work authorization request. I called Giacomo on Saturday and we setup a call for the same day! Giacomo Is highly skilled and it very much shows that he is VERY knowledgeable about the all immigration process. On top of that, he is kind and fun to talk to. I recommend working with Giacomo for every immigration need.

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Posted by Dip | April 11, 2023

I highly recommended this law office

I highly recommended this law office! Giacomo and his team are extremely professional, followed through on all aspects, always prompt which all attributed to the most favorable outcome.

Posted by Salek | April 11, 2023

Excellent real state lawyer

Excellent real state lawyer and paralegal; they gave great advice and stayed on top of the process from start to finish. I would absolutely work with them again, they were terrific.

Posted by Aashiq | April 11, 2023

Great experience working with Giacomo

This law firm represented me during the sale of my home and I had a great experience working with Giacomo. They handled the deal very efficiently. Giacomo is a great communicator and was always available to answer any questions I had. It was truly a pleasure to work with them!

Posted by Kaif | April 7, 2023

He is knowledgeable

Giacomo is among the best attorneys I've worked with. He is knowledgeable, no-nonsense and takes care of his clients.

Posted by Sadek | April 6, 2023

I highly recommend the Giacomo

I highly recommend the Giacomo, efficient and safe when resolving my case, very grateful to him and his team.

Posted by Mamun | April 6, 2023

Giacomo and all his team are excellent I recommend 100%

Giacomo and all his team are excellent I recommend 100% , his honest , ethically, brilliant and excellent lawer , no matters how is situation , Contact his office they will help you and give the best advice what to do and how to do ! I’m a happy client 100% satisfied.

Posted by Moktar | April 4, 2023

case outcome was successful

The team at Lawyers for Giacomo executed my case fairly and the outcome was successful. Very communicative, always kept me informed of the status of my case. Highly recommend their services.

Posted by anonymous | March 30, 2023

excellent lawyer

He is an excellent lawyer. Every matter is addressed very seriously.His demeanor is excellent, and he is one of the best advocates.

Posted by Raju | February 20, 2023

Very nice

Very nice people are working there. Beautiful building and I had a good day winning my case!

Posted by anonymous | February 17, 2023

Good service

A great immigration lawyer that was willing to help me every step of the way to getting my Green Card! Would recommend.

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Cost

Resume

AVVO RATING 10.0 (Superb)

Work Experience

Lead Attorney
Behar International Counsel, PLC
1999 - Present

Associate Attorney
McEntyre and Mitchell
1993 - 1999

Education

California Western School of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
1993

United States International University
MBA - Master of Business Administration
1984

United States International University
Bachelor's of Science - Business Administration
1983

Interpreters School, Zurich, Switzerland
Foreign Languages Translator; Conference Interpreter
1980

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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

View all legal cases

Associations

The State Bar of California, Board Of Legal Specialization
Certified Specialist, Immigration & Nationality Law
2015 - Present

The U.S. Court Of Appeals For The Ninth Circuit
2010 - Present

National Lawyers Guild, National Immigration Project
Participating Lawyer
2001 - 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
1993 - Present

Westwood Ambassador Home Owners Association
Board of Directors
2010 - 2012

American Immigration Lawyers Association (San Diego chapter)
Chair-CSC Liaison Committee
2004 - 2005

American Immigration Lawyers Association (San Diego chapter)
Chair - Consular Affairs Liaison Committee
2003 - 2004

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Languages Spoken

French

Italian

Turkish

Hebrew

German

Spanish

English

View all languages

Honors and Awards

Listed
Who's Who Legal
2014

Certified Specialist, Immigration & Nationality Law
The State Bar of California, Board Of Legal Specialization
2014

Listed
Who's Who Legal
2013

Semi- Finalist - Top Attorneys in Immigration Practice
San Diego Daily Transcript
2012

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
2009

Top Contestant - Business Law Project
United States International University
1983

Top Volunteer Award
Swiss Confederation - Federal Office for Migration & Refugee Absorption
1980

Top writer - German Literature Essay Contest
Interpreters School, Zurich, Switzerland
1979

View all awards

Publications

Salom Quarterly Newsletter
"Neither Black nor White, But Shades of Grey": Business Visa Opportunities in the U.S.
2010

Salom Quarterly Newsletter
Career & Business Opportunities for Immigrant Professionals in the U.S.
2008

Salom Quarterly Newsletter
U.S. Non-immigrant Visa Categories Leading to Green Cards
2007

Union des francais a l'etranger Newsletter
E-2 Investor Visas: How "Substantial" must the investment be?
1999

Uniion des francais a l'etranger newsletter
Diversity visa/ green card lottery application process
1998

Union des francais a l'etranger newsletter
No longer worth to overstay visa - the 3 & 10 year bars to readmission
1997

View all publications

Speaking Engagements

Istanbul Investment Expo/Summit
EB-5 and E-2 Investment Visas
2016

KUSI News Channel Television Newscast
Asylum or Refugee Status: Two Options For Immigrants
2014

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
2013

Univision Newscast on Deferred Action (DACA)
Responding to Hispanic community questions re. Deferred Action Application which began August 15, 2012
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
2012

Settling and working abroad
U.S. Immigration & Visa Laws
2010

Business opportunities in the U.S.
U.S. Visa Laws
2010

Monthly Meeting
Immigration Law
2009

E-2 Treaty Investor Visas & L-1 Multinational Executives
U.S. Immigration and Visa Laws
2009

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
2008

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
2005

Monthly Chapter Meeting
American Contracts Law vs. European Jurisprudence
2004

U.S. Business Law Seminar
Business & Contracts Law
2003

Monthly Chapter Meeting
American Contracts Law vs. European Jurisprudence
2003

Monthly meeting
American Contracts Law vs. European Jurisprudence
2002

U.S. Business Law Seminar
Business & Contracts Law
1995

Radio Newscast
Fiancee Visa K-1
N/A

View all speaking engagements

Attorney endorsements

Received (421)

Given (596)

Endorse Giacomo

Syed Lahooti

Immigration Attorney | 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

Immigration Attorney | 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

Immigration Attorney | 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."

Steven Perrigo

Immigration Attorney | May 19
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

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

Shawn Malachovsky

Immigration Attorney | Feb 03
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

David Anderson

Immigration Attorney | Jan 03
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

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

Zachary Wall

Unknown Attorney | Dec 19
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Derek Jacques

Immigration Attorney | 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 Kotten

Immigration Attorney | Oct 09
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

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

Douglas Cowgill

Immigration Attorney | 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

Immigration Attorney | 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 Chandler

Immigration Attorney | 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

Business Attorney | Dec 02
Relationship: Other

"I endorse this lawyer."

Gevork Arutunian

Immigration Attorney | 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 Munoz

Immigration Attorney | 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 Thurston

Immigration Attorney | Aug 15
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Stephen Black

Immigration Attorney | 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

Immigration Attorney | 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."

Corey Kane

Unknown Attorney | Apr 12
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Gary Anderson

Immigration Attorney | Apr 11
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. I have read many of the responses to inquiries given by this attorney. I can say that he gives solid advice. Giacomo Jacques Behar is very knowledgeable and an aggressive advocate for his clients."

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