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Understand the immigration options and border-crossing considerations that can support U.S. growth.
9:30 AM – 10:00 AM
PT
Cross-border expansion creates immigration questions long before a company makes its first U.S. hire. Business travel, workforce mobility and the right visa strategy can all affect how smoothly a company enters and operates in the U.S. Join Heather Fathali and Halley French at the 2026 Cross-Border Conference for a practical overview of U.S. immigration considerations for cross-border growth. The session will cover permitted business-visitor activities, visa options for owners, executives and key employees and practical considerations for successful border crossings, including 2026 developments affecting U.S.-Canada business travel and immigration planning.
What activities are allowed as a U.S. business visitor before a work visa is required
Which U.S. visa options fit owners, executives and key employees
What's changing in 2026 for U.S.-Canada border crossings
Heather Fathali is an immigration attorney with Cascadia Cross-Border Law in Bellingham, Washington, where she focuses exclusively on U.S. immigration and citizenship matters. She advises professionals, entrepreneurs and business owners on employment-based U.S. immigration strategies, with a particular focus on helping Canadian companies expand into the United States. Heather also serves as Chair of the AILA Washington Consular Liaison Committee and is a member of the Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce Cross-Border Committee.
Halley French is an attorney with Cascadia Cross-Border Law focused on U.S. employment-based immigration and U.S.-Canada cross-border matters.She advises businesses, entrepreneurs and professionals on U.S. expansion strategies, workforce mobility and immigration pathways that support business growth. Halley works with companies across technology, manufacturing, consulting and consumer industries and serves on the Advisory Board of the Border Policy Research Institute at Western Washington University.
Heather and Halley’s session is one part of a broader conference focused on the decisions international businesses and their advisors face when entering and growing in the U.S. Explore additional sessions covering tax, legal and compliance issues, U.S. operations and hiring, trade and tariffs, intellectual property and U.S. go-to-market strategy throughout the day.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026
9:00 AM PT / 12:00 PM ET
Virtual Conference
