Marina S. Grabchuk

“Marina Grabchuk is a respected immigration lawyer who is often called upon her advice on employment-based visa matters.” – Chambers & Partners USA

Marina is a Shareholder and leads the Immigration Department at Belin McCormick, P.C. Her practice focuses on business immigration and I-9 compliance. As a Ukrainian immigrant trained by national legal experts in Seattle and San Francisco, Marina brings over a decade of unparalleled experience to her corporate clients in Iowa and beyond and has earned a reputation for resolving complex issues and delivering results. 

Business Immigration

Marina serves as outside immigration counsel to large corporations, mid-size businesses, major universities, and medical centers, handling their immigration matters. She provides counsel to corporate clients on recruitment, retention, and global mobility solutions for U.S. foreign national talent, advises on employment-based visas (L-1, O-1, H-1B, TN) and permanent residence (EB-1, PERM) sponsorship options for multinational executives and managers, research scientists, J-1 physicians, and professionals with specialized knowledge and extraordinary or exceptional ability in their field.

Corporate Immigration Compliance

Marina assists employers with immigration-related workplace compliance matters and audits. She provides counsel on Form I-9 compliance and enforcement issues, risk assessment and management, and mitigation of fines and penalties for non-compliance and I-9 violations. Marina regularly provides I-9 and E-Verify trainings and drafts handbooks and policies that both comply with the U.S. immigration laws and are functional and practical to her corporate clients. She often represents employers in I-9 inspections. 

Honors and Accomplishments

  • Chambers & Partners USA, America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Iowa—Immigration, 2020-2023
  • Super Lawyers® "Rising Star," 2021
  • The Greater Des Moines Distinguished Leadership “Inspiring” Community Vision Award, 2019
  • Des Moines Business Record “Forty Under 40," 2017
  • The Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute, Community Leadership Program Graduate, 2016

Community & Professional Activities

  • American Immigration Lawyers Association (Iowa-Nebraska, Washington Chapters), Member, 2013-Present
  • Iowa State Bar Association, Member, 2014-Present
  • Washington State Bar Association, Member, (past CLE Committee) 2011-Present
  • Community Youth Concepts, Board of Directors, 2017-2021
  • America’s Cultivation Corridor, Advisory Council, 2017-2019
  • Youth Emergency Services and Shelter, Advisory Council, 2015-2016
  • Iowa International Center, Volunteer, 2014-2016
  • Iowa Sister States, Volunteer, 2014-2016
  • Iowa Resource for International Service, Volunteer, 2014-2016
  • CultureALL, Volunteer, 2014-2016
  • One America, Volunteer, 2011-2013
  • Kids In Need of Defense, Volunteer, 2011-2013
  • Washington Anti-Trafficking Response Network, Volunteer, 2011-2013
  • Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, Volunteer, 2011-2013

Publications and Presentations

  • Speaker, PERM Labor Certification in a Nutshell, American Immigration Lawyers Association-Washington Chapter Nailing Down the Basics CLE Session, February 25, 2021
  • Speaker, Limiting Liability: Immigration Document Retention, Labor and Employment Law in Iowa Seminar, September 6, 2019
  • Speaker, Immigration Worksite Enforcement – Are You Ready? Central Iowa SHRM 27th Annual Legal and Legislative Conference, February 5, 2019
  • Speaker, The Fog of Immigration and Corporate Compliance, Association of Corporate Counsel -- Iowa Chapter 6th Annual Corporate Counsel Forum, October 16, 2018
  • Speaker, Navigating the Fog of Immigration, Labor and Employment Law in Iowa Seminar, September 24, 2018
  • Speaker, Navigating the Fog of Immigration, Associated General Contractors of Iowa Fall AGC Days Forum, September 7, 2018
  • Speaker, The Nuts and Bolts of Trade NAFTA (TN) Visa, CLE Session, July 11, 2018
  • Speaker, Immigration Law Hot Topics for Employers, Labor and Employment Law in Iowa Seminar, September 29, 2017
  • Speaker, Immigration Law Hot Topics for Employers, Iowa Association of Business and Industry Immigration Forum, September 7, 2017
  • Speaker, Recruiting Do’s and Don’ts for Job Applicants Requiring Visas, 2017 Iowa Employment Conference, April 5, 2017
  • Speaker, What’s New?...I-9 Changes and Best Practices, Central Iowa SHRM 25th Annual Legal and Legislative Conference, February 24, 2017
  • Author, Business Planning with Changing Immigration Policy, Iowa Association of Business and Industry Newsletter, February 15, 2017
  • Speaker, Immigration Law for Employers, CLE Session for In-House Counsel, November 2, 2016
  • Speaker, Form I-9 – How Hard Can It Really Be, Right? Labor and Employment Law in Iowa Seminar, September 30, 2016
  • Speaker, Immigration Law Basics, CLE Session, for Corporate General Counsel, June 23, 2016
  • Author, Demystifying the I-9: More Complex Than the Average HR Form, HR Briefing, A Quarterly Supplement to HR Insight Newsletter, May 2016
  • Author, Demystifying the I-9: Part IV, Iowa Employment Law Letter, Vol.22 No.13, May 2016; Demystifying the I-9: Part III, Iowa  Employment Law Letter, Vol.22 No.12, April 2016; Demystifying the I-9: Part II, Iowa Employment Law Letter, Vol.22 No.11, March 2016; Demystifying the I-9: Part I, Iowa Employment Law Letter, Vol.22 No.10, February 2016
  • Speaker, H-1B & U.S. Permanent Resident Petitions: What You Need to Know, Iowa State University International Students and Scholars Office, November 16, 2015
  • Speaker, I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Compliance: Avoiding the Violation of Employee Rights and IRCA Penalties, CLE Presentation: Lincoln Inne, November 9, 2015
  • Speaker, Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9 Compliance, and Employer Sanctions, Employer Training: Agricultural Business Executives and Hiring Managers, August 27, 2015
  • Contributor, Essentials of Asylum Law, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, 1st Edition (2012)
  • Contributor, Families & Immigration: A Practical Guide, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, 3rd Edition (2011)
  • Co-author, Background Checks and Social Effects: Contemporary Residential Tenant-Screening Problems in Washington State, 9 Seattle J. Soc. Just. 319 (2011)