Fumie’s primary responsibility is working with various business entities, mostly Japanese companies in the automobile and manufacturing industries, to secure necessary business visas to transfer employees to the U.S. from abroad.

Fumie performs research on company profiles and prepares supportive documents in accordance with guidelines set forth by the U.S. Department of State. In addition to E visas, she handles H, L, J, and TN visa and permanent residency processes. Using her bilingual skills in Japanese and English, she also assists visa applicants with articulating their qualifications.

She understands the critical challenge of assisting businesses in showcasing their viability before the U.S. government. Fumie works to demonstrate a connection between the business entity abroad and the business entity based in the United States, and helps her attorneys validate that the operations of their client will benefit from visa approval.

Before joining Barnes & Thornburg, Fumie worked as a legal secretary for an insurance defense firm in Chicago. Her responsibilities included opening new cases; drafting pleadings, reports and correspondence; scheduling hearings, depositions, and other appointments; and handling court filings and e-filings.