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U.S. Immigration Law for Professionals and Families Between Spain and the United States
U.S. immigration law is technical, fact-driven, and unforgiving of small errors. If you’re navigating a visa, consular process, or cross-border move between Spain and the U.S., preparation matters from the first step.
Jordan Gonzalez is a U.S. immigration attorney based in Madrid, licensed in Texas (Bar No. 24096125). He is a member of AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association), Rome District Chapter. He advises individuals and companies between Spain and the United States on immigrant and nonimmigrant visas, inadmissibility, and consular processing.
- Licensed in the State of Texas — State Bar of Texas, Bar No. 24096125
- Member of AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association), Rome District Chapter
Practice Areas
Jordan advises exclusively on U.S. immigration law. He does not practice or advise on Spanish immigration (extranjería) law.
Visa revocations, inadmissibility and entry problems
The most common enquiry I receive. Visas revoked over an old arrest that never led to a conviction, ESTA cancelled or refused, entry denied at the airport, repeat refusals under INA 214(b), overstays nobody realised were overstays, unauthorised work on an earlier trip, or a removal order from years ago surfacing now. It almost always comes to light at the worst possible moment, and what happens next matters more than the original problem.
Which immigration route actually fits
There is no general route into the United States. The categories are closed, and the real question is which one you fit, if any. I review the whole profile — education, career record, family, capital, immigration history — and tell you what is viable and what is not.
E-2 treaty investor visas
Spain holds a qualifying treaty with the United States, which makes the E-2 the only realistic self-sponsorship route for most Spanish entrepreneurs. It requires a substantial investment in a real, operating business that you will direct. I work on the structure from the start: whether the project is viable, how the source of funds is documented, and how the consular process in Madrid is prepared for.
Extraordinary ability: O-1, EB-1 and EB-2 NIW
For people with a documented track record: researchers, physicians, engineers, founders, chefs, artists and creative executives. The O-1 is temporary and needs an employer or agent; EB-1A and the EB-2 national interest waiver allow self-petition. Many people are more competitive than they assume, particularly where achievements are well documented but have never been assembled into a single record.
Marriage and fiancé(e) cases with a U.S. citizen
One of the most reliable routes in the system, and the one where most is lost by choosing the wrong structure. K-1, CR-1, IR-1, and — where the U.S. citizen partner lives in Spain — direct consular filing at the embassy, which almost nobody raises and which can save a year. The consequences of choosing wrong arrive later, usually as an inability to work or to travel.
Waivers for criminal or removal history
An administrative drug fine, an old arrest, a minor conviction or a prior removal can close the door even when the underlying case is strong. Waivers exist, and which one applies depends on the exact ground of inadmissibility and the visa being sought. It is worth knowing where you stand before anything is filed.
Who He Works With
Based in Madrid, Jordan regularly advises professionals and companies operating between Spain and the United States, including executives and senior managers, entrepreneurs and founders, multinational businesses expanding into the U.S. market, professionals on temporary assignment, and families pursuing permanent residence. He understands the practical realities of cross-border mobility and the scrutiny visa applications and consular interviews often involve.
Not sure where to start?
Background
Born in Chicago to Mexican and Irish-American roots, and raised in the Rio Grande Valley between Texas and northern Mexico, Jordan grew up between languages, borders, and identities — immigration is not just his profession, but part of his own story.
Raised in McAllen, Texas, along the U.S.–Mexico border, Jordan developed an early appreciation for both the legal and human dimensions of immigration. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Texas–Pan American with a degree in Political Science and earned his J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center, where he was a Global Scholar Fellow. He later earned an LL.M. in International Law with a concentration in Human Rights from the Graduate Institute of Geneva. Jordan is fluent in English and Spanish, and proficient in French.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I travel to the U.S. on ESTA, or do I need a visa?
It depends on the purpose of the trip. Spanish nationals travelling for tourism or short business activity — meetings, conferences, exploring an investment — can normally use ESTA under the Visa Waiver Program. If you will perform productive work in the United States, you generally need a specific work visa.
My U.S. visa was revoked. Can I just apply again?
You can reapply at any time, but applying again with the same facts usually produces the same result, and each refusal stays on your record. Revocations are frequently triggered by an arrest rather than a conviction, and sometimes by an incident from many years ago. What matters is identifying what the revocation was actually based on before anything else is filed.
Can I apply for a green card from Spain?
Yes, through consular processing at the U.S. Embassy. Following a recent shift in USCIS policy, consular processing from abroad has become the preferred route for many applicants rather than adjusting status from inside the United States.
Do you advise on Spanish immigration law?
No. Jordan is licensed in Texas and advises exclusively on U.S. immigration law. He is not licensed in Spain and does not advise on Spanish extranjería matters. For Spanish residence or nationality questions, you need a Spanish-qualified lawyer.
Ready to talk through your case?
Jordan Gonzalez is licensed as an attorney in the State of Texas (U.S.A.), Bar No. 24096125. He is not licensed to practise law in Spain. His practice is limited to U.S. immigration law. The content of this site is general information only, does not constitute legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.