Menu
Emily Sumner is the founding senior partner of Sumner Immigration Law. She has practiced immigration law exclusively throughout her career, focusing on development of systems and procedures that streamline and simplify the visa process and that decrease the often lengthy application period.
Ms. Sumner also manages the high-volume labor certification needs of major corporations, working closely with them to reduce time and complexity. She has set up blanket L filings to accommodate companies with high-volume L-1 filings and has prepared J-1 waiver filings for physicians working in underserved areas, as well as other J-1 waiver types. She also specializes in preparing “fast track” green card petitions, including Aliens of Extraordinary Ability, Outstanding Researchers and Professors, and National Interest Waiver petitions for researchers and scientists.
Ms. Sumner previously practiced with Challa Law Offices in Richmond, Virginia. As a seasoned immigration attorney, Ms. Sumner has been active in education for individuals, corporations and attorneys. She regularly provides Continuing Legal Education programs on immigration law and frequently contributes articles on immigration strategies for the global transfer of employees through a wide range of publications.
Ms. Sumner is fluent in Spanish, having lived in Salamanca, Spain and having directly served Spanish-speaking clients for many years including as a paralegal while in undergraduate studies. Ms. Sumner serves as pro bono immigration counsel for I Have a Dream, Richmond, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing a select group of low-income students with long-term, high-quality, supportive supplementary education and enrichment programs, continuing mentor relationships, and guarantees of financial support for higher education. In light of the high proportion of Latino students participating in the South Richmond program, Ms. Sumner was selected for this position to lead the other board members in navigating the cultural, linguistic, and legal issues that arise in working with this population. Ms. Sumner has also co-chaired the Immigrant Outreach Committee, a division of the Virginia State Bar, dedicated to educating other lawyers on legal issues relevant to the immigrant community and to providing a framework of information and legal resources for the Commonwealth’s immigrant population.
I have always been interested in other countries, and people from other countries. My love affair with international cultures began when my parents took me to Disney World before I could talk. My absolute favorite ride was “It’s a Small World After All.” In fact, I liked it so much that when I learned to talk a few months later, I sang the song from memory!
My interest in international cultures and people continued throughout my childhood and youth.
I developed a keen interest in Spanish in middle school, both because I had a natural knack for languages, and because it offered yet another opportunity to study not just one culture, but the many cultures that share that tongue. In high school, I aspired to be the first female Secretary of State, but then Madeleine Albright beat me to it.
Many times, clients have asked me why I became an immigration attorney. For those of you who do not know, I absolutely love being an immigration attorney. Some people kind of fall into their professions by happenstance, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that path. However my journey has been a much more deliberate one. In fact, if I couldn’t practice immigration law, I probably wouldn’t practice law at all.
Attorney Emily Sumner with a bunny (on a leash) that appeared outside her office window the day of filing the H-1B cap cases in 2011.
© 2025 Sumner Immigration Law, PLLC | View Our Disclaimer | Privacy Policy