Meet Jacob L. Ratzan

Mr. Ratzan is a Florida Bar Board Certified Specialist in Immigration and Nationality Law and Chair of Packman, Neuwahl, and Rosenberg, P.A.’s Immigration Practice Group.

Mr. Ratzan earned a Bachelor degree in International Relations from Tufts University in 1997 and a Juris Doctorate from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in 2005. Mr. Ratzan was admitted to the Florida Bar and New York Bar in 2006, and to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida in 2007.

In 2014-2015, Mr. Ratzan served as President of the South Florida Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). He has also served as Chair of the AILA South Florida-USCIS Liaison Committee (2011-14, 2019-20), Chair of the AILA South Florida CBP Committee (2020-21), and Chair of the Florida Bar Immigration and Nationality Law Board Certification Committee (2020-21). Currently, Mr. Ratzan is a member of the AILA National CBP Committee.

Mr. Ratzan has participated as a panelist at many immigration law seminars, and has published articles on immigration law. Mr. Ratzan has spent time living in Spain and Chile, and is fluent in Spanish.

Education

  • Tufts University, B.A., International Relations (1997)
  • Cardozo School of Law, J.D. (2005)

Bar Admissions

  • Florida
  • New York

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida

Languages

  • English
  • Spanish

Memberships

  • American Immigration Lawyers Association
  • Florida Bar Board Certification Committee

Publications, Speaking Engagements and Presentations

  • Consular Updates, 42nd Annual AILA South Florida CLE (February 24-26, 2021)
  • Changes – Advanced Adjustment of Status Issues, 41st Annual Immigration Law Update, AILA South Florida (February 28, 2020)
  • Recent Updates, Trends, and Problems, “Lazy Days of Summer,” Business and Consular Program, Catholic Legal Services (August 23, 2019)
  • AILA South Florida Luncheon, Hot Topics (Miami, FL July 17, 2019)
  • The Impact of Immigration Policy Changes Under Trump, Salad & Politics: Women’s Progressive Alliance (March 7, 2019)
  • Every Little Thing She Does is Magic – Expert Roundtable: An Interactive Discussion with Business Immigration Lawyers, 40th Annual Immigration Law Update, AILA South Florida (March 1, 2019)
  • Issues with Work Visas, “A Day in the Life of Venezuelan Immigration,” Catholic Legal Services (Miami, FL, January 11, 2019)
  • What’s Your Angle? How to develop a niche practice; and Why doing everything isn’t the answer, AILA South Florida (Miami, FL, October 17, 2018)
  • Best Practices for the H-1B and Suitable Alternatives after Losing the Lottery, “Lazy Days of Summer,” Catholic Legal Services CLE (Miami, FL, July 13, 2018)
  • The Pursuit of Happyness: Common Ethical Challenges in Immigration Law, Including When to Say No!, 39th Annual Immigration Law Update, AILA South Florida (March 22, 2018)
  • Business Immigration Visas: H, L, and E, Clearlaw Institute (March 5, 2018)
  • E-2 Seminar, Spanish Chamber of Commerce (February 24, 2017)
  • Fundamentals of Employment-Based Immigration, Clearlaw Institute (February 22, 2017)
  • Naturalization, Citizenship and Renunciation, 38th Annual Immigration Law Update, AILA South Florida (February 3, 2017)
  • L’s and EB1-3, Help Get My Petition Through, “Lazy Days of Summer,” Catholic Legal Services CLE (August 26, 2016)
  • Work Visas For Foreign Nationals, Colombian Chamber of Commerce (August 23, 2016)
  • Immigration 101: A Comprehensive Immigration Practice Program, Pincus Professional Education (March 3, 2016)
  • Law Office Management and Marketing: Tips from the Pros, 37th Annual Immigration Law Update, AILA South Florida (February 4, 2016)
  • Introduction to the Visa Bulletin, AILA National 2015 Annual Conference on Immigration Law (June 19, 2015)
  • Tips for Building Your Practice, 36th Annual Immigration Law Update, AILA South Florida (February 5, 2015)
  • Plenary Session – Overview of Recent Developments in Immigration Law, 36th Annual Immigration Law Update, AILA South Florida (February 5, 2015)
  • Recent Developments in Family Based Visas, 35th Annual Immigration Law Update, AILA South Florida (February 7, 2014)
  • An Overview of Employment-Based Immigration Law, Gran Salon Inmobiliario, Bogota, Colombia (October 3, 2013)
  • An Overview of Employment-Based Immigration Law, Brazilian American Chamber of Commerce of Florida (BACCF) (June 5, 2013)
  • Deferred Action and Prosecutorial Discretion, 34th Annual Immigration Law Update, AILA South Florida (February 8, 2013)
  • The U.S. Immigration Debate – History, Laws, and Policies, Miami-Dade College Kendall Campus (October 30, 2012)
  • The Violence Against Women Act: How Immigration Laws Help Overcome Barriers for Immigrant Victims of Abuse, Nova University (November 17, 2011)
  • Immigration Law for International Students: The F-1 Visa and Beyond, Barry University (November 4, 2010)