Amanda J. Bahena

Immigration LawEstate Planning and Trust LawIowaSouth DakotaEmployment LawPrivate Wealth
Written By The Sampson House

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Areas of Practice

  • Estate Planning and Trust Law

  • Immigration Law

Education

  • Iowa State University (Bachelor of Arts; National Merit Scholar, with Distinction, 2004)

  • University of Warwick, England (Masters of Arts, with Distinction, 2007)

  • University of Iowa College of Law (Juris Doctor with High Distinction and Order of the Coif, 2010)

ADMITTED TO:

Iowa
South Dakota

EXPERIENCE:

Amanda Bahena’s practice is focused on immigration law and estate planning. She is also experienced in corporate law, real estate, and family law matters. Amanda works together with the other firm attorneys to address her clients’ related employment, taxation, corporate, litigation, and compliance questions.

Amanda assists employers throughout the U.S. grow their workforce by hiring or retaining talented foreign-born employees. She also trains employers on Form I-9 compliance.

Amanda assists individual clients around the world in almost every U.S.-immigration area, including petitioning family members and fiancés for permanent residency, employment visas, deferred action, student visas, visa compliance, waivers, and adjustment of status. Amanda also represents individuals in immigration court proceedings in Omaha, Nebraska, and Ft. Snelling, Minnesota. She welcomes invitations to speak about immigration issues, from I-9 compliance and hiring foreign employees to know-your-rights presentations.

Amanda is also an experienced estate planner, and assists families and individuals in Iowa, South Dakota, and Nebraska with their planning needs.

Her clients appreciate her accessibility and responsiveness, attention to detail, clear fees, creative solutions, and ability to break down complex issues into understandable steps.

Amanda serves on the State Bar of South Dakota Immigration Law Committee and is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

Fluent in English and Spanish, Amanda studied and lived in Canada, Mexico, and England prior to receiving her law degree. She now enjoys life in her hometown of Sioux Center, Iowa, with her husband and three young children.

PROFESSIONAL & COMMUNITY:

  • American Immigration Lawyers Association

  • American Immigration Council

  • Iowa State Bar Association

  • South Dakota Bar Association

  • Sioux County Bar Association

  • Vi Bella Serves, Inc., Non-Profit Board President

Community Involvement

CURRENT: 

  • Vi Bella Serves, Inc., Board President

  • Amigos Newcomer Outreach Program, Coordinator and Volunteer

PAST:

  • Northwest Iowa Community College, Foundation Board

  • Sioux Center Arts and Recreation, Board

  • Iowa-Nebraska American Immigration Lawyers Association, Treasurer

  • Sioux County Bar Association, President

 

“I enjoy community involvement because I believe we are made to live in a community and to serve and support each other.  I view it more as being involved and living within the community, and not as giving back.  I usually leave any community “service” project feeling uplifted and refilled. 

I enjoy being in a community setting that brings people together and raises everyone involved to a higher level.  Woods Fuller is part of great and growing communities and acts intentionally to strengthen and celebrate those communities. 

I hope that my legacy and that of Woods Fuller is a positive broad force for the community and that we are known for encouraging and supporting others that are achieving a positive impact that includes all social groups in the forward momentum.” 

- Amanda J. Bahena

The Sampson House https://www.thesampsonhouse.com
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