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Christopher Richardson
President and General Counsel at BDV Solutions | Co-Founder at Argo Visa
Christopher Richardson is a prominent figure in the field of immigration law and policy, currently serving as the President and General Counsel at BDV Solutions, a Greenville-based consulting company specializing in legal immigration solutions.12 Here's an overview of his background and career:
Professional Experience
Richardson has a diverse professional background that includes:
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BDV Solutions: He joined the company in February 2019 as General Counsel and COO, and recently assumed the role of President and General Counsel in April 2024.35
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Argo Visa: Co-founder of this remote video immigration consulting technology company featuring former consular officers.34
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U.S. Department of State: Served as a Foreign Service Officer from 2011 to 2018, with postings in Spain, Pakistan, Nicaragua, and Nigeria.3
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Private Law Practice: Worked as an attorney at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, Alston & Bird LLP, and Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP.3
Diplomatic Career
As a U.S. diplomat, Richardson held various roles including:
- American Citizen Services Chief
- Immigrant Visa Chief
- Acting Nonimmigrant Visa Chief
- Deputy Nonimmigrant Visa Chief2
He received several awards for his service, including Superior and Meritorious Honor Awards.13
Education and Expertise
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Education: Graduated summa cum laude from Emory University (2003) and earned his law degree from Duke University School of Law.13
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Expertise: Recognized as a leading expert on immigration policy, with experience in consular affairs, foreign affairs, and public diplomacy.46
Notable Contributions
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Resigned from the State Department in 2018 and drafted an affidavit against the Muslim Ban, which was cited by Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer in Trump v. Hawaii.4
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Has advised both Democratic and Republican members of Congress on immigration, diversity, and foreign policy issues.4
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Served as Chair of Pete Buttigieg's immigration policy committee and worked on the Biden 2020 campaign immigration policy committee.4
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Co-authored the "Historical Dictionary of the Civil Rights Movement" (2014).14
Christopher Richardson's extensive experience in immigration law, diplomacy, and policy-making has established him as a respected voice in the field of immigration and international relations.
Highlights
I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as President and General Counsel at BDV Solutions! I'm looking forward to working with our CEO Karin Borchert and the entire BDV team to continue our mission of providing labor solutions to employers all across the United States.
Even though today’s consular officers use discretionary power with more caution, they still represent a predominantly white institution casting unquestioned and unquestionable judgment on mainly Black and brown visa applicants.
The U.S. Diplomatic Corps is still nearly 80 percent non-Hispanic white, while the general U.S. population is only 61.6 percent. Consular officers have denial rates upwards of 50 percent for students from African countries.
Our visa-granting process is rooted in the politics — racial and otherwise — of the distant past; the future of legal immigration must better reflect our present.
#immigrationreform
