How Christine Helps Clients
Christine J. Alden provides customized immigration solutions for a global clientele. As a naturalized citizen herself, she recognizes the importance of U.S. citizenship and the opportunities and security it brings. She is also able to identify with each and every one of her clients, no matter the situation or walk of life.
Christine serves individual clients, especially unique and complex cases, as well as business and corporate clients across a variety of industries – in the U.S. and abroad. Christine is in her 28th year of practicing immigration law. She has helped countless individuals successfully immigrate to the U.S. including foreign nationals and entrepreneurs investing in the U.S. and creating jobs. She has also helped meet the business needs of American companies in securing visas to bring their skilled workers, multinational executives and managers to add to their workforce and contribute to the U.S. economy. Additionally, she has helped individuals who qualify to self-sponsor in the extraordinary ability and national interest waiver categories obtain permanent residence. She has also been honored to help reunite families and loved ones, creating a positive impact on their lives and helping strengthen their communities.
Her entire career has been focused solely on immigration. She is a Past President of the South Florida Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and has served on the AILA South Florida Board in various Officer and Director roles from 2013 to 2021. AILA South Florida, an association of over 1000 immigration lawyers, has members that cover a large area, from Vero Beach to Key West and across the State of Florida to the West Coast and Naples. Counties covered include Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Monroe, Collier, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, Okeechobee, Highlands and Glades.
Christine remains active in AILA South Florida as Chair of the Congressional Advocacy Committee, charged with developing relationships with Congressional Representatives on both sides of the aisle, being seen as a trusted resource and advocating for common sense immigration reform. She is also a member of the AILA South Florida Customs and Border Protection Liaison Committee. Further, she has been appointed by the national organization, AILA, to three national committees. She is the Chair of AILA’s Distance Learning Committee, Business Webinars for the 2024-25 term. She also serves nationally on AILA’s Customs and Border Protection Liaison Committee and AILA’s Standing Committee on Political Engagement. She has previously served on AILA National’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee for two years and led their subcommittee on Chapter Communications.
In 2020 and 2024, Christine received an AILA Presidential Commendation, an award given by the AILA National President for exemplary service to the President and AILA. Additionally, while under Christine’s leadership, AILA South Florida was awarded the Platinum Chapter Award by AILA National, the highest level award given to AILA chapters for dedication, outstanding efforts and achievements throughout the year. Further, with the AILA South Florida Chapter, she received the Chapter Service Award in 2019 for her innovative leadership of the AILA South Florida Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.
While President of AILA South Florida, Christine oversaw one of the largest and most active chapters of AILA in the country. She oversaw all operations of the chapter including all Board meetings, approximately 30 committees including Liaison with different Government agencies, Congressional advocacy, Education and the annual Immigration Law Update which is one of the largest immigration conferences in the country. This CLE was a two-day, dual-track CLE held in February 2020 and attended by 450 attorneys and sponsors.
Within AILA South Florida, she has been the Chair of Budget for the association and also was the Chair of the AILA South Florida 40th Annual Immigration Law Update (2019). She is the former Coordinator of National Day of Action, which consists of organizing lobbying efforts to implement common sense immigration reform, former Vice Chair of the Customs and Border Protection Liaison Committee, and former Vice Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
Christine is also a Past President and Chairwoman of the British American Business Council of Miami (BABC) where she remains a Board Member. Since 2022, Christine was recognized as a leading Immigration attorney in Florida by Chambers USA. In 2024 and 2025, she was selected for inclusion on The Best Lawyers in America list in the category of Immigration Law and she was recognized by Who's Who Legal in the category of Corporate Immigration.
Christine received Buchanan’s 2024 Annual Pro Bono Award, which is the firm’s highest pro bono honor, recognizing and rewarding the important pro bono work done by the firm's attorneys. She serves on the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Council, and she is the Co-Chair of the firm’s Women’s Affinity Group, N.O.W., Network of Women.
What Clients Can Expect
When it comes to immigration, Christine understands that a one-size-fits-all approach won’t work. She provides a customized approach, examining all options and diving into every detail, all while maintaining a realistic outlook on the potential outcomes for her clients. She is a great listener and will always work to provide clients with short-term and long-term goals based on their individual situations.
Immigration law is a calling. I feel privileged to experience all that comes with each day and making a difference in the lives of the clients we represent. To have the opportunity to reach and positively affect so many lives while being so content has allowed me to lead a very fulfilling life.
Outside the Office
Christine was born in England to a British father and Jamaican mother and has resided and been schooled in the U.K., U.S. and Jamaica. She has a huge extended family with over 30 first cousins. She is the first attorney in the family.
She is a proud member of Sigma Kappa Sorority. Her passions include cheering on the Florida Gators, practicing yoga, and traveling to hard-to-reach but worthwhile destinations.
Note: Practice in Florida is limited to immigration matters
Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law, J.D., 1996, Writer and Research Editor, Law Review, Thurgood Marshall School of Law (1993-1996)
Institute on International and Comparative Law, Magdalen College, 1994
University of Florida, B.S., 1993, Finance
- Texas
American Immigration Lawyers Association, South Florida Chapter– President 2019 to 2020 term, Various Officer and Board positions 2013 to 2021, Chair of the Congressional Advocacy Committee, Customs and Border Protection Liaison Committee
American Immigration Lawyers Association (National) – Chair of 2024-2025 Distance Learning Committee, Business Webinars; Member of 2024-2025 Standing Committee on Political Engagement (SCOPE); Member of 2024-2025 Customs and Border Protection Committee; Member of 2023-2024 Distance Learning Committee Business Subcommittee; Member of 2023 Annual Conference Committee, Special Sessions and Events; Track Member and 2022-2023 Distance Learning Committee Business Subcommittee
Previous American Immigration Lawyers Association (National) Member of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee, Chair of the Sub-Committee on Chapter Communications (2020 to 2022)
Previous AILA South Florida Chapter positions: President, 2019-2020; Vice Chair of Budget Committee 2022-2023, Member of Budget Committee, 2020-2021 and Member of Diversity and Inclusion Committee 2020-2021; Chair of Budget Committee, 2018-2019; President-elect, 2018-2019; Chair of AILA South Florida Annual Conference, 2018-2019; Vice President, 2017-2018; Vice-Chair, Customs and Border Protection Liaison, 2017-2018; Vice- Chair, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, 2017-2018; National Day of Action Coordinator, 2017-2018; Chapter Secretary 2016-2017; Board Member at Large, 2013–2016 and 2021 as Immediate Past President; Co-Chair, Congressional Liaison Committee, 2016-2017; Co-Chair, UPL Liaison Committee, 2014-2016; Co-Chair, Practice Management Committee, 2015-2016; Co-Chair, Office of the Chief Counsel Liaison Committee, 2013-2014; Practice Management Committee, 2014-2015; UPL Liaison Committee, 2013-2014; CBP Miami Liaison Committee, 2013-2014; USCIS Miami Liaison Committee, 2012-2013 and 2007–2008
American Immigration Lawyers Association, member of chapters: South Florida, Latin America and Caribbean, Asia Pacific, Rome
British American Business Council of Miami (BABC) – Board Member
Previous BABC Miami Positions - Chairwoman, 2019-2021; President, 2017-2019; Vice President 2015-2017; Director, January 2015-January 2017
Business Networking International, Circle of Trust Chapter; Previously held positions: President, Vice President, Mentorship Coordinator, Ethics and Challenges Coordinator and Visitor Host Coordinator
Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, China Delegation, 2016 Delegate, America’s Linkage Business Development Mission to Hong Kong and China