Author: Jeff MacArthur

Before many foreign workers can apply for an employment-based Green Card through U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) or a consular post, his or her employer must first receive a PERM Labor Certification from the U.S. Department of Labor (U.S. DOL). PERM certification verifies to USCIS that there are no available U.S. workers for a […]

Last week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) launched a free Border Wait Time app that makes it easier for travelers to plan their trip across the border. Among its features, the app provides estimated wait times and open lane statuses at land ports of entry. This allows travelers to make better-informed decisions of the […]

On Dec. 17, 2014, President Barack Obama made a surprise announcement ordering the restoration of full diplomatic relations with Cuba. This historic deal ends a 54-year stalemate between the neighboring countries separated by a mere 90 miles of ocean. The President has provided a new approach in the hope of promoting more effective change that […]

Many applications filed with USCIS require that a comprehensive record check be conducted on the individual applicant prior to adjudication and/or interview. USCIS accomplishes this by capturing an applicant’s biometrics via electronic fingerprinting, which is then followed by a criminal and immigration records search. For many people, the prospect of being fingerprinted can be stressful. However, for […]

Lawful permanent residents and conditional residents (green card holders) are required to physically reside in the United States, except for brief trips abroad. However, some lawful permanent residents may have continuing needs (such as family, employment or business) to reside abroad and enter the U.S. infrequently. In such a circumstance, the lawful permanent resident needs […]

If you are a foreign investor with plans to invest in a U.S. business, the E-2 visa category may be an ideal nonimmigrant visa option for you. With the E-2 visa, entrepreneurs, investors, business owners and their employees can move to the U.S. to develop and direct the operations of a business. Berardi Immigration Law […]

With the fall semester coming to a close for college students, many will begin packing up and heading home to spend the holidays with their loved ones. But what about foreign nationals here in the U.S. on a student visa, who may not want to travel back to their home country for the break? Some […]

In response to this year’s Ebola outbreak, Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson has announced his decision to designate Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for the next 18 months. This status prevents nationals of these countries currently residing in the U.S. from being removed during this period or from being […]

Form I-797, Notice of Action is issued as a result of an application or petition submitted to USCIS. It’s important to note that it is not a form to be filled out. USCIS uses seven different types of Form I-797, including six lettered varieties from A through F, to communicate with customers or convey an […]

As part of President Obama’s Executive Orders on Immigration, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson has released a policy memorandum to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The memorandum is broken into five policies aimed to support U.S. high-skilled businesses and workers. The new policies outlined in the memorandum will be good for both U.S. businesses and […]