Category: News

Canada opened its borders recently to U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents and Berardi Immigration Law made the trip from Buffalo, New York, to Ft. Erie, Ontario, via the Peace Bridge. You need three things to travel to Canada (check out this video for more details about crossing the border): you must be vaccinated, you must […]

The H-2B program allow a U.S. employer or agent to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary nonagricultural jobs. This classification requires a temporary labor certification issued by the Secretary of Labor. Currently, Congress has set the H-2B cap at 66,000 per fiscal year, with 33,000 for workers who begin employment in the first […]

The H-1B program allows U.S. employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in a “specialty occupation”, which is defined as a position that requires the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and a bachelor’s degree or higher in the specific specialty. Each year, Congress caps the number of H-1B visas for […]

There’s a lot of confusion at the border lately. Luckily, there is one bright spot. Berardi Immigration Law Associate Attorney Gabriella Agostinelli has the details in this Crossing the Border update. Do you need a waiver to apply for TN or L-1 status? In 2020, the U.S. government started to process waiver applications using e-SAFE. […]

Are you applying for status at the U.S.-Canada border? Immigration attorney Gabriella Agostinelli has some vital information you need to know before you head to the border crossing to apply for status. Remember, if you have any questions about applying for status at a U.S. port of entry, contact Berardi Immigration Law today. We’d be […]

Historically, USCIS has only approved applications requesting a change to F-1 status if it falls within 30 days of the program start date listed on the applicant’s Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status (Form I20). As such, USCIS has required nonimmigrants who are applying for a COS to continuously apply for and obtain nonimmigrant […]

On June 7, 2021, the Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling and stated that certain individuals who have Temporary Protected Status (TPS) may not qualify for Lawful Permanent Residence (LPR). In Sanchez v. Mayorkas, the Court concluded that individuals who entered the US illegally and subsequently gained legal status through the TPS program are not […]

On July 2, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released the “Interagency Strategy for Promoting Naturalization”. This strategy was developed in response to President Biden’s Executive Order No. 14012, which required government agencies to work together to improve and promote naturalization in the United States. The purpose of this new strategy is to remove […]

On July 6th 2021, the Department of State released guidance confirming that, “existing National Interest Exceptions (NIE) will be valid for 12 months from the date of approval and for multiple entries, as long as they are used for the purpose under which they were granted.” The 12-month extension applies retroactively to all existing NIEs […]

This week, the Canadian government announced the first step towards re-opening its international borders. Through a positive lens this is the first steps towards easing the restrictions that have been in place since March 2020. Through a more pointed lens, no plan or targets were announced which has led to outcries of frustration on both sides of […]