Category: News

Last week, USCIS announced that military personnel and veterans can now file Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, online. Online filing will allow individuals to submit the forms, check the status of their case, and receive notices from USCIS all electronically.  Individuals currently serving or who have served in the armed forces may also be eligible […]

The J-1 visa offers researchers, scholars, professors, medical trainees, and others the opportunity to come to the United States to participate in a sponsored program. However, the amount of time the visa holder can remain in the country is not unlimited. Exchange visitors under the J-1 program are required to return to their home country […]

USCIS announced on May 1, 2020, that due to COVID-19, it will be extending the flexibilities previously announced on March 30 to assist applicants and petitioners who need to respond to agency requests. These requests include: Requests for Evidence; Continuations to Request Evidence (N-14); Notices of Intent to Deny; Notices of Intent to Revoke; Notices of […]

USCIS announced last Friday that it is presently readying offices to reopen on or after June 4, 2020. USCIS temporarily suspended all in-person services at its field offices, asylum offices, and application support centers beginning March 18, to help slow the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Employees in these offices are continuing to perform mission-essential […]

On April 22, 2020, the U.S. and Canadian governments agreed to extend cross-border travel restrictions to non-essential travel for an additional 30 days, beginning April 21, 2020.  “Essential travel” allowable at U.S. land ports of entry, includes the following: U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents returning to the United States;  Individuals traveling for medical purposes […]

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting national emergency, several states have closed or restricted services at DMV offices, precluding millions of people from applying for a REAL ID. As such, the Department of Homeland Security announced that the deadline for the enforcement of the REAL ID Act would be extended by one […]

In this post, Berardi Immigration Law attorney Zach Ahlstrom talks about the public charge rule changes that went into effect on February 24, 2020. Please note that this blog posts covers the same content as the video below. The U.S. immigration system is grounded in the concept of self-sufficiency. It has long been understood that […]

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. State Department has significantly reduced operations at Regional Passport Agencies and Acceptance Facilities. Effective as of April 10, 2020, Regional Passport Agencies will only accept expedited passport applications from applicants who have a qualified life or death emergency requiring international travel within 72 hours. Applicants will be […]

On April 13, 2020, USCIS released guidance on what to do if a foreign national cannot depart the United States before their nonimmigrant status expires due to COVID-19. Typically, a nonimmigrant must depart the United States before their authorized period of admission expires. However, USCIS recognized that nonimmigrants may unexpectedly need to remain in the […]

COVID-19 is having a vast impact on immigration operations across all government agencies. To help navigate these challenges, Berardi Immigration Law is providing a summary with the most recent updates from US Citizenship and Immigration Services, Customs and Border Protection, the Department of State, and the Department of Labor.  Updates from USCIS  Premium processing suspended […]