Bringing decades of immigration experience to the team, we are proud to have Samuel J. Tiranno as our NAFTA Paralegal at Berardi Immigration Law. Sam joined the firm about five years ago after an exceptional career in the Immigration Service. After serving as an Immigration Inspector at the Peace Bridge, Sam is now on the other side of things, assisting clients applying for work authorization under the Free Trade Agreement.
Sam began his immigration career in 1973, working in the Buffalo District Office of the legacy Immigration Naturalization Service (“INS”). He was appointed as an Immigration Inspector in 1975 and worked “on the front line” at the Peace Bridge until the U.S. and Canada entered into the North American Free Trade Agreement (“NAFTA”) in 1989. Sam was promptly promoted to Free Trade Officer, one of the first to hold the position, and sent to Washington, DC and St. Albans, VT for extensive training in the new agreement.
Sam returned to Buffalo a recognized expert Free Trade Officer and inspected on average 75-80 applicants per week for TN status and 35 – 50 applicants per week for L-1 status at the Peace Bridge. Sam’s assistance and facilitation of these applicants consistently showed his personable and diligent approach to making the application process as smooth as possible.
Sam brings three decades of government experience and his unique insider’s perspective to Berardi Immigration Law. “I still witness the same types of conflicts between attorneys and officers,” he said, and “I’m in the unique position of being able to anticipate some of those conflicts and resolve them quickly.” Sam works exclusively on the analysis and preparation of NAFTA category employment-based visa cases and is available to accompany clients to the Peace Bridge for the presentation of their cases to the government.
When he’s not seen back at the Peace Bridge, expertly representing the interests of Berardi Law clients, Sam enjoys pursuing personal interests like golfing, yoga, and regular exercise. Sam enjoys reading, films, and spending time at the beach and is often traveling to New York City and Massachusetts to visit his children and grandchildren.
If you are interested in applying for a NAFTA employment visa, please contact our office to schedule a consultation with one of our attorney’s today!
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