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Berardi Blog

The Berardi Immigration Law blog – find all our posts here.

  • Featured Client of the Month: Peter Hapak

    Peter Hapak is a long-standing client of Berardi Immigration Law. Peter’s relationship with Berardi Immigration Law began when he decided it was time to settle permanently in the United States due to many of the opportunities available here. He decided to apply to become a Legal Permanent Resident of the United States after spending years […]
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  • DHS Posts Final Rule Announcing Important Changes to the H-1B Visa Program

    Today, the Department of Homeland Security posted a final rule amending regulations governing H-1B cap-subject petitions, including those that may be eligible for the advanced degree exemption. As a reminder, cap-subject petitions are filed on April 1 of each year for individuals who are applying for H-1B status for the first time. To read more about the general […]
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  • Breaking News: Premium Processing Now Available for Fiscal Year 2019 H-1B Cap Cases

    After months of suspension, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will resume premium processing for fiscal year 2019 H-1B petitions as of January 28, 2019. This includes the advanced degree exemption cases, often referred to as the “master’s cap.” In 2018, USCIS announced that H-1B premium processing would be suspended until February 2019 to reduce […]
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  • Schedule A Nurses and Physical Therapists: A Fast Track to an Employment-based Green Card

    Foreign nationals looking to obtain a green card to immigrate to the U.S. who work as either nurses or physical therapists may qualify for a special form of expedited processing. As a result of significant shortages of U.S. workers, the Department of Labor (DOL) established nurses and physical therapists as Schedule A shortage occupations. Schedule […]
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  • Government Shutdown’s Continued Impact on Immigration

    The government shutdown that began in December 2018 has become the longest U.S. government shutdown in history and is having some major impacts on immigration processing. Customs and Border Protection officers are considered essential staff due to the important role they play in national security at the U.S. border and ports of entry. This ultimately […]
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  • GEICO Power Lunch Series

    On January 15, 2019, Rosanna Berardi was the very first speaker in the West Seneca Chamber of Commerce’s new GEICO Power Lunch Series. Rosanna spoke to a full house at the West Seneca Community Center & Library, where she discussed hot topics in immigration such as the government shutdown and Canada’s new DWI laws.
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  • New USCIS Tool Makes Calculating Fees Easier

    Completing forms for U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Services (USCIS) is difficult enough, but navigating USCIS’s various webpages to make sure you submit the appropriate fees adds another step to this already complicated process. To help streamline the application process and make sure the appropriate fees are submitted, USCIS recently created an online tool that correctly […]
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  • TN Options for Healthcare Industries

    There are various visa and employment authorization options available for healthcare professionals wishing to gain employment in the United States. The TN nonimmigrant classification provides a convenient option for Canadian and Mexican healthcare professionals. Under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the United States, Canada and Mexico share special economic and trade relationships. TN […]
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  • Certain Conditional Permanent Residents Eligible for Interview Waiver

    U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently provided updated guidance for officers regarding waiving the interview requirement for a Petition to Remove Conditions of Residence. Conditional permanent residency is granted to qualifying foreign nationals who have been married to their qualifying spouse for less than two years. After a period of two years, a conditional […]
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  • Zach Ahlstrom Joins Berardi Immigration Law as Associate Attorney

    Congratulations to Zach Ahlstrom who was officially sworn in as a licensed New York State attorney yesterday and is now an Associate Attorney with Berardi Immigration Law!  Zach started with Berardi Immigration Law as a law clerk during his second year of law school in March 2017. He passed the bar exam in October 2018. […]
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  • What is VisaScreen and Do You Need It to Get Your Visa?

    If you’re a healthcare professional looking to work in the U.S., you should be sure to familiarize yourself with VisaScreen. VisaScreen: Visa Credentials Assessment Service is a comprehensive screening service for healthcare professionals.  Section 343 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) of 1996 requires specific health care professionals to complete a […]
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  • Civics Test Update: Don’t Let the Civics Test Stop You From Becoming a U.S. Citizen

    If you are a foreign national seeking to become an American citizen, the naturalization process can be a mixture of stress and excitement. One of the last steps to complete before naturalizing to a citizen is the civics test. Passing the civics test is required to become a citizen. A U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services […]
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  • E-Verify Expiration: What Employers and Employees Using the System Should Know

    Many employers are familiar with the E-Verify system, which allows employers to check the employment eligibility for all of their employees. This system compares information completed on an employee’s Form I-9 with records from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA). E-Verify is administered by DHS, which is one of […]
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  • Meet Rosanna!

    Rosanna Berardi is the Managing Partner of Berardi Immigration Law, an award-winning law firm located just minutes from one of the busiest ports-of-entry on the U.S./Canadian border. A former INS inspector turned immigration attorney, Rosanna has witnessed the complexities of the U.S. immigration system from all sides. She has first-hand experience working with the government […]
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  • New Bill Could Make E-3 Visas Available to Irish Nationals

    Irish nationals interested in relocating and working in the United States might just be in luck. A bill providing Irish nationals with several thousand additional work visas annually is scheduled for a vote in the Senate. Outgoing House Speaker Paul Ryan holds ancestral and political ties to Ireland and is responsible for pushing this bill. […]
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  • U.S. Government Shutdown’s Impact on Immigration Services

    With the government experiencing a shutdown due to the lapse in annual funding, many are concerned about the consequences in the realm of immigration. Fortunately, the majority of immigration matters are largely unaffected by the current situation. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) offices will remain open despite the shutdown. Individuals should attend scheduled appointments […]
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  • Is Your Application for the Advance Parole Travel Document in Jeopardy? USCIS Issues New Guidance

    If you are a foreign national present in the U.S. and wish to travel outside of the U.S., you may come across a situation when you need to complete an Application for an Advance Parole Travel Document. Anyone who is applying for or who has already applied for this document should take note of a […]
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  • New Canadian Law Will Make Travel to Canada with a Past DUI More Difficult

    Following the legalization of recreational marijuana in Canada, the Canadian government is cracking down on driving violations that occur while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. New legislation is scheduled to take effect on December 18, 2018 and will have a major impact on visitors to Canada.  Under current law, non-Canadians who have ever […]
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  • Recent Changes to the LCA for H-1B Cases

    Employers should take note of several changes the Department of Labor (DOL) has made to the labor condition application (LCA) that is currently in effect. Recent changes primarily effect employers who place H-1B dependent foreign national employees at offsite locations.   Employers are mandated to have an approved LCA from the Department of Labor if […]
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  • Proposed Rule Change to H-2B Program Could Restructure Recruitment Requirements

    Following recent trends with other visa categories, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced a notice of proposed rulemaking that would seek to modernize the recruitment requirements for employers seeking to hire foreign nationals on an H-2B visa. The goal of this proposed rule is to make it easier for U.S. workers to find and fill […]
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