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Berardi Blog

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

  • National Interest Waivers

    What is it? Normally, a permanent job offer and an approved labor certification are pre-requisites to file an EB-2 petition. However, a National Interest Waiver (NIW) petition requests that the otherwise required U.S. job offer requirement, and thus the labor certification requirement, be waived for the sake of the national interest of the United States. […]
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  • Suspension of Premium Processing for H-1B Visas FAQ

    On March 3, 2017, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that beginning on April 3, 2017 it will suspend premium processing on all H-1B Petitions for up to six months. What is Premium Processing Service? USCIS currently offers a Premium Processing Service that allows payment of a fee to get a guaranteed faster processing […]
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  • EAD Automatic Extensions

    In November of 2016, the Department of Homeland Security released a final rule seeking to improve certain aspects of the employment-based immigration system. This rule went into effect on January 17, 2017. A portion of that rule introduces some relief and changes to the ways Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) are being adjudicated. Previously, the regulations […]
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  • Immigration Tips for Canadian Snowbirds in the U.S.

    With spring finally here and the weather beginning to warm up, hundreds of thousands of Canadians, aged 55 and up, will begin their return trip home for the summer from the warm sandy beaches of the U.S. southern coast. It is estimated that in the Sunshine State of Florida alone there are about 500,000 snowbirds […]
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  • Client Testimonial from Shahzeb Butt, Senior Financial Analyst for Livingston International

    Berardi Immigration Law began working with Mr. Shahzeb Butt to secure employment status for him in the United States in April of 2014. Mr. Butt had been employed with Livingston International Canada in the role of Senior Financial Analyst since 2011, giving him more than three years of qualifying managerial employment. At that time, our […]
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  • Federal Court Blocks Key Components in Second Executive Order

    On Wednesday, March 15, a federal judge in Hawaii temporarily blocked implementation and enforcement of the “travel ban” and “refugee ban” prescribed by President Trump’s second Executive Order. Last week, the State of Hawaii and Ismail Elshikh, Ph.D. of Hawaii sought a nationwide temporary restraining order against these portions of the amended Executive Order by […]
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  • Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the Suspension of Premium Processing for H-1B Visas

    On March 3, 2017, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced that beginning on April 3, 2017, it will suspend premium processing on all H-1B Petitions for up to six months. What is Premium Processing Service? USCIS currently offers a Premium Processing Service that allows payment of a fee to get a guaranteed faster processing […]
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  • H-4 EAD Holders May Wish to Apply for H-1B Status

    Since May 26, 2015, certain H-4 dependent spouses of H-1B visa holders have been eligible for employment authorization. H-4 dependent spouses have been eligible to apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD card) if the primary H-1B visa holder is the beneficiary of an approved Form I-140 or has been granted an extension beyond the […]
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  • USCIS Will Temporarily Suspend Premium Processing for all H-1B Petitions

    Beginning April, 3, 2017, USCIS will temporarily suspend premium processing for all H-1B petitions. This suspension may last up to six months. While H-1B premium processing is suspended, petitioners will not be able to file Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service for Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker. USCIS will notify the public […]
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  • President Trumps Signs New Immigration Executive Order

    President Trump rolled out the second version of the initial immigration executive order earlier today. The order temporarily suspends immigration into the United States for 90-days from now only six countries, including Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Syria and Libya. Iraq was previously listed among these nations but was removed from the list after assurances were […]
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  • Trump Proposes Merit-based Immigration System During Address to Congress

    On Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017, President Donald Trump spoke during a joint session of Congress in Washington, D.C. During the speech, Trump used a portion to address immigration issues. He repeated his calls for a border wall, warnings about criminals crossing the border, and shared emotional stories of Americans killed by illegal immigrants. But he […]
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  • USCIS Report on the Characteristics of H-1B Workers for Fiscal Year 2015

    On March 17, 2016, USCIS presented a report titled, “Characteristics of H-1B Specialty Occupation Workers” for fiscal year 2015. Fiscal year 2015 ran from Oct. 1, 2014 through Sept. 30, 2015. The report was originally provided to four members of Congress, including The Honorable Charles Grassley, The Honorable Patrick J. Leahy, The Honorable Robert W. […]
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  • The New Executive Order on Immigration is Expected From President Trump at Any Time Now

    The Trump administration is expected to roll out a revised executive order on immigration at any time now. President Trump says the new order will protect our people while at the same time surpassing the courts that halted an earlier version. The new order is expected to clarify one major point that was unclear with […]
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  • A Detailed Guide: What to Expect at Your Green Card Medical Exam

    In order to apply for a U.S. green card (lawful permanent resident status), you must undergo a medical examination. The purpose behind the examination is to ensure that you are not inadmissible to the United States on public health grounds. However, you cannot simply undergo a medical examination with your regular doctor. Instead, a civil […]
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  • USCIS to Welcome More Than 25,000 New U.S. Citizens During Presidents’ Day Naturalization Ceremonies

    This year, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will celebrate Presidents’ Day by welcoming more than 25,000 new U.S. citizens during 162 naturalization ceremonies across the country from Feb. 14 through Feb. 22. USCIS Acting Director Lori Scialabba said, “It fills me with pride to know that 25,000 immigrants will take the Oath of […]
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  • Trump's ban becomes an H-1B fight

    It’s not the number of H-1B visa holders from banned countries that is driving this challenge The U.S. technology industry warned President Donald Trump that his immigration order will hurt the U.S. economy by making it more difficult for businesses to attract overseas workers. The administration’s seven-country ban is, for the tech industry, a blinking […]
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  • Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Donald Trump Discuss U.S.-Canada Trade

    Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with President Donald Trump for the first time on Monday, Feb. 13. The meeting aimed to bridge the gap in style and strategy between the two leaders, as well as continue to foster a warm relationship between Canada and the United States. At the top of the Prime Minister’s […]
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  • Federal Judge temporarily blocked enforcement of Trump’s travel ban, and DOS reverses visa revocations, allowing previously banned travelers to enter the U.S.

    A federal judge in Seattle temporarily blocked enforcement of President Trump’s Executive Order limiting travel of certain foreign nationals to the U.S. The ruling was issued late Friday night, one week after Trump’s Executive Order was put into place. Remind me again — what did the Executive Order state? Trump’s Executive Order suspends admission of […]
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  • Draft Executive Order Discusses Potential Changes to the H-1B Program and Other Employment-Based Visa Categories

    Following President Trump’s controversial Executive Order banning refugees and travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries, another unsigned, draft Executive Order has been circulating through the public, further unsettling U.S. employers who rely on foreign national employees. The draft proposal titled “Executive Order on Protecting American Jobs and Workers by Strengthening the Integrity of Foreign Worker […]
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  • Trump travel ban is ‘scary’ for Hollywood, which relies on a global talent pool

    Los Angeles producer Rossi Cannon relies heavily on foreign directors and cinematographers to make commercials for brands such as Nike. Cannon, 48, never thought that her access to the global talent pool might be limited.Now she’s not so sure. The election of President Trump, she says, has increased anxiety in the entertainment industry about how […]
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