Berardi Blog

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Catholic Charities of Buffalo planned to welcome 19 refugees to Buffalo this week, but instead those refugees are temporarily banned from entering the United States for the next four months. An executive order signed Jan. 27 by President Trump suspends the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program for 120 days and halts admissions of citizens from seven […]

The Canadian federal government has cleared up confusion surrounding a U.S. travel ban on citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries by announcing that Canadian citizens and permanent residents with roots in those countries can still cross the U.S. border. Canadian Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen stated on Sunday, Jan. 29, that the White House has given […]

BUFFALO, N.Y. — It’s been a busy weekend for immigration attorneys, who constantly fielded calls related to President Trump’s executive order that calls for a temporary immigrant and refugee ban from seven countries. “Some of our clients are corporations that have offices throughout the world and they transfer people from various countries into the U.S. […]

On Friday, January 27, President Trump signed an Executive Order halting visa issuance to refugees for 120 days (and for Syrians indefinitely), and stopping immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries for 90 days. These countries include: Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.   Trump’s order took effect immediately, leaving many foreign nationals and green […]

On January 27, 2017, President Trump signed an Executive Order relating to visa issuance, screening procedures, and refugees. The Executive Order is titled “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States.” Key points of the order provide for: • A 120-day suspension of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. • An indefinite ban […]

Are you preparing for the naturalization test? If you have an upcoming naturalization interview, be sure that you know the answers to the most current history and government questions. Periodically, answers change to reflect the results of federal and state elections and appointments or to clarify content and ensure consistency in terminology. The revised answers […]

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 […]

On January 17, 2017, the Department of Homeland Security published a 211-page final rule to improve the ability of certain promising start-up founders to begin growing their companies within the United States and to help improve our nation’s economy through increased capital spending, innovation and job creation. The rule will go into effect on July […]

Last month, President-elect Donald Trump met with chief executives from several large tech companies to discuss the possibilities for reforming the distribution of H-1B visas. Trump’s transition team has been actively considering ways to revamp the temporary visa program used to bring foreign workers to the United States to fill high-skilled jobs, which is used […]