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Berardi Blog

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

  • Important Passport Safety Tips for Travelers

    With summer now in full swing, many families will begin packing their bags to embark on summer vacation. Some of the top destinations this season include Rome, Paris, London and Greece. Of course, in order to travel abroad one must have a valid passport. Unfortunately, vacations can often have unforeseen complications. Here are some helpful […]
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  • USCIS Celebrates Independence Day by Inducting 9,000 New Citizens

    On July 4, 1776, the United States adopted the Declaration of Independence, declaring our country’s freedom from the rule of Great Britain. Americans now celebrate this historic event — Independence Day — each year on the Fourth of July with a barrage of fireworks, parades, cookouts, carnivals and everything in between. This year, USCIS will […]
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  • What the World Cup is Teaching Us About Citizenship

    Soccer is the sport played most consistently around the world. It’s not sectioned off or dominated by one particular country. According to FIFA’s most recent survey, there are 265 million players actively involved in soccer around the world, or roughly 4 percent of the world’s population. The FIFA World Cup is the world’s most widely […]
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  • Notice to U.S. Visa Applicants in Paris, France: Expect Delays

    The U.S. Embassy in Paris will transition to a new visa appointment system on July 31, impacting visa applicants. As with any significant change to a bureaucratic system, Embassy France cautions that, “The transition to the new visa appointment system may cause some temporary delays. The U.S. Embassy strongly encourages all visa applicants who intend to travel […]
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  • What is the SB-1 Visa (aka Returning Resident Visa)?

    Permanent residents who have remained outside of the United States for more than one calendar year and did not obtain a re-entry permit (https://berardiimmigrationlaw.com/immigration-blog/protect-your-green-card-status) prior to their trip abroad may be deemed to have abandoned their permanent resident status. However, permanent residents who were unable to return to the U.S. for reasons beyond their control […]
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  • L-1 Visa Holders Can Request L-2 Status for Spouses and Dependents

    Berardi Immigration Law processes a lot of intercompany transfers or L-1 visa applications. The L-1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa which allows companies operating both in the U.S. and abroad to transfer employees from the foreign operation to the U.S.  You can learn more about L-1 visas on our blog post at https://berardiimmigrationlaw.com/services/work-in-the-united-states/l-1-nonimmigrant-visa-intracompany-transferees. L-1 visa […]
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  • Glossary of Immigration Terms May Help You Better Understand the Process

    As with any complicated topic, immigration practitioners tend to speak in a short-hand that is understood by other practitioners, but sometimes leaves our clients feeling a little confused.  If you are consulting with an immigration practitioner and feel like you are not fully understanding what they are saying, you should never feel uncomfortable asking them […]
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  • Secretary of Homeland Security Announces Process for DACA Renewal

    The U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, Jeh Johnson, recently announced that there will be a process for individuals to renew enrollment in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. USCIS has released the updated Form I-821D, which allows DACA recipients to renew their deferral for a two-year period. At the direction of the secretary, […]
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  • Bringing Pets Into the United States Requires Careful Planning

    Relocating to the United States requires a lot of time and attention to detail. Obtaining visas, work permits, securing housing and transportation — in addition to packing and making travel arrangements — can be overwhelming. While many people understand that four-legged friends are often considered to be members of the family, bringing family pets to […]
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  • Traveling Abroad Before Your Advance Parole Document is Issued May Cause Serious Problems

    If you have a pending Adjustment of Status (Form I-485), your lawyer has likely cautioned you (repeatedly) that traveling abroad before your Advance Parole document is issued may result in the denial of your I-485. These cautions should be taken seriously and any traveling during Adjustment of Status should be carefully considered prior to leaving the […]
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  • Peace Bridge Construction Project Approved

    A construction proposal that would dramatically reshape the Peace Bridge was approved by the federal government this past week. The project’s main focus will be to improve the way vehicles get on and off the Peace Bridge. The project will cost an estimated $35 million with the creation of new entrance and exit ramps, and […]
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  • Nonimmigrant Visa Appointments in Canada Restricted in Summer 2014

    Summer is a busy time of year for everyone, including the United States government. In order to keep up with nonimmigrant visa demands, visa appointments have been significantly restricted for Third Country Nationals (TCNs) in Canada. In this context, “TCN” refers to any non-Canadian citizen or legal resident applying for a U.S. nonimmigrant visa at […]
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  • Enhanced Border Security Plans Include New Biometric Technologies

    In May of 2013, CBP created a new office, within the existing Office of Field Operations, called the Entry/Exit Transformation (EXT) Office. The Entry/Exit Transformation team’s mission is to enhance the integrity of the immigration system through assurance of traveler identity. The ultimate goal is to verify who is arriving in the U.S., determine who is abiding […]
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  • USCIS Changes Policy on Validity of Medical Form I-693

    United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a memo on May 30, 2014, issuing a new policy on the validity of Form I-693, the report of medical examination and vaccination record. The new policy states that Form I-693 will now only be valid for one year from the date the form was submitted to […]
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  • Having an Immigration Lawyer Handle Your Case is a Good Idea

    At Berardi Immigration Law, our phone rings a lot with callers wanting to “ask a simple question.” Unfortunately, when it comes to immigration law, very little is “simple.” There are many reasons for hiring an immigration attorney to handle your case. Aside from saving you time with research and form filing, lawyers can provide you […]
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  • Some Visitors to the U.S. may be Visa Exempt

    When non-U.S. citizens decide to come to the United States, whether to visit, work or stay, many may not know where to begin the process. A good place to start is to determine if it is necessary to obtain a U.S. Visa. A visa is a travel document inserted into a foreign national’s passport giving […]
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  • Proposed Rule Changes for Work Authorization and H4 Dependents

    Last week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in conjunction with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced proposed changes to regulations regarding the ability for certain H-4 dependents to obtain work authorization. Under current regulations, the DHS does not list H-4 dependents of H-1B nonimmigrant workers among the visa classes eligible to work […]
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  • TN Visas and L Visas at Northern Border are Subject of AILA/CBP Meeting

    The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) met earlier this year to talk about adjudicating nonimmigrant business category visas at the northern border. Decisions and future plans from this meeting potentially impact how officers handle L visa and TN visa requests along the U.S./Canadian border. Some highlights of that meeting […]
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  • Memorial Day Weekend Border Crossing Tips

    With Memorial Day weekend as the official opening for local theme parks and beaches, it’s no surprise this marks the beginning of the summer season for many. This, of course, means thousands of people will be flocking across the U.S./Canada border to celebrate. If you’re looking to cross the border this busy weekend, here are […]
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  • Does Your Nonimmigrant Status Require an Employment Authorization Document?

    U.S. employers must check to make sure all employees, regardless of citizenship or national origin, are authorized to work in the United States. If you are not a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident, you may still be eligible for employment authorization. Many individuals will automatically have authorization to work in the U.S. as a […]
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