Berardi Blog

Our Associate Attorney, Jennifer Early, met with two clients at the Peace Bridge yesterday to present their applications for U.S. work permits to Customs & Border Protection.  Both were quickly approved without issue.  Our immigration lawyers are at the U.S./Canadian border multiple times per week presenting TN and L-1A Visa applications. Our first client applied […]

On Tuesday, May 21, 2013 the Senate Judiciary Committee approved the bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform bill.  The 13-5 vote by the Judiciary panel now sends the measure to the Senate floor for consideration.  If this plan is ultimately approved it would be the first overhaul on the nation’s immigration policy since 1986. The reform as […]

Living so close to one of the busiest U.S.-Canadian land borders, our practice sees significant business in the marriage based green card category.  Today’s blog focuses on the marriage green card.  If you are a Canadian, or foreign national of any country,  who marries a U.S. Citizen (“USC”), you are eligible to immediately apply for […]

As the H-1B  season is fully underway and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is currently adjudicating petitions that were accepted in the lottery, many F-1 students are in the period known as “H-1B cap-gap.”  The cap-gap provisions allow an F-1 student who filed an H-1B petition and that was accepted in the lottery process […]

Earlier this month, USCIS announced that they are moving the existing online payment for the “USCIS Immigrant Fee” to its Electronic Immigration System (USCIS ELIS).  Green card holders pay this fee as part of their initial entry to the U.S. USCIS began collecting the $165 fee of from foreign nationals seeking permanent residence in the […]

To qualify as a TN nonimmigrant, you must be either a Canadian or Mexican citizen and be qualified to work as one of the following occupations: PROFESSION1 MINIMUM EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS AND ALTERNATIVE CREDENTIALS General Accountant Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or C.P.A., C.A., C.G.A. or C.M.A. Architect Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license2 Computer Systems […]

Our attorneys presented a total of 5 L-1 applications and 1 TN application and all were approved! On Tuesday, Rosanna Berardi, managing partner, accompanied three business professionals applying for L-1A status as managers/executives.  Ms. Berardi was requested to meet the clients at the Peace Bridge and assist them in presenting the applications to the Customs […]

As of Tuesday, May 7, 2013 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service implemented the use of the new, revised Form I-9: Employment Eligibility Verification for all new hires and reverifications.  All employers are required to complete and retain a Form I-9 for each employee hired to work in the U.S. The Form I-9 must have the […]

Most foreign nationals seeking entry to the  U.S. are required to possess both a valid passport and a valid U.S. visa to apply for admission to the U.S. “Automatic visa revalidation” allows a foreign national with an expired nonimmigrant visa (“NIV”) to apply for re-entry to the U.S using a valid, unexpired I-94 in place […]

Recent talks of the U.S. government’s interest in imposing a fee on passenger vehicles and pedestrians crossing the Canadian and Mexican land borders has generated heated discussions. The latest budget request by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sought funds to study the cost of collecting a new “toll” from people walking and driving into […]

Recent talks of the U.S. government’s interest in imposing a fee on passenger vehicles and pedestrians crossing the Canadian and Mexican land borders has generated heated discussions. The latest budget request by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sought funds to study the cost of collecting a new “toll” from people walking and driving into […]

Managing Partner Rosanna Berardi appeared on a segment on the Ric Peterson and Suzanne Desautels show on CJAD 800 to discuss an incident where a Canadian citizen was denied entry to the U.S., allegedly for having condoms and lingerie in her luggage.  The woman was attempting to enter the U.S. to travel through Miami to […]

Berardi Immigration Law is closely following the bipartisan plans for comprehensive immigration reform.   The proposed bill aims to protect family immigration while simultaneously shifting towards a system that will provide opportunities for foreigners who can bring work-skills to the United States. The bill has been reported to include the following provisions, among many others: A […]

Starting on May 6, 2013, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will implement Customer Identity Verification (CIV) in its field offices. This new procedure will require individuals to submit biometric data, fingerprints, and photographs, when appearing at USCIS offices for interviews or to receive evidence of an immigration benefit. Under this new process, USCIS staff will take […]

For the first time since 2008, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reached the statutory H-1B cap of 65,000 for fiscal year (FY) 2014 within the first week of the filing period beginning April 1, 2013. USCIS received approximately 124,000 H-1B petitions during the filing period, including petitions filed for the advanced degree cap. On […]

Back in early March, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that Customs & Border Protection agents (“CBP”) are now prohibited from conducting comprehensive searches of electronic devices away from the point of entry unless the government has reasonable suspicion of criminal activity. Border searches are historically permitted without a warrant […]

CBP Moving Away from Paper I-94 Cards to Electronic Records CBP has announced that they will be moving away from issuing paper I-94 cards and will transition to a fully electronic and automated process to collect the arrival/departure information. Following 9/11, most biographic information on passengers is already collected in advance through CBP’s Advance Passenger […]

Two weeks following major U.S. budget cuts, the sequestration order already is resulting in lengthening lines of passenger and commercial traffic at U.S. ports of entry, including both land crossings and international airports. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) has indicated that this summer will be extremely busy at the Peace Bridge.  Berardi Immigration Law […]

**Please note: The purpose of this series is to provide general information on immigration tax issues commonly raised by our Canadian clients. Berardi Immigration Law does not practice U.S. tax law. Any information herein is for general informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal or tax advice. To ensure compliance with […]

**Please note: The purpose of this series is to provide general information on immigration tax issues commonly raised by our Canadian clients. Berardi Immigration Law does not practice U.S. tax law. Any information herein is for general informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal or tax advice. To ensure compliance with […]