Berardi Blog

August 14, 2011 – Miami Herald reporter, Sarah Gonzalez, reports that federal agents appear to have stepped up checks for undocumented immigrants on Amtrak trains, Greyhound buses and other forms of public transportation. Click here to read the entire article from the Miami Herald. ]]>

August 9, 2011 – The American Bar Association passed a resolution Tuesday urging the U.S. Congress to reject any changes to the Constitution that would eliminate automatic citizenship for anyone born in the United States.   Click here to read the article in on the ABA website. ]]>

August 1, 2011 – Brian Lyman from the Montgomery Advertiser reported that the Justice Department went to court to block Alabama‘s pending immigration law from taking effect next month.   Click here  to read the article posted in the Montgomery Advertiser. ]]>

Associated Press, July 21. Washington state has canceled the driver’s license of a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist who publicly said he is an illegal immigrant. Department of Licensing spokeswoman Christine Anthony says officials opened an investigation after Jose Antonio Vargas’ essay about his background was published in the New York Times Magazine. He wrote that […]

Napolitano: At some point this year, border-jumpers from subcontinent will account for about 1 in 3 non-Mexicans caught in Texas By CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN, WILL WEISSERT, The Associated Press  Click here to read the article at USAToday.com. ]]>

While the vast majority of U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents and Conditional Residents (green card holders) reside permanently in the U.S. after obtaining their status, there are instances when an individual may need to spend an extended period of time outside the U.S.   A good rule of thumb to follow is if you plan to be […]

Step 1- A sponsor in the U.S. files a petition with the U.S. Immigration and Citizenship Services (USCIS).  Generally speaking, to be eligible to apply for an immigrant visa, a foreign citizen must be sponsored by a U.S. citizen relative, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or by a prospective employer, and be the beneficiary of an […]

Below is an overview of the steps needed to apply for a non-immigrant visa.  To ensure the approval of your application, all aspects of the process must be followed exactly.  Universal Visa Services can take the worry out of these tasks as well as completing them as expeditiously as possible.  Additionally, we can provide you […]

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently updated their list of Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) approved schools. The schools listed have all been certified to participate in the program.  The program allows foreign students interested in obtaining an education in the United States to complete a visa petition, pay the required fee, […]

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) School Certification Branch (SCB) is responsible for evaluating petitions submitted by insititutions wishing to be approved by the Department of Homeland Security for attendance by nonimmigrant students. Nonimmigrant students who come to the United States to pursue full-time academic or vocational/technical training are usually admitted in one of two nonimmigrant […]

Click on the links below to access a powerpoint presentation on Immigration Options for Students.  The presentatiion is broken down into two parts. Case Study Part 1 of 2 Case Study Part 2 of 2

Sample ASC I485 – Click the link to the left to view the document.

An application for Adjustment of Status (Form I-485), which has been filed with CIS, requires that the individual applicant (and in some instances, the spouse) be interviewed prior to adjudication. For many people, the prospect of being interviewed by an immigration officer can be stressful.  However, for those who are prepared, an immigration interview should be […]

Many applications which have been filed with CIS require that a comprehensive record check be conducted on the individual applicant prior to adjudication and/or interview.  CIS captures an applicant’s biometrics via electronic fingerprinting and a criminal and immigration records search is then conducted.  For many people, the prospect of being fingerprinted can be stressful.  However, […]

An applicant for an immigrant visa must be interviewed at a U.S. consulate abroad prior to permanent residency (immigrant visa) being issued.  Typically these applications are based on a previously approved family or employment-based petition. For many people, the prospect of being interviewed by a consular officer can be stressful.  However, for those who are […]

Sample ASC Biometrics Appointment Notice – Click on the link to the left ot view the document.

There are two types of visas available to foreign nationals wishing to come to the United States for tourism purposes.  The B-1/B-2 visa is a type of nonimmigrant visa for persons desiring to enter the United States temporarily for business (B-1) or for pleasure, tourism or medical treatment (B-2). International travelers with visitor visas comprise […]

Adjustment of Status is the process in which a foreign national residing in the U.S. changes his or her legal status to “permanent resident” or “green card holder.” Adjustment of Status is a comprehensive application process that consists of forms and application fees.  Not everyone qualifies for Adjustment of Status and an applicant must be […]

An immigrant visa is a permanent visa, otherwise known as the “green card”. This process allows the foreign spouse and/or unmarried, dependent children of a U.S. citizen to live and work permanently upon entry into the United States. An immigrant visa is issued to the spouse of a U.S. citizen provided that: a) the beneficiary […]

  The K-3 visa permits the spouse and unmarried, dependent children of a U.S. citizen to enter the U.S. as nonimmigrants and adjust to permanent resident status later provided they are the beneficiaries of a pending or approved alien relative petition. The application process is very similar to the K-1. Once the petition for alien […]