Coronavirus Update: Canada, United States, and Mexico Closed Border to Tourism and Recreational Travel For 30 Days (Updated) Blog Post
Starting on March 21 and continuing to at least April 20, the land borders between Canada, the United States, and Mexico will be restricted to essential travel only. This does...
Is the E-1 trade based on Revenue only? Can trade be based on expense items? Blog Post
Let’s analyze the following scenario: You are manufacturing certain products in the U.S. and selling these products to your U.S. customers. You are importing some of the materials that are...
Coronavirus Update: USCIS Announced Temporary Suspension of Premium Processing for All I-129 and I-140 Petitions Blog Post
USCIS has announced today, March 20, the immediate and temporary suspension of premium processing service for all Form I-129 and Form I-140 petitions until further notice due to the coronavirus...
Update on Firm Operations During Coronavirus Outbreak Blog Post
To our Clients, Colleagues and Friends, Our hope is that this email finds you, your colleagues, and your families and friends in the best of health at this time of... U.S. and Canada to Close Border from Non-Essential Traffic Blog Post
The leaders of Canada and the United States have announced on March 18, 2020 that the border between the two countries will soon close to non-essential traffic as response to...
H-1B Change of Employer approval for Electrical Engineer working for Consumer Goods Company Blog Post
We just had an H-1B approval through U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services. The applicant was already in the U.S. on an H-1B and changed employers to work for a consumer...
I am in the United States on Visa Waiver or ESTA and my Period of Admission is Expiring. What is Satisfactory Departure and how can I request this during the Coronavirus? Blog Post
The Visa Waiver Program or ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) is a program that allows citizens from certain countries (38 countries) to apply for admission to the U.S. using...
Coronavirus Update: Travel Ban Extended to UK and Ireland Blog Post
The White House issued another presidential proclamation imposing travel restrictions and quarantines on travelers from countries in the United Kingdom and Ireland starting on 11:59 PM EST on March 16... Coronavirus Update: U.S. Embassies in Rome and Kingston Closed to Routine Services Blog Post
Announced on March 11 and March 12, the U.S. Embassies in Rome, Italy and Kingston, Jamaica are closed to visa and other routine services. Only emergency American citizen services and... Coronavirus Update: Travel Ban Extended to Europe Blog Post
The White House issued another presidential proclamation imposing travel restrictions and quarantines on travelers from countries in the European Schengen Area starting on 5 PM EST March 13 due to... Coronavirus Update: New York and New Jersey Asylum Offices Cancel Interview Decision Pick-Up Appointments Blog Post
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the New York Asylum Office and the Newark Asylum Office has, effective March 12 until further notice, cancelled decision pick-up appointments. Instead the decisions...
Who are derivative beneficiaries? When can my spouse and children apply for green cards as derivative beneficiaries? What if I get married after the I-130 petition is approved? Blog Post
Let’s analyze the following scenario: your parent is a U.S. citizen, you are older than 21, and your U.S. citizen parent wants to sponsor you for a green card under... Coronavirus Update: Travel Ban Extended to Recent Iran Travel Blog Post
The White House issued another presidential proclamation imposing travel restrictions and quarantines on travelers from Iran starting on 5 PM EST March 2, 2020 due to the coronavirus. This does... What is the Last Action Rule? Should I be worried when I travel internationally after the H-1B petition was approved but before the H-1B effective start date? Blog Post
Let’s analyze the following scenario: You were in the U.S. on a post-completion OPT and found an employer willing to sponsor you for an H-1B visa. The employer filed an...
My child is a U.S. citizen. Can he/she sponsor me for a green card? Can I put my non-U.S. citizen child as a derivative beneficiary on the I-130 petition? Blog Post
If your child is a U.S. citizen and is 21 or older, he/she can sponsor you for a green card under the immediate relative of a U.S. citizen category. If... State Department Requesting Expedited Review with Aims to Implement Public Charge Rule on February 24 to Coincide with Department of State’s Public Charge Rule Blog Post
The State Department is working to expedite their new public charge rules in an effort to implements the rule on February 24, the same day as the Department of State’s...
O-1B Visa Classification for Architects/Architectural Designers Blog Post
1. What is the O-1 nonimmigrant classification? The O-1 is a nonimmigrant employment-based visa classification for a person of extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, athletics or in...
Kelly LeGrand Weiner and Michaela Vrazdova of Scott Legal Selected for Leadership roles on Committees for AILA’s New York Chapter Blog Post
For the 2019-2020 year, our Managing Attorney, Kelly LeGrand Weiner and Associate, Michaela Vrazdova have been serving in leadership roles on the Corporate Practice Committee, Practice Management Committee & Consular...
Kelly LeGrand Weiner to sit on B Visa Panel at the AILA-RDC EMEA Spring Conference Blog Post
Our Managing Attorney, Kelly LeGrand Weiner has been selected to sit on a panel with other immigration attorneys to share knowledge on B visas and entering the U.S. as a...
Updates on Travels Restrictions and Visa Delays Caused by the Coronavirus Blog Post
On top of travel restrictions of travelers from China starting on February 2, 2020, U.S. Consulates are also delaying visa issues to foreign nationals from other countries if they have... Can I change My Adjustment of Status Application from an Employment-Based Petition (I-140) into a Family-Based Petition (I-130)? What Are the Eligibility Requirements? Blog Post
Interfiling is an administrative procedure described in the USCIS Policy Manual. It is possible for an applicant whose application is based on a particular immigration category (either family or employment...
What Happens When You Sell Your E-2 Business? What Happens if I sell the assets of My E-2 Business? What happens if I sell my E-2 business but keep the Corporation? Blog Post
An E-2 visa can be obtained by nationals from certain countries if they buy or start a business. You can find out more about an E-2 visa by clicking here. ... New DHS Public Charge Rule to Take Effect on February 24 Blog Post
On January 27, 2020, the Supreme Court lifted a nationwide injunction blocking the new public charge rule initially slotted to take effect on October 15, 2019. Starting on February 24,...
USCIS Issues New EB-5 Adjudication Procedure Process Blog Post
USCIS announced on January 29 an operational change in the EB-5 application adjudication process. Previously, USCIS adjudicated EB-5 applications in a first come first serve basis. Applications that were received...
