About SMA Law Firm

This author has not yet filled in any details.
So far SMA Law Firm has created 123 blog entries.

With COVID essentially behind us, what should the U.S.’s policy be towards migrants on the border?

2023-12-18T09:54:14-05:00

In the twenty years that I have been practicing immigration law, only one topic has remained hot; Illegal border crossings of immigrants, the lack of a coherent government policy to deal with it, and the debate over the effects that this has on the U.S. economy.

First of all, there is one thing that we […]

With COVID essentially behind us, what should the U.S.’s policy be towards migrants on the border?2023-12-18T09:54:14-05:00

The Madness and Stupidity of Reciprocity and Visa Validity Periods

2023-12-18T09:56:55-05:00

Recently, the U.S. randomly decided to lower the E-2 visa validity from 60 months to 18 months for Danish citizens. The E-2 visa, one which is used by many entrepreneurs launching U.S. companies as well as existing companies to send employees to U.S. subsidiaries to work, is used worldwide, and is an extremely attractive […]

The Madness and Stupidity of Reciprocity and Visa Validity Periods2023-12-18T09:56:55-05:00

Martin Luther King Jr. Day; An Important Day for Reflection on the Struggle to Achieve Equal Rights in America.

2023-12-18T10:06:54-05:00
Martin Luther King Jr. Day serves as an annual reminder of what happened in this country, so we don’t forget. It is a day for all people who live in the U.S., whether White, Black, Asian, Latino, or any other background, to reflect on what this day means. In November 2020, I took a […]
Martin Luther King Jr. Day; An Important Day for Reflection on the Struggle to Achieve Equal Rights in America.2023-12-18T10:06:54-05:00

A Brief Respite from the Madness: Consular Interviews for Certain Visas Waived for 2022

2023-12-18T10:07:46-05:00

The good news on the U.S. immigration front has been few and far between since Covid-19 shut down the world in March of 2021. It’s hard to fathom all the barriers that the U.S. government created in that lapse of time, including country-specific bars to entry which kept millions of people from traveling to […]

A Brief Respite from the Madness: Consular Interviews for Certain Visas Waived for 20222023-12-18T10:07:46-05:00

Finally, the U.S. is open for business again. Travel Ban Lifted!

2023-10-19T11:49:38-04:00

Good news for U.S. businesses, foreign investors and entrepreneurs, and the U.S. economy in general: For almost 20 months, the U.S. was closed for business, at least to people from 36 countries. Now it is finally open again and the effects, both short-term and long-term will be very positive.

As soon as Covid hit and […]

Finally, the U.S. is open for business again. Travel Ban Lifted!2023-10-19T11:49:38-04:00

Trump vs. Biden

2023-10-19T11:51:26-04:00

9 months into the Biden administration, what are the fundamental differences between the administrations when it comes to immigration?

Consistency is one. The Trump administration was anti-immigrant from the beginning and was consistent for four years in closing the doors to immigrants, both physically and metaphorically. The administration changed the way that immigration law was […]

Trump vs. Biden2023-10-19T11:51:26-04:00

The National Interest Exception (NIE) is here to stay, for now.

2023-10-19T11:52:26-04:00

The National Interest Exception (NIE) is here to stay, for now. Recently the administration announced that Presidential Proclamation 10143, which suspends direct travel to the United States from the Schengen countries, UK, Ireland, South Africa, Brazil, Iran, China, Iran, and India, would be in place “for the time being”. In doing so, it also […]

The National Interest Exception (NIE) is here to stay, for now.2023-10-19T11:52:26-04:00

US Government’s Discrimination of Foreign Nationals in 2021

2023-10-19T12:13:47-04:00

We watch the news each day and we see a common theme in America: Marginalized groups want what they deserve: to receive the same treatment and protections as allowed by law, which translates into equal opportunities. The reality is that minorities and women do not receive the same treatment and that the law does […]

US Government’s Discrimination of Foreign Nationals in 20212023-10-19T12:13:47-04:00

National Interest Exemption Gutted

2023-10-19T12:16:58-04:00

On March 2, significant changes were made to the criteria for granting National Interest Exceptions to Presidential Proclamation 10143 (extending PP 9993), which suspends travel from Schengen countries, the Ireland and UK to the United States.

The exception was extremely useful in facilitating direct travel from these countries for foreign nationals who make a strong economic […]

National Interest Exemption Gutted2023-10-19T12:16:58-04:00

E-2 Visas and the Eternal Question: How much is required for investment?

2023-06-22T13:33:39-04:00

Whenever I advise a potential or existing client on the E-2 visa process, the inevitable question always pops up: “How much do I absolutely have to invest to qualify?, “How much is enough”. My answer is always very lawyerlike : “It depends”.

What does it depend on? First of all, it depends on the size […]

E-2 Visas and the Eternal Question: How much is required for investment?2023-06-22T13:33:39-04:00

Title

Go to Top