For immigrants, what rides on the Presidential and congressional elections next week?

2024-12-02T14:12:37-05:00
My simple response is: More than ever! The entire direction of immigration policy can go in the direction of a potential shutdown of any immigration not deemed essential to the country’s economy, i.e. a continuation of President Trump’s current policies, or a return to the Obama path to citizenship and an opening of immigration […]
For immigrants, what rides on the Presidential and congressional elections next week?2024-12-02T14:12:37-05:00

The National Interest Exception – Who can Use This Crucial Tool to Continue Doing Business in the U.S.

2024-12-02T14:18:40-05:00

When the President issued a national state of emergency, one of the first steps he took was closing the borders and limiting the list of people who could enter the U.S. to U.S. citizens, green card holders, diplomats, and crew members. Based on various proclamations, he then barred people residing in certain countries from […]

The National Interest Exception – Who can Use This Crucial Tool to Continue Doing Business in the U.S.2024-12-02T14:18:40-05:00

SMA opens Netherlands Office, names Rinske Harlaar as Director of SMA NL.

2024-12-02T14:23:42-05:00

SMA Is proud to announce the official opening of our Netherlands office, SMA NL, headed by attorney Rinske Harlaar. Due to SMA’s strong relationship with the Dutch business community, we believe it is time to provide local counsel to our clients and be able to continue to provide services on all U.S. immigration matters. […]

SMA opens Netherlands Office, names Rinske Harlaar as Director of SMA NL.2024-12-02T14:23:42-05:00

The hardest year in half a century for immigrants

2024-12-04T10:18:19-05:00
The holidays are here and another year is about to come and go, but 2019 has been the hardest year in half a century for immigrants. The current administration has denied visas at astronomically rising levels and this had led to a drop in visa petitions being presented etc., a vicious circle which feeds […]
The hardest year in half a century for immigrants2024-12-04T10:18:19-05:00

The Trump administration further attempts to restrict rights of asylum seekers

2024-12-04T10:39:47-05:00

On April 29th President Trump released a memo instructing the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security to formulate regulations that will further restrict our humanitarian asylum laws for those seeking asylum protection at the southern border.

The memo directs the implementation of regulations that will require asylum seekers to pay a fee to […]

The Trump administration further attempts to restrict rights of asylum seekers2024-12-04T10:39:47-05:00

H-1B Transfer Activity Will Be Unprecedented

2024-12-04T11:05:57-05:00

On May 1, prospective employers who sponsored H-1B visa candidates this year began to get receipt notices for US Masters Cap cases. In the month to follow, employers will find out the fate of the blind lottery used to determine which H-1B petitions will be adjudicated.

Every year, USCIS starts accepting H-1B petitions on April […]

H-1B Transfer Activity Will Be Unprecedented2024-12-04T11:05:57-05:00

Why become a U.S. citizen?

2024-12-04T11:10:43-05:00

In my profession, I get asked this question a lot. SMA assists many people to get permanent residence in the U.S., either through company sponsorship, self-sponsorship (extraordinary ability) or through family petitions or asylum applications, and the last step is to apply to become U.S. citizens, but not all people take that step, which […]

Why become a U.S. citizen?2024-12-04T11:10:43-05:00

Immigration Status and Employment Laws in New York

2024-12-04T11:22:06-05:00

Foreign workers in the U.S. occupy every position from farmhand and dishwasher to engineer, doctor and CEO, and their visas and legal statuses also vary greatly. For the majority of the twelve-plus million undocumented immigrants, there is no such thing as legal employment, and therefore employers are not supposed to hire them at all. […]

Immigration Status and Employment Laws in New York2024-12-04T11:22:06-05:00

The Government Shutdown: How is it affecting immigration cases? by Kate Chaltain, Esq

2024-12-04T11:26:05-05:00

On Monday, January 21st, we entered the sixth week of the federal government shutdown, making it the longest shutdown of the federal government in U.S. history.  Government agencies that receive federal appropriations and are not deemed “essential service” providers do not have the required funding to continue operating and have been shuttered until further […]

The Government Shutdown: How is it affecting immigration cases? by Kate Chaltain, Esq2024-12-04T11:26:05-05:00

“Outside-In Immigration”

2024-12-04T11:34:33-05:00

SMA Law Firm has its origins in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where its founder, Steve Maggi, set up shop in 2004 and started offering U.S. immigration legal assistance to people and companies from his native Argentina. What developed from that was a specialization in what we call “Outside-In Immigration”. What does this mean? Essentially it […]

“Outside-In Immigration”2024-12-04T11:34:33-05:00
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