National Interest Exemption Gutted

2024-12-02T13:54:24-05:00

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 Gutted2024-12-02T13:54:24-05:00

Trump is not leaving before setting more fires

2024-12-02T14:05:13-05:00

With a painful transition of power underway, the attack on immigrants marches on until the last moments of the Trump administration. On December 31, 2020, the Trump administration issued a presidential proclamation extending the ban of entry for certain nonimmigrant and immigrant visas as outlined in its April 22, 2020, and June 22, 2020, proclamations. The ban includes […]

Trump is not leaving before setting more fires2024-12-02T14:05:13-05:00

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

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

Foreign National Students: Optional and Curricular Practical Training, Transition to H-1B Status and Individual Income Tax Filings

2024-12-04T11:40:37-05:00

Foreign students come to the U.S. for full-time study under the F-1 visa. In order to qualify for the visa, they must first apply to an authorized educational institution, which can include any private elementary or secondary school, community or junior college, university or language institute. Once they apply to that institution and are […]

Foreign National Students: Optional and Curricular Practical Training, Transition to H-1B Status and Individual Income Tax Filings2024-12-04T11:40:37-05:00

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

“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

USCIS Announces Alarming Changes in Immigration Petition Adjudications

2024-12-04T11:47:20-05:00

On July 13, 2018, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) posted a policy memorandum on its website, that provides guidance to USCIS adjudicators regarding their discretion to deny an application, petition, or request without first issuing a Request for Evidence (RFE) or Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) when required initial evidence was not submitted […]

USCIS Announces Alarming Changes in Immigration Petition Adjudications2024-12-04T11:47:20-05:00

Hang On! Tips for Surviving the 2018 H-1B Roller Coaster Ride

2024-12-04T14:13:38-05:00

The annual roller coaster ride known as the H-1B visa application process is about to go up the hill and come speeding down, with unknown twists and turns coming your way.

For the next four weeks, employers are scrambling to decide whether to sponsor foreign nationals for professional positions, American university grads from foreign countries […]

Hang On! Tips for Surviving the 2018 H-1B Roller Coaster Ride2024-12-04T14:13:38-05:00
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