Immigration Blog - Berardi Immigration Blog

Berardi Immigration Blog

I-9 Implication for Certain Puerto Rico Birth Certificate Invalidations

Friday, 10 September 2010 16:57
After September 30, 2010, all certified copies of Puerto Rico birth certificates issued prior to July 1, 2010 will become invalid. In response to a new law, the Vital Statistics Office of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico began issuing new, more secure certified birth certificates on July 1, 2010. This law does not affect the U.S. citizenship status of any individual born in Puerto Rico. However, it does affect the validity of certified copies of some specific Puerto Rico birth certificates.
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Petty Offense Exception may help stranded travellers

Tuesday, 17 August 2010 15:06

Gone are the days of simply stating one's citizenship and entering the U.S. The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative ("WHTI"), now in effect for over a year, requires all travellers to present a passport or other document that denotes identity and citizenship when entering the U.S.

Rosanna's most recent article, "Crossing the border with old convictions," discusses the impact of WHTI and various alternatives to inadmissibility such as the petty offense exception and waivers.

This article originally appeared in the August 20, 2010 issue of Lawyer's Weekly published by LexisNexis Canada, Inc. Read the full article here.

Important Employer Update: Be prepared for unannounced audits of nonimmigrant visa petitions

Friday, 27 August 2010 17:38

Two new articles have been added to our website that provide important details to employers regarding audits currently being conducted by contractors from the Kentucky Consular Center and the Department of State. If you employ workers in nonimmigrant visa status (H, L, O, P, Q), you should review these articles carefully to ensure your designated representative is prepared to respond to these unannounced audit calls.

Click on the articles below for more information:

DHS Publishes Final Rule on I-9 Issues

Sunday, 08 August 2010 17:36
On July 22, 2010, DHS published a final rule in the Federal Registrer that amended an interim final rule dealing with the electronic signature and storage of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. The I-9 form is used by an employer to verify an employee's identity and to establish that the worker is eligible to accept employment in the United States. Set to take effect on August 23, 2010, the final rule allows employers to complete, sign, scan and store Form I-9 electronically as long as certain performance standards are followed.
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