On January 29, 2020, the USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services) announced its new policy for Form I-526 (Immigrant Petition by Alien Investor), also known as the EB-5 green card, establishing relevant modifications to the processing of its analysis. Processing […]
On January 1st, 2020, the SECURE (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement) bill came into force, which made extensive changes to the regulations on retirement assets. Approved by the Senate on December 19, 2019 and signed a day later […]
The H-1B visa, intended to fill technical positions with professionals who have a bachelor’s degree or higher, will undergo changes in the deadline and form of processing in 2020. From now on, H-1B visa applications must first be submitted through […]
Recent efforts to end the OPT program have been discussed in the media since last year. Actions promoted by entities and congress people contrary to the existence of the program worry foreign students throughout the country. The Optional Practical Training […]
Alissa Campos On December 26, 2019, a new franchise law was sanctioned in Brazil. Law no. 13.966 — which can be consulted in its Portuguese version here — seeks to bring more clarity and security to the relation between the […]
Data from the Open Doors report, released by the International Institute of Education (IIE) and the US Department of State, revealed that Brazil is 9th in the ranking of countries sending most students to the United States in the 2018/2019 […]
Brazil and the United States have taken the first step towards facilitating travelers’ entry into the United States. With the Global Entry program, frequent traveler to the U.S. will be able to enter the country using automatic kiosks and skipping […]
Breno Torquato The Brazilian Federal Supreme Court ruled, on November 7, 2019, by a narrow decision (6 votes in favor and 5 against), for revoking the possibility of arresting convicted defendants before all possible appeals are exhausted in court. Until […]
Published on November 12, 2019 in the Federal Official Gazette, Provisional Measure n. 905 establishes the Green and Yellow Labor Contract, changing labor legislation and bringing a series of facilitations to the entrepreneur. The new hiring modality aims to create […]
Pedro Drummond The Brazilian pension reform is finally approved and represents a major improvement to the economy. Cost of the public pension system is by far the most relevant factor in the public sector deficit, which in turn prevents the […]
Recently, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services director Ken Cuccinelli confirmed that he was, along with the Trump administration, increasing bureaucracy for US companies to hire foreign employees. According to USCIS own data, the H-1B (work visa for skilled professionals) […]
Marina Breves Besides the possibility of creating a Sociedade Limitada — the Brazilian version of a Limited Liability Company — by just one member (which was not a possibility before), the Economic Freedom Law (Lei da Liberdade Econômica, Law n° […]
On Oct. 4, US President Donald J. Trump issued a proclamation stating that visas will be denied to immigrants who do not have health insurance or the financial means to afford their own health. Under the new rule, the foreign […]
In accordance with Decree n. 58.701/2019 and Resolution 130/AMLURB/2019 of April 4, 2019, all companies based in São Paulo must register with the Waste Transport Control (Controle de Transporte de Resíduos – CTR-E). CTR-E is a monitoring and traceability system […]
On August 14 was published, in the Federal Register, changes in the US immigration regulations. Signed by President Trump, the new rule states that as of October 15 this year, US residency applications submitted by citizens who are likely to […]
The sale or exchange of virtual currencies by individuals or companies, in addition to use in exchange for goods or services or as an investment, generally has tax consequences that may lead to tax obligations. This month (August 2019), the […]
The US Congress recently opened a Senate discussion about delays in the process of immigration to the United States. In January this year, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) analyzed data from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) […]
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recently announced a major change in the rules for applying for foreign trademark registration in the country. The change establishes that all foreign trademark applicants must be represented by a US licensed […]
Decree n. 9,904, signed by the Brazilian President on July 8, 2019, provides for the reduction to zero of the income tax rate on commissions paid by exporters to their agents abroad. As a result, Brazil is expected to increase its competitiveness […]
For a long time, we’ve been hearing talks about a possible change in the rules to apply to EB-5, as it allows for the possibility of obtaining the Green Card many people dream about. After years of the program’s existence, […]
By Pedro Drummond and Giulia Porto* One of the recommendations we give our clients at the beginning of the trademark registration process in the United States is to choose a name that avoids any controversy — that is, don’t use […]
Registering the name, colors and images of your company is an important step to protect it, especially if you have plans to explore the international market. This measure has just gained a push from the Brazilain government: with the country’s accession to the Madrid Protocol, the trademark […]
New rules for obtaining entry visas in the United States came into force on May 31. One of these new measures imposed by the US government is raising a lot of controversy: now, in addition to the usual documentation, you […]
If you are a member of a partnership or limited liability company and you fill out Form 1065 (Partnership Income Tax Return) annually, you must designate an individual or company to answer for the company in the United States. The […]
US Federal Revenue Service Re-evaluates Exemptions and Questions Brazilians Foreign students living in the United States can be classified as US tax residents and be in debt with the US Treasury. The alert is made by tax consultant Bruno Drummond […]
US Treasury now requires original signatures An important resource in tax planning for businesses in the United States may be getting a bit more difficult: it seems mandatory now to include original signatures (or signatures that are clearly not electronic […]
The deadline for submitting form BE-15 to the Bureau of Economic Affairs (BEA) is coming to an end. Learn more about it: Who should submit the BE-15 form? US companies that have one or more foreign partners (individuals or legal […]
New US Internal Revenue rule affects Brazilian entrepreneurs Brazilians who want to start a business in the United States need to be aware: the IRS has issued a new rule that can disrupt many people’s plans. The rule, which comes […]
Enrolling your children in a public school in the United States without them having the proper visa can bring serious consequences. That’s right: attending a public school using only a tourist visa (B-1/B-2) can result in the cancellation of said […]
Whoever left Brazil permanently or temporarily in the year 2018 — for whatever reason, such as work or study — must regularize their exit with the Federal Revenue Service. The first step is to send the Communication of Definitive Exit […]
Those who invest abroad must pay attention to the submission of the annual declaration of Brazilian Capitals Abroad (Capitais Brasileiros no Exterior –CBE). Individuals or companies residing in Brazil that on December 31, 2019 had at least the equivalent of US$ 100,000 in investments […]
The US government shutdown began on December 22, 2018 and shows no signs that it is nearing its end. With the deadlines for submitting important forms to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) approaching, doubts about tax obligations, tax returns and […]
What is the new revenue recognition standard The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued in 2014 , by means of the ASC 606 Revenue from Contract with Customers, a few norms and standards related to revenue recognition in accordance with […]