As it comes to the end of the year, this is a good time to examine your own circumstances, whether business or personal. On the business front, take a look at your company’s performance so far. How is the business running? Are you on task? is on the way? What is working? What doesn’t work?

Take a good look at which aspects of your business are performing to expectations (or better or worse) and which are not. Where could your business benefit from the improvement? Have all the milestones been met? If not, which ones haven’t and why not? Be sure to highlight not only all the positive developments, but also candidly assess the less positive developments and how you have dealt with or overcome them.

As a whole, you and your business must be able to take the hits and ride the roller coaster of business ownership and management. Be proactive, and be brave. Be prepared to continually assess your business needs and make any necessary changes and adjustments. Sometimes changes may be necessary that may not be pleasing or seem right at first. Sometimes unpopular decisions may be necessary.

DO NOT wait until 2-3 months before renewal or extension documents are due to view your business. A suffering and struggling business is a difficult foundation on which to base a new visa or extended authorized stay in the US.

Keep your accountant, lawyer(s) and other professionals you frequently trust informed about the state of your business (and, to the extent relevant, your personal life) throughout the year. Use your own circle of professionals to your advantage and seek their advice and advice, when you feel your business needs some sort of correction or change.

As I always tell my clients, I would love to meet with them and look at their business and possibly help them identify and address areas of concern or areas that need improvement.

I always advise my clients NOT to wait for a government official to make an adverse call against a sought immigration benefit, or one could find themselves in trouble and possibly packing…

You need to assess where your business is headed and how it’s doing at least quarterly, if not monthly. On the personal side of things, if you have any changes in personal circumstances, job changes, family changes, relationship changes, etc. these could have immigration [and possibly other legal] consequences (good or bad) and should be addressed and dealt with as soon as possible.