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Category Archives: EB-5

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By Greenberg Traurig on Posted in EB-5, EB-5 Program, Immigration, Immigration Law

The National Law Journal selected the 2018 Trailblazers in Immigration. This year, Greenberg Traurig Immigration & Compliance attorneys Laura Reiff and Kate Kalmykov were recognized on the list for their notable achievements in the practice of law. Kalmykov leads the immigration practice group in the firm’s New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia offices.  She has… Continue Reading

By Robert Y. Maples on Posted in EB-5, EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, USCIS

Today, the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary held an oversight hearing on the Immigrant Investor EB-5 program.  The well-attended full committee hearing focused on reported fraud within the current program and the path forward for EB-5.  The sole witness was USCIS Director Francis Cissna. There were a few takeaways from the hearing, including: Director… Continue Reading

By Sylvia Sobczyk on Posted in EB-5, EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, I-829, Immigrant Investor, USCIS

Due to a recent system conversion at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), all I-829 receipt notices and ASC Appointment notices are now delayed 90 days or more.  This may be dismaying for many EB-5 investors and their dependent family members who may have waited a long time to reach this final step… Continue Reading

By Kate Kalmykov on Posted in Department of State, EB-5, EB-5 Processing Times, Green Cards, Vietnamese

As you may know, the EB-5 immigrant visa category is expected to retrogress for Vietnam this year.  Below is a guide to frequently asked questions pertaining to the announcement of retrogression. 1. Is there a mechanism by which my child or children may continue to be eligible for immigrant visas as my dependents based on… Continue Reading

By Kate Kalmykov on Posted in Department of State, EB-5, Retrogression, Vietnamese, Visa Bulletin

Each month, the Department of State (DOS) issues a visa bulletin which contains information regarding the availability of immigrant visas. The availability of immigrant visas is subject to numerical caps imposed by Congress, which limit how many foreign nationals may obtain immigrant visas each year. In the employment-based green card category Congress allots 140,000 immigrant… Continue Reading

By Robert Y. Maples on Posted in EB-5, EB-5 Program, Omnibus Appropriations Act

Today, President Trump signed the Omnibus Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2018, that includes an extension of the EB-5 program until Sept. 30, 2018, along with the Conrad 30 program for foreign doctors and the Special Immigrant Religious Workers program.  The bill also includes a 3-year reauthorization of the E-Verify program (Sept. 30, 2020). Today’s… Continue Reading

By Nadia Sowinski* on Posted in Department of State, EB-5, Immigration

The Department of State (DOS) has informed EB-5 stakeholders that retrogression of the EB-5 category in the chargeability area including Vietnam, is imminent; however, DOS is unable to provide specific dates of which priority dates will retrogress at this time, though it did clarify that this is not going to occur in April 2018. As… Continue Reading

By Robert Y. Maples on Posted in EB-5

On March 21, Congressional leaders released a 2232 page, $1.3 trillion dollar Omnibus Appropriation for Fiscal Year 2018 with language extending the EB-5 program until Sept. 30, 2018. SEC. 204. Section 610(b) of the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1993 (8 U.S.C. 1153 note) shall be applied… Continue Reading

By Robert Y. Maples on Posted in Continuing Resolution (CR), EB-5

Tonight, House Appropriations Chairman, Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ), filed a fifth short-term Continuing Resolution (CR) extending government funding and important programs, such as EB-5,  from Feb. 8 until March 23.  After late-night Conference meetings, House Republicans developed the framework and timing of the CR. The CR is expected to be acted upon by the House later this week. … Continue Reading

By Laura Foote Reiff on Posted in Continuing Resolution (CR), EB-5, Government Shutdown

Late Friday (Jan. 19)  the U.S. Senate failed to pass the House of Representatives approved Continuing Resolution (or CR).  As of January 20th the federal government is in a shutdown.  It appears that the Senate will attempt another CR vote to extend vital programs, such as EB-5, through Feb. 8, 2018. This vote could come… Continue Reading

By Greenberg Traurig on Posted in EB-5, Events

Greenberg Traurig’s Jennifer Hermanksy and Kate Kalmykov, along with the AILA Conference Program Committee, recently presented at the 2017 AILA EB-5 Investors Summit in Las Vegas.  Hermansky presented on “Regional Center Investments: Understanding The Deal And The Capital Stack,” while Kalmykov presented on “Navigating The Requirements And Challenges In The I-829 Removal Conditions Process.”  The… Continue Reading

By Robert Y. Maples on Posted in EB-5, USCIS, Visa

On Dec. 14, the Office of Management and Budget Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OMB) published the biennial Unified Agenda.  A long-standing outgrowth of previous regulatory reform efforts, the Unified Agenda offers the public the “current thinking” of federal agencies on upcoming Agency regulatory priorities. Of importance to the immigration community, DHS USCIS posed… Continue Reading

By Kristen W. Ng, , and on Posted in Continuing Resolution (CR), EB-5, Legislation

By a vote of 235-193, the House passed H.J. Res 123, the Continuing Appropriations Act. Upon passage, H.J.Res 123 was sent immediately to the Senate, where it passed by a vote of 81-14. The Bill now goes to the president wherein he is expected to sign it into law. Today’s action extends government operations and… Continue Reading

By Robert Y. Maples on Posted in EB-5, President Trump's Administration, Travel

As an update to our recent post late Friday evening, The president signed H.R. 601 – Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 and Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements Act, 2017, making  this important government continuance and public safety measure, incuding important Immigration programs, law. All government functions are continued until Dec. 8 under this law, including… Continue Reading

By Robert Y. Maples on Posted in EB-5, President Trump's Administration

The president and congressional leaders reached an agreement earlier this week on a package of government continuance and public safety measures.  This package includes a Continuing Resolution, Debt Extension, Hurricane Harvey relief resources, and extension of the National Flood Insurance Program. The extension maintains and continues government funding and reauthorization until Dec. 8, 2017. The Senate… Continue Reading

By Dillon Colucci on Posted in EB-5, USCIS

USCIS recently announced the release of a new edition of Form I-829, with the new edition dated April 21, 2017. Starting on July 24, 2017, USCIS will only accept the April 21, 2017, edition.  Until then, investors can use the May 7, 2015 edition. Both editions of Form I-829 are available to download at no… Continue Reading

By Greenberg Traurig on Posted in China, EB-5, Events

On May 6, 2017, Greenberg Traurig’s EB-5 team attended the 2017 Invest in America Summit events in Shanghai to kick off the largest U.S.-themed investment conference and exhibition in China. The Summit was held in four major Chinese cities: Shanghai, Shenzhen, Beijing, and Guangzhou. Invest in America welcomed U.S. investment projects, regional centers, real estate… Continue Reading

By Laura Foote Reiff and on Posted in EB-5, EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, Eb-5 Regional Center, Regional Center

Congress is poised to extend the EB-5 Regional Center Program through Sept. 30, 2017, without any changes. The House Appropriations Committee submitted a proposal on Continuing Appropriations in the early morning of May 1, 2017.  We expect the Omnibus Appropriation bill to proceed to House Rules Tuesday, May 2, with a vote on the House floor… Continue Reading

By Kristen W. Ng and on Posted in EB-5

As April 28, 2017, approaches we are seeing the release of edits to proposed draft bills from the last session of Congress. Just today, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) circulated a staff draft very similar to what was circulated in December 2016. We do expect to see other drafts being circulated from… Continue Reading