Today, Senators Graham (R-SC), Rounds (R-SD) and Cornyn (R-TX) introduced the “Immigrant Investor Program Relief Act” (S. 2778, the Act) proposing long overdue improvements to modernize the EB-5 program in alignment with industry and market principles. The Act reflects a fair compromise between rural and urban stakeholders providing substantial market advantages to rural and urban… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Immigrant Visa
Subscribe to Immigrant Visa RSS FeedHouse Passes Per-country Cap Elimination Bill that Affects Employment-based Visa Programs such as EB-5
Posted in EB-5, Immigrant VisaToday, the U.S. House of Representatives approved H.R. 1044, the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2019, that eliminates per-country quotas for all employment-based immigrant visa petitions by a wide, bipartisan vote of 365-65. The bill includes language helpful to the EB-5 program relating to a transition period for implementation, as explained – Fairness for… Continue Reading
FAQ for Indian EB-5 Applicants Subject to Retrogression
Posted in EB-5, EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, I-526, Immigrant Investor, Immigrant Visa, Immigration Law, IndiaIs there a mechanism by which my child or children may continue to be eligible for immigrant visas as my dependents based on my approved I-526 petition and if so, how does it work? Yes, the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) was enacted in order to protect children of petitioners against lengthy petition processing times. Where… Continue Reading
USCIS International Offices to No Longer Accept Form I-407 Starting July 1, 2019
Posted in EB-5, EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, EB-5 Investment, Form 1-407, Immigrant Investor, Immigrant Visa, USCISStarting July 1, 2019, international offices of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will no longer accept Form I-407, Record of Abandonment of Lawful Permanent Residence Status. On that date and going forward, all I-407 forms must be sent by mail to the address below. USCIS anticipates that processing of the form, from receipt… Continue Reading
Current Trends on Indian EB-5 Investor Market
Posted in EB-5, I-526, Immigrant Investor, Immigrant Visa, Immigration, U.S. State Department, Uncategorized, USCISIt is widely known that India has become a major EB-5 investor market in recent years, as EB-5 is becoming an increasingly popular option for Indian nationals who seek permanent residence in the United States; the fact that there has been a growing number of high-net-worth individuals in India clearly helps to stimulate this demand…. Continue Reading
EB-5 Processing During the Government Shutdown
Posted in Department of State, EB-5, EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, EB-5 Legislation, EB-5 Program, Government Shutdown, I-526, I-829, Immigrant Investor, Immigrant Visa, Immigration, Immigration Law, NOID, RFE, shutdown, USCISThe U.S. federal government shut down at the end of the day on Dec. 21, 2018, and the president did not sign into law the extension of the EB-5 program passed by the Senate. Until the shutdown ends, and the Regional Center EB-5 program extension is signed into law, no new I-526 petitions can be… Continue Reading
U.S. District Court for District of Columbia Issues Important Decision in Favor of EB-5 Investors
Posted in EB-5, EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, EB-5 Investment, EB-5 Legislation, EB-5 Program, GT Alert, I-526, Immigrant Investor, Immigrant Visa, Immigration, Immigration Law, USCIS, VisaIn the matter of Huashan Zhang, et al. v. United States Citizenship and Immigration Service, et al. (United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Nov. 30, 2018), plaintiffs challenged the decisions of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) to deny their EB-5 immigrant investor visa petitions based upon USCIS’ erroneous interpretation… Continue Reading
Updates on EB-5 Visa Retrogression
Posted in China, Department of State, EB-5, EB-5 Business Plan, EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, EB-5 Investment, I-526, Immigrant Investor, Immigrant Visa, Immigration, Immigration Law, USCIS, VietnameseAt a recent EB-5 industry forum, Mr. Charles Oppenheim, Chief of the Department of State (DOS) Immigrant Visa Control & Reporting Division, provided key insights on what the latest data suggests regarding the future availability of visas in the EB-5 category. Top EB-5 Visa Users in FY2018: China, Vietnam, and India In terms of EB-5… Continue Reading
Proposed Immigration Rule – Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds
Posted in Department of Homeland Security, Immigrant Visa, Immigration, Immigration Law, Proposed Rule, USCIS, VisaUSCIS has proposed rules that could deny entry to non-immigrants seeking admission to the United States and adjustment of status to permanent residence to immigrants if they rely on public benefits for food, housing or medical care, and other forms of public assistance. The proposed rule – “Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds” – is published in… Continue Reading
Maintaining Eligibility for Permanent Residence for EB-5 Investors: Accepting Public Benefits
Posted in EB-5, EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, EB-5 Legislation, I-829, Immigrant Investor, Immigrant Visa, Immigration, Immigration Law, Immigration Reform, President Trump's Administration, USCIS, VisaThis is the fifth post in a series that discusses how EB-5 investors and their dependents can maintain eligibility for permanent residence and I-829 Petition approval. This blog focuses on accepting certain public benefits that may make an investor and/or his or her dependents a “public charge.” The Trump Administration has stated that USCIS will start… Continue Reading
Maintaining Eligibility for Permanent Residence for EB-5 Investors: Criminal Issues and Taxes
Posted in EB-5, EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, EB-5 Legislation, Immigrant Investor, Immigrant Visa, Immigration, Immigration Law, Immigration Reform, President Trump's Administration, Tax Considerations, VisaThis is the fourth post in a series that discusses how EB-5 investors and their dependents can maintain eligibility for permanent residence and I-829 Petition approval. This blog focuses on criminal issues and tax issues. President Trump’s Executive Order, along with a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) implementation memorandum, prioritizes removable aliens who: Have been convicted… Continue Reading
Maintaining Eligibility for Permanent Residence for EB-5 Investors: Criminal Issues and Material Misrepresentations
Posted in EB-5, EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, I-526, Immigrant Investor, Immigrant Visa, Immigration, Immigration Law, President Trump's Administration, USCISEB-5 investors should maintain their eligibility for conditional permanent resident status, especially during any period of visa backlog occurring in between the time of I-526 Petition approval and when the investor’s priority date becomes current. This is the second post in a series that discusses how EB-5 investors and their dependents can maintain eligibility for… Continue Reading
Maintaining Eligibility for Permanent Residence for EB-5 Investors: Nonimmigrant Status
Posted in EB-5, EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, EB-5 Investment, EB-5 Program, Executive Order, Green Cards, Immigrant Visa, Immigration, Immigration Law, President Trump's Administration, USCISAs we previously reported, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a Policy Memorandum entitled “Updated Guidance for the Referral of Cases and Issuance of Notices to Appear (NTAs) in Cases Involving Inadmissible and Deportable Aliens” on June 28, 2018. This Policy Memorandum was issued in response to President Trump’s Executive Order (EO), “Enhancing Public Safety… Continue Reading
President Signs KIWI Act Providing for E-1 and E-2 Status for New Zealand
Posted in E-Visa, Immigrant Visa, Immigration, Immigration Law, Visa, Visa IssuanceAs an update to an earlier post, on Aug. 1, the president signed the Knowledgeable Innovators and Worthy Investors Act (KIWI Act) granting E-1 and E-2 status to certain New Zealand nationals under mutual considerations. This will permit citizens of New Zealand to apply for U.S. visas to carry on significant trade with the United States… Continue Reading
DOS Proposes Rule Requiring Review of Social Media for U.S. Immigrant and Non-Immigrant Visa Applicants
Posted in Department of State, Immigrant Visa, UncategorizedThe Department of State (DOS) has noticed for public comment an Information Collection Review – Electronic Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration that would require immigrants coming to the United States to submit five years of social media history. This effort is viewed by many as a component of “enhanced vetting” on behalf of the… Continue Reading
U.S. Resumes Limited Nonimmigrant Visa Services in Turkey
Posted in E-Visa, Immigrant Visa, Travel, VisaThe U.S. Mission in Turkey has resumed limited processing of nonimmigrant visas following the earlier suspension of nonimmigrant visa services in all U.S. diplomatic posts in Turkey back on Oct. 8, 2017. The U.S. Mission in Turkey will process nonimmigrant visas on a limited basis with a reduced number of appointments in both Ankara and… Continue Reading
The White House Releases Immigration Principles & Policies
Posted in Department of Homeland Security, Department of State, Immigrant Visa, President Trump's Administration, USCIS, VisaOn Oct. 8, 2017, the White House released the promised Immigration Principles & Policies (Principles & Policies) which outline the Trump Administration’s position on immigration. This document is broken into three parts: 1) Border Security, 2) Interior Enforcement, and 3) Merit-Based Immigration. A summary of each part is broken down below.
Greenberg Traurig Elevates Jennifer Hermansky to Shareholder in Philadelphia
Posted in Awards & Recognitions, EB-5, Immigrant Investor, Immigrant VisaThe Business Immigration & Compliance Practice of Greenberg Traurig, LLP is pleased to announce that Jennifer Hermansky has been elevated to shareholder in the Philadelphia office. Hermansky focuses her immigration practice on both employment-based and family-based immigration. Specifically, she focuses her practice on EB-5 immigrant investor visas. She has prepared and filed many immigrant investor… Continue Reading
Summary of President Trump’s Jan. 25, 2017 Immigration-Related Executive Orders
Posted in Department of Homeland Security, Immigrant Visa, Immigration, VisaOn Jan. 25, 2017, President Donald J. Trump signed two Executive Orders impacting U.S. immigration which are summarized below. Executive Order: Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements This Order addresses the recent surge of immigration by foreign nationals without proper documentation at the United States’ southern border with Mexico. The Order directs the government’s “executive… Continue Reading
Greenberg Traurig Post-Election Immigration Update
Posted in EB-5, EB-5 Program, Eb-5 Regional Center, Events, Immigrant Visa, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Visa, WebinarOn November 10, 2016, Laura Foote Reiff, Bob Maples, and Rebecca Schechter presented an Immigration Post-Election Update webinar highlighting some of the anticipated key changes to U.S. immigration policy (click here to listen to the webinar). President-elect Donald Trump will likely begin the change on current U.S. immigration policy as soon as he takes office. … Continue Reading
State Department Issues Cable on Extension of EB-5 Program and Issuance of Immigrant Visas
Posted in Department of State, EB-5, EB-5 Program, Eb-5 Regional Center, I-526, Immigrant Visa, Visa, Visa BulletinOn Oct. 5, 2016, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) issued an unclassified cable on the Continuing Resolution signed into law on Sept. 29, 2016 that extends several important immigration programs, including the EB-5 Regional Center program. The cable explains that the EB-5 Regional Center program (immigrant visa categories R51 and I51) now is set… Continue Reading
国家签证中心将根据签证排期表中表B的截止日期来启动EB-5类别移民签证的案件处理
Posted in Department of State, EB-5, EB-5 Investment, Immigrant Visa, Visa许多中国大陆出生的EB-5投资者最近注意到，他们不再能够访问国家签证中心（NVC）的在线平台。 此在线平台的功能包括移民签证费账单的支付，移民签证（DS-260）的申请，以及其他功能。 国家签证中心已确认将使用每月签证公告的申请递件排期表（“表B”）来启动案件处理。10月份的签证排期公告显示，对于中国大陆出生的EB-5投资者，表B当前优先日的截止日期是2014年6月14日或更早。因此，国家签证中心表示不会处理优先日晚于10月签证排期公告中表B截止日期的案件。 这种在处理中国大陆出生的EB-5投资者的移民签证申请上的改变导致许多人无法继续进行在处理方式变更之前开始的DS-260申请，以及无法支付移民签证费用帐单，完成DS-260申请，或从国家签证中心收到确认DS-260申请的所有相关文件已被接收的通知。根据国家签证中心的指示，在今年10月，只有那些优先日期为2014年6月14日或更早的中国大陆出生申请人能够在被国家签证中心通知后继续移民签证处理程序。另外，每个月国家签证中心将通知那些优先日在签证排期表表B截止日期之前的申请人。重要的是，对于以前已经提交给国家签证中心但优先日在排期表表B截止日期之后而不能进行处理的案件，国家签证中心表示将给申请人发出确认收到申请和材料的通知。 此外，国务院证实，正在努力使其在线平台现代化，并指出目标是在2017年春天，建立一个全新的门户网站. 此网站包括所有目前可用的独立的在线功能，如签证费用账单支付，DS-260提交，案件状态查询，以及许多其他功能。
NVC To Initiate Immigrant Visa Processing Based on Chart B Cut-Off Dates for EB-5 Categories
Posted in Department of State, EB-5, EB-5 Investment, Immigrant Visa, VisaMany of the mainland China born EB-5 investors recently noticed that they no longer had access to the National Visa Center (NVC) online platform for the purposes of immigrant visa fee bill payment, access to immigrant visa (DS-260) applications, as well as other functions. NVC has confirmed that it is using the Dates for Filing… Continue Reading
September 2016 – Monthly AILA Check-In with Charlie Oppenheim
Posted in China, Department of State, EB-3, Immigrant Visa, USCIS, Visa, Visa BulletinAfter the release of the October Visa Bulletin, Charlie Oppenheim, Chief of Visa Control and Reporting Division for the U.S. Department of State (DOS), provided his predictions on the future movement in the employment-based green card categories. They are summarized below: EB-1 China and India In the October bulletin, final action dates for India and… Continue Reading