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EB-5 Insights Where Government Policies and Business Realities Converge

Tag Archives: china

By Greenberg Traurig on 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, Vietnamese

At 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

By Nataliya Rymer on Posted in China, Department of State, EB-5, EB-5 Legislation, EB-5 Processing Times, EB-5 Program, Green Cards, I-526, Immigrant Green Card, Immigrant Investor, Immigration, Immigration Law, State Department, USCIS, Vietnamese, Visa

This coming October, USCIS is allowing a number of foreign nationals to apply for adjustment of status earlier than they would otherwise be eligible. Specifically, USCIS has announced that it will allow individuals with immigrant petitions in employment-based categories to apply for adjustment of status based on the cutoff dates in the “Dates for Filing” Chart… 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 Greenberg Traurig on Posted in EB-5, EB-5 Program, Events

Greenberg Traurig’s EB-5 team will sponsor and participate as an organizing committee member of the 2017 Invest in America Summit and Exhibition, the largest USA-themed investment conference and exhibition in China, with attorneys Kate Kalmykov and Laura Reiff as VIP speakers. The Summit will travel to four Chinese cities in 2017. Event dates and locations… Continue Reading

By Jennifer Hermansky on Posted in Department of State, EB-5, EB-5 Program, Eb-5 Regional Center, I-526, Immigrant Visa, Visa, Visa Bulletin

On 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

By Nataliya Rymer on Posted in EB-5 Program, USCIS, Visa, Visa Bulletin

投资美国协会(IIUSA)EB-5大会于2016年10月10日至11日在加州洛杉矶举行。参与会议的发言嘉宾包括国务院签证办公室主任 Charlie Oppenheim先生。Charlie Oppenheim先生在会议上讨论了中国大陆出生的EB-5投资者的优先日的变动。 具体来说，Oppenheim先生表示，2016年12月签证排期表中最终裁定日排期表 (表A)截止日会推进到2014年3月22日。另外上周发布的 2016年11月签证排期表中表A的截止日也略微前进到了2014年3月8日。正如我们以前报告的，国家签证中心预计将与大陆出生的EB-5移民签证申请人联系，以便根据每月签证排期表中的申请递件排期表（表B）的截止日，目前仍是2014年6月15日，来启动启动移民签证的案件处理。  值得注意的 是，移民局宣布，在2016年11月，EB-5类别调整身份的申请人必须使用最终裁定日排期表（表A）的截止日期来确定是否能递交调整身份申请。除了EB-5外其他职业移民类别的调整身份申请人则可以根据表B的截止日期来递交调整身份申请。 此外，在最近一次与美国移民律师协会（AILA）国务院联络委员会的会议上，国务院对受案件积压的EB-5投资者就另一个重要问题进行了澄清。具体来说，国务院重申，在最终确定投资人的子女是否可以根据“儿童身份保护法”（CSPA）受到超龄保护而随同父母一起移民时，递交调整身份的日期将根据排期表的最终裁定日（表A）来计算。因此，提交移民签证申请表格（DS-260）或支付移民签证费帐单本身不会，也不能保证投资人子女的年龄不会超龄，也不能保证投资人子女可以随同投资人取得永久居民身份。相反，投资人子女的年龄的计算方式是在根据表A 有配额的情况下（I－526优先日在表A的截止日期之前）冻结子女年龄，再减去I-526申请到批准的案件审批时间。根据国务院的澄清，提交DS-260表格或支付签证费用将被认为可以证明投资人子女 “寻求”他们的移民签证。值得注意的是，上述国务院的指示适用于根据排期表表B中当前优先日期提交的DS-260申请和签证费用的支付。上述指示并未涉及I-526申请批准后不久但优先日不在表B的截止日期之内情况下递交的DS-260申请和签证费用的支付。很有可能，在上述两种情况下，只要在根据排期表表A有签证配额内的（1）一年之内提交DS-260申请或签证费用的支付，就将会认定投资人的子女或配偶满足“寻求”移民签证的要求。我们将在移民局以及国务院发布新的指示后，对此重要法律问题提供进一步澄清。  

By Nataliya Rymer on Posted in EB-5 Program, USCIS, Visa, Visa Bulletin

The Invest in the USA (IIUSA) EB-5 Conference, which took place on Oct. 10-11, 2016 in Los Angeles, California, featured Charlie Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division of the U.S. Department of State as one of its speakers. Mr. Oppenheim discussed the movement of priority dates for the mainland China born EB-5… Continue Reading

By Nataliya Rymer on 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。

By Nataliya Rymer on Posted in Department of State, EB-5, EB-5 Investment, Immigrant Visa, Visa

Many 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

By Nataliya Rymer on Posted in EB-5 Program, Eb-5 Regional Center, Regional Center, State Department, USCIS, Visa, Visa Bulletin

On September 22, 2016, USCIS determined that for October 2016, Adjustment of Status applicants in family-based and employment-based categories will be able to utilize the Dates of Filing Visa Applications chart (otherwise known as Chart B) of the monthly State Department Visa Bulletin, with the exception of several employment-based categories.  USCIS instructed that those applying for… Continue Reading

By Patty Elmas* on Posted in China, Department of State, EB-3, Immigrant Visa, USCIS, Visa, Visa Bulletin

After 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

By Nataliya Rymer on Posted in China, EB-5 Investment, Immigrant Visa

美国国务部已经使用完到2016年财年底，即2016年9月30日之前，所有给出生在中国内地的EB-5投资人的签证名额。因此，国家签证中心现已暂停受理出生于中国内地的已获批I-526申请的受益人的移民签证申请。预计会在2016年10月1日恢复受理。在此期间，申请人将不能支付移民签证费用和完成或访问移民签证DS-260申请。 美国移民和国籍法案的第203条限制了可用于每个类别移民签证的名额，其中大约10,000个名额拨给EB-5投资移民类别。这个总数是进一步受制于每个国家的限制，其中给出生于中国内地的EB-5投资者的签证名额已经受到积压。到2016年9月13日为止，国家签证中心已经告知在当前法律的限制下，在本财年，分配给在中国内地出生的EB-5投资人的名额已经告罄。本财年将会在2016年9月30日结束。 美国国务院宣布如果他们确定其他国家将不会使用2016财年余下的签证名额，他们仍可能会提供这些额外的签证名额给中国内地出生的申请人。在此期间，国家签证中心已经向那些受暂停影响的申请人通过邮递和电子邮件发送通知和解释这个情况。国务院已要求受到暂停影响的申请人只在需要改变联系方式或签证资格的情况下才联系国家签证中心。 欲了解更多信息，请订阅这个博客，GT律所将继续提供更新。

By Nataliya Rymer on Posted in China, EB-5 Investment, Immigrant Visa

The U.S. Department of State has now used the number of immigrant visas available for the Mainland-China-born EB-5 investors for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2016, which is set to conclude Sept. 30, 2016.  Therefore, the National Visa Center (NVC) has temporarily suspended processing of immigrant visa applications for the Mainland China-born beneficiaries of approved… Continue Reading

By Greenberg Traurig on Posted in Department of State, Immigrant Visa, USCIS, Visa, Visa Bulletin

This week, the Department of State released the Visa Bulletin for September 2016. Given that visa numbers are issued based on the government fiscal year, we expect to see significant movement again in October 2016; for September 2016, the last month of FY2016, there were only minor changes with regard to movement of final action… Continue Reading

By Courtney B. Noce on Posted in China, Immigrant Visa, Immigration, Visa, Visa Bulletin

Charlie Oppenheim is the Chief of Visa Control and Reporting Division for the U.S. Department of State (DOS) where he is responsible for providing analysis and prediction for immigrant preference categories.  After the release of the July 2016 visa bulletin Mr. Oppenheim provided the following information regarding employment-based petitions to AILA: EB-2 and EB-3 – China:… Continue Reading

By Greenberg Traurig on Posted in China, Immigration, Visa

Greenberg Traurig attorney Kate Kalmykov recently appeared on China Business Network (CBN), China’s largest financial and business informational TV channel with an audience of 600 million viewers within China, Hong Kong and Singapore.  Amongst its many initiatives, CBN partners with the United Nations Development Programme to enhance China’s participation in global dialogue on a variety… Continue Reading

By Greenberg Traurig on Posted in China, Events

Greenberg Traurig’s EB-5 team attended the 2016 Invest in America Summit events in Shanghai from March 11-13 to kick off the largest U.S.-themed investment conference and exhibition in China. Once again, the Summit was held in three Chinese cities: Shanghai, Shenzhen and Beijing. Invest in America welcomed U.S. investment projects, regional centers, real estate brokerage… Continue Reading

By Greenberg Traurig on Posted in Events, Firm News

Greenberg Traurig’s EB-5 team will sponsor the 2016 Invest in America Summit and Exhibition, the largest USA-themed investment conference and exhibition in China, with attorneys Kate Kalmykov and Laura Reiff as VIP speakers. The Summit will again travel to three Chinese cities in 2016. Event dates and locations are: • March 12-13, 2016 | Shanghai, China |… Continue Reading

By Greenberg Traurig on Posted in Events

Greenberg Traurig presented at the recent 4th Annual U.S. Investment Immigration Forum (USIIF) in Shenzhen, China.  The EB-5 networking event brought together both U.S. stakeholders and leading Chinese migration agents.  With participants from the U.S. and Chinese migration agencies, the USIIF event brought together regional centers, project developers, immigration attorneys along with Chinese migration agents, investment consultants,… Continue Reading

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

Greenberg Traurig attorneys Laura Reiff and Kate Kalmykov recently attended and presented at the 2015 China Overseas Investment and Entrepreneurship Summit (COIES) Forum in Beijing.  This two–day international investment and business conference featured leading EB-5 industry professionals and Chinese private equity partners seeking international opportunities.  The conference aimed to help Chinese companies, entrepreneurs, and institutional… Continue Reading

By Laura Foote Reiff on Posted in Comprehensive Immigration Reform, EB-5 Investment

奥巴马总统最近宣布了其对移民政策变化的新提议，提议对EB-5投资移民将产生特殊影响。此文章简述这些举措对EB-5的影响。 奥巴马总统访华期间宣布了中国公民将有资格申请有效期为10年的赴美旅游签证。这使得一些国人认为，如果拿到了10年有效签证，通过EB-5获得美国永久居留权将变得不重要。这种理解存在许多误区。首先，虽然中国公民个人有资格申请有效期10年的旅游签证，但并不代表批准的签证就是为期10年。领馆或许仍会选择发放有效期为1年的签证。其次，持旅游签证在美国境内的逗留时间仍为6个月。再次，旅游签证仅限于持签证者在美国旅游，而不能在美国学习或永久生活。所以，如果个人仍希望在美学习或生活，还是要申请EB-5类型签证。接下来，我们讨论奥巴马总统最近在移民改革问题上的行政决定。

By Laura Foote Reiff on Posted in Comprehensive Immigration Reform, EB-5 Investment

President Obama recently announced proposed changes in immigration policies that impact immigration, with many that may specifically influence the EB-5 Program. The purpose of this article is to outline the measures that could impact EB-5. On the President’s trip to China he announced that Chinese nationals would be eligible to apply for a 10-year tourist… Continue Reading