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EB-5 Insights Where Government Policies and Business Realities Converge

Tag Archives: EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program

By Nataliya Rymer on Posted in Department of State, EB-5, EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, EB-5 Program, Government Shutdown, shutdown, USCIS

As we alerted previously, the U.S. federal government shut down at the end of the day on Dec. 21, 2018. Because the EB-5 regional program was not extended, government agencies such as USCIS and the U.S. State Department will no longer be able to approve adjustment of status (green card) applications and immigrant visas based on… Continue Reading

By Jennifer Hermansky on Posted in EB-5, EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, Eb-5 Regional Center, I-526, Immigrant Investor, USCIS

As an update to our blog on Dec. 24, USCIS has since clarified that while the EB-5 Regional Center Program expired at the end of the day on Dec. 21, 2018, due to a lapse in congressional authorization to continue the program, USCIS will continue to receive regional center-affiliated Forms I-526, Immigrant Petition by Alien… Continue Reading

By Jennifer Hermansky on 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, USCIS

The 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

By Bruce C. Rosetto and on 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, Visa

In 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

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 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, Visa

This 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

By Jennifer Hermansky on Posted in EB-5, EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, EB-5 Legislation, EB-5 Program, Immigrant Investor, Immigration, Immigration Law, Immigration Reform, President Trump's Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protections, USCIS

As 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”[1] on June 28, 2018.  This Policy Memorandum was issued in response to President Trump’s Executive Order (EO), “Enhancing Public… Continue Reading

By Jennifer Hermansky on Posted in EB-5, EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, I-526, Immigrant Investor, Immigrant Visa, Immigration, Immigration Law, President Trump's Administration, USCIS

EB-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

By Jennifer Hermansky on Posted in EB-5, EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, EB-5 Legislation, EB-5 Program, Eb-5 Regional Center, I-526, Immigration, Immigration Law, USCIS

On Aug. 24, 2018, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) made a significant update to its Policy Manual, Part G: Immigrant Investors. In its Policy Alert, USCIS outlined the changes to the Policy Manual. Notable among the updates was the following: Policy Highlight 5 Explains that USCIS considers a change in regional center affiliation a… Continue Reading

By Jennifer Hermansky on 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, USCIS

As 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

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 Department of Homeland Security, EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, USCIS

On Jan. 17, The Center for Regulatory Effectiveness (The CRE), a Washington D.C. administrative watchdog group, filed a petition with the Department of Homeland Security to reform the EB-5 program to create jobs in rural America and areas of high unemployment.  In making the announcement, The CRE posted:

By Laura Foote Reiff, , and on Posted in Department of Homeland Security, EB-5, EB-5 Program, USCIS

On Jan. 9, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) published a notice that, as of Jan. 6, it had completed its review a proposed rulemaking that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) had drafted to make changes to the current regulations as they relate to the EB-5… Continue Reading

By Laura Foote Reiff on Posted in EB-5, EB-5 Legislation, Legislation

Today, September 28, both the House and Senate have approved short-term federal spending legislation that contains an extension for the EB-5 Regional Center Program.  The legislation extends the EB-5 Regional Center Program through December 9, 2016, with no changes to program policy. In December, following the federal elections, the Congress is expected to reconvene for… Continue Reading

By Kate Kalmykov and on Posted in EB-5 Business Plan, EB-5 Investment

The EB-5 Program is a complicated decision that requires much thought, diligence, and preparation. In light of this, it is important for an investor to know their rights. With recent headlines highlighting the problems with some EB-5 projects, it is important for a potential investor to know that the EB-5 program does work and is a… Continue Reading

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

Yesterday, the leading EB-5 Trade Associations/Coalitions sent a letter to the Senate and House Judiciary Committee Leaders and Members expressing support for extending the EB-5 Regional Center Program and recommending concrete changes.  This is a decisive moment for the EB-5 Industry as the key members of the community are all speaking with one voice This… Continue Reading

By Kate Kalmykov on Posted in EB-5 Investment, Immigrant Visa, Immigration, Visa

Under the U.S. immigration laws, there are four common visa options for foreign investors and entrepreneurs. These include: Temporary Work Visas L-1A Intracompany Transferee E-2 Treaty Investor  Immigrant Visas (“Green Cards”) EB-1C Multinational Manager or Executive EB-5 Investor/Entrepreneur The EB-1C and EB-5 visas offer long-term solutions for those Investors and their families who wish to… Continue Reading

By Sylvia Sobczyk on Posted in EB-5 Investment, EB-5 Program

Beginning on Monday, Feb. 22, 2016, EB-5 investors with approved I-526 petitions will be able to contact the National Visa Center’s (NVC) newly created EB-5 Investor Assistance Desk. Customers with visa processing questions can send their inquiries to the following email address: NVCeb5@state.gov. Inquiries will be answered by a team of professionals at the NVC… Continue Reading

By Greenberg Traurig on Posted in EB-5 Program, Foreign Exchange Management Law

In an effort to promote the depreciating kyat, the Central Bank of Myanmar announced that it was revoking foreign exchange licenses issued to hundreds of businesses. Effective October 19, 2015, companies must return their foreign exchange licenses by the end of November and will no longer be able to trade in U.S. dollars. The government… Continue Reading

By Laura Foote Reiff on Posted in EB-5 Program, Legislation

昨天美国国会通过了联邦政府预算临时拨款议案，其中包括对EB-5区域中心计划短期延续至2015年12月11日。我们在9月14日曾写过对EB-5区域中心项目重新授权的前景预测。点击查看文章详情 今天国会通过的持续决议（continuing resolution）包含EB-5项目， 也同时包含E-Verify, the Conrad-30 Waiver项目，和非神职宗教工作者 (Non-Minister Religious Worker) 签证项目。这项持续决议将会暂时延续上述四项项目至2015年12月11日。议案113章规定了拨款时限，113章明确写出延续EB-5项目。 近几个月来，许多人都为EB-5区域中心去留问题颇感担忧。因为国会准备对EB-5进行改革，所以9月30日成为了一个通过区域中心投资移民申请者递交文件的硬性截止日期。因为复杂的立法过程可变因素很多，I-526投资者申请和范例申请(exemplar petition)一样，加速赶在9月30日“过期”前递交材料，也是合理的考虑。 但EB-5利益相关者目前需要考虑的一个重要问题是，为什么9月30日之前被定为截止日期。比如，国会从未就是否“让区域中心过期而不再授权”这个可能性有过任何正式讨论。从国会立法者提出的议案来看，EB-5区域中心最终会进行改革。在接下来的几个月中，利益相关者需要用这个机会，对于如何能使改革有效进行，以何种方式支持就业岗位创造，及哪些产业将会加入等问题，进行意见交流。 现在国会已经明确暂时延续EB-5项目至12月初，我们仅希望实质性改革和合理的过渡日期尽快相继出台。这样能使投资者、区域中心和通过投资创造就业岗位的项目能够在可预料 、稳定的情况下顺利进行。  

By Laura Foote Reiff on Posted in EB-5 Program, Legislation

Today the U.S. Congress passed a government funding bill containing a short-term extension of the EB-5 Regional Center Program through December 11, 2015.  We wrote previously about the EB-5 Regional Center Program’s prospects for reauthorization in a post on September 14.  The bill, known as a continuing resolution, contains an extension for the EB-5 Program along with extensions… Continue Reading