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Tag Archives: immigrant visa

By Robert Y. Maples on Posted in Department of State, Immigrant Visa, Uncategorized

The 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

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 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 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 Laura Foote Reiff on Posted in Immigrant Visa, Immigration, USCIS, Visa

26 августа 2016 года Иммиграционная Служба США опубликовала сообщение о проекте Закона об Иностранных Предпринимателях, и запросила комментарии общей публики и заинтересованых лиц.. В соответствии с сообщением Иммиграционной Службы США (USCIS), предлагаемый проект закона позволит Департаменту Внутренней Безопасности (DHS) по усмотрению выдавать официальные разрешения на въезд иностранным предпринимателям для осуществления развития вновь-созданных бизнесов в США,… Continue Reading

By Laura Foote Reiff on Posted in China, Immigrant Visa, Immigration, USCIS, Visa

2016年8月26日，美国移民局发布消息称将推出一项针对国际企业家的政策，并提供了一个拟定的方案供公众审阅。 根据移民局公告，该新规则将授予国土安全部独立裁量权，针对每个个案情况向那些在美国新设企业并亲自管理企业为公共利益做出重大贡献的外国企业家发放入境许可。移民局提议 修改其之前根据移民国籍法INA212章节（d）（5）款所制定的行政规章，意图为行政裁量权的行驶以及初创企业家入境许可个案申请的审核提供一个“透明的架构”。 想依据此新规则获得入境许可的移民企业家被要求： *至少持有新设企业15%的股份且积极地参与企业管理 *在之前三年的时间内在美国创立该企业 该企业家还必须证明他或她的企业在就业创造以及业绩增长方面的潜力： *企业获得了至少$345,000来自合格的美国投资者的投资，该投资者要有投资成功的先例； *获得来自联邦、州、或本地政府的奖励或者拨款 对于只满足上述部分条件的企业家，新规则也留有一定的灵活度，允许企业家补充证明其初创企业能够快速发展和就业创造的潜力 在新规则下，合格的企业家可以获得有效期为两年的入境许可，并可以在初创企业获得成功的基础上申请延期 该新规则一旦实施，将会给那些正在饱受移民排期困扰并且不具备E-1、E-2签证资格国家的移民申请人带来希望，比如中国大陆和越南。对新规则的进一步分析也将可能为正在等待签证排期的EB-5投资人带来新的机会。 在Federal Register 公布新规则之后，公众有45天的时间给出自己的反馈意见 在我们全面审核分析新规则内容的过程中，我们也将会进一步地阐明这到底可以为当前的移民申请人带来怎样不同的机遇。

By Laura Foote Reiff on Posted in Department of Homeland Security, EB-5 Investment, Immigrant Investor, USCIS, Visa

On Aug. 26, 2016, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a notice of proposed rulemaking for an International Entrepreneur Rule, and provided an advance version of the proposed rule for public review. According to an announcement from USCIS, the proposed rule will allow the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to exercise discretion, on 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 Kristen W. Ng on Posted in Immigration Reform, Visa

Last week, the House Judiciary Committee considered H.R.5203, the Visa Integrity and Security Act of 2016, which was introduced May 12, 2016, by Representative Randy Forbes of Virginia. The bill’s purpose, as reported last week in a section-by-section breakdown is to enhance security procedures for the processing of both immigrant and nonimmigrant visas. The bill… Continue Reading

By Kristen W. Ng on Posted in Immigrant Visa, Immigration Reform, Legislation, Visa

On May 16, 2016, Representative Will Hurd (R-TX), along with Representatives Michael McCaul (R-TX), Candice Miller (R-MI), Peter King (R-NY), John Katko (R-NY), and Martha McSally (R-AZ), introduced H.R. 5253, the “Strong Visa Integrity Secures America Act.” The Homeland Security Committee will consider this bill on June 8, 2016. The bill’s purpose is to improve… Continue Reading

By Kristen W. Ng on Posted in Department of Homeland Security, E-Visa, E-visa Process, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Visa, Visa Waiver Program

On May 9, 2016, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released a statement clarifying that as part of the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015, those individuals utilizing the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) with an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) to travel to the United… Continue Reading

By Greenberg Traurig on Posted in Events, H-1B Cap, Immigrant Visa, Immigration, USCIS

As the US economy recovers, the demand for H-1B visas is skyrocketing.  Please join our experienced immigration attorneys for this seminar which will provide important legislative updates and share effective strategies for succeeding this upcoming H-1B cap season. Topics will include: Lessons learned from the last cap season New fee schedule affecting certain employers Compliance and… Continue Reading

By Shaun Staller on Posted in Immigrant Visa, USCIS

USCIS announced on August 31, 2015, that the agency has simplified the process for paying the $165 immigrant visa (“IV”) fee through its electronic immigration system, known as ELIS. The IV fee is required of those foreign nationals immigrating to the United States to produce permanent resident cards, known as “green cards.” A “green card”… Continue Reading

By Shaun Staller on Posted in Immigrant Visa

Members of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (“AILA”) have reported several new or additional problems with information received from The National Visa Center (“NVC”). AILA members report receiving letters in error from the NVC. Some letters indicate that proceedings to terminate the immigrant visa application have commenced. Others state that the application is being terminated… Continue Reading

By Sylvia Sobczyk on Posted in Posts in Chinese, Visa Bulletin

Following is the Chinese translation of a previously published blog post: 美国国务院（DOS）7月签证公告给中国投资人带来一些好消息，EB-5投资移民签证中国申请人排期前进4个月，从2013年5月1日前进到2013年9月1日。 这一进展对关注查理•奥本海默有关职业移民签证截至日期预测的人来说，有些出乎预料。奥本海默是国务院签证处的主管，他曾预计6月份EB-5截至日期仍将维持在2013年5月1日。 尽管排期日期变化不大，中国大陆出生的EB-5投资人仍应该尽快提交I-526申请，因为排期的变动并不影响I-526 申请的审批。美国国务院根据优先日期或I-526申请提交的日期，确定等候时间。关于排期，您可以更多地阅读我们的博客。

By Sylvia Sobczyk on Posted in Retrogression, Visa Bulletin

The Department of State’s (DOS) July Visa Bulletin brings some good news for China indicating that that the EB-5 immigrant visa category will advance by four months for China, from May 1, 2013 to September 1, 2013. This development has come as a bit of a surprise to those of you who follow Charles (“Charlie”) Oppenheimer’s, chief… Continue Reading

By Laura Foote Reiff and on Posted in Immigrant Visa

Immigrant entrepreneurs and investors have always been at the core of the American economy.  Immigrant-founded companies have generated billions of dollars in revenues and contributed intellectual property leading to significant socio-economic advancements within the United States.  Foreign-born entrepreneurs are a critical component to the advancement of the U.S. emerging technology space and it is important… Continue Reading

By Laura Foote Reiff on Posted in Regional Center

As many of you are aware, the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Regional Center pilot program is scheduled to expire in September. In early February 2015, Reps. Jared Polis (D-CO) and Mark Amodei (R-NV) introduced the American Entrepreneurship and Investment Act of 2015.  The bill would update and permanently authorize the EB-5 Immigrant Investor visa program. In… Continue Reading

By Greenberg Traurig on Posted in EB-5 Program, Immigrant Visa, Speaking Engagement

Last week, Greenberg Traurig EB-5 attorney Kate Kalmykov presented to students at the University of Michigan on the topic of “Post-Graduate Immigration Options with a Focus on the USCIS EB-5 Visa Program.”  The lecture attracted a number of foreign students interested in learning about the various non-immigrant visa and immigrant visa options – with a… Continue Reading

By Greenberg Traurig on Posted in EB-5 Program, Immigrant Visa, Speaking Engagement

Last week, Greenberg Traurig EB-5 attorney Ali Brodie presented to students at Columbia University in New York on the topic of “Post-Graduate Immigration Options with a Focus on the USCIS EB-5 Visa Program.”  EB-5 team members Sylvia Sobczyk and Joanna Jiang also attended the seminar.  The lecture attracted a number of foreign students interested in… Continue Reading