Ian R. Macdonald and Kristen W. Ng were recently featured in an article on The LexBlog Network titled, “Third Time’s a Charm? Greenberg Traurig’s Team Breaks down Trump’s Latest Travel Ban.” In this Q&A, Macdonald and Ng explore the third version of the Trump Administration’s travel ban and what it means for employers and employees… Continue Reading
Tag Archives: Kristen Ng
Congress Passes Continuing Resolution Extending EB-5 Program to Dec. 22
Posted in Continuing Resolution (CR), EB-5, LegislationBy 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
Supreme Court Issues Order Allowing Full Implementation of Proclamation
Posted in President Trump's Administration, TravelOn Dec. 4, 2017, the Supreme Court issued an order allowing President Trump’s Proclamation on Travel Ban to go fully into effect. With certain exceptions, this ban places entry restriction on nationals of eight countries – Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. As previously reported, in September a U.S. District Judge… Continue Reading
I-526 Practice Tips to Help Avoid RFEs and NOIDs on Third-Party Exchangers
Posted in I-526, USCISWe previously reported on the disturbing Request for Evidence (RFE) trend where investors and their attorneys were not receiving RFEs in the mail even though the case status showed that one was issued. We are now reporting on another trend, this time in the substance of the RFEs and the results from submitting responses, specifically… Continue Reading
I-526 TREND: Delays in Receiving Requests for Evidence
Posted in I-526, Immigrant Investor, USCISInvestors and their attorneys alike have taken note of a disturbing trend recently: when USCIS issues a Request for Evidence (RFE), it is oftentimes not received by either party. Typically, RFEs are mailed in hard copy, and a copy is mailed to the Investor, and a second copy is mailed to the attorney of record. … 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.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions Announces the Rescission of DACA
Posted in DACA, Department of Homeland Security, Immigration, Immigration Law, Legislation, President Trump's Administration, USCISOn Sept. 5, 2017, Attorney General (AG) Jeff Sessions announced that the Trump Administration will end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). DACA is a mode of temporary relief given to children (now college-aged or older) who entered the United States without inspection with their parents and allowed them to apply for temporary work… Continue Reading
President Trump Endorses New Bill Addressing ‘Green Card’ Immigration
Posted in Green Cards, Immigrant Green Card, Immigration Law, President Trump's Administration, Uncategorized, USCISToday, President Trump joined Senator David Perdue (R-GA) and Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) announcing the introduction of a bill titled “Reforming American Immigration for a Strong Economy Act,” known also as the “RAISE Act.” The president praised the work of the senators and in a statement added, “We want a merit-based system. One that protects… Continue Reading
Department of Homeland Security Releases FAQs Following Reinstatement of Travel Ban
Posted in Department of Homeland Security, TravelThe Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released FAQs for those affected by the recently reinstated travel ban. Earlier last week, the Department of State released their own set of FAQs regarding implementation of the travel ban during visa processing. DHS will be responsible for admitting persons entering the United States and the FAQs on its… Continue Reading
Supreme Court of the United States Partially Lifts Injunctions from Travel Ban – Implications for Foreign Nationals
Posted in Executive Order, President Trump's Administration, TravelAs previously reported, the Supreme Court of the United States lifted the injunctions that were granted by the Fourth and Ninth Circuits after President Trump issued his second Executive Order mandating a temporary travel ban. This means that the second Executive Order (EO) is now in effect as of June 29. The injunctions for the… Continue Reading
DHS Finalizes International Entrepreneur Rule
Posted in Department of Homeland Security, ImmigrationOn Jan. 17, 2017, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published its final rule to implement discretionary parole authority to increase, promote, and encourage entrepreneurship, innovation, and job creation in the United States. This final rule will add new regulatory provisions that will allow DHS to grant parole in certain circumstances and by discretion to… Continue Reading
OMB Fall Unified Regulatory Agenda- Improvement of the Employment Creation Immigrant Regulations (EB-5)
Posted in Department of Homeland Security, EB-5The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the Fall Unified Agenda, updating the Improvement of the Employment Creation Immigrant Regulations. DHS has now moved the stage of rulemaking from “long-term actions” to “proposed rule stage.” This new release also changes the date of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) from “to be determined” to January… Continue Reading
Summary of GAO report – Immigrant Investor Program: Proposed Project Investments in Targeted Employment Areas
Posted in EB-5, Government Accountability Office (GAO), I-526The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently reviewed a sampling of unadjudicated I-526 petitions from the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2015 to obtain information on: 1) the ratio between investors who invested in Targeted Employment Areas (TEA) or non-TEA designated projects; 2) the geographic locations in which the projects were located; and 3) the capital stack… Continue Reading
EB-5 Integrity Reform Bill Introduced As Congress Adjourns for the Holiday – Summary of S.2415: EB-5 Integrity Act of 2015
Posted in EB-5 Investment, EB-5 Program, Eb-5 Regional CenterOn December 17, 2015, two days after Senate and House leadership recommended a “clean” extension of the EB-5 program until September 30, 2016, Senator Flake (R-AZ), with Senator Cornyn (R-TX) and Senator Schumer (D-NY), introduced S.2415, the “EB-5 Integrity Act of 2015.” This is the first new piece of EB-5 reform legislation introduced since the… Continue Reading
Greenberg Traurig Attends the Samsung Hope For Children Gala
Posted in EventsGreenberg Traurig recently attended this year’s Samsung Hope For Children Gala at the Manhattan Center in New York City. With hundreds of guests in attendance, including musicians, athletes, and celebrities, this program has raised millions for schools, health initiatives, and community-based foundations. One hundred percent of the proceeds raised by the Samsung go directly to… Continue Reading
Key EB-5 Industry Leaders Encourage Congress to Reauthorize the EB-5 Program
Posted in EB-5 Investment, EB-5 ProgramThe EB-5 Investment Coalition, co-chaired by Managing Shareholder Laura Foote Reiff, joined forces with key members of the EB-5 industry to advocate the reauthorization of the program before the September 30, 2015 expiration date. On August 5, 2015, an EB-5 Stakeholder Letter was hand-delivered to key Members of Congress of the Senate and House leadership… Continue Reading
The National Association of Counties (NACo) Adopts Resolution Supporting Permanent Authorization of the EB-5 Program
Posted in EB-5 ProgramThe National Association of Counties (NACo) hosted its 80th Annual Meeting where it discussed various proposed policy resolutions and platform changes. One such resolution was one supporting the EB-5 resolution to make the EB-5 program permanent. The steering committee unanimously voted in support of the EB-5 resolution, and the Board of Directors formally adopted the… Continue Reading
White House Releases ‘Modernizing & Streamlining Our Legal Immigration System for the 21st Century’
Posted in EB-5 Program, Immigrant Visa, USCISThe White House has just released a new report titled “Modernizing & Streamlining our Legal Immigration System for the 21st Century,” which builds on the President’s executive actions of Nov. 21, 2014. This report provides for plans to improve the immigration system to modernize and streamline the processes for certain visa categories and to address… Continue Reading
Section by Section review of The American Job Creation and Investment Promotion Reform Act, S. 1501 – EB-5 Reform Legislation
Posted in EB-5 Investment, EB-5 ProgramThe American Job Creation and Investment Promotion Reform Act, S. 1501, was introduced in the Senate by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R- IA) and Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-VT). S.1501 seeks to reauthorize the program for five years and proposes a number of integrity reforms for the EB-5 program. EB-5… Continue Reading