Matthew Virkstis

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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…
Continue Reading Иммиграционная Служба США Внесла Проект Закона о Международных Предпринимателях С Целью Стимулирования Инновационных Разработок и Создания Рабочих Мест

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。
Continue Reading 移民局推出国际企业家规则促进改革与就业创造

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…

Continue Reading USCIS Proposes International Entrepreneur Rule to Spur Innovation and Job Creation

At its July 28, 2016 stakeholder engagement, USCIS Immigrant Investor Program Office (IPO) Chief Nicholas Colucci focused his opening remarks on USCIS’s efforts to enhance the IPO’s adjudication capabilities, the…

Continue Reading USCIS Reports on Agency Enhancements, Emphasizes Importance of Regional Center Oversight at July 28 Public Engagement

Today, the House Judiciary Committee will consider H.R.5203, the Visa Integrity and Security Act of 2016.  The bill is authored by Representative Randy Forbes of Virginia.

The bill’s purpose…
Continue Reading House Judiciary Committee to Consider Visa Integrity and Security Act of 2016

Laura Reiff and Matthew Virkstis recently authored an article on EB5investors.com’s blog entitled “The Path to Reauthorization of the EB-5 Regional Center Program in 2015.”  The article addresses immigration…
Continue Reading Laura Reiff and Matthew Virkstis Author “The Path to Reauthorization of the EB-5 Regional Center Program in 2015” on EB5Investors.com

On 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 EB-5 program’s original sunset date of September 30, 2015.  It is the sixth bill introduced in the 114th Congress that seeks to reform the EB-5 program.

The bill includes significant oversight and integrity reforms, many of which reflect earlier Senate legislation introduced in June of 2015. The integrity measures included in S.2415, as with those in prior bills, have been largely welcomed by the EB-5 industry.  Several of these provisions follow recommendations from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Government Accountability Office (GAO), and leaders in the Congress.  The majority of the provisions mirror the reforms proposed in S.1501 and later discussion draft bills that circulated amongst stakeholders in November and December 2015.  The following are some of the main integrity measures designed to reform the EB-5 program:Continue Reading EB-5 Integrity Reform Bill Introduced As Congress Adjourns for the Holiday – Summary of S.2415: EB-5 Integrity Act of 2015

The 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 security issues. The report also calls for plans to strengthen the United States’ humanitarian system by providing benefits for certain individuals.

The report specifically addresses the EB-5 program in important ways. The White House acknowledges that the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has undergone significant changes in an effort to enhance the program’s processes and to improve its integrity, including the creation of a new team with expertise in economic analysis and specific EB-5 components, as well as the issuance of updated policy guidance to provide better clarity as to program requirements.

The White House recognizes that there is a need for additional enhancements and improvements to address the integrity and impact of the EB-5 program. Specifically, the White House recommends additional measures including enhancements to avoid fraud, abuse, and criminal activity; measures to ensure that the program is reaching its full potential in terms of job creation and economic growth; and recommendations to streamline the program to make it efficient and stable for participants in the program, including petitioners and Regional Centers.
Continue Reading White House Releases ‘Modernizing & Streamlining Our Legal Immigration System for the 21st Century’