USCIS Extends Flexibility for Responding to Agency Requests Through March 2023

February 3, 2023

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) is extending certain COVID-19-related flexibilities through March 23, 2023. The flexibilities, which were initially scheduled to expire on January 24, 2023 were previously extended in March and October 2022 are to assist applicants, petitioners and requestors in being allocated additional time to

USCIS Extends Green Card Validity To 48 Months For EB-5 Investors And Married Conditional Permanent Residents

February 1, 2023

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) is extending the validity of Permanent Resident Cards (also known as “Green Cards”) for petitioners who properly file Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, or Form I-829, Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status for 48 months

The Public Charge Rule – A Summary from the American Immigration Lawyers Association

January 30, 2023

EB-5 Immigrant Investor Fees to Increase for Investors and Regional Centers

January 12, 2023

The Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) published a Notice of Proposed Rule-Making (“NPRM”) to adjust fees for various immigration benefits provided by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”). Included in the NPRM are proposed fees for many forms used under the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program (“EB-5 Program.”). Fees

EB-5 “Promoters” and “Migration Agents” Now Required to Register with USCIS

January 10, 2023

On January 4, 2023, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) published Form I-956K, Registration for Direct and Third-Party Promoters which is now required to be completed and filed by any person or company that is acting as a direct or third-party promoter or migration agent (a “Promoter”) of: A

U.S. Center for Disease Control to Require COVID Testing for Passengers from China

December 30, 2022

The U.S. Center for Disease Control (“CDC”) has announced that it will implement a requirement for a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of recovery for air passengers boarding flights to the United States originating from the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) and the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and

USCIS Updates its Policy to Automatically Extend Green Cards for Naturalization Applicants

December 15, 2022

Effective December 12, 2022, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) updated the USCIS Policy Manual to allow it to automatically extend the validity of Permanent Resident Cards (commonly called “Green Cards”) for lawful permanent residents who have applied for naturalization to become U.S. citizens. This update is expected to

David Enterline Speaks at EB-5 Seminar in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam in November 2022

December 12, 2022

David Enterline was again invited by American Venture Solutions Regional Center (AVS) to speak at its latest seminar in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on November 20, 2022. Mr. Enterline discussed the provisions of EB-5 law as a result of the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 that was

Changing Immigrant and K-1 Visa Processing Venues for LGBT Applicants

December 5, 2022

The United States Department of State (“DOS”) in coordination with the American Immigration Lawyers Association, Department of State Liaison Committee (“AILA DOS Liaison”) recently published an advisory on changing venues for immigrant and K-1 visa processing for LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bi Transgender) applicants. Since the United States Supreme Court issued

Petition and Application Filing Tips from USCIS

November 22, 2022

Are you considering filing a petition or application for a U.S. visa or immigration benefit? These tips may help. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) updated its website with Recommendations for Paper Filings to Avoid Scanning Delays. Published on November 16, 2022, these filing tips are very useful

My Immigrant Visa Expires and I am Unable to Travel Due to Coronavirus Travel Restrictions

March 25, 2020

On March 19, 2020, the Department of State suspended all routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa interview appointments as a response to the growing Coronavirus pandemic. International travel restrictions have been put in place around the world in an attempt to control the spread of the virus. With no predetermined expiration

Announcement: USCIS Temporarily Accepts Electronic Reproduced Signature on All Forms

March 22, 2020

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced that it will accept benefit forms and documents with reproduced original signatures for submissions dated March 21, 2020 and thereafter. The policy change was made in response to the Coronavirus National Emergency declared by President Donald Trump on March 13, 2020. While USCIS

Announcement: USCIS Suspends Form I-129 and I-140 Premium Processing

March 21, 2020

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has temporarily suspended its premium processing option for all Form I-129 and I-140 petitions until further notice due to the ongoing efforts to contain the spread of the Coronavirus. Petitions using a Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing accepted prior to March 20, 2020

Announcement: USCIS Suspending In-Person Services from March 18 through April 1, 2020

March 20, 2020

As of March 18th, all United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) in-person services at all field offices, asylum offices and Application Support Centers (“ASC”) are suspended in an effort to contain the spread of the Coronavirus. In-person services are scheduled to resume on April 1st. USCIS field offices will

Announcement: All Routine U.S. Visa Interviews in Vietnam Cancelled

March 19, 2020

The U.S. Embassy in Hanoi and the U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City has announced that all routine visa interviews will be cancelled as of March 19th in an effort to impede the spread of the Coronavirus. Applicants with an urgent travel matter may request an expedited appointment which

Announcement: All Visa Interviews at the U.S. Embassy in Manila are Cancelled

March 16, 2020

In light of the Philippines government decision to impose a city-wide lockdown around Metro Manila to contain the Coronavirus, the U.S. Embassy has announced that all immigrant and non-immigrant visa interviews have been cancelled as of March 16, 2020. Visa interviews will resume as soon as possible. More information can

National Interest Waivers for EB-2 Applicants

March 16, 2020

The Employment Based Second Preference Immigrant Visa Category (EB-2) Advanced Degree Holder and Person of Exceptional Ability with National Interest Waivers. Previously we wrote about the qualifications for an Employment Based Second Preference (EB-2) Immigrant Visa which is for persons who have an advanced degree or persons with exceptional ability

Will K-1 Visa Applicants Be Required to Provide a DS-5540 Public Charge Questionnaire?

March 9, 2020

The new public charge rule requires immigrant and non-immigrant visa applicants to provide a detailed DS-5540 public charge questionnaire in order to determine whether they are likely to become a public charge at any time in the future. While a K-1 visa is officially a non-immigrant visa allowing for single

Insight into the EB-5 China final action date forward movement in the March 2020 visa bulletin

March 6, 2020

Why did the EB 5 China final action date jump forward in the March 2020 visa bulletin? There have been a number of questions as to why the final action date for EB-5 investors from China leaped forward 4.5 months in the March visa bulletin. United States Department of State’s

Department of State to Implement Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds as of February 24, 2020

March 4, 2020

Following the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) lead, the U.S. Department of State (“DOS”), which oversees consular processing for immigrant and non-immigrant visas at U.S. Embassies and Consulates, has implemented its new public charge rule as of February 24, 2020. Immigrant visa applicants will be required to complete a Form

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