Biden Revokes Trump’s Executive Order Restricting Immigrant and Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants

February 25, 2021

United States President Joseph Biden has revoked former President Donald Trump’s Executive Order (“EO”) restricting certain immigrant and non-immigrant applicants from visa processing. Intended to protect U.S. jobs at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, President Trump issued an EO on April 23, 2020 suspending selected immigrant visa applicants which

EB-2 Visa Approved in Manila

February 23, 2021

Enterline and Partners is pleased to share that we were able to overcome a refusal for one of our clients who was successfully issued an EB-2 Immigrant Visa in the Philippines. Our client, a healthcare provider, was petitioned by a U.S. employer as a physical therapist. After the Form I-140

Writ of Mandamus for EB-5 immigrant investors update

February 2, 2021

In June we wrote about the option of filing a Writ of Mandamus for EB-5 investors whose I-526 Petitions have been pending for a long time without a decision. In August 2020, Enterline and Partners assisted one of its clients to file a Writ of Mandamus for an EB-5 immigrant

Interest in the EB 5 visa returning with 75 investors from July through September 2020

January 26, 2021

Following the increase to the minimum investment in a targeted employment area, from US$500,000 to US$900,000 in November 2019 [see here, here and here], interest in the EB-5 immigrant investor visa significantly dropped in early 2020. Data from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) on quarterly filings indicated

USCIS to Replace Sticker That Extends Validity of Green Cards

January 25, 2021

Starting in January 2021, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) will replace the sticker that is currently issued to lawful permanent residents (“LPRs”) to extend the validity of their Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card (“Green Card”). The new document will be a revised Form I-797, Notice of Action

What is a Transportation Letter or Boarding Foil?

January 15, 2021

We have previously written about what lawful permanent residents can do if their Form I-551 “Green Card” has been lost, stolen, or destroyed and they are outside of the United States. In these articles, we have mentioned obtaining a travel letter or ‘Boarding Foil,” so they may return to the

Trump Extends Restrictions on Immigrant and Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants Through March

January 7, 2021

United States President Donald Trump has extended an earlier Presidential Proclamation restricting certain immigrant and nonimmigrant visa categories from consular processing in response to the growing COVID-19 pandemic. The Executive Order (“EO”), which was first issued in April 2020, restricted certain immigrant visa applicants from receiving their visas for at

What do I need to show to reenter the U.S. after being outside for a long time because of COVID-19?

December 23, 2020

We have covered several issues in our series on how to protect your lawful permanent resident status and green card if you have been outside the United States and have been unable to return because of COVID-19. COVID-19 Reference Guide If you are able to reenter within 1 year of

What is an I-131A visa and will it allow me to reenter the United States?

December 21, 2020

An I-131A visa is for lawful permanent residents (“LPR”) whose Form I-551 “green card” was lost, stolen or destroyed while traveling outside the United States, or whose green card has expired, and who have been outside the U.S. for less than one year. Such LPRs can apply at a U.S.

The November 2020 Visa Bulletin Priority Date shows slight movement forward for Vietnamese EB-5 immigrant investors

December 2, 2020

The “Final Action Date” priority date for Vietnamese EB-5 investors moved forward slightly in the Department of State November 2020 visa bulletin from August 15, 2017 to September 1, 2017. The priority date indicates that any investors who filed their I-526 Petitions on or before September 1, 2017 now have

USCIS Removes Biometrics Requirement for EB-5 Investors on Form I-526E Petitioners

April 11, 2023

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has removed the biometrics $85 biometrics fee requirement for petitioners filing Form I-526E, Immigrant Petition by Regional Center Investor. Petitioners no longer need to submit the fee for biometrics services with their Form I-526E. The USCIS has determined that universal biometrics collection

U.S. CDC Rescinds COVID-19 Testing for Passengers from China

April 3, 2023

The U.S. Center for Disease Control (“CDC”) has rescinded a policy that 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 Macau have a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of recovery. The policy, which

USCIS Flexibility For Responding to Agency Requests Will Expire on March 23, 2023

March 29, 2023

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) COVID-19 related flexibilities will expire on March 23, 2023. The USCIS, which has extended COVID-19 related flexibilities multiple times including March 2022, October 2022 and January 2023 are not expected to be further extended. The extensions have been in place to assist

USCIS Announces Additional Mail Delivery Process for Receiving ADIT Stamp

March 24, 2023

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has announced that lawful permanent residents may receive temporary evidence of their lawful permanent resident status by mail rather than having to physically visit a field office to receive an Alien Documentation, Identification and Telecommunication (“ADIT”) stamp (also known as an I-551

USCIS Issues New Policy Guidelines In Calculating a Child’s Age under the Child Status Protection Act

February 24, 2023

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has issued new guidelines in the agency’s policy manual in determining when an immigrant visa number “becomes available” for purposes of calculating an immigrant visa applicant’s age under the Child Status Protection Act (“CSPA”). In order for a child to be issued

A Poem for EB-5

February 18, 2023

U.S.-oriented, the goal of investment immigration EB-5 program is a choice of individuals, an opportunity to create a life of freedom Entrepreneurial development in this land, stepping towards success Infinite possibilities, the beauty of the future gradually unveiled An investment in exchange for a visa, achieving a win-win outcome A

The Visa Waiting Time for the Family-Based Fourth Preference Immigrant Visa Category

February 15, 2023

The U.S. immigration system provides several categories for individuals seeking to immigrate to the United States based on their familial relationships with U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents. The fourth preference category (also known as the “F4” category) is for brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens. If you are the

Enterline and Partners Successfully Expedites Immigrant Visa for an Adopted Child with Direct Consular Filing at the U.S. Embassy in Manila

February 9, 2023

Enterline and Partners recently completed another successful Direct Consular Filing (“DCF”) of a Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative (“I-130” Petition) at the U.S. Embassy in Manila (“Embassy”). The client, a U.S. citizen and her adopted child approached our attorneys after reading about a previously successful DCF case. After scheduling

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

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