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
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 “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
At a recent IIUSA EB-5 Forum, Charles Oppenheim, the Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division at the U.S. Department of State (“DOS”) – the man who decides the DOS Visa Bulletin every month – responded to a question regarding visa allocation for persons from Hong Kong. The question
The United States Department of State (“DOS”) has announced that routine visa processing at Embassies and Consulates will resume on a post-by-post basis consistent with DOS’s guidance for safely returning to the full services. As on the ground conditions improve, DOS will begin providing services leading to the eventual full
Are you a conditional permanent resident waiting for the approval of a Form I-829 Petition (for EB-5 immigrant investors) or a Form I-751 Petition (for spouses of U.S. citizens) to remove the condition from your permanent resident status but have not been able to return to the U.S. because of
Update: Between the writing and publication of this article, a federal judge granted a motion for a preliminary injunction against the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) fee rule discussed herein. As long as this preliminary injunction is in place, the existing fees remain as before. Effective October 2, 2020,
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency (“CBP”) has not announced any special relief to a lawful permanent resident (“LPR’) who has remained outside the United States for more than one year because of COVID-19 travel and movement restrictions. Currently, a LPR who was remained outside the United States irrespective
Due to significant travel and movement restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Lawful Permanent Residents (“LPR”’) have found themselves stranded abroad and thus unable to travel to the United States despite not having the intention of abandoning their LPR status. All permanent residents receive an identification called a Form I-551
There are many reasons why a lawful permanent resident (“LPR”) would remain outside the United States for more than 180 days. However, staying outside the U.S. for a long period could result in the U.S. government taking the position that an LPR has abandoned his or her intent to live
The priority date in U.S. immigration is a critical concept for anyone waiting for lawful permanent residency status (“Green Card”). Because Congress sets strict annual limits on the number of immigrant visas issued in most categories, demand often outstrips supply, creating significant backlogs. Your priority date effectively acts as your
If you are applying for the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa, one of the first questions you’ll ask is: “What is the EB-5 visa processing time?” The truth is, EB-5 processing times vary greatly depending on many factors, such as your nationality, the project you invest in, how the United States
The U.S. Alien Registration Number, commonly abbreviated as an A-Number, is a unique identifier assigned to non-citizens by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”). This A-Number begins with the letter “A” followed by 8 or 9 numbers (such as A012345678). It is used to track individuals throughout their
If you are applying for a U.S. immigrant visa, completing the online Form DS-260 is a major step in the immigration process once the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services approves your petition. The DS-260 asks for detailed personal, family, and background information, which helps the United States Department of
When couples begin exploring U.S. immigration options, one of the first questions that often comes up is “What is a CR1 visa?” The CR1 is a U.S. immigrant spouse visa that grants conditional permanent residency (“Green Card”) to foreign spouses married to U.S. citizens for less than two (2) years.
When people think of U.S. immigration, the first thing that comes to mind oftentimes is Lawful Permanent Residence (“Green Card.”) However, the journey to permanent residency is not a one-size-fits-all road. The Green Card system can be divided into several visa categories, each with its own purpose, requirements, and process.
All immigrant visa applicants (i.e. those applying for a Green Card) are required to complete a medical exam at a designated clinic by a panel physician as part of the process. The purpose of the exam is to ensure that applicants are not carriers of any serious infectious diseases or
The United States Department of State (“DOS”) is now requiring immigrant visa applicants to apply for immigrant visas in the consular district designated for their place of residence or in their country of nationality. Effective immediately, if an immigrant visa applicant would like to transfer his or her pending immigrant
Reuniting families is one of the most meaningful aspects of the U.S. immigration system. While sponsoring a family member is a common path, the timeline can vary considerably. Having a better idea of how long does it take to sponsor a family member can help you plan ahead and avoid
Beginning July 1, 2025, Immigrant Visa and K Fiancée Visa applicants who have not brought ALL the required documents to their interview will be turned away and required to reschedule their appointment. Applicants must present original civil documents, including police certificates, marriage and divorce certificates, and birth certificates, and make
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