Immigrant Visa

Announcement: DOS Continues to Encourage Medical Professionals with Approved Petitions to Seek an Emergency Visa Appointment

April 13, 2020

The U.S. Department of State (“DOS”) has reiterated its earlier announcement that despite the worldwide suspension of routine visa appointments, U.S. embassies and consulates will continue to provide emergency and critical visa services. Healthcare professionals with an approved non-immigrant or immigrant petition such as an I-129 Petition for Nonimmigrant Workers

The Effect of Breaks in Continuity of Residence on Eligibility for Naturalization

April 7, 2020

Are you a lawful permanent resident (“LPR”) of the United States and want to become a U.S. citizen? If you have been a resident for at least 5 years, or 3 years if you obtained your LPR status through marriage to a U.S. citizen, then you may be eligible for

Announcement: USCIS Extends In-Person Services Suspension through May 3

April 6, 2020

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) will extend in-person services suspension at Field Offices, Asylum Offices and Application Support Centers (“ACS”) through May 3 unless otherwise announced. While the extended closure covers interviews, naturalization ceremonies, and biometric collections, USCIS will continue to provide emergency and essential services that do not

Announcement: Medical Professionals with Approved Petitions Encouraged to Seek an Expedited Visa Interview

April 2, 2020

The U.S. Department of State (“DOS”) is encouraging medical professionals with an approved immigrant or non-immigrant petition (Form I-129, Form I-140) or a certificate of eligibility in an approved exchange program to request for an expedited appointment at their nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Although DOS has instructed consular services

Announcement: Extended deadlines to respond to RFEs and NOIDs

April 1, 2020

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has announced that it is extending the deadline to reply to requests for evidence (“RFE”) and notices of intent to deny (“NOID”) in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. For applicants and petitioners who receive an RFE or NOID dated between March 1st and

Announcement: USCIS Extends In-Person Services Suspension Through April 7, 2020

March 27, 2020

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) will extend the suspension of in-person services at field offices, asylum offices and application support centers through April 7, 2020. The USCIS had originally cancelled in-person operations on March 18th and was expected to recommence on April 1st in an effort to help contain

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

Vietnamese Names Listed Incorrectly on U.S. Visas and Green Cards

February 12, 2022

There has always been a challenge with some U.S. government offices incorrectly listing Vietnamese citizen’s names on government documents such as visas and Form I-551 “Green Cards” because Vietnamese passports list names in order of last name (or “family name” or “surname”) followed by middle name then first name. This

DHS Drops Appeal of the U.S. District Court’s Ruling in Behring Regional Center LLC v. Mayorkas

January 13, 2022

On January 5, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”), on behalf of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”), filed a motion to dismiss its appeal of a U.S. District Court’s ruling in the case Behring Regional Center LLC v. Alejandro N. Mayorkas, et al. (“Behring v. Alejandro”).

Status of the EB-5 Regional Center Program in January 2022

January 10, 2022

Six months have passed since the EB-5 Regional Center Program (“Program”) expired and Congress has still not taken any steps towards its renewal. Originally enacted in 1993, the Program was a pilot, or test, program and was never made permanent. The Program had been extended on a regular basis for

Enterline and Partners Successfully Expedites CR-1 Visa Through DCF Proxy Marriage

December 13, 2021

The COVID-19 Pandemic has in no doubt permanently altered the way business is done across many industries and professions. From international borders closures to internal movement control orders, activities and transactions which were once routine and seamless are now complex and difficult. Despite all of the hardship caused by the

International Air Travelers to the U.S. Now Require a Negative COVID-19 Test within 24 Hours of Departure

December 6, 2021

Effective December 6, 2021, the United States Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”) has established new rules requiring international air travelers arriving in the United States to obtain a negative COVID-19 test within 24 hours of departure. Under the current rules, vaccinated international air travelers may present a negative test result

DOS Rescinds Tiered Approach Allowing Resumption of More Consular Services

November 29, 2021

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ease, the United States Department of State (“DOS”) has announced that the earlier tiered approach aimed at reducing backlogs has been rescinded. Instead of the tiered approach, DOS will focus on reducing wait times for all consular processing services while also protecting the health

December Visa Bulletin Shows Chinese, Vietnamese, Indian and Taiwanese Investors All Current for Direct EB-5

November 25, 2021

The Department of State (“DOS”) December 2021 visa bulletin is out and the priority date for non-regional center investments made by EB-5 investors under the EB-5 visa category is current for all countries including China. This is the first time that EB-5 visa numbers have been “current” for Chinese investors

Ryan Barshop Featured in AILA Global Migration Section E-Bulletin

November 19, 2021

Ryan Barshop, a partner of Enterline and Partners Consulting was recently featured in the October 2021 E-Bulletin of the American Immigration Lawyers Association Global Migration Section (“AILA GMS”). Mr. Barshop, who has been practicing U.S. immigration law overseas for nearly 10 years, was interviewed by AILA GMS about why he

David Enterline Discussed Recent Changes to EB-5 During Webinar

November 2, 2021

On Saturday, October 30, 2021, David Enterline of Enterline and Partners Consulting discussed recent changes to the EB-5 immigrant investor visa category (“EB-5”) during an EB-5 webinar organized by Internegra Immigration and Pearl Bay Consulting for Indonesian and Vietnamese investors. Mr. Enterline explained that in June 2021, in the case

Potential Waivers for COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements for Immigrants

October 22, 2021

All immigrants to the U.S. must pass a medical examination prior to their visa interview. One of the criteria determined at the medical examination is whether the intending immigrant has received vaccinations required to be eligible to immigrate. Beginning October 1, 2021, most immigrants will be required to receive a

CATEGORY

Supreme Court Hands the Trump Administration a Partial Victory in Ongoing Birthright Citizenship Litigation

When Do Sponsor Obligations End Under Form I-864?

United States Announces New Visa Policies Targeting Chinese Nationals

U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong Announces New Policy for Immigrant Visa Applicants