USCIS Updates Policy Manual on Family-Based Immigrant Visa Approvals

May 27, 2024

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has issued an updated policy guidance on Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative (“Petition”) explaining how the agency handles family-based immigrant visa petition approvals regarding correcting approval notice errors, requests for consular processing or adjustment of status, and routing procedures for approved

United States And Vietnam Sign A Memorandum Of Cooperation On Culture And People-To-People Ties

April 17, 2024

The U.S. Department of State has announced a signing a Memorandum of Cooperation on Culture and People-to-People Ties between the United States and Vietnam. See the post on the USDOS website here. “Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy Liz Allen and Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs Lee Satterfield met

DHS Announces Temporary Increase Of The Automatic Extension For Certain EAD Applicants

April 16, 2024

The Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has announced a Temporary Final Rule (“TFR”) providing that the automatic extension period applicable to expiring Employment Authorization Documents (“EADs”) for renewal applicants who have filed Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, will be increased from

USCIS New Filing Fees Effective as of April 1, 2024

April 4, 2024

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) new filing fees have taken effect for all files received on or after April 1, 2024. In addition to new filing fees, USCIS has also released new forms for certain petitions. While the new form edition dates begin on April 1, 2024,

Enterline and Partners Attorneys Speak at Regional Conference

March 27, 2024

Enterline and Partners U.S. immigration attorneys, Ryan Barshop and David Enterline recently spoke at the regional American Immigration Lawyers Association, Asia Pacific Chapter (“AILA APAC”) Annual Conference. The conference, which was held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, was attended by a number of U.S. immigration lawyers from around the

Changes to USCIS Filing Fees – an AILA Information Flyer

March 15, 2024

In early 2024, USCIS changed the filing fees for certain immigration and naturalization forms and also released new versions of several forms. According to USCIS, the new fees will help to cover more of its operating costs and support faster processing of new applications. These updated fees and forms will

Managing Partner David Enterline speaks on East Asia Spotlight Webinar

March 6, 2024

David Enterline, Managing Partners at Enterline and Partners, and as senior associate with WTW – Taipei Commercial Law Firm, David recently participated in a “Webinar | East Asia Spotlight” organized by the Global Migration Section of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Joined by 3 other lawyers in the region: Hong

What is a Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record?

February 26, 2024

If you’re applying for adjustment of status (“Green Card”) from within the United States, you have to submit Form I-693, which is a medical exam and vaccination record completed by a specific doctor. Submitting this form shows that you’re eligible for a Green Card based on health reasons. Can Anyone

USCIS Updates Policy Manual on Untimely Filed Extensions and Change of Status Requests

January 31, 2024

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has updated its Policy Manual concerning untimely filed extensions of stay and change of status requests. Generally, certain foreign nationals who are admitted to the United States as nonimmigrants for a specific period of time may file a Form I-539, Application to

Enterline and Partners Successfully Overcomes Lengthy 221g Refusal in Manila

January 25, 2024

In late 2021, our client (Joe), a U.S. citizen married his Philippines citizen wife (Jane) through an online marriage under the laws of the State of Utah. Following the marriage, Joe filed a Form I-130 Petition for Jane. After completing the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) adjudication process

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

Partial Investments in the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program

October 31, 2022

The EB-5 immigrant investor regulations allow an investor to make a partial investment at the time of filing the Form I-526 and Form I-526E, Immigrant Petition by an Investor and to make the remaining investment at a later date. This is confirmed by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services

USCIS Extends Flexibility for Responding to Agency Requests Through January 2023

October 26, 2022

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) is extending certain COVID-19-related flexibilities through January 24, 2023. The flexibilities, which have been extended multiple times, the latest in March 2022 and again in October 2022 are to assist applicants, petitioners, and requestors have more time to reply to various USCIS requests.

Enterline and Co-Counsel Obtain More I-829 Petition Approvals from Writ of Mandamus Action against USCIS

October 13, 2022

On October 6th and 7th, 2022, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) approved two more Form I-829, Petitions by Entrepreneur to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status (“I-829 Petition”) because of filings in Federal Court seeking Writs of Mandamus. The approvals came less than 2 months after filing

USCIS Announces New Public Charge Rule on Inadmissibility to go into Effect December 23, 2022

October 11, 2022

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has announced its final rule for the public charge ground of inadmissibility to go into effect on December 23, 2022. USCIS will begin to apply the new rule to applications postmarked on or after that date. Until then, USCIS will continue to apply

USCIS Extends Green Card Validity to 24 Months for Green Card Renewals

October 6, 2022

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced it will automatically extend Lawful Permanent Resident (“LPR”) Form I-551 “Green Cards” from 12 months to 24 months to an LPR who files a Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (“Form I-90.”). Form I-90 is used for many purposes

Chinese and Indian EB-5 Investor Priority Dates Retrogress on the October Visa Bulletin; Vietnamese Remains Current

September 30, 2022

The U.S. Department of State (“DOS”) has published the October 2022 Visa Bulletin and the “Final Action Date” Priority Dates for Chinese and Indian EB-5 investors under the “5th Unreserved” visa category has retrogressed (moved backward in time). What is the Priority Date? Following the return of the Regional Center

Important Information for All Vietnam Visa Applicants Beginning October 3, 2022

September 15, 2022

Beginning October 3, 2022, all Vietnamese immigrant and nonimmigrant visa applicants whose passports were issued starting July 1, 2022 must include a Vietnam government endorsement page that states the place of birth. Visa applicants who do not have an endorsement page will not be permitted to attend their visa interviews

Enterline files Form I-526E and Enters the New Era of the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program

September 13, 2022

September 8, 2022 began a new era for Enterline and Partners in the EB-5 immigrant Investor Program as Managing Partner David Enterline filed a Form I-526E “Immigrant Petition by Regional Center Investor” for an EB-5 immigrant investor seeking lawful permanent residence under the EB-5 immigrant visa category. The investor, a

Settlement Agreement Confirms EB-5 Regional Center Program and Investors Can Move Forward

August 31, 2022

On August 25, 2022 a settlement was reached in two cases between multiple plaintiffs against the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) that re-authorized previously approved regional centers which USCIS had deauthorized following the enactment of the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act in March 2022. The settlement agrees to

Immigrant Visa

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EB-5 Capital Redeployment Under The RIA