Know Your Rights: What to Do if You Are Detained at a U.S. Port of Entry (for Lawful Permanent Residents)

April 24, 2026

Updated for 2025: Heightened Enforcement at Ports of Entry Like all international travelers, lawful permanent residents (LPRs)—also known as Green Card holders—are subject to inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) when arriving at an airport or land port of entry. While LPRs enjoy greater rights than nonimmigrants when

Visa Retrogression Explained: Differences Between Retrogression and Backlogs

March 19, 2026

Visa retrogression is a situation where the Department of State (“DOS”) adjusts the Final Action Date and Dates For Filing backwards on the DOS monthly Visa Bulletin. This occurs when the demand for immigrant visas in a specific visa category exceeds the estimated supply, causing applicants who were previously eligible

What is an I-864 Affidavit of Support? Financial Support for U.S. Immigration

March 15, 2026

A Form I-864 is one of the required documents in the U.S. immigrant visa application process , especially for family-based categories and some employment-based cases. The Form I-864 allows the U.S. government to assess the financial capability of the sponsor to ensure that the intended immigrant will not become a

What is a B-1 Domestic Employee Visa and How Does it Work?

March 6, 2026

A B-1 domestic employee visa permits certain foreign domestic workers to temporarily accompany their employer to the United States to manage household or other domestic services. The visa is narrowly defined and carefully regulated. It applies only when there is an established employment relationship and when the employer’s stay in

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

February 18, 2026

United States government posts have frequently listed Vietnamese citizens’names on government documents incorrectly such as on visas and Form I-551 (“Green Cards”.) This often happens because Vietnamese passports list names in the order of last name (or “family name” or “surname”) followed by the middle name and then the first

USCIS Premium Processing 2026: Fees, Forms I-129, I-140, and Current Status

February 14, 2026

For employers and employees navigating the U.S. immigration system, time is often the most critical resource. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) Premium Processing Service allows petitioners to significantly accelerate the adjudication of certain forms, specifically Form I-129 (Nonimmigrant Worker) and Form I-140 (Immigrant Worker), for an additional

Form I-130 Checklist for Spouse: What Documents Are Needed in a Form I-130?

January 30, 2026

Filing a family based immigrant petition for a foreign spouse is one of the most commonly applied for U.S. immigration benefits. The Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative (“Form I-130”), filed with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) is used by U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (“Green

DOS to Suspend Immigrant Visa Applications from Seventy-Five Countries. Philippines and Vietnam Not Included in the Suspension

January 15, 2026

The United States Department of State (“DOS”) has announced that it will freeze immigrant visa processing for seventy-five (75) countries citing concerns that citizens from those countries might become a public charge and require government financial assistance upon entering the United States. The directive instructs DOS consular officers to pause

What is an Immediate Relative Under U.S. Immigration Law?

January 14, 2026

Understanding who qualifies as an Immediate Relative under U.S. Immigration Law is essential for families seeking to reunite in the United States efficiently and without undue delay. At Enterline and Partners, our experienced U.S. immigration attorneys guide clients through this specialized area of immigration law with a personalized approach. What

What Is a Proxy Marriage?

January 2, 2026

Understanding what is a proxy marriage has become increasingly important for couples separated by international borders seeking options to formalize their relationship and pursue U.S. immigration benefits. A proxy marriage refers to a legally recognized marriage ceremony in which one or both parties are not physically present at the time

Enterline and Partners Receives Approval for I-130 Proxy Marriage Petition

August 7, 2021

Enterline and Partners is pleased to share that we have received approval of an I-130 Petition for Alien Relative (“I-130 Petition”) for one of our Philippines clients who was married by proxy. Our client, a U.S. citizen (Jack) and his Philippines wife (Jill), were married online with Jack being physically

Should I Apply for a Reentry Permit if I Need to Travel Outside the United States?

July 25, 2021

If you are a Lawful Permanent Resident (“LPR”) and need to travel outside the U.S for a temporary trip abroad, you generally do not need to apply for any special document to return to the United States. Your valid Form I-551, more commonly known as a “Green Card”, is usually

Enterline and Partners Successfully Expedites Another CR-1 Visa Through Direct Consular Filing

July 23, 2021

Enterline and Partners is pleased to announce another CR-1 immigrant visa has been issued by filing an expedited I-130 Petition for Alien Relative with the U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City (“Consulate”) through Direct Consular Filing (“DCF”). The petitioner, a U.S. citizen and beneficiary, a British citizen, were married

USCIS Issues Another Alert, This Time on the Court Order Regarding EB-5 Regulations

July 13, 2021

The United States Immigration and Citizenship Services (“USCIS”) has posted another Alert regarding the EB-5 immigrant investor visa. We post the complete Alert here for convenience. “On June 22, 2021, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, in Behring Regional Center LLC v. Wolf, 20-cv-09263-JSC, vacated the EB-5 Immigrant

Alert – USCIS Changes Policy on EB-5 Regional Center Program Adjustment of Status Filings

July 9, 2021

One day after announcing its policy on handling EB-5 immigrant investor petitions and applications, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has reversed its decision on accepting Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (“Form I-485”). The updated “Alert” with this change has been posted on

USCIS Issues Alert on the EB-5 Regional Center Program

July 5, 2021

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has posted an “Alert” on its “Approved EB-5 Immigrant Investor Regional Centers webpage”. The Alert explains how the USCIS will handle relevant petitions and applications following the sunset of the Immigrant Investor “Regional Center” Program (the “Program”). We emphasis herein guidance related

The EB-5 Regional Center Program Will Lapse on June 30, 2021

June 29, 2021

The EB-5 Immigrant Investor “Regional Center” Program (“Program”) will lapse on June 30, 2021 due to the failure of the U.S. Congress to reauthorize or extend it before the expiration date. Because the Senate has adjourned for recess until July 12, 2021, the Program will remain unavailable as no legislation

AILA – Practice Advisory: Immigrant Visa (Green Card) Processing Delays

June 28, 2021

Update: The Department of State has updated their triad approach. For more information, click here. After enduring the COVID-19 pandemic for over a year, most U.S. embassies and consulates are not operating at full capacity. Due to limited appointment availability, a significant backlog was created for immigrant (IV) and nonimmigrant visa

USCIS Policy Update to “Requests for Evidence” and “Notices of Intent to Deny”

June 27, 2021

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has issued new policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to address the circumstances in which officers should issue Requests for Evidence (“RFEs”) and Notices of Intent to Deny (“NOIDs”). In 2013, USCIS published guidance instructing officers to issue RFEs in cases involving

U.S. District Court Rules to Overturn EB-5 Regulations; Investment Amount Reduced to $500,000 – for Now.

June 25, 2021

On June 22, 2021, Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley of the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of California issued an order granting summary judgment in favor of the plaintiff, Behring Regional Center, in the lawsuit Behring filed against the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”). The order was given in the matter of Behring

Immigrant Visa

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