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

Announcement: All Routine U.S. Visa Interviews in Vietnam Cancelled

March 19, 2020

The U.S. Embassy in Hanoi and the U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City has announced that all routine visa interviews will be cancelled as of March 19th in an effort to impede the spread of the Coronavirus. Applicants with an urgent travel matter may request an expedited appointment which

Announcement: All Visa Interviews at the U.S. Embassy in Manila are Cancelled

March 16, 2020

In light of the Philippines government decision to impose a city-wide lockdown around Metro Manila to contain the Coronavirus, the U.S. Embassy has announced that all immigrant and non-immigrant visa interviews have been cancelled as of March 16, 2020. Visa interviews will resume as soon as possible. More information can

National Interest Waivers for EB-2 Applicants

March 16, 2020

The Employment Based Second Preference Immigrant Visa Category (EB-2) Advanced Degree Holder and Person of Exceptional Ability with National Interest Waivers. Previously we wrote about the qualifications for an Employment Based Second Preference (EB-2) Immigrant Visa which is for persons who have an advanced degree or persons with exceptional ability

Will K-1 Visa Applicants Be Required to Provide a DS-5540 Public Charge Questionnaire?

March 9, 2020

The new public charge rule requires immigrant and non-immigrant visa applicants to provide a detailed DS-5540 public charge questionnaire in order to determine whether they are likely to become a public charge at any time in the future. While a K-1 visa is officially a non-immigrant visa allowing for single

Insight into the EB-5 China final action date forward movement in the March 2020 visa bulletin

March 6, 2020

Why did the EB 5 China final action date jump forward in the March 2020 visa bulletin? There have been a number of questions as to why the final action date for EB-5 investors from China leaped forward 4.5 months in the March visa bulletin. United States Department of State’s

Department of State to Implement Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds as of February 24, 2020

March 4, 2020

Following the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) lead, the U.S. Department of State (“DOS”), which oversees consular processing for immigrant and non-immigrant visas at U.S. Embassies and Consulates, has implemented its new public charge rule as of February 24, 2020. Immigrant visa applicants will be required to complete a Form

March Visa Bulletin Sees Great Leap Forward for Chinese EB-5 Investors

February 25, 2020

The U.S. Department of State (“DOS”) March visa bulletin is out and in a big surprise, the Final Action Date priority date [link to article] for Chinese EB-5 investors leaped forward by 5 months, from December 1, 2014 in February to May 15, 2015. We are looking forward to reading

Enterline and Partners to Speak at Regional Conference

February 21, 2020

Ryan Barshop and David Enterline of Enterline and Partners will speak at the American Immigration Lawyers Association (“AILA”), Bangkok District Chapter (“BDC”), “8th Annual Consular Processing Conference” in Taipei, Taiwan. AILA is an international organization of more than 15,000 attorneys and law professors who practice and teach immigration law. Ryan

USCIS Updated Policy Alert Concerning Direct Consular Filing at U.S. Embassies and Consulates

February 17, 2020

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) released an updated policy memorandum advising the Department of States (“DOS”) on adjudicating Form I-130 Petitions for Alien Relatives at U.S. Embassies and Consulates through Direct Consular Filing (“DCF.”) The policy memorandum clarifies that USCIS will no longer accept and adjudicate routine I-130 Petitions

What is Lawful Source of Funds and Path of Funds for an EB-5 Immigrant Investor?

February 5, 2020

The investment capital that an EB-5 Investor may use for his or her investment, called the “lawful source of funds” (“SOF”), can come from any source as long as the investor can prove that the capital or funds were obtained lawfully. Some common SOF are salary and bonus income, dividends

Immigrant Visa

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