EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program Modernization Final Regulation has Finished Review at the Office of Management and Budget

July 1, 2019

On June 27, 2019, the Office of Management and Budget completed review of the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program Modernization final regulation. The most significant proposed change for intending EB-5 investors is an increase of the minimum investment amount in a Targeted Employment Area from the current minimum investment of US$500,000

USCIS Will No Longer Accept I-407 at International Field Offices

June 20, 2019

Beginning July 1, USCIS will no longer accept Form I-407, Record of Abandonment of Lawful Permanent Resident Status at international field offices by mail or in person. Individuals who wish to voluntarily record abandonment of their lawful permanent resident (LPR) status must submit Form I-407 via mail to: USCIS Eastern

Announcement: Participants of Large Scale U.S. Marriage Fraud Scheme Indicted

May 15, 2019

A U.S. federal grand jury in Houston, Texas issued a 206 count indictment involving a massive marriage fraud scheme on April 30, 2019. According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a total of 96 individuals were involved in a suspected criminal enterprise designed to create sham marriages between individuals

Extending Your American Visa. Is it Possible?

May 8, 2019

Quick Answer Summary Question Answer Can you extend a U.S. visa? Partially — you cannot extend the visa stamp in your passport, but you can extend your authorized stay What are you actually extending? Your authorized period of stay as recorded on your I-94 record What form is needed? Form

EB-5 Modernization Regulation Pending Review At The Office Of Management And Budget

May 6, 2019

On April 8, 2019, USCIS Director L. Francis Cissna sent a letter to Senator Grassley (R-IA) and Senator Leahy (D-VT) regarding the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program Modernization Rule (RIN 1615-AC07). Among other things, Director Cissna indicated in the letter that “DHS is dedicated to ensuring expeditious implementation of the rule,

What is 2-Year Meeting Requirement?

April 12, 2019

One key requirement to qualify for the K-1 non-immigrant visa for when a United States Citizen, the petitioner, wants to sponsor a foreign partner to immigrate to the U.S., is that the citizen and foreign spouse must physically meet within 2 years prior to filing the I-129 Petition with the

Trump has no interest in addressing border issues or immigration reform

April 11, 2019

While this recent op-ed (opinion-editorial) article in the Los Angeles Times, focuses on President Trump and his ongoing war with the U.S. and Mexico border and its illegal immigration issues, the article points out that the Trump administration has, according to the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), radically slowed the

USCIS Manila Field Office Closure Will Not Affect Consular Operations

March 15, 2019

Ryan Barshop, Esq. interviewed by Philippines cable news on the upcoming closure of the USCIS Manila Field Office.

Treatment of USCIS Form I-131 During International Travel

January 30, 2019

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently published on its website that applicants filing for a Form I-131 Travel Document will not have their applications considered abandoned if they travel abroad with an approved advance parole document while a second one is pending provided that the first approved advance

InfoPass Pilot Program Expansion – The Information Services Modernization Program

January 15, 2019

On October 30, 2018, USCIS announced plans to expand the InfoPass pilot program, known as the Information Services Modernization Program, to additional USCIS field offices throughout the United States. The Information Services Modernization Program ends self-scheduling of InfoPass appointments and instead encourages applicants to use USCIS online information resources to

Announcement: USCIS Filing Fee for Immigration Forms Changes to Become Effective on October 2, 2020

August 7, 2020

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has posted for public inspection an advanced copy of a final rule that will significantly alter many fees the USCIS charges for services, including adding new fees, establishing multiple fees for nonimmigrant worker petitions, and limiting the number of beneficiaries for certain

Enterline and Partners Successfully Expedites CR-1 Visa with Direct Consular Filing at U.S. Embassy in Manila

July 13, 2020

Enterline and Partners recently represented a newlywed couple living in the Philippines in an expedited I-130 Petition for Alien Relative at the U.S. Embassy in Manila. The couple, a U.S. citizen and a Philippines citizen, were married in the United States and living in Manila. The expedited filing, which was

Actions to Take When a Client’s I-526 Petition Enters Processing Limbo

June 24, 2020

EB-5 investors and projects continue to contend with lengthy delays in the processing of I-526 Petitions. Average processing times have steadily increased over the past few years, in stark contrast to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) new Investor Program Office (“IPO”) statements that it would reverse the trend

USCIS Resumes Form I-129 and I-140 Premium Processing

June 5, 2020

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) is scheduled to resume Form I-907 Request for Premium Processing Service for Form I-129 Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker and Form I-140 Petition for Alien Workers in phases throughout the month of June. Premium processing was temporarily suspended on March 20th due to

Announcement: USCIS to Resume In-Person Services on June 4

June 3, 2020

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) is scheduled to resume non-emergency in-person services on June 4th. On March 18, USCIS suspended routine in-person services at its field offices, asylum offices, and application support centers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As USCIS services recommence, offices will reduce the number

Update on Visa Waiver Program Entrants Requesting Satisfactory Departure from Local USCIS Field Offices

May 28, 2020

Individuals in the United States admitted under the Visa Waiver Program (“VWP”) are not allowed to file for an extension of status; moreover, the maximum period of admission is three months. However, those admitted under the VWP who are unable to depart before their approved period of admission because of

David Enterline Was Recently Interviewed About the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program

May 22, 2020

David Enterline was recently interviewed by Ms. Jenny Nguyen of American Lending Center about the United States EB-5 immigrant investor program. Some of the topics discussed were how President Trump’s 60-day immigration ban does not impact EB-5 investors, new changes on how the United States Immigration and Citizenship Services (“USCIS”)

United States Senate Introduces Legislation to Increase Immigrant Visas for Foreign Doctors and Nurses

May 6, 2020

New legislation has been introduced in the United States Senate to grant unused immigrant visas to foreign healthcare professionals to help fight the coronavirus. The Senate bill would authorize up to 25,000 immigrant visas for foreign nurses and up to 15,000 for foreign doctors. The legislation would also allow the

Announcement: USCIS Extends In-Person Services Suspension through June 3rd

April 28, 2020

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has announced that in-person services at its offices will reopen as early as June 4th in compliance with local and state orders. In-person services at USCIS include field offices, asylum offices, and application support centers. During this extended closure period, USCIS will

EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa Petition Statistics Released by the USCIS for Fiscal Year 2020 Q1

April 27, 2020

The United States Immigration and Citizenship Services (“USCIS”) has published its quarterly performance data for Form I-526, Immigrant Petition by Alien Investor and Form I-829, Petition by Entrepreneurs to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status. The number of I-526 petition filings are not much of a surprise and the painfully

USCIS

CATEGORY

Regional Center Annual Statements And Sanctions

What to Do on Your First Day Entering the United States as a New Immigrant

What Is a Request for Evidence from USCIS and What Should You Do?

What Happens If My K-1 Fiancé(e) Visa Is Refused at the Interview?

EB-5 Investors Face Significant USCIS Filing Fee Increases