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

What Is A U.S. Visa, Visa Stamp And Visa Foil And What Are These Used For?

May 22, 2024

In U.S. immigration matters, a visa is a document that allows a foreign national to enter the United States for a specific purpose, such as tourism, work, study, family visits (a nonimmigrant visa) or to immigrate (an immigrant visa). It is typically a stamp or sticker placed in the foreign

What is the PERM Process for U.S. Immigration Through Employment?

May 20, 2024

The U.S. labor certification process, also known as the PERM (Program Electronic Review Management) process, is a crucial step in obtaining certain employment-based immigrant visas and lawful permanent residence in the United States. Here’s an overview of the process. Obtaining a Job Offer: Prospective applicants for a job in the

What is the Difference Between a Visa Backlog and Retrogression?

May 2, 2024

Under U.S. immigration law there are several types of immigrant visas. We can generally break these into family based immigrant visas and employment and investment based immigrant visas. Under the family based immigrant visas, there are two subcategories. Immigrant visas for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens (spouses, parents and unmarried

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

What Does A 214(b) Refusal Mean in U.S. Immigration Law?

October 14, 2025

A 214(b) refusal in U.S. immigration law refers to a specific section of the Immigration and Nationality Act (“INA”) that is often cited when a U.S. consular officer denies a nonimmigrant visa application. This section is often seen with individuals applying for B-1/ B-2 Visitor Visas but it is applicable

What is the DS‑260, Its Role in Consular Processing, and Why Accuracy Matters?

October 8, 2025

If you are applying for a U.S. immigrant visa, completing the online Form DS-260 is a major step in the immigration process once the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services approves your petition. The DS-260 asks for detailed personal, family, and background information, which helps the United States Department of

CR1 Visa Guide: Eligibility, Process, and Costs Explained

October 3, 2025

When couples begin exploring U.S. immigration options, one of the first questions that often comes up is “What is a CR1 visa?” The CR1 is a U.S. immigrant spouse visa that grants conditional permanent residency (“Green Card”) to foreign spouses married to U.S. citizens for less than two (2) years.

Reauthorization and Stability From The RIA

October 1, 2025

The Reauthorization and Stability section of the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (“RIA”) focuses on the continuation and enhancement of the EB-5 Regional Center Program, which had previously lapsed in 2021. The Regional Center Program is a part of the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program passed by the U.S.

Can the Intending Immigrant Help the Sponsor Meet the Income Requirements?

September 26, 2025

In family-based immigration cases, a central component of this process is the Form I-864, Affidavit of Support (“I-864”). This legally binding contract is required to demonstrate that the intending immigrant (the “Beneficiary”) has adequate financial support from the sponsoring family member (the “Sponsor”) through income and/or assets, and therefore the

Is the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa for the U.S. a Secure Path to a Green Card?

September 24, 2025

The United States continues to be a top destination for individuals seeking world-class healthcare, top-tier education, and a stable environment for business and investment. For many individuals and families, investment-based immigration offers a convenient opportunity to secure lawful permanent residency in the United States. Among the various investment-based immigration options,

News & Resources

CATEGORY

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

Vietnamese Passport Name Order: Common Issues with U.S. Immigration Documents

What Is Capital In The RIA?

David Enterline speaks at IIUSA EB-5 Event in East Asia

What is a Form I-129F? Petition for Alien Fiancé Explained