Distinguishing U.S. Immigrant Visa Categories: Family, Employment, and Investment

September 19, 2025

There is no single “green card visa.” The U.S. immigration system organizes permanent residence into three main tracks: family-based visas, employment-based visas, and investment visas. Each track has multiple categories with different eligibility requirements, annual quotas, and waiting times. For Vietnamese and Filipino applicants, the category you qualify for determines

DOS Will Now Require Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants to Interview in Place of Residence or Country of Nationality

September 16, 2025

Following the United States Department of State (“DOS”) updated policy requiring immigrant visa applicants to apply for their immigrant visas at Consulates in their place of residence or country of nationality, DOS now also requires nonimmigrant visa applicants to apply in their country of residence or nationality. According to DOS,

U.S. State Department Stiffens the Bar on Immigrant Visas for Communist Party Members

September 12, 2025

This article is posted here in English and translated into Vietnamese and posted courtesy of the author, Gary Chodorow of Chodorow Law Offices. You can find the original article on Gary’s website at: https://lawandborder.com/u-s-state-department-stiffens-the-bar-on-immigrant-visas-for-communist-party-members/ Introduction The U.S. State Department has updated its Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) to toughen the statutory

Increased Investment Amounts Of The RIA

September 11, 2025

The Increased Investment Amounts section of the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (“RIA”) raises the minimum investment thresholds to adjust for inflation and ensure the continued effectiveness of the program in promoting economic growth and job creation in the United States. Under the updated rules, the standard investment

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Everything You Need to Know About the U.S. Immigration Medical Exam

September 9, 2025

All immigrant visa applicants (i.e. those applying for a Green Card) are required to complete a medical exam at a designated clinic by a panel physician as part of the process. The purpose of the exam is to ensure that applicants are not carriers of any serious infectious diseases or

What is a Joint Sponsor for a Form I-864 Affidavit of Support?

November 26, 2024

A Joint Sponsor for Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, is an individual who agrees to share the financial responsibility for sponsoring an immigrant when the primary sponsor (the Petitioner) does not meet the minimum income requirements. The joint sponsor must meet certain eligibility criteria and file their own Form I-864

President-Elect Trump’s Mass Deportation Begins to Take Hold

November 20, 2024

During the 2024 campaign, former president and candidate Donald J. Trump promised mass deportation for millions on undocumented migrants in the United States. It appears that the campaign pledges are beginning to take hold. Last week, President-elect Trump named Thomas Homan as the “Border Tsar.” Homan, a former police officer

Federal Judge Strikes Down Parole-in-Place Program

November 13, 2024

A U.S. Federal Court Judge has struck down Parole-in-Place following an earlier decision granting the State of Texas and fifteen (15) other states an administrative stay two months ago. Judge J. Campbell Barker of the Eastern District of Texas ruled that the program, which would fast-track permanent residency to certain

What is a K-3 Nonimmigrant visa?

November 7, 2024

What is a K-3 nonimmigrant visa? A K-3 visa is a nonimmigrant visa that allows a foreign spouse of a U.S. citizen to enter the United States while their Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative (“I-130 Petition”) is undergoing adjudication with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”). The

Can I send my Absentee Ballot to a U.S. Embassy or Consulate for the Upcoming Presidential Election?

November 1, 2024

We have previously discussed who is eligible to vote in U.S. elections and how American citizens abroad (i.e. Vietnam, the Philippines, and Taiwan) can send their ballots by mail or use designated dropboxes to vote for their presidential and state and local candidates. U.S. citizens who are unable to physically

What is myUSCIS?

October 29, 2024

myUSCIS is the official online portal of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), available at my.uscis.gov. It allows applicants to create a free, personalized account to manage and track U.S. immigration cases online. myUSCIS is a free government service — not a third-party website or paid subscription. For Vietnamese and

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