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

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

What is a U.S. visa, visa stamp, and visa foil? These three terms are often used interchangeably – and with good reason: Term What It Is U.S. Visa Official permission issued by a U.S. Embassy or Consulate to apply for entry to the United States Visa Stamp An ink mark

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

May 20, 2024

Quick Summary — The PERM Process Question Answer What does PERM stand for? Program Electronic Review Management Which agency manages PERM? U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) — not USCIS Which visas require PERM? EB-2 and EB-3 (most cases) Who files the PERM application? The U.S. employer — not the foreign

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

DHS Announces Temporary Increase Of The Automatic Extension For Certain EAD Applicants

April 16, 2024

The Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has announced a Temporary Final Rule (“TFR”) providing that the automatic extension period applicable to expiring Employment Authorization Documents (“EADs”) for renewal applicants who have filed Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, will be increased from

USCIS New Filing Fees Effective as of April 1, 2024

April 4, 2024

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) new filing fees have taken effect for all files received on or after April 1, 2024. In addition to new filing fees, USCIS has also released new forms for certain petitions. While the new form edition dates begin on April 1, 2024,

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