Biden Administration Initiative to Attract STEM Talent to the United States

January 26, 2022

Pursuant to a Biden Administration initiative, on January 21, 2022, the Departments of State (“DOS”) and Homeland Security (“DHS”) announced new actions related to STEM work authorization, J-1 Researchers, National Interest Waivers, and O-1 Extraordinary Ability Workers. You can read the White House Fact Sheet here. “The Biden-Harris Administration believes

DHS Drops Appeal of the U.S. District Court’s Ruling in Behring Regional Center LLC v. Mayorkas

January 13, 2022

On January 5, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”), on behalf of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”), filed a motion to dismiss its appeal of a U.S. District Court’s ruling in the case Behring Regional Center LLC v. Alejandro N. Mayorkas, et al. (“Behring v. Alejandro”).

Status of the EB-5 Regional Center Program in January 2022

January 10, 2022

Six months have passed since the EB-5 Regional Center Program (“Program”) expired and Congress has still not taken any steps towards its renewal. Originally enacted in 1993, the Program was a pilot, or test, program and was never made permanent. The Program had been extended on a regular basis for

DOS Extends Certain In-Person Non-Immigrant Visa Interviews Through 2022

January 9, 2022

The United States Department of State (“DOS”) has extended the authority of consular officers to waive certain in-person non-immigrant visa interviews through the end of 2022. Along with B-1/ B-2 interview waivers, F, M, and J Academic visa applicant waivers have been extended to the end of 2022 under the

USCIS Once Again Extends Flexibility for Responding to Agency Requests

January 8, 2022

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) is again extending the time period within which applicants, petitioners, and requestors may respond to agency requests. This flexibility applies if the issuance date listed on the request, notice, or decision is on or between March 1, 2020,

The U.S. EB-5 Immigrant Investor Regional Center Program: History, Temporary Status, and Expiration Timeline

March 27, 2026

The EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (“RIA”) reauthorized and reformed the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, a U.S. immigration program that offers foreign nationals a pathway to U.S. permanent residency through investment in American businesses that create jobs. A significant component of this program is the EB-5 Immigrant Investor

Vietnamese Names Listed in a Different Order on U.S. Visas and Green Cards

March 25, 2026

United States government posts have frequently listed Vietnamese citizens’ names on government documents in a different order 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

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

Do You Need an Immigration Lawyer to File a K-1 Visa for Your Vietnamese Fiancé?

March 13, 2026

A common question asked by potential clients is: “Do I need an immigration lawyer to file a K-1 visa for my Vietnamese fiancé/fiancée?” While the short answer is no, having an immigration lawyer represent you and your fiancé through the K-1 visa process has significant advantages. The Benefit of a

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