News & Resources

USCIS Extends Green Card Validity To 48 Months For EB-5 Investors And Married Conditional Permanent Residents

February 1, 2023

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) is extending the validity of Permanent Resident Cards (also known as “Green Cards”) for petitioners who properly file Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, or Form I-829, Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status for 48 months

The Public Charge Rule – A Summary from the American Immigration Lawyers Association

January 30, 2023

EB-5 Immigrant Investor Fees to Increase for Investors and Regional Centers

January 12, 2023

The Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) published a Notice of Proposed Rule-Making (“NPRM”) to adjust fees for various immigration benefits provided by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”). Included in the NPRM are proposed fees for many forms used under the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program (“EB-5 Program.”). Fees

EB-5 “Promoters” and “Migration Agents” Now Required to Register with USCIS

January 10, 2023

On January 4, 2023, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) published Form I-956K, Registration for Direct and Third-Party Promoters which is now required to be completed and filed by any person or company that is acting as a direct or third-party promoter or migration agent (a “Promoter”) of: A

U.S. Center for Disease Control to Require COVID Testing for Passengers from China

December 30, 2022

The U.S. Center for Disease Control (“CDC”) has announced that it will implement a requirement for a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of recovery for air passengers boarding flights to the United States originating from the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) and the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and

U.S. State Department 2019 Novel Coronavirus Has Not Changed Visa Adjudication

February 13, 2020

The U.S. Department of State (“DOS”) which oversees the visa adjudication process at U.S. Embassies and Consulates has not released any formal statement indicating that the 2019 Novel Coronavirus has resulted in the suspension of consular operations. A recent social media posting purported to be an official statement from the

What is Lawful Source of Funds and Path of Funds for an EB-5 Immigrant Investor?

February 5, 2020

The investment capital that an EB-5 Investor may use for his or her investment, called the “lawful source of funds” (“SOF”), can come from any source as long as the investor can prove that the capital or funds were obtained lawfully. Some common SOF are salary and bonus income, dividends

USCIS to Change its Processing Policy for I-526, Immigrant Petition by Alien Investor EB-5 Petitions

January 31, 2020

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced it is changing the way it will process Form I-526, Immigrant Petition by Alien Investor, moving from a first-in, first-out basis to a visa availability approach. The Form I-526 Petition is filed by someone wanting to immigrate to the U.S. via the EB-5

The United States Supreme Court To Allow Public Charge Rule To Take Effect

January 30, 2020

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a Trump Administration policy expanding the government’s ability to refuse immigrant visas and issue green cards to immigrants who are likely to become a Public Charge. The 5-4 ruling, which was divided on ideologically lines, will allow the new rule to

State Department Expected to Publish New Guidelines in an Effort to Impede U.S. Birth Tourism

January 28, 2020

The United States Department of State (“DOS”) is scheduled to release new guidelines giving consular officers further discretion to determine whether women who are applying for a B-1/ B-2 visitor visa primary purpose is to give birth in the United States. It is unclear how consular officers at U.S. Embassies

USCIS Scheduled to Increase Business Visa Application Filing Fees

January 21, 2020

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) is scheduled to increase its filing and processing fees for business visas in 2020. Below are examples of the proposed increased fees by visa category: L-1 and H-1B Visas: L-1 visa petitions (for temporary workers, non-immigrant) are scheduled to increase by 77 percent

CATEGORY

Supreme Court Hands the Trump Administration a Partial Victory in Ongoing Birthright Citizenship Litigation

When Do Sponsor Obligations End Under Form I-864?

United States Announces New Visa Policies Targeting Chinese Nationals

U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong Announces New Policy for Immigrant Visa Applicants