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

October Visa Bulletin EB-5 Visa Category Now “Unauthorized” for Visa Issuance

September 19, 2018

Last week, U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs published the October Visa Bulletin. The EB-5 Regional Center category has been listed as “U” meaning unauthorized for issuance. This is because the Immigrant Investor Program (aka Regional Center Program) is set to expire on September 30, 2018. The

USCIS Announces Fee Increase For Premium Processing To $1,410

September 16, 2018

USCIS announced an increase in the premium processing fee for Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker and Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, beginning on October 1, 2018. The premium processing fee will increase to $1,410. This increase will affect any L-1 and EB-1C petitions that our clients

Clarification on STEM OPT Extension Reporting Responsibilities and Training Obligations

August 20, 2018

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced clarification for F-1 visa students completing degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) participating in an Optional Practical Training Extension (OPT). In a document dated August 17, 2018 posted on the USCIS website, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) clarified

Final Guidelines on Unlawful Presence for Students and Exchange Visitors

August 13, 2018

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) August 9, 2018 policy memorandum revises the calculation of unlawful presence of those under F, J, or M nonimmigrant visa status and their dependents during their stay in the United States. Under the new memorandum, those holding F, J, or M visas who

USCIS Adjudicator’s Discretion Restored in Denying Applications, Petitions and Requests without Issuing RFE’s or NOIDS.

July 22, 2018

In a new policy memorandum issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) last July 13, 2018, USCIS adjudicators are given discretion to deny applications, petitions, or requests without first issuing a Request for Evidence (RFE) or Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) if the initial evidence is

U.S. Department of State Vietnam Visa Approvals for May and June 2018

July 10, 2018

The U.S. Department of State (“DOS”) has published a list of visa issuances for both immigrant and nonimmigrant visas for the months of May and June 2018. There were 1,643 immigrant visas issued for Vietnamese nationals in May. Eighty-four were IR-1 visas and 187 were CR-1 visas. The IR-1 visa

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