USCIS Issues Alert on the EB-5 Regional Center Program
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has posted an “Alert” on its “Approved EB-5 Immigrant Investor Regional Centers webpage”. The Alert explains how the USCIS will handle relevant petitions and applications following the sunset of the Immigrant Investor “Regional Center” Program (the “Program”). We emphasis herein guidance related to EB-5 investors who have […]
USCIS Policy Update to “Requests for Evidence” and “Notices of Intent to Deny”
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has issued new policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to address the circumstances in which officers should issue Requests for Evidence (“RFEs”) and Notices of Intent to Deny (“NOIDs”). In 2013, USCIS published guidance instructing officers to issue RFEs in cases involving insufficient evidence before denying such […]
USCIS Announces New Policy Highlights for Expedited Processing
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has released a new policy update pertaining to expedited processing. Under the updated criteria, USCIS provides further guidance as to whether expedited processing may be warranted. The new policy highlights include the following: Clarifies criteria and circumstances under which USCIS will generally consider expedited requests. Restores the […]
Announcement – Rescheduling USCIS Biometric Services Appointments by Phone
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced that applicants, petitioners, and beneficiaries may now call the USCIS Contact Center (1-800-375-5283) to reschedule their biometric services appointments that were scheduled at a USCIS Application Support Center (“ACS”). Previously, applicants had to submit requests in writing to reschedule biometrics appointments. This change helps eliminate undue paperwork […]
Enterline and Partners Receives Approval for Highly Complex I-130 Petition
Enterline and Partners is pleased to share it has obtained an approval for a complex I-130 Petition for Alien Relative (“I-130 Petition) for one of our Vietnamese clients. Our client, a U.S. citizen (Joe) and his Vietnamese wife (Jane), consulted with us following Jane’s multiple non-immigrant and immigrant visa refusals. A few years ago, Jane […]
USCIS Again Extends Flexibility for Responding to Agency Requests
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) is once again extending flexibility the agency announced on March 30, 2020, to assist applicants and petitioners who are responding to these agency requests : Requests for Evidence; Continuations to Request Evidence (N-14); Notices of Intent to Deny; Notices of Intent to Revoke; Notices of Intent to […]
What is a Form I-130 Petition?
A Form I-130 is a Petition for Alien Relative filed through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The form can be filed by either a U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card Holder) which establishes a valid family relationship. It is the first step in helping immediate relatives immigrate to the United […]
Writ of Mandamus for EB-5 immigrant investors update
In June we wrote about the option of filing a Writ of Mandamus for EB-5 investors whose I-526 Petitions have been pending for a long time without a decision. In August 2020, Enterline and Partners assisted one of its clients to file a Writ of Mandamus for an EB-5 immigrant investor visa. A response from […]
Interest in the EB 5 visa returning with 75 investors from July through September 2020
Following the increase to the minimum investment in a targeted employment area, from US$500,000 to US$900,000 in November 2019 [see here, here and here], interest in the EB-5 immigrant investor visa significantly dropped in early 2020. Data from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) on quarterly filings indicated that only 61 investors filed […]
USCIS to Replace Sticker That Extends Validity of Green Cards
Starting in January 2021, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) will replace the sticker that is currently issued to lawful permanent residents (“LPRs”) to extend the validity of their Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card (“Green Card”). The new document will be a revised Form I-797, Notice of Action (“Notice”). An LPR must file […]