F4 Visa Bulletin Update: Waiting Time for Family-Based Sibling Immigration
The U.S. immigration system provides a specific pathway for U.S. citizens to sponsor their siblings for lawful permanent residency (“Green Card.”) The Family-Based Fourth Preference (F4) category is dedicated to the brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens ages twenty-one (21) and above. While this is a popular route for family reunification, the F4 category […]
Visa Retrogression Explained: Differences Between Retrogression and Backlogs
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 to wait a longer period […]
What is a Priority Date in U.S. Immigration? A Complete Guide to the Priority Date in U.S. Immigration
The priority date in U.S. immigration is a critical concept for anyone waiting for lawful permanent residency status (“Green Card”). Because Congress sets strict annual limits on the number of immigrant visas issued in most categories, demand often outstrips supply, creating significant backlogs. Your priority date effectively acts as your “place in line” in this […]
Why Did My Priority Date Jump Backwards in the Visa Bulletin?
For many people who are immigrating to the United States, the Department of State (“DOS”) Visa Bulletin is the most important document to watch each month. The Visa Bulletin helps immigrant visa applicants understand their place in line for a visa. Although checking the Visa Bulletin is an essential step in understanding an applicant’s place […]
USCIS Issues New Policy Guidelines In Calculating a Child’s Age under the Child Status Protection Act
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has issued new guidelines in the agency’s policy manual in determining when an immigrant visa number “becomes available” for purposes of calculating an immigrant visa applicant’s age under the Child Status Protection Act (“CSPA”). In order for a child to be issued an immigrant visa or be […]
The Visa Waiting Time for the Family-Based Fourth Preference Immigrant Visa Category
The U.S. immigration system provides several categories for individuals seeking to immigrate to the United States based on their familial relationships with U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents. The fourth preference category (also known as the “F4” category) is for brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens. If you are the sibling of a U.S. citizen, […]
Chinese and Indian EB-5 Investor Priority Dates Retrogress on the October Visa Bulletin; Vietnamese Remains Current
The U.S. Department of State (“DOS”) has published the October 2022 Visa Bulletin and the “Final Action Date” Priority Dates for Chinese and Indian EB-5 investors under the “5th Unreserved” visa category has retrogressed (moved backward in time). What is the Priority Date? Following the return of the Regional Center Program with the passage of […]
No Changes to EB-5 Category in the March 2022 Visa Bulletin
The Department of State (“DOS”) March 2022 visa bulletin continues to show EB-5 regional center visa categories (I5 and R5) unavailable (U) because the EB-5 regional center program remains expired. Read more: the regional center program (“Program”) having lapsed on June 30, 2021. Visas in non-regional center visa categories (C5 and T5) for those investors […]
December Visa Bulletin Shows Chinese, Vietnamese, Indian and Taiwanese Investors All Current for Direct EB-5
The Department of State (“DOS”) December 2021 visa bulletin is out and the priority date for non-regional center investments made by EB-5 investors under the EB-5 visa category is current for all countries including China. This is the first time that EB-5 visa numbers have been “current” for Chinese investors since 2015. The priority date […]
Vietnam Investors Leap Forward Almost 2 Months on the April visa bulletin
Good news for Vietnam EB-5 Investors, as the “Final Action Date” priority date on the Department of State’s April visa bulletin leaped forward by almost two months, from October 22, 2017 to December 15, 2017. The priority date indicates that any Vietnamese investors who filed their I-526 Petitions on or before December 15, 2017 now […]