On January 23, 2023, USCIS announced an extension of the validity of permanent resident cards (“green cards”) to accommodate current processing times for forms I-829 and I-751. As a result, new receipt notices will be issued...more
After Congress passed the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act in March 2022, USCIS announced that the act repealed the legacy Regional Center Program. Consequently, more than 600 existing regional centers were effectively...more
On April 29, 2022, USCIS held its EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 Listening Session and clarified that entities seeking to be designated as a regional center are required to file Form I-956, Application for Regional...more
Substantial changes are forthcoming for the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program as the omnibus spending bill awaits President Biden’s signature. Aside from proposing $1.5 trillion for annual expenses and aid, the omnibus bill...more
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on January 5, 2022, filed an unopposed motion to dismiss its August 2021 appeal to a district court ruling in Behring Regional Center LLC v. Chad Wolf, et al. The previous ruling...more
As of June 30, 2021, the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Regional Center Program has lapsed, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has since rejected any submissions received on or after July 1, 2021, of the following...more
On June 22, 2021, Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley of the Northern District of California ruled that Former Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan exceeded his statutory authority in issuing the July 2019...more
Following a shift in U.S. presidential administrations and changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jackson Walker partner Christian Triantaphyllis, who leads the Firm’s Investment Immigration practice, covers some potential...more
On August 3, 2020, USCIS published a final rule that will increase filing fees for certain petitions and applications to help recover its operational costs. The final rule goes into effect on October 2, 2020, and any...more
COVID-19 has caused significant disruptions in every aspect of our daily lives. Several policies have been enacted, affecting millions of foreign national workers, both in the U.S. and abroad, along with the businesses that...more
7/23/2020
/ Business Travel ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Customs and Border Protection ,
Delays ,
E-Signatures ,
F-1 Visa ,
Foreign Exchange Students ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Foreign Students ,
Foreign Workers ,
H-2A ,
Health and Safety ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ,
Immigration Enforcement ,
Infectious Diseases ,
M-1 Visa ,
Non-Immigrant Visas ,
Public Health ,
Relief Measures ,
Time Extensions ,
Travel Restrictions ,
Traveling Employee ,
US Department of State ,
USCIS ,
Virus Testing ,
Visa Waiver Program ,
Visas
The Department of State has recently announced that U.S. Embassies and Consulates will begin a phased resumption of processing routine nonimmigrant and immigrant visas. Such cases will include travelers with urgent travel...more
7/22/2020
/ Business Travel ,
Consulate ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
F-1 Visa ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Foreign Students ,
J-1 Visas ,
M-1 Visa ,
Travelers ,
Traveling Employee ,
U.S. Embassies ,
US Department of State ,
Visas
On June 22, 2020, President Trump issued an updated presidential proclamation (“New Order”) suspending the entry of foreign nationals who present a risk to the U.S. labor market following the Coronavirus outbreak. The New...more
USCIS has recently announced it will resume premium processing for forms I-129 and I-140 in phases over the next month. Please see the agency’s announced schedule below.
USCIS will accept premium processing requests on the...more
On April 22, 2020, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order entitled “Proclamation Suspending Entry of Immigrants Who Present Risk to the US Labor Market During the Economic Recovery Following the COVID-19...more
4/24/2020
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Executive Orders ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Foreign Workers ,
Green Cards ,
Immigrants ,
Presidential Proclamations ,
Trump Administration ,
USCIS ,
Visa Applications ,
Visas