After a longer than usual wait, the October 2019 Visa Bulletin was just released today. It was a bit of a mixed bag, with certain categories experiencing significant advancement, returning to priority dates from earlier this year, and some unanticipated retrogression. The most disappointing development was EB1 India, which only returned to its 1 January[…]
The September 2019 Visa Bulletin was released last week, bringing further retrogression in many employment-based preference categories. Most significantly, EB1 India is currently unavailable, meaning that visas are not authorized for anyone under this category regardless of priority date. Moreover, we have received breaking news that, despite the dates listed on this visa bulletin, the[…]
Tomorrow, 7/24/2019, USCIS and DHS will publish the final rule revising EB-5 regulations. Among other changes, the most significant are that the minimum investment amount has been increased from $500k to $900k (although less than the $1.3M that was initially rumored), the standard investment amount has been increased from $1M to $1.8M, and a mechanism[…]
The July 2019 Visa Bulletin was just released. Two major developments that will occur for next month is that the F2A family-based preference category will become current for all countries (including India, China, and Mexico), and that EB5 India will retrogress, from current to a priority date of 1 May 2017. F2A is expected to[…]
The November 2017 Visa Bulletin was released this morning. Most notably, the potentially monthly movement was less than anticipated in the October 2017 visa bulletin. November 2017 For all countries except India, China, Philippines, and Mexico: F2A category priority date advances 24 days to 15 November 2015, F2B preference advances 7 days to a PD of[…]
USCIS made a surprise announcement with a new proposed rule today for EB5s. As many of my readers will know, Congress has tried to make many changes and increase the minimum investment for some time without success. Looks like DHS is taking matters into its own hands. The new proposed rule will be official published[…]
While many of us are holding are breaths on what changes will happen on the EB5 provisions- nothing of significance actually happened today. Today, the House passed a short-term funding bill (H.J. 2250) by a voice vote to avoid a government shutdown. The original EB-5 extension is included in the bill. Yesterday, the Senate passed[…]
The EB5 visa program is up for renewal on Friday December 11th. While it is a controversial area of immigration law, it unequivocally has brought economic development and job creation to the US, particularly after the recent recession. The pilot program for regional centers was going to expire on September 3oth. While there was a[…]
Congress passed a temporary spending bill – a Continuing Resolution – that extends the EB-5 program until December 11, 2015. The Continuing Resolution extends the EB-5 program “as is” – no increase in investment amount or other changes. The Congress can act on EB-5 program reforms any time between now and December 11, 2015.
This morning’s news shows interesting updates on US-China relationship, particularly in the arena of US immigration law. Here are links to two stories: Story 1 and Story 2. In sum, student visas will be valid for 5 years and visitor visas will be valid for 10 years. These lengths of validity exist for some other[…]