Conrad-30 Investor Pilot Program and Religious Worker Extensions
Posted Mar 27, 2009
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President Barack Obama signed H.R. 1127 on March 20, 2009. This legislation extends both the Conrad 30 program for physicians and the Non-Minister Immigrant Religious Worker category until September 30, 2009. Additionally, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced (PDF 28KB) the extension of the EB5 Immigrant Investor Pilot Program, now set to continue until September 30, 2009. The EB5 extension was part of the Fiscal 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Bill that was signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 11, 2009.
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Conrad 30 Program
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The Conrad 30 program provides a possible avenue for physicians in J-1 status to obtain a waiver of their two-year home return requirement. It mandates employment in certain underserved areas of the United States. More information on this program can be found in our March 16, 2007 article, Congress Extends Conrad State Program until June 1, 2008. The current extension under this recent law is valid until September 30, 2009. The program initially was established in 1994 and has been extended periodically until the present.
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Non-Minister Religious Workers
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The legislation that extended the Conrad 30 program also extended the Non-Minister Religious worker program until September 30, 2009. More information on this immigrant category is available in our February 13, 2009 article, Non-Minister Special Immigrant Category to Expire Mar 6, 2009.
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EB5 Pilot Program
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The EB5 Pilot Program targets designated regional centers as locations for investments. The basic requirements are set out on the USCIS WebSite. One of the key differences in this type of investment is that it is sufficient to create the required ten jobs indirectly, rather than through direct employment. The other requirements of a qualifying investment must be met.
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Conclusion
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The extension of these programs is significant, particularly during the current economic downturn. Encouraging investment and job creation is important at all times, but it is especially vital when the economy is struggling. The Conrad 30 program provides medical services, often from well-trained and experienced physicians, to many in the United States who have limited access to medical care. Non-minister religious workers often contribute to spiritual well-being, as well as providing through religious organizations many services of compassion to those in need. The investor option provides the United States with much needed capital and create jobs that are so vital in times like these. Thus, we at the Murthy Law Firm are pleased to inform our readers of these developments.