31 Jan 2017

Possible Executive Order Targeting Employment-Based Immigration

President Trump has already signed several immigration-related executive orders, and it appears that more are on the way. One leaked proposed order, entitled "Executive Order on Protecting American Jobs and Workers by Strengthening the Integrity of Foreign Worker Visa Programs" includes a number of provisions...

19 Dec 2016

Spending Bill Includes Extension of Several Immigration Programs

On Saturday, December 10, 2016, President Obama signed into law a continuing resolution designed to fund the federal government through April 28, 2017. Included in the spending bill were various immigration provisions, including an extension of the employment-based, fifth preference (EB5) regional center program, the...

29 Sep 2016

NewsFlash! Government Shutdown Averted, EB5 Extended

Last night, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a stopgap bill to fund the federal government through Friday, December 9, 2016. This bill also serves to extend the employment-based, fifth preference (EB5) regional center program for the same time period. This stopgap bill was also...

30 Sep 2015

NewsFlash! Government Shutdown Averted, EB5 Extended Through Dec. 11

Congress approved a spending bill late this afternoon that will fund the federal government's operations through December 11, 2015. This serves to avoid a government shutdown, at least for the next two months.The bill passed today was also used to extend the regional center (RC)...

02 Sep 2015

USCIS Releases Draft Memo on EB5 Job Creation and Investment Requirements

On August 10, 2015, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a draft memorandum regarding certain legal requirements for the employment-based, fifth preference (EB5) immigrant investor category. The memo specifically addresses two key EB5 requirements: job creation and sustaining the EB5 investment over the two-year...

29 Jul 2015

CIS Ombudsman Releases 2015 Annual Report

Maria M. Odom, the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (CIS Ombudsman), has submitted her office's 2015 Annual Report to Congress. This annual report includes lists of problems within the immigration system identified by the CIS Ombudsman's office, as well as recommended solutions. Background on the CIS Ombudsman The...