Wednesday, August 2nd, 2017
THE E1 VISA ADVANTAGE by Ortega-Medina and Associates Options for foreign nationals wishing to open a business in the United States are often limited by the need to invest a significant amount of capital to meet stringent immigration requirements. The EB5 category, for example, requires a minimum investment of $500,000 USD in a new business;
Friday, March 17th, 2017
Automatic Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Extension Starting Jan. 17, 2017, USCIS is automatically extending certain expiring EADs for up to 180 days for applicants who: Properly filed for a renewal EAD before their current EAD expired, and Are otherwise eligible for a renewal, which means that: • Your EAD renewal is under a category that
Thursday, June 19th, 2014
Social Security Administration no longer requires waiting period for Employment-based Visa SSNs Until now, the Social Security Administration (“SSA”) required nonimmigrants (e.g., H, L and E visa holders) to wait 10 days after entering the United States before applying for a Social Security Number. The waiting period was intended to provide Customs and Border Protection
Thursday, June 19th, 2014
USCIS to Begin Unannounced L-1A site visits During a 24 April 2014 stakeholders teleconference, USCIS stated that L1 site inspections are to begin in the near future. Initially, inspections of L visa sites will only be triggered when an employer files for an extension of status for an L-1A employee. USCIS will randomly select employer
Monday, June 9th, 2014
CBP Website Now Allows Nonimmigrants to Access 5 years of Arrival/Departure Records The new CBP website allows nonimmigrant travelers to access arrival/departure records going back five years from the request date. This means that travelers may no longer need to file FOIA requests to have their arrival/departure history, speeding up the processing of other FOIA
Monday, March 10th, 2014
DOS Policy Change re Transmission of Immigration Benefits to Children Born Abroad through Artificial Reproductive Technology (ART) New DOS guidance confirms that USC “gestational mothers,” i.e., mothers who give birth to a child outside the USA as the result of ART, and who are recognized as the legal parent in the country of birth, but
Monday, March 10th, 2014
Statistics on L-1B RFEs and Denials for 2012 and 2013 Statistics on L-1B RFEs and Denials for 2012 and 2013. 2012: RFE rate, 46%; RFEs resulting in denials, 70%. 2013: RFE rate, 47%; RFEs resulting in denials, 75%. The VSC had a higher rate of approvals than the CSC in both years
Monday, March 10th, 2014
USA/Israel E2 agreement ratified by the Israeli government USA/Israel E2 agreement has now been ratified by the Israeli government, as reported by AILA. Due to the current strikes at the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmation of the decision will be published upon conclusion of the strike. Following this, AILA expects that the Israeli procedural
Thursday, October 17th, 2013
SEC Files Charges Against Texas-based EB5 Scheme EB-5 Warning: The SEC filed fraud charges against a Texas-based scheme targeting EB-5 foreign investors, including allegations of soliciting investors prior to the approval of the EB-5 regional center by USCIS and failing to hold investments in escrow as required. (See SEC v. Marco A. Ramirez, et al.,
Thursday, October 17th, 2013
Biometric Exit Improvement Act of 2013 Introduced by Rep. Miller US Representative Miller (R-MI) has introduced the Biometric Exit Improvement Act of 2013, which directs DHS to establish a biometric EXIT data system in airports and seaports, and to conduct a pilot biometric exit program in land ports of entry.
