U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin expanding in-person interviews for certain immigration benefit applicants whose benefit, if granted, would allow them to permanently reside in the United States. This change complies with Executive Order 13780, “Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States,” and is part of the agency’s comprehensive strategy to further improve the detection and prevention of fraud and further enhance the integrity of the immigration system.
Effective Oct. 1, USCIS will begin to phase-in interviews for the following:
• Adjustment of status applications based on employment (Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status).
• Refugee/asylee relative petitions (Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition) for beneficiaries who are in the United States and are petitioning to join a principal asylee/refugee applicant.
Previously, applicants in these categories did not require an in-person interview with USCIS officers in order for their application for permanent residency to be adjudicated. Beyond these categories, USCIS is planning an incremental expansion of interviews to other benefit types.
“This change reflects the Administration’s commitment to upholding and strengthening the integrity of our nation’s immigration system,” said Acting USCIS Director James W. McCament. “USCIS and our federal partners are working collaboratively to develop more robust screening and vetting procedures for individuals seeking immigration benefits to reside in the United States.”
Comprehensive Government Funding Bill Includes Language Extending EB-5 Program to September 30, 2017
The final paragraph of the TEXT OF THE HOUSE AMENDMENT TO SENATE AMENDMENT NUMBERED 1 TO H.R. 244, THE HONORING INVESTMENTS IN RECRUITING AND EMPLOYING AMERICAN VETERANS ACT OF 2017, Page 734 substitutes "September 30, 2015" with "September 30, 2017". It remains possible that Congress could pass EB-5 legislation before September 30, 2017.
Congress Passes Spending Bill To Avoid Shutdown, Again Punts On Health Care (and EB-5 Revision)
With the clock ticking, Congress on Friday (4/28/2017) managed to fulfill its basic function — keeping the federal government running.
The House and Senate approved a short-term measure that funds the government for another week. Lawmakers voted hours ahead of a midnight deadline to avoid a partial shutdown of federal agencies.
Friday's extension gives members of Congress more time — until midnight on May 5 — to try to reach a deal on a spending bill that will last through the rest of fiscal year 2017, which ends Sept. 30.
USCIS issues proposed regulation changes: "EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program Modernization"
USCIS has issued a proposed rule on "modernization of the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program" changing some MAJOR provisions governing EB-5, including: Raising of the minimum capital investment amount to $1.8million (and $1.35 for TEA); Priority Date retention; Elimination of state designation of high unemployment areas. Public comment period ends 4/11/2017.
EB-5 Regional Center program to be Extended Through April 28, 2017
Yesterday, Congress introduced a bill for another continuing resolution that will extend federal government funding through April 28, 2017. Included in this stop-gap measure is a short-term reauthorization of the EB-5 Regional Center Program through April 28, 2017, avoiding a lapse to the Program which would otherwise sunset on December 9, 2016.
U.S. SENATE MOVES TO EXTEND EB-5 PROGRAM AS IS
The Senate is moving forward with an extension of the EB-5 immigrant investor program as is and reforms to the program appear unlikely.
The provision to extend the program is included in the continuing resolution, a short-term budget bill that allows the government to keep running until early December.
EB-5 visa program may expire on Sept. 30 if Congress doesn’t take action
The investor visa program, EB-5, is set to expire on September 30, unless Congress can temporarily extend it, or reform it to cut down the loopholes and eliminate the numerous cases of fraud that surface with the program.
Three Immigration Lawyers Sanctioned by SEC for Brokering EB-5 Investment
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has just published three new decisions in connection with administrative proceedings against two well known immigration lawyers, as well as against a third lawyer. One party has allegedly earned $450,000 in commissions from one EB-5 Offeror alone.
https://www.sec.gov/litigation/admin/2016/34-78658.pdf
https://www.sec.gov/litigation/admin/2016/34-78657.pdf
https://www.sec.gov/litigation/admin/2016/34-78656.pdf
VT reaches $5.95 million settlement with Raymond James
The Vermont Department of Regulation has reached a settlement with Raymond James and Associates, Inc., in connection with the EB-5 scandal in the Northeast Kingdom.
Price for a Green Card: $500,000 Stadium Stake
For years, sports teams have tried to defray the multimillion-dollar costs of their new stadiums by asking fans to pay thousands for personal seat licenses that entitle them to buy season tickets.
Flávio Augusto da Silva is taking the concept further. In what may be the first deal of its kind, Mr. da Silva, the majority owner of Orlando City of Major League Soccer, is asking investors from Brazil, China and elsewhere to pay $500,000 each for a stake in the stadium he is building near downtown Orlando. In return, the foreign investors receive annual dividends, two season tickets and something even more valuable: a green card that allows them, their spouses and sometimes even their children to live and work in the United States.