Reauthorization by CR
The Regional Center program is currently authorized through September 30, 2019 as part of 2019 appropriations. We depend on Congress to pass a 2020 appropriations bill that continues to carry regional...
View ArticleReauthorization, Country Caps, S.2540, Visa Bulletin
Since last writing, Congress gave the regional center program another short authorization, the Fairness for High-skilled Immigrants Act almost passed the Senate, Senators Grassley and Leahy introduced...
View ArticleConference Rumors (partial investment, visa wait times)
I heard IPO Chief Sarah Kendall and Department of State Visa Control Office Chief Charles Oppenheim speak last week at the IIUSA conference in Seattle. I’ll blog in detail about these talks and other...
View Article11/6 USCIS Policy Manual Update
The USCIS Policy Manual has been updated as of today with some edits to the EB-5 section in Volume 6 Part G, and Adjustment of Status section in Volume 7 Part A. As usual, I saved the revised EB-5...
View ArticleEB-5 Legislation? (S.2778, S.2540)
Since 2015, when the last three-year regional center program authorization expired, there’s been much effort to get EB-5 legislation passed. At minimum, we need Congress to put the regional center...
View Article11/21 Welcome to the New EB-5
The EB-5 Modernization Regulation takes effect today, November 21, 2019. As a reminder, the USCIS EB-5 Page summarizes what’s new, the full text of the final rule gives all the detail and background of...
View ArticleTargeted Employment Areas from November 21
The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program Modernization Regulation Final Rule took effect on November 21, 2019, and changed USCIS Policy for Targeted Employment Area (TEA) definitions and process. Rather...
View ArticleEB-5 form filing fees
We have opportunity to review and comment on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Fee Schedule. The proposed rule was published on 11/14/2019, and comments are due by 12/16/2019. The proposed...
View ArticleQuestions for USCIS about the Visa Availability Approach
On March 13, USCIS will hold a public engagement to discuss and field questions about its recent announcement that “USCIS Adjusts Process for Managing EB-5 Visa Petition Inventory.” Here are my...
View Article3/13 meeting preview; I-526 processing context
On Friday 3/13, USCIS will hold a meeting (now by teleconference only) that promises to “address program updates, including the agency’s change from a first-in, first-out case-processing approach to a...
View ArticleReport from 3/13 USCIS Engagement on Visa Availability Approach
The March 13 EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program: Public Engagement provided a few program updates, and discussed the new visa availability approach to I-526 processing. IPO Chief Sarah Kendall mainly...
View ArticleEB-5 updates and resources under COVID-19 (updated)
As the war against COVID-19 heats up around the world, EB-5 work continues, but with some changes. A few notes on developments over the past two weeks: USCIS continues to operate despite COVID-19, with...
View ArticlePolicy Manual Update — Redeployment
Today, the USCIS Policy Manual was updated with new policy regarding deployment and redeployment of EB-5 investor capital. Here is a link to the Policy Alert on Clarifying Guidance for Deployment of...
View ArticleUSCIS website Q&A on redeployment
USCIS has updated its website with a new page for Questions and Answers: EB-5 Further Deployment. USCIS did not the announce that the page exists. I just happened to find it because I’m vigilant. The...
View ArticleUSCIS Funding, Furloughs, and Fee Rule
I pause for a moment to thank all USCIS employees who are at work today. Though I may criticize your results, the very fact of working deserves credit. We appreciate you acting as civil servants,...
View ArticlePolicy Manual comment: Redeployment and regional center geography
We’re approaching the last chance to submit comments on the USCIS Policy Manual update on July 24 with “Clarifying Guidance for Deployment of Capital in Employment-Based Fifth Preference (EB-5)...
View ArticleRedeployment policy comment: retroactivity
UPDATE: IIUSA and AILA ended up collaborating to submit a very good 30-page comment on USCIS’s Redeployment Policy Manual Update. I recommend their analysis, and hope that USCIS will read it carefully....
View ArticleSupporting Mandamus and APA actions
EB-5 investors facing excessive processing delay have the option to sue USCIS. They can bring claims under the Administrative Procedures Act, which permits federal courts to compel agency action...
View ArticleRegional center program authorization and USCIS stabilization
Today begins Fiscal Year 2021. The good news is that the government remains funded and the regional center program remains authorized at least until December 11, 2020 thanks to the H.R.8337 –...
View ArticleSource of all invested capital
From: Suzanne Lazicki Sent: October 8, 2020 7:04 PM To: ‘public.engagement@uscis.dhs.gov’ Subject: EB-5 Question Dear IPO, This email asks a single important question in response to the EB-5 Call for...
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