USCIS Relaunches International Entrepreneur Parole Program On May 10, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is withdrawing a 2018 notice of proposed rule making that proposed to remove the International Entrepreneur (IE) parole program from DHS regulations. The IE parole program provides a temporary immigration pathway for foreign entrepreneurs who have founded companies in the United States attracting venture capital or other…
As a preliminary matter the E-2 visa allows an investor to set up or purchase their own business in the United States. The investors is then authorized to run and manage this business. The E-2 visa is one of the most flexible visas available to foreign Nationals. The E-2 allows for a quick adjudicational at the U.S Consulate and generally will not require a USCIS application. Further, the E-2 investor’s…
In an April 28, 2020 report, Bloomberg reported that over 200,000 H-1B employees in the United State may lose their lawful status by June of this year as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Darren Silver of Darren Silver & Associates, LLP a boutique Business Immigration Law Firm in Los Angeles believes that the Bloomberg numbers may be conservative and that the actual number of H1b employees impacted by…
Individuals who were born in Hong Kong and have a Hong Kong passport maintain advantages over Chinese passport holders when it comes to immigration to the United States. The main advantage is that Hong-Kong is considered a separate “country” or region than Mainland China for U.S. immigration purposes. Additionally, Hong Kong allows dual citizenship, which ensures that those seeking U.S. citizenship will also be able to retain their Hong Kong…
A Social media influencer is typically a person or group that gains popularity and credibility on one or more of the social media outlets. The Influencer through his or her following is able to project Brand loyalty and sales. Brands have marketed products through various Social Media outlets such as YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. U.S Immigration law has a carved out Visa that is dedicated to those Foreign Nationals that…
While changes to the EB-5 program and H-1B program have caught the attention of the media during the past few months, the E-2 visa has quietly undergone changes in the last few weeks. Furthermore, changes to the immigration landscape have led to new trends in the E-2 arena. Changes Affecting Middle Eastern Investors: As a result of the October 3, 2018 termination of the Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations, and…
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced a process change for Form I-526, Immigrant Petition by Alien Investor, from a first-in, first-out basis to a visa availability approach. This new operational approach aligns with other visa-availability agency adjudications processes, is more consistent with congressional intent for the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, and increases fairness in the administration of the program. “Changing our approach from a first-in, first-out adjudication process to…
Canada has been beset by a tech boom in recent years, with both domestic and foreign tech companies increasing their presence in The Great White North. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Toronto; in 2016, Toronto added more tech jobs than San Francisco and New York City combined[1]. This boom has continued to this day, with 387 total venture capital deal totaling USD $4.7 billion throughout the first three…
With the minimum investment amount for EB-5 raised to $900,000, and H-1B and L-1 petitions facing heightened scrutiny from USCIS, our office has received many inquires on alternative options for individuals looking to come to the United States. The E-2 Treaty Investor visa is an amazing alternative option available to those who are not willing or able to pursue the EB-5 visa; while the E-2 visa is a nonimmigrant visa,…
On November 21, 2019, the EB-5 industry entered a new era; the Department of Homeland Security implemented new regulations, and these regulations constitute the most substantial change the EB-5 industry has seen since the implementation of the Regional Center Program in 1993. The most significant changes affecting investors and regional centers are as follows: Priority Dates: USCIShas clarified that Applicants are entitled to the earliest priority date if multiple immigrant…
