News
Search Subject: USCIS Processing Times [Clear]
The Resumption of Routine Visa Services – U.S Department of State takes a phased approach
The Department of State suspended routine visa services worldwide in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In July 2020, U.S. Embassies and Consulates began a phased resumption of routine visa services. They prioritized services to U.S. citizens and foreign students with work visas. As consul post-specific conditions permit, missions started to...
Get Action on Your Immigration Application Mandamus
Recently, the USCIS and American Consulates have been processing immigration applications very slowly. Occasionally, an application can be “expedited” due to extraordinary circumstances, such as a serious illness, but this is rare. Another remedy for slow processing is filing a “Mandamus” action in court. This is an action to compel the government...
EB-5 Investment Amount Increase?
Last week, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) cleared USCIS regulations for publication to 1) increase the EB-5 investment amount from the current minimum of $500,000, and 2) change the Targeted Unemployment Area (“TEA”) rules. One immigration blogger predicts the new rule will be published within two weeks. If...
Indian EB-5 Quota Update
There are 10,000 EB-5 visas annually. No country can take more than 7% per fiscal year. The State Department (“DOS”) has announced that by July, the approximately 700 Indian EB-5 visas will be nearly exhausted for this fiscal year and the Visa Bulletin will have a cut-off date “sometime in...
After the EB-5 I-526 petition is granted, one residing in the United States (for example on an H-1B professional worker or F-1 student visa) has a choice of procedures to complete their immigration: 1) apply in the United States for "adjustment of status" or 2) apply for an immigrant visa (IV) abroad at the...