On December 23, 2017, Simone Williams, Managing Attorney with Williams Global Law, visited the Metcalfe Street Juvenile Remand Centre in Kingston, Jamaica with Senator Pearnel Charles Jr., the junior minister in the Ministry of National Security of Jamaica. The goal of the visit was to share the message of forgiveness, giving and peace with the detainees, and to encourage them to make a positive change in their lives. The Metcalfe Street Centre is the only rehabilitation centre for young men in Kingston. Senator Charles led the discussion to the youth, along with Chris Dehring, CEO Ready TV; Peter Melhado, CEO ICD Group Limited; and entertainer Jeffery Campbell, better known as Agent Sasco,

On December 14, 2017, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the start of implementing the International Entrepreneur Rule (IER). The IER was published to provide an unlimited number of international entrepreneurs a new avenue to apply for parole, enter the U.S., and use American investments to establish and grow start-up businesses. The rule established new criteria to guide the adjudication of parole applications from certain foreign entrepreneurs, providing them with temporary permission to come to the country. To qualify under the IER, an entrepreneur must meet the following requirements: • Possess a substantial ownership interest in a start-up entity created within

In Fall 2017, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published an agenda proposing amendment of its regulations governing the employment-based, fifth preference (EB-5) immigrant investor classification (“revised EB-5 regulations” or “Final Rule”). According to the fall agenda, the Final Action of the revised EB-5 regulations is anticipated to take place in February 2018 with a 60-day grace period; and therefore the effective date would be April 2018. It should be noted that Congress may also pass legislation to reform the EB-5 Program, which would include increasing the investment amount, in the first quarter of the year. DHS will likely defer to congressional legislation on EB-5. While

As part of President Trump’s Executive Order on protection of the United States from terrorist activities, on August 28, 2017, USCIS announced that it is now requiring employment-based green card applicants to appear for a personal interview with a USCIS officer before their green card case can be approved. The mandatory interviews are being conducted with all applicants whose I-485, Application to Adjust Status, was filed on or after March 6, 2017. If an applicant’s derivative family members filed the I-485 at the same time, they are also subject to in-person interviews. Exclusion from interview may be only applicant’s children under the age of 14, if a waiver is requested. During the inter

On April 2, 2018, USCIS will begin accepting H-1B, Petitions for Nonimmigrant Workers, subject to FY 2019 H-1B cap. This means that employers have less than three months to prepare for the filing period which will last for five business days, from April 2 to April 6, 2018. Considering the high number of applications received in the previous years (approx. 200,000), the FY 2019 filing season is expected to be in high demand as well. As a reminder, the annual H-1B quota is 85,000, with 20,000 being reserved for nonimmigrants who hold master’s degrees from U.S. accredited universities. In order to prepare for the submission of H-1B application, contact your attorneys at Williams Global Law, a