USCIS will publish its final rule on November 21, 2019, which will significantly revise the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. Major changes to EB-5 in the final rule include raising the standard minimum investment level from $500,000 to $900,000 in TEA areas and from $1 million to $1.8 million in non-TEA areas. Other developments under the final rule include: Raising the minimum investment amounts; Revising the standards for certain targeted employment area (TEA) designations; Giving the agency responsibility for directly managing TEA designations; Clarifying USCIS procedures for the removal of conditions on permanent residence; and Allowing EB-5 petitioners to retain their priority date und
The Trump Administration recently proposed a new “Public Charge” rule, which would allow the government to deny entry or green cards to immigrants based on their use of public programs like food stamps and Medicaid. In line with this new proposal, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service, (USCIS) has proposed a rule which dramatically changes the standard of whether an applicant for admission to the US or for adjustment of status is likely to become a “public charge”. Although “public charge” is not defined in immigration law, it means a person who is or is likely to become “primarily dependent” on “public cash assistance for income maint
Persons with advance parole who recently filed renewal applications and then left the United States will no longer be denied their renewal applications upon their return, even when their original advanced parole was still valid. Regarding “Emergency Travel”, USCIS now states on its website that: “At times, an individual may have an approved advance parole document while a second one is pending. Individuals may travel on the approved [advance] parole document, provided the document is valid for the entire duration of the time abroad. The pending Form I-131 will not be considered abandoned in this situation”. This new regulation would eliminate the situation that was triggering denials under
We, at Williams Global Law, will miss the hot weather of summertime, however we welcome the Fall season. Our Managing Attorney, Simone Williams, has had a very busy summer, which has continued into the fall season, and we note some of her highlights below: Ms. Williams (pictured far left) received the International Pioneer Award from the National Bar Association’s International Law Section, along with distinguished fellow recipients, Judge George Daniels (S.D.N.Y.) (pictured far right) and H.E. Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao, African Union Ambassador (pictured in the middle). Ms. Williams attended the annual National Bar Association (NBA) conference in New York City, where she was elected as
