

EB-5 REGIONAL CENTER PROGRAM IS EXTENDED!
In the new legislation signed by President Trump for the year 2020, several immigration-related provisions are included. The ending date for four immigration programs has been extended to September 30, 2020. The programs included are the EB-5 regional center program for certain immigrant investors, the Conrad state 30 program fro foreign doctors in J-1 status, E-Verify, and foreign religious workers. In addition, highlights include: • A new official appointed to investigat

JANUARY 2020 VISA BULLETIN
The Department of State released the Visa bulletin for January 2020. The bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during January for: “Final Action Dates” and “Dates for Filing Applications”. The bulletin includes information on potential monthly movement in the employment-based categories. In addition, the bulletin also explains procedures for various programs set to expire, if not extended by Congress, including the EB-4 non-minister special immigrant reli


NEW DHS DATA SHOWS THE CHANGING FACE OF IMMIGRATION
The Department of Homeland Security`s (DHS) Office of Immigration Statistics published new immigration data that offers a new portrait of arrivals to the United States. Some of the takeaways are: Fewer Europeans and Asians, more Latin Americans 2018 saw the lowest number of green cards issued to people from Europe and Asia since at least 2010. By contrast, the number of green cards issued to people from the Americas has climbed significantly. The number of green cards issued


EAD EXTENDED FOR SIX TPS COUNTRIES
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the extension of the validity of employment authorization documents (EADs) issued under TPS designations until January 4, 2021. The previous expiration dates were: January 2, 2020 (for El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Sudan); January 5, 2020 (for Honduras); and March 24, 2020 (for Nepal).


USCIS ANNOUNCES IMPLEMENTATION OF H1-B ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION FOR FY 2021 CAP SEASON
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it is implementing an electronic registration process for the next H-1B lottery. Employers seeking to file H-1B cap-subject petitions for the fiscal year 2021 cap must first electronically register and pay the associated $10 H-1B registration fee. USCIS will open an initial registration period from March 1 through March 20, 2020. Under the new process, USCIS said, employers seeking H-1B workers subject to the ca