We are proud to share that Simone Williams-Arrington, Founder and Managing Attorney of Williams Global Law, has been nominated for EB-5 Investors Magazine’s Top 25 EB-5 Attorneys in the United States. This nomination reflects Simone’s longstanding commitment to excellence in investment immigration law and her dedication to helping investors, entrepreneurs, Regional Centers, and businesses successfully navigate the U.S. immigration system. We are grateful for the trust our c

Simeone Williams was the recipient of the Burj Medal of Honor and recognized among the Burj Global Power 100 for distinguished leadership in international law, immigration, and global business advisory. The recognition highlights Simone Williams's work advising international investors, entrepreneurs, and companies on U.S. market entry, cross-border strategy, and global mobility."'s easy.

Williams Global Law is proud to announce that our Founder and Managing Partner, Simone Williams, was among the distinguished voices invited to speak at the 2026 IIUSA EB-5 Industry Forum in Washington, D.C., which ran from April 29 - May 1, 2026. Held at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., the annual IIUSA Industry Forum brought together key stakeholders, policy leaders, and industry experts to discuss the future of the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. Thi

Our Founder and Managing Partner, Simone Williams was featured as a leading voice during a panel discussion at the SelectUSA Investment Summit 2026, which took place on May 3, 2026. The Summit brought together global investors, business leaders, and economic development organizations to explore opportunities and strategies for successful U.S. market entry. Guiding Global Investors Toward U.S. Expansion At the panel discussion entitled “Strategic Visa Planning for Successf

The U.S. Department of Labor released a long-anticipated proposed rule on March 27, 2026, that could significantly reshape prevailing wage requirements across key employment-based immigration programs, including H-1B, H-1B1, E-3, and PERM labor certifications. Titled “Improving Wage Protections for the Temporary and Permanent Employment of Certain Foreign Nationals in the United States,” the proposal seeks to revise how prevailing wages are calculated for both Labor Conditio

USCIS has announced that the statutory cap for H-2B temporary non-agricultural worker visas for the second half of Fiscal Year 2026 has been reached. March 10, 2026 was confirmed as the final receipt date for petitions subject to the cap and USCIS will reject H-2B petitions received after March 10 that request a start date on or after April 1, 2026 and before October 1, 2026, unless the petition is exempt from the H-2B cap. Availability remains for supplemental H-2B visa nu

A bipartisan bill titled the “Keep Innovators in America Act” (H.R. 8013) has been introduced in Congress with the aim of formally codifying the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program into statute. The proposal reflects growing recognition of the economic contributions made by international graduates and the need for predictable post-study work authorization frameworks. If enacted, the legislation could provide greater stability for students navigating career transitio

The U.S. Department of State has expanded its visa bond pilot program, adding additional countries whose nationals may be required to post a $15,000 bond when applying for B-1/B-2 visitor visas, effective April 2, 2026. The countries newly included in the program are Angola, Burundi, Cabo Verde, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, The Gambia, Liberia, Mauritania, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Togo . The initiative is intended to reduce visa overstay rates an

In a notable regulatory shift, the U.S. government has reduced the fee for renouncing U.S. citizenship from $2,350 to $450 , reversing a significant fee increase implemented in 2015. Officials indicated that the change responds to public concerns regarding accessibility and aims to make the renunciation process more administratively proportionate. Despite the fee reduction, renouncing citizenship remains a formal legal process requiring an in-person consular appointment, ex

The U.S. Department of State’s April 2026 Visa Bulletin reflects notable forward movement in several family-based immigration categories. The F-1 category (adult children of U.S. citizens) advanced significantly, by approximately six months across most countries, while the F-2B and F-3 categories also showed steady progress. Perhaps the most impactful update was the return of the F-2A category to “current” worldwide, benefiting spouses and minor children of lawful permanent r

Williams Global Law is proud to host Pathways and Passports , our official podcast series where our Founder & Managing Partner, Simone Williams talks all things immigration for educational purposes. This platform delivers strategic conversations on U.S. immigration, global mobility, cross-border investment, and international business expansion, designed for foreign nationals, investors, founders, and international enterprises navigating the U.S. market. Each episode offe

Simone Williams will speak at an upcoming webinar on April 8, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. (EST), together with Cheikh “Moussa” Ndiaye, Vice President of Business Development and Head of EMEA at U.S. Immigration Fund. The discussion will focus on EB-5 investment strategies for African investors navigating travel restrictions, source-of-funds considerations, and evolving U.S. immigration policies. The session aims to provide practical guidance for nationals from restricted or high-sc

On March 12, our Founder and Managing Partner, Simone Williams hosted a timely and successful webinar titled “From Snowbird to Strategic Resident: U.S. Residency Pathways for Canadian Investors.” The session featured a distinguished panel including Josh Benoliel (Realtor, Pink Miami), Andrew Wall (Registered Representative, Dynaxe Capital), and Alex Loveless (Co-Founder, EB5 Rural Alliance). Together, they explored practical strategies for Canadians seeking long-term U.S.

Simone Williams, Co-Chair of the International Business Development Committee (IBDC) of the DC Chamber of Commerce recently hosted the 2026 IBDC Kickoff Meeting at the Williams Global Law offices in Washington, DC, together with Co-Chair, Henok Tesfaye. The meeting was graced by the presence of the President of the DC Chamber of Commerce, Chinyere Hubbard underscoring the importance of the Committee’s work in positioning Washington, DC as a serious hub for international bus

On Thursday March 26th, Simone Williams shared business strategy insights during a panel discussion titled “Capital in Motion: Smart Financing Strategies & Emerging Investment Opportunities in a Disrupted World,” at the Global Power Summit hosted by the CEO Club Networks at The Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC. The Global Power Summit brought together an exceptional group of global executives, investors, and policymakers shaping the future of international business. With

On Thursday March 26th, Simone Williams, Founder of Williams Global Law was honored at the Burj Global Power 100 Award Gala in Washington, DC, where she received the Medal of Honor. The recognition highlights her continued impact in advising international investors, entrepreneurs, and businesses on cross-border strategy, global mobility, and U.S. market entry. The event was hosted by CEO Clubs Network under the leadership of CEOs Sarah Dong and Dr. Tariq A. Nizami, and

What Was Announced? On February 3, 2026, the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and other plaintiffs filed a federal lawsuit challenging the legality of the Gold Card program. The complaint alleges that the program unlawfully modifies EB-1A and EB-2 NIW categories without Congressional authorization. What Applicants Should Know? The lawsuit claims the program: Violates the Administrative Procedure Act. Conflicts with INA statutory caps. Prioritizes wealth

What Was Announced? USCIS announced that the FY 2027 H-1B electronic registration period will open March 4 -19, 2026. At the same time, the Department of Labor launched “Project Firewall,” an enforcement initiative targeting H-1B compliance violations. Together, these developments signal heightened scrutiny in both allocation and enforcement of the H-1B program. What Applicants and Employers Should Know? Regarding the FY 2027 Cap: Registration window: March 4–19, 2026.

What Was Announced? As of early 2026, USCIS has placed an adjudicative “hold” on certain immigration benefit applications filed by nationals from countries designated under Presidential Proclamations 10949 and 10998, as well as related security directives. On January 1, 2026, USCIS issued Policy Memorandum PM-602-0194 expanding its earlier December 2, 2025 directive to require enhanced review of benefit requests filed by nationals of countries subject to travel restriction

Background According to reports, practitioners alerted the Department of State (DOS) on February 10, 2026, that its Travel Docs site erroneously stated that China was included among dozens of countries for which immigrant visa processing has been paused as of January 21, 2026. DOS subsequently removed the statement from its website. What Was Announced? In January 2026, the Department of State temporarily paused issuance of immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries p