immigration

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Immigration News

Five Years of Social Media Information Now Required for Visa Applications

Last week, the U.S. Department of State updated the DS160 and DS260 forms to include a question asking for the applicant’s last 5 years of social media information. The DS160 form is an electronic form used for U.S. nonimmigrant visa…

Jenny ZhanJune 3, 2019

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Family Immigration Immigration

White House Issues Strict Enforcement of Sponsor Laws

The White House has issued a memo on May 23 ordering different government departments to enforce a decades-old law (Section 213A of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1183a)) that requires American who bring migrants into the country to take financial responsibility…

Jenny ZhanMay 30, 2019

Immigration

One McPassport with a Side Order of Fries to Go, Please!

In lighthearted and joyous news today, the U.S. Embassy in Vienna has announced on Facebook that the U.S. Ambassador to Austria, Trevor Traina, signed a McAgreement with the McDonald’s chain in Austria. The agreement stated that any American citizens in…

Jenny ZhanMay 28, 2019

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H-1B and E-3 Visa Immigration

Can I quit my current job and start working at another employer while my I-485 is pending? Can I use my approved EAD to work at another employer?

Many employment based green card applications are processed while an applicant is on an H-1B visa. This usually involves filing an I-140 petition along with an I-485 petition. You can find out more about the green card process by clicking here.…

Jenny ZhanMay 21, 2019

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Immigration Immigration Law Changes & New Law

White House Announces New Immigration Plan

The Trump Administration have announced on May 16, 2019 that it has created a plan to reform the U.S. immigration system. Specific details of the plan has not been announced yet, but President Trump described the new system to be…

Jenny ZhanMay 17, 2019

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Approvals

PERM application approval

Scott Legal, P.C. just had the first step of the green card process (PERM Application) certified by U.S. Department of Labor for one of our clients. The PERM was approved for a beauty brand company based in New York. The next step in the…

Jenny ZhanMay 16, 2019

Approvals

Immigrant Visas Approved for a Diversity Lottery Applicant and his family from Germany

Scott Legal just had immigrant visas approved for a diversity lottery applicant and his family. The applicant and his family are from Germany and their interview was in Frankfurt. The applicant was our E-2 client who initially wanted to apply for E-2 visa but…

Jenny ZhanMay 13, 2019

Immigration

FY 2020 Diversity Visa Winners Selected

U.S. Statement Department have announced that they have chosen the winners of the FY 2020 Diversity Visa Lottery. The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program makes up to 50,000 green cards available annually, drawn from random selection among all entries to individuals…

Jenny ZhanMay 10, 2019

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Family Immigration Immigration

What happens if the Petitioner of an I-130 petition dies before beneficiary gets a green card? Can a beneficiary still get a green card if a Relative dies?

If you are a U.S. citizen or a green card holder, you can file form I-130 and sponsor certain family relatives for a green card. If you are a U.S. citizen and you want to sponsor your spouse, unmarried child…

Jenny ZhanMay 6, 2019

Family Immigration Immigration

I was selected in a Diversity Visa Lottery. How do I qualify for the Diversity Lottery Green Card? What documents do I need to submit for the Diversity Lottery?

If you receive notification from the Electronic Diversity Visa Website that you have been selected in the Diversity Visa Program, you must complete numerous steps before you can get your green card. One of the critical factors is that the…

Jenny ZhanMay 2, 2019

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Family Immigration Immigration

I am a U.S. citizen and my child was born abroad. Is my child a U.S. citizen? What should I do after my child is born? Can my child get a U.S. passport?

If you are a U.S. citizen and your child was born outside the U.S., your child may acquire U.S. citizenship at birth. However, simply being born to a U.S. citizen parent is not enough for the child to get the…

Jenny ZhanApril 22, 2019

Approvals

I-140 approval for a Retail Buyer at a Casino Resort

We just had an I-140 approval with USCIS. The company is a casino resort and the beneficiary is a retail buyer. Click on the buttons below in order to claim your free Visa Guide (E-1, E-2, TN, EB-5, H-1B, L-1,…

Jenny ZhanApril 15, 2019

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Family Immigration H-1B and E-3 Visa Immigration

What is Implied Departure? How can a Canceled Plane Ticket Impact Your USCIS Application? I cancelled my airline ticket, will it impact immigration?

For national security reasons, airlines routinely transmit passenger information to Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) whenever a plane ticket is purchased. This is done at the purchase stage to give CBP sufficient time and resources to conduct background checks and…

Jenny ZhanApril 15, 2019

Family Immigration Immigration

What is the Adam Walsh Act? How can the Adam Walsh Act limit the immigration rights of a U.S. Citizen or Green Card Holder?

Form I-130 is an immigration form submitted to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) by a U.S. citizen or Green card holder who wants to get a green card for an immediate or close relative. I-130’s can be…

Jenny ZhanApril 10, 2019

Immigration News

April 2019 Visa Bulletin

In the newly released January visa bulletin, EB-2 and EB-3 visas remain current for most countries. EB-2 in China have advanced 3 months to April 1, 2016 and India advanced only 3 days to April 12, 2009. EB-3 for the…

Jenny ZhanMarch 28, 2019

EB-5 Visa Immigration Investor Visas

Is my Permanent Residency Automatically Extended when I Submit a Form I-829 Application? What is an Infopass Appointment and when should I book one?

The EB-5 program, also known as the Million Dollar Green Card, allows investors to obtain a Green Card if they invest either $800,000 or $1,050,000 in business or projects that will create 10 full time jobs. To learn more about…

Jenny ZhanMarch 27, 2019

E-2 Visa EB-5 Visa Immigration Investor Visas

My Green Card Won’t be Available for Decades, What Can I do To Move to the United States in the Meantime? Can I get an E-2 visa if I get Citizenship from Grenada?

What is Retrogression? Why Does it Happen? Are there other visa options if I cannot get a Green card? How long will I have to wait for a Green Card? Under current U.S. immigration law, the waits for an immigrant…

Jenny ZhanMarch 18, 2019

Approvals

Approval for Citizenship Naturalization Application

Scott Legal, P.C. just had an approval for a client that had a green card and applied for U.S. Citizenship. An application for citizenship can be made when after someone has had a green card for 3 years if obtained…

Jenny ZhanMarch 4, 2019

EB-5 Visa Immigration Investor Visas

New EB-5 Rule Sent to Office of Management and Budget for Review

The Department of Homeland Security has sent a new EB-5 regulation to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for federal review. The contents of the regulation will remain confidential until the regulations are published. However, in January 2017, DHS…

Jenny ZhanFebruary 25, 2019

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H-1B and E-3 Visa Immigration

Proposed H-4 Work Authorization Rescission Regulation Under Federal Review

The Department of Homeland Security has submitted a proposal to rescind the H-4 spousal work authorization regulation to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. The rule was originally implemented in 2015 under the Obama Administration, permitted certain…

Jenny ZhanFebruary 21, 2019

Immigration News

Congress Passes FY 2019 Spending Bill, Avoiding a Second Government Shutdown

Last night Congress passed an appropriations bill that will fund the Department of Homeland Security, the State Department, and other federal agencies through to September 30, 2019. The President is expected to sign the bill Friday morning. Below is a…

Jenny ZhanFebruary 15, 2019

Approvals

EB-5 Approval for Indian National

Scott Legal, P.C. just had an EB-5 approval for a national from India. The client invested in a regional center where he invested $500,000. The EB-5 program is one where you invest $500,000 or $1,000,000 in a program or project…

Jenny ZhanFebruary 13, 2019

EB-5 Visa Immigration Investor Visas

Unsecured Loan EB-5 Class Action Lawsuit: Potential Members Can Now Have Their Denials Reconsidered By USCIS

Zhang v. USCIS is a November 2018 Class Action Lawsuit that challenged USCIS’ denials of EB-5 investment petitions that had investment funds sourced solely from unsecured loans. The EB-5 program, also known as the Million Dollar Green Card, allows investors…

Jenny ZhanFebruary 13, 2019

Immigration News

Government Reopened for Three Weeks

President Trump announced on Friday, 35 days after the initial shutdown, that a continuing resolutions bill has been tabled to reopen the government for 3 weeks until February 15. This will allow government workers who have missed a month of…

Jenny ZhanJanuary 25, 2019

News

Ian E. Scott to sit on AILA panel at National Conference for E-2 Visas in Orlando

Ian E. Scott will be a speaker on the E-2 panel at the National American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Conference in Orlando this June. Mr. Scott will sit on a panel with 3 other E-2 visa experts and will speak…

Jenny ZhanJanuary 24, 2019

White House Issues Strict Enforcement of Sponsor Laws

One McPassport with a Side Order of Fries to Go, Please!

Can I quit my current job and start working at another employer while my I-485 is pending? Can I use my approved EAD to work at another employer?

White House Announces New Immigration Plan

PERM application approval

Immigrant Visas Approved for a Diversity Lottery Applicant and his family from Germany

FY 2020 Diversity Visa Winners Selected

What happens if the Petitioner of an I-130 petition dies before beneficiary gets a green card? Can a beneficiary still get a green card if a Relative dies?

I was selected in a Diversity Visa Lottery. How do I qualify for the Diversity Lottery Green Card? What documents do I need to submit for the Diversity Lottery?

I am a U.S. citizen and my child was born abroad. Is my child a U.S. citizen? What should I do after my child is born? Can my child get a U.S. passport?

I-140 approval for a Retail Buyer at a Casino Resort

What is Implied Departure? How can a Canceled Plane Ticket Impact Your USCIS Application? I cancelled my airline ticket, will it impact immigration?

What is the Adam Walsh Act? How can the Adam Walsh Act limit the immigration rights of a U.S. Citizen or Green Card Holder?

April 2019 Visa Bulletin

Is my Permanent Residency Automatically Extended when I Submit a Form I-829 Application? What is an Infopass Appointment and when should I book one?

My Green Card Won’t be Available for Decades, What Can I do To Move to the United States in the Meantime? Can I get an E-2 visa if I get Citizenship from Grenada?

Approval for Citizenship Naturalization Application

New EB-5 Rule Sent to Office of Management and Budget for Review

Proposed H-4 Work Authorization Rescission Regulation Under Federal Review

Congress Passes FY 2019 Spending Bill, Avoiding a Second Government Shutdown

EB-5 Approval for Indian National

Unsecured Loan EB-5 Class Action Lawsuit: Potential Members Can Now Have Their Denials Reconsidered By USCIS

Government Reopened for Three Weeks

Ian E. Scott to sit on AILA panel at National Conference for E-2 Visas in Orlando

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