Extended Validity of NIEs For Travel from India to the U.S. On July 6, 2021, the U.S. State Department announced that National Interest Exceptions (NIEs) to Presidential Proclamation 10199 that affects travel from India issued by the Department of State will be valid for 12 months from the date of approval and for multiple entries. This announcement […]

USCIS Publishes Guidance Regarding the Lapsed EB-5 Regional Center Program  On June 30, the EB-5 Regional Center immigration program formally expired. So, what does this mean for investors? There is no definitive answer to this question. Thousands of investors are affected by this and stake holders in the industry, including most EB-5 attorneys believe that […]

Qualifying U.S. Citizens May Travel with Expired Passports As of May 21, 2021, U.S. citizens will be able to use their expired U.S. passports to return to the United States if they travel before the end of December 31, 2021. U.S. citizens who are overseas whose passport expired on or after January 1, 2020, will […]

USCIS Revives The International Entrepreneur Parole Program This week, the USCIS revived The International Entrepreneur Parole Program (“the IEP”) which grants qualifying foreign nationals permission to remain in the United States for up to five years in order to grow a start-up business that has potential for substantial growth and job creation. The program does not provide […]

DOL Delays Wage Rule Implementation & USCIS Suspends Biometrics Requirement Wage Rule Delayed The Department of Labor (DOL) announced this week that it will further delay the Prevailing Wage Rule that proposes an increase in the prevailing wages for the H-1B, H-1B1, E-3 and the PERM programs. The rule was set to apply on May 4, 2021 but […]

USCIS Expected to Suspend Biometrics Requirement for Certain Visa Categories The USCIS is expected to soon suspend the biometrics requirement for H-4, L-2, and E-1, E-2, and E-3 visa categories of Form I-539 applications.  The agency announced its intention on May 4, in a hearing of a federal litigation that had challenged the USCIS’ lengthy […]

U.S. Imposes India Travel Ban and Consulates Cancel Appointments On April 30, President Biden issued a Proclamation than bans the entry into the U.S. of foreign nationals traveling from India. This ban will take effect May 4, 2021. The Proclamation will bar entry to those individuals who have been present in India for 14 days […]