Sep 03, 2010
EB-5 Investor Green Cards
I spoke at an EB-5 investor green card conference in Boston on August 26th. There are now 105 USCIS approved Regional Centers, and about 50 remain on file. Regional Centers are firms approved by the USCIS to take in capital from investors who apply for EB-5 green cards. The capital is invested in various projects from real estate to new energy companies. For details see my web page www.aboutvisas.com.
A Regional Center application I submitted for a client in the Midwest was approved this week.
The USCIS continues to decide applications by developers to create Regional Centers in about 3½ months unless a Request for Evidence is issued. Some can take longer.
The USCIS EB-5 Unit separates green card applications from investors in Regional Centers from those by investors who create their own businesses. USCIS says they give priority to Regional Center cases, but I see both Regional Center and investor created business EB-5 applications being deciding in about the same timeframe.
I next speak on EB-5 investor green cards in Texas on September 23, 2010.
I may hold my own EB-5 seminar in Palo Alto this fall and soon I will hold an EB-5 teleconference monthly. As soon as the date is set I will post it on this blog.
Martin
Aug 23, 2010
New Immigration Book
I have co-authored a new book, Immigration Options for Investors and Entrepreneurs published by the American Immigration Lawyers Association. I wrote one chapter of this 688 page treatise. This book for lawyers is the most comprehensive book on E-2 and EB-5 visas to date.
Aug 23, 2010
H-1B Visa Numbers
Since May 14, USCIS had counted 8,300 regular H-1Bs, or about 750/week and 3,500 U.S. Master’s numbers, or about 320/week. At current rates, that leaves about 50 weeks of regular numbers and 26 weeks of Master’s numbers. Assuming the Master’s move over to the regulars after their numbers are exhausted, at current rates, all numbers should run out about 40 weeks from now. In sum, there are plenty of H-1B visa numbers available.
Jul 29, 2010
EB-5 Summer Update
EB-5 green card applications continue to be approved quickly.
Our last three petitions (I-526) were granted in about three months. The adjustment of status applications were approved in less than two months.
There are more approved Regional Centers and some have new projects. Still, most are investing with established Regional Centers that have hundreds of approvals.
I will be speaking on EB-5 visas at the American Immigration Lawyers Association Conference in Boston on August 27, and in El Paso, Texas on September 23.
There has been a shake up of the USCIS California Service Center management. The Director and her Deputy have been replaced. It is unsure if this will impact the EB-5 unit. USCIS policy still seems to be to let the CSC run the EB-5 program with little input from Washington.
Martin
