Immigration Blog

Consular Processing versus Adjustment of Status for Spouses For many foreign nationals married to U.S. citizens (USC) or lawful permanent residents (LPR), the ultimate goal is to obtain permanent residency in the United States. However, the process of achieving this status can vary significantly depending on whether the individual pursues Consular Processing or Adjustment of...

Permitted Activities on H-1B Status While Being a Member of a Multi-Owner LLC The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa category that allows U.S. employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations. This visa is highly sought after by skilled professionals from around the world, as it provides a pathway to work and potentially...

There are various visa options for foreign nationals, each tailored to a specific purpose. The B1/B2 visa is commonly used for short-term business and tourist visits to the US, while the EB-5 visa provides a pathway to permanent residency through a qualifying investment. If you are currently in the US on a B visa and...

Foreign investors can either invest through a USCIS-designated regional center or make a direct investment in an EB-5 project.   What is a regional center?  Regional centers are privately owned economic entities designated by USCIS to promote economic growth within the United States and through the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. Regional centers facilitate EB-5 investments by...

The EB-5 application process begins with filing an I-526 or I-526E form with USCIS. To file, the investor must have already committed the required capital to a new commercial enterprise (NCE). The minimum investment amount is $1.05 million or $800,000 if the investment is made in a targeted employment area (TEA). The investment must be...

For H-1B visa holders, transitioning to an EB-5 visa can be an attractive option to secure permanent residency. This path eliminates the need for employer sponsorship and can bypass the lengthy visa bulletin backlogs typically encountered when needing to file an I-485 after I-140 approval. Maintaining H-1B Status If an EB-5 applicant is from a...

The Social Security Administration (SSA) issues Social Security Numbers (SSNs) and cards to U.S. citizens, immigrant visa holders, and certain nonimmigrant visa holders residing in the U.S. with work authorization from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Applying for an SSN is free.  SSNs are used for reporting earnings and taxes to the IRS,...

The E-2 visa is an excellent pathway for investors from treaty countries to enter the U.S. and manage their own business. One of the key aspects of securing an E-2 visa is demonstrating a substantial investment in the U.S. enterprise. However, many prospective applicants are unsure if they can use loans to meet the investment...