On the first day of his presidency, Donald Trump signed an executive order challenging a fundamental constitutional right, birthright citizenship. The Fourteenth Amendment guarantees citizenship to individuals born within the United States. Trump’s order seeks to redefine eligibility, denying citizenship to children born to parents who are in the U.S. unlawfully, as well as to...
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In a significant policy shift, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that, effective January 22, 2025, applicants for adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident (Green Card applicants) will no longer be required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination on their Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record. Under...
In his first few days in office, President Trump and his administration have introduced a slew of measures aimed at reducing Immigration. On his first day, he signed a number of executive orders that will reshape the Immigration landscape as we know it for the foreseeable future. This article will focus on the changes that...
The SEC’s recent charges against private securities issuers highlights the importance of securities compliance. On December 20, 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced charges against several entities for failing to file Form D for their offerings. These charges resulted in substantial civil penalties totaling $430,000. What is Form D? Form D is a...
Fund managers and syndicators should consider forming a brand new entity rather than using an existing entity or managing the fund or syndication individually. Here’s why: Liability Protection: The primary and most important reason to form a new entity to manage your fund or syndication is for liability protection purposes. First, utilizing an entity (rather...
In the January 2025 visa bulletin, the U.S. Department of State and USCIS reported significant progress in processing EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program applications, including increased approvals for I-526E petitions—a key step for investors seeking U.S. residency. Progress in EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program Approvals They’ve also noted more applicants successfully completing the program in EB-5 set-aside...
Dec232024
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has introduced a new regulation aimed at modernizing the H-2B program (including H-2A also). This regulation goes into effect on January 17, 2025, days before Trump takes office. Elimination of eligible countries The new H-2B rule eliminates the eligible country list, allowing employers to hire H-2B workers from any...
The Edakunni v. Mayorkas settlement reached mandated the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to bundle the processing of specific forms for H-4 and L-2 visa holders. Key Provisions of the Edakunni Settlement: Bundled Processing: Under the settlement, USCIS agreed to process Forms I-539 (Application to Change or Extend Nonimmigrant Status) and I-765 (Application for...