In this podcast, WR Immigration Director of Visa Consulting Charlie Oppenheim and Partner Joey Barnett give an update on the investor visa program. Our team covers a range of topics including a review of 2022 visa report, delays on the April Visa Bulletin, concurrent filing strategies, and more!
See also: WR Immigration Files Lawsuit to Stop Wastage of EB-5 Investor Visas U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the overall employment-based annual limit for immigrant visas in fiscal year (FY) 2022 is approximately twice as high as usual, primarily due to consular closures abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic. USCIS said it is “dedicated to ensuring we use as many available employment-based visas as possible in FY 2022,” which ends on September 30, 2022. USCIS explained that the annual limit for employment-based immigrant visa use in FY 2021 was 262,288, nearly double the typical annual total. Overall, USCIS and the Department of State (DOS) combined to use 195,507 employment-based immigrant visas in FY 2021. DOS issued 19,779 employment-based immigrant visas, and USCIS used 175,728 employment-based immigrant visas through adjustment of status, more than 52% higher than the average before the pandemic. Despite agency efforts, 66,781immigrant visas went unused at the end of FY 2021, USCIS said. DOS has determined that the FY 2022 employment-based annual limit is 281,507 (slightly more than double the typical annual total) due to unused family-based immigrant visa numbers from FY 2021 being allocated to the current fiscal year’s available employment-based immigrant visas. Through […]
Delving into the intricacies of the Final Action Chart (Chart A) and Dates for Filing Chart (Chart B), this legal article aims to provide clarity on the often-discussed topic in our “Chatting With Charlie” series. By Laura Bloniarz and Charles Oppenheim Understanding Chart A and Chart B: Chart A Basics: Chart A signifies immigrant visa number availability for that month through consular processing oversees or through adjustment of status with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). If an individual’s priority date is before the applicable date, they are eligible for final action on their immigrant visa case during that month. Chart B Basics: Chart B, indicates eligibility to assemble and submit required documentation to a consular post, if processing the immigrant visa overseas, OR to file an adjustment of status application to USCIS, if processing the immigrant visa in the U.S. Individuals with a priority date before the applicable date which is listed can submit their documentation or adjustment of status application. USCIS Adjudication and DOS Oversight: USCIS adjudications account for approximately 85% of all employment-based immigrant visa use1. The U.S. Department of State (DOS) oversees the administration of the annual numerical limitations on immigrant visas (or green cards if […]
