WR Immigration Director of Visa Consulting Charlie Oppenheim, Partner Charina Garcia, and Senior Associate Laura Bloniarz update HR professionals with the latest information from the November Visa Bulletin. They dive into an analysis of employment-based and family-based immigrant visa categories, December predictions and much more. Watch below!
Over the last few months, countries around the world have re-opened their doors to routine business travel and tourism, signaling the resumption of economic activity near pre-pandemic levels. Yet, the mobility landscape remains radically changed by the Covid-19 pandemic and continues to require knowledge of a complex web of travel requirements and special considerations. WR Immigration invites global mobility professions to watch our video which provides a brief introduction to mobility trends this summer as well as tips to navigate the changing landscape. Our global immigration team also encourages global mobility professionals to consider 5 key takeaways as they shift their mobility plans into gear: No longer “mobility by exception.” Global mobility professionals are ramping up for sizeable travel this summer after numerous countries have opened their doors to business travel and tourism. Even Hong Kong, which limited entry to residents for nearly two years, is now a potential destination for international business travelers and tourists. The shift suggests that companies may be able to restore business travel and mobility at scale this year. This trend stands in stark contrast with the broad travel bans and extensive entry restrictions that characterized the mobility landscapes in 2020 and 2021. Quarantines and […]
By: Joseph Barnett Earlier this week, new Immigrant Investor Program Office Chief Sarah Kendall addressed the EB-5 community at the AILA/IIUSA EB-5 Industry Forum in Chicago, Illinois. We are happy to see this type of engagement by USCIS and are hopeful for continued dialogue to address the concerns of immigrant investors and regional centers. Here are seven things we learned from Ms. Kendall: 1. Minor Investors Ms. Kendall confirmed there is no age limit for minors filing as the principal investors but indicated that USCIS will continue to look at issues of contractual capacity and voidability of investment contracts. 2. Bridge Financing Ms. Kendall indicated it was difficult to provide specific guidance on the issue of bridge financing because of the “diversity of work and financial arrangements and structures.” She noted that the term of the loan, by itself, does not disqualify financing as a bridge loan that would receive credit for job creation purposed and that USCIS will look at interim nature of loan and contemplation of future receipt of EB-5 (or other) capital to repay the bridge financing. This is inconsistent with language in RFEs previously issued by USCIS. Additional guidance clarifying this important issue is required to provide certainty for […]
