by James Pinedo | Sep 2, 2025 | Human Resources Services
Former U.S. Department of State (DOS) Chief of Immigrant Visa Control Charlie Oppenheim is WR Immigration’s Director of Visa Consulting. Mr. Oppenheim leads two webinars each month in his “Chatting with Charlie” series regarding current visa issues and...
by Frank Alvarado | Nov 3, 2025 | Global
WR Immigration’s October global immigration recap highlights key developments, including the UK’s updated government fees for sponsoring employers, the UAE’s new AI Specialist Visa, Brazil’s expanded Visitor Visa activities, Spain’s in-country...
by Frank Alvarado | Nov 3, 2025 | Human Resources Services
Effective October 16, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will begin imposing a $1,000 fee for individuals granted parole under INA §212(d)(5)(A). This new fee applies to most parole grants, including parole-in-place, re-parole, and humanitarian parole,...
by Frank Alvarado | Nov 3, 2025 | Human Resources Services
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has announced that the Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) has resumed processing of employer requests for prevailing wages and labor certification determinations for both temporary and permanent employment in the United...
by Frank Alvarado | Oct 29, 2025 | Human Resources Services
On October 29, 2025, DHS provided an advance notice of the Interim Final Rule (IFR) titled “Removal of the Automatic Extension of Employment Authorization Documents” (8 CFR §274a.13(e)) to be published on October 30, 2025. The effective date is upon...
by Frank Alvarado | Oct 23, 2025 | Immigration Updates
For audio listeners, you can listen to our audio version of the News Digest here. You can also join our Immigration News Digest Newsletter here. USCIS Clarifies $100,000 H-1B Fee U.S. Chamber of Commerce Challenges $100,000 H-1B Fee November Visa Bulletin Brings...
by Frank Alvarado | Oct 23, 2025 | Human Resources Services
October 22, 2025 Update on the $100,000 H-1B Fee On October 20, 2025, USCIS issued further clarification on the Proclamation on Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers that was issued on September 19, 2025. In a nutshell, who is NOT subject to the...
by Frank Alvarado | Oct 23, 2025 | Investor Visas
1. Overview The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a significant revision to the fee structure applicable to EB-5 investors and regional centers. The proposal would reduce most filing fees charged by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration...
by James Pinedo | Oct 22, 2025 | Investor Visas
Good news for EB-5 investors and regional centers: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a 14% reduction in EB-5 filing fees, offering welcome relief to stakeholders in this vital job-creating program. The proposal comes just a year after DHS...
by Frank Alvarado | Oct 21, 2025 | Human Resources Services
With the current Trump administration, compliance enforcement around Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification and E-Verify has been tightening and is expected to get tighter. Now is the time to make sure...
by Frank Alvarado | Oct 20, 2025 | Human Resources Services
Effective September 21, 2025 On September 19, 2025, the President issued a Proclamation on Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers, introducing a major change to the H-1B visa program. Beginning 12:01 a.m. (EDT) on September 21, 2025, certain H-1B...
by Frank Alvarado | Oct 15, 2025 | Immigration Updates
For audio listeners, you can listen to our audio version of the News Digest here. You can also join our Immigration News Digest Newsletter here. E-Verify Resumes Operations DOS Announces New Policy for Immigrant Visa Interviews, Effective November 1 E-Verify Resumes...
by Frank Alvarado | Oct 15, 2025 | Investor Visas
WR Immigration law firm is excited to share one of the fastest EB-5 success stories we have seen: Client achieved approval of both their I-526E EB-5 Investor petition and conditional green card within just five and a half months. This result showcases how strategic...
by Frank Alvarado | Oct 10, 2025 | Investor Visas, Uncategorized
By Joey Barnett In the post-RIA environment, “show me the money” has become more than a catchphrase; it’s the play USCIS keeps calling. USCIS’s regional center audits and Form I-829 adjudications all underscore one theme: regional centers must be able to prove with...
by Frank Alvarado | Oct 8, 2025 | Immigration Updates
For audio listeners, you can listen to our audio version of the News Digest here. You can also join our Immigration News Digest Newsletter here. H-1B $100K Fee Sparks Lawsuit and Industry Backlash Supreme Court Allows Termination of TPS for Venezuelans USCIS Launches...
by Frank Alvarado | Oct 6, 2025 | Human Resources Services, Immigration Updates
Overview A federal lawsuit was filed today challenging the legality of the recently issued Presidential Proclamation that imposes a $100,000 fee on new H‑1B petitions for foreign workers seeking initial entry into the U.S. The complaint, filed by multiple states,...
by Frank Alvarado | Oct 2, 2025 | Global
WR Immigration’s September global immigration recap highlights key developments, including the launch of the EU’s Entry/Exit system (EES), China’s new K visa for young science and technology professionals, India’s e-Arrival card requirement for travelers,...
by Frank Alvarado | Oct 1, 2025 | Immigration Updates
For audio listeners, you can listen to our audio version of the News Digest here. You can also join our Immigration News Digest Newsletter here. U.S. Federal Government Shutdown: What to Expect Agency Guidance on $100,000 H-1B Fee Proclamation U.S. Federal Government...
by Frank Alvarado | Sep 25, 2025 | Investor Visas, Uncategorized
By Joey Barnett Overview of Form I-956G Requirement As the end of the 2025 federal fiscal year (September 30, 2025) approaches, all EB-5 Regional Centers designated before that date are required to file Form I-956G, Regional Center Annual Statement, for fiscal year...
by Frank Alvarado | Sep 25, 2025 | Immigration Updates
For audio listeners, you can listen to our audio version of the News Digest here. You can also join our Immigration News Digest Newsletter here. New $100,000 Fee on H-1B Entries DHS Proposes Wage-Weighted H-1B Lottery DOL Launches Project Firewall Trump Administration...
by James Pinedo | Sep 23, 2025 | Human Resources Services
On September 23, 2025, DHS issued a proposed rule that would fundamentally change how H-1B cap cases are selected. Rather than today’s random lottery, USCIS is proposing a wage-weighted lottery to prioritize higher-paid roles, directly following the White House’s...
by Frank Alvarado | Sep 23, 2025 | Investor Visas, Uncategorized
By Joey Barnett In February 2025, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced a new “Trump Gold Card,” providing a potential new visa pathway linked to financial contributions to the United States Treasury with a goal to reduce the national debt. He even linked...
by Frank Alvarado | Sep 22, 2025 | Investor Visas, Uncategorized
On September 19, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order creating the “Gold Card” program which is a new immigration pathway that ties permanent residency eligibility to significant financial contributions. The initiative represents a major shift in U.S....
by James Pinedo | Sep 22, 2025 | Consular Services & Travel, Human Resources Services
In light of the September 19, 2025 Presidential Proclamation—and the USCIS memorandum dated September 20, 2025—set to take effect at 12:01 a.m. ET on Sunday, September 21, 2025, we are issuing the following updated guidance to all foreign national employees currently...
by James Pinedo | Sep 20, 2025 | Investor Visas
What It Does / Purpose The order creates a new visa program called the Gold Card, overseen by the Secretary of Commerce (working with the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security). Its goal is to attract immigrants who make a significant financial gift to the...
by Frank Alvarado | Sep 18, 2025 | Immigration Updates
For audio listeners, you can listen to our audio version of the News Digest here. You can also join our Immigration News Digest Newsletter here. October 2025 Visa Bulletin Update: Big Advancement FY 2025 EB-5 Unreserved Category Reaches Annual Cap USCIS Reintroduces...
