by James Pinedo | May 3, 2021 | Immigration Updates
In this edition, read about the limits on visa services for India, NIE expansion, USCIS deference, and more! President Biden Suspends Entry of Noncitizens/Non-LPRs Traveling From India; U.S. Mission in India Announces Limits on Visa Services President Biden has issued...
by James Pinedo | Apr 29, 2021 | Investor Visas
By Bernard Wolfsdorf When I first started filing EB-5 petitions many years ago, my clients were frustrated if their EB-5 petitions took 6 months to process. Today, USCIS’ published processing time for an I-526 petition is between 30 and 48.5 months, and if from China,...
by James Pinedo | Apr 28, 2021 | Global
It has been quite a year for the entire world, but it has been a defining year for life sciences companies. Under incredible pressure and a global microscope, the industry has come out more resilient and stronger than ever, thanks in large part to incredible talent....
by James Pinedo | Apr 26, 2021 | Immigration Updates
Please see below for updates and changes from SSA, DHS, ICE and CBP! SSA Ends “No-Match” Letters Good news! The Social Security Administration (SSA) has ended the practice of sending employers “no-match” letters, called Employer Correction Request Notices. SSA...
by James Pinedo | Apr 22, 2021 | Announcements
BREAKING: On May 24th at 2:45 p.m. EST, WR Immigration will be presenting at the WERC Spring Virtual Conference! Here are the details on the panel: Reinventing Global Mobility Through Tech: Solutions for a Post-Pandemic World After a year of crisis, disruption, and...
by James Pinedo | Apr 22, 2021 | Announcements
WR Immigration is proud to announce that on May 11 at 7 p.m. PST, Managing Partner, Bernie Wolfsdorf, will present at the EB-5 Annual Conference for the Asia-Pacific Chapter (APAC) of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). EB-5 practice has been impacted...
by James Pinedo | Apr 22, 2021 | Investor Visas
On April 14, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) approved our former client, Mr. Zhang’s, Form I-526 – Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur. His case had been pending since December 2013. This is a special Form I-526...
by James Pinedo | Apr 21, 2021 | Announcements
On April 14th, WR Immigration partnered with the Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America (APPNA) Young Physicians Committee (YPC) to present to a group of recently graduated medical school students. Presented by WR Immigration Partners Naveen...
by James Pinedo | Apr 19, 2021 | Immigration Updates
More news this month about visa processing backlogs as well as news from Washington DC about the refugee cap, and more. State Dept. Releases FAQ on Immigrant Visa Backlog and Consular Processing The Department of State has recently issued an FAQ on the immigrant visa...
by kbogucki@longviewstrategies.com | Apr 15, 2021 | Global
A digital platform, “Working in Belgium,” intended to facilitate the filing and processing of applications, will be launched soon after a test phase. The Brexit Trade and Cooperation Agreement has an impact on UK business visitors: some activities are work...
by kbogucki@longviewstrategies.com | Apr 15, 2021 | Global
There are new pandemic-related rules for travel across the land border and by air. Travel Across the Land Border Non-essential travelers (such as returning “snowbirds”) must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken no longer than 72 hours earlier. In addition to...
by kbogucki@longviewstrategies.com | Apr 13, 2021 | Consular Services & Travel
Corporate executives who travel internationally and return to the United States frequently may want to qualify for a “Trusted Traveler” program like Global Entry. It is advisable to avoid pitfalls that would hamper the ability to come and go easily. As we inch toward...
by kbogucki@longviewstrategies.com | Apr 12, 2021 | Immigration Updates
In this issue, you will find updates from the DOS regarding visa services guidance and slightly expanded national interest exceptions for the regional COVID travel bans. Both are good news. CBP reminds us what documents a resident will need to board a plane returning...
by kbogucki@longviewstrategies.com | Apr 12, 2021 | Community
To support the Black Lives Matter movement, the Firm provided four hours of civic engagement paid time off to encourage staff to participate in one of the many protests and rallies held across the country. Staff also donated money, matched by the Firm, to non-profits...
by kbogucki@longviewstrategies.com | Apr 12, 2021 | Community
In collaboration with the Victim Rights Law Center, we adopted approximately 30 immigrant families and donated gifts from their wish list in December 2018 and December 2019. Wishes ranging from bed sheets to Primark gift cards were fulfilled by the Firm’s employees....
by Frank Alvarado | Apr 6, 2021 | Human Resources Services
Employees have plenty to worry about under routine circumstances. The work ahead of them, relationships, family… we all have common threads that create anxiety. Add immigration to the mix, and the emotional burden can increase significantly. Employees and the global...
by Frank Alvarado | Apr 5, 2021 | Investor Visas
USCIS is reporting online that the estimated processing time for a Form I-829 Petition by Entrepreneur to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status at Immigrant Investor Program Office is now 37 to 248 months. USCIS is only allowing case inquiries for cases...
by kbogucki@longviewstrategies.com | Apr 5, 2021 | Community
In an effort to aid Puerto Rico after catastrophic Hurricane Maria, we launched the “Donate Your Lunch Hour to Puerto Rico Relief Efforts” initiative in October 2017, raising $802.30. The Firm matched this for a total donation of $1,604.60, all of which went to the...
by kbogucki@longviewstrategies.com | Apr 5, 2021 | Community
We partnered with the Political Asylum/Immigrant Refugee Project (PAIR) and hosted our first asylum intake clinic, completing 22 intakes in 2016. The Firm is grateful for this important collaboration and continues to assist with asylum case intakes. New volunteers...
by kbogucki@longviewstrategies.com | Apr 5, 2021 | Community
Partner Leslie Ditrani volunteered in the field at the Dilley Detention Center in Dilley, TX in May 2019, spending a week preparing women for their credible fear interviews. Our Gives Back volunteers in Boston assisted Leslie’s efforts by providing remote...
by kbogucki@longviewstrategies.com | Apr 5, 2021 | Community
We participated in a Veteran’s Day letter writing campaign in November 2017, sending approximately 50 letters to Congress and state attorneys general appealing for protection of the MAVNI program, which allowed certain non-citizens to join the U.S. military and...
by kbogucki@longviewstrategies.com | Apr 5, 2021 | Community
We partnered with Project Citizenship and adopted three sessions in July 2018 to assist pre-screened clients with completing naturalization applications. Volunteers completed thirteen applications, helping to serve clients born in six different countries: Haiti,...
by kbogucki@longviewstrategies.com | Apr 5, 2021 | Community
Our Gives Back program ran a holiday drive December 2017 to deliver gifts to Immigrant and refugee children represented by Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), a non-profit dedicated to providing legal services to immigrant children. Staff contributed gifts from a wish...
by kbogucki@longviewstrategies.com | Apr 5, 2021 | Community
Partner Leslie Ditrani volunteered at CLSACC, the Cambridge Community Legal Services and Counseling Center. The clinic runs on the third Wednesday of every month, providing free legal consultation and advice to immigrants from Cambridge and the surrounding...
by kbogucki@longviewstrategies.com | Apr 5, 2021 | Community
Our Firm drafted “bond packages” to help asylum seekers get released from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Karnes City, Texas so that they can join their families in the U.S. while seeking to obtain asylum. This project is in...
