by James Pinedo | Jul 6, 2020 | Investor Visas
By: Joseph Barnett and Avi Friedman Earlier this month we blogged about the long-awaited E-2 Treaty Investor visa for Israeli nationals, with starting availability as of May 1, 2019, and its basic eligibility requirements. For those with...
by Frank Alvarado | Jul 2, 2020 | Global
Briefing Canada has extended its travel ban on most international travelers until July 31, 2020. It is noteworthy that Canada has not reciprocated with the European Union, which lifted Canada from its travel ban yesterday. The extension of the foreign travel ban was...
by Frank Alvarado | Jul 1, 2020 | Global
Briefing The European Union has opened its borders to 14 countries: Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, and Uruguay. On June 30, each of these countries was placed on the EU’s...
by Frank Alvarado | Jul 1, 2020 | Global
Russia has announced extensions of patents for certain foreign citizens, a new e-visa, and COVID-19 procedures updates. Patents can be extended multiple times. A federal law effective April 24, 2020, changes the procedure of reissuance of patents for work in Russia by...
by James Pinedo | Jun 20, 2020 | Investor Visas
By: Bernard Wolfsdorf and Joseph Barnett The EB-5 visa waiting line for mainland-Chinese has become so long that many Chinese nationals are now seeking other ways to enter the U.S. often so their children may study at U.S. universities. Some are...
by Frank Alvarado | Jun 15, 2020 | Global
Turkey In Turkey, police clearances (criminal background checks/records, Adli Sicil Kaydi) are issued by the Public Prosecutor’s Office within the Ministry of Justice. This may be requested by the individual in person at the Prosecutor’s Office and is...
by Frank Alvarado | Jun 11, 2020 | Global
Italy has lifted some travel restrictions. A new law extends residence permit validity and suspension of administrative procedures. Also, Italy has published a “Phase 2” decree related to COVID-19 rules. The government is drafting a decree to boost...
by Frank Alvarado | Jun 9, 2020 | Global
Canadian immigration matters often require a police clearance certificate and/or RCMP criminal record check. WR provides the following overview to familiarize clients with Global Affairs Canada’s request for these documents as well as necessary document...
by James Pinedo | Jun 6, 2020 | Investor Visas
By: Bernard Wolfsdorf A silver lining exists for some immigrants due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. With most U.S. consulates closed or limited to emergency visa processing, there will be many more employment based (EB) immigrant visas available in Fiscal Year...
by James Pinedo | Jun 6, 2020 | Investor Visas
By: Joseph Barnett, Esq., Bernard Wolfsdorf, Esq., and Robert Blanco, Esq. 80 countries have treaties with the U.S. that permit foreign nationals to obtain E-2 Treaty Investor visas, which allow an investor or certain key executives permission to work...
by James Pinedo | May 27, 2020 | Investor Visas
A new law effective October 19, 2020, increased the fee for premium processing requests from $1,440 to $2,500 for almost all filings, except those for nonimmigrant worker petitions requesting H-2B or R-1 nonimmigrant status. For the latter, the fee increased from...
by James Pinedo | May 20, 2020 | Investor Visas
It can be frustrating to file an application or petition before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) only to wait through seemingly endless delays. But all may not be lost: USCIS will consider requests to expedite applications and petitions on a...
by James Pinedo | May 6, 2020 | Investor Visas
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has reported struggles with delays in scheduling and re-scheduling biometrics appointments due to a combination of factors, including demand, capacity, restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and extreme...
by Frank Alvarado | May 4, 2020 | Global
There have been changes in the Immigration Health Surcharge fee and in the minimum Tier 2 salary for Indefinite Leave to Remain applications. Immigration Health Surcharge fee increase: The latest budget includes an increase in the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)...
by Frank Alvarado | May 1, 2020 | Global
A new Schengen code regulation (Regulation (EU) 2019/1155 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 amending Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas) came into force February 2, 2020. This reviewed regulation applies to...
by Frank Alvarado | Apr 30, 2020 | Global
Several updates have been announced with respect to reform of entry permits, including a new special permit for Venezuelans. Reform of Entry Permits As of December 1, 2019, Resolution 3167 of 2019 issued by Migración Colombia is effective. This resolution establishes...
by Frank Alvarado | Apr 28, 2020 | Global
The Québec immigration department is closing a month-long consultation period with stakeholders on four questions intended to revamp a fast-track immigration stream leading to permanent residence in Canada for francophone foreigners living in Québec. The topics the...
by James Pinedo | Apr 27, 2020 | Investor Visas
By: Allison-Claire Acker, Esq. and Joseph M. Barnett, Esq. In a positive development for promoting trade and commerce between the U.S. and France, the U.S. Embassy in Paris, France has recently allowed certain large, multinational corporations to...
by Frank Alvarado | Apr 24, 2020 | Global
There is still a lack of clarity in terms of visa applications being submitted around the world and in the United Kingdom (UK). Attorneys are urging UKVI and the Home Office to update its guidance of February 27, 2020, to provide greater clarity. In the meantime,...
by Frank Alvarado | Apr 22, 2020 | Global
The Interior Ministry issued a press release with the following information. Germany, Spain, France, Austria, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, Holland—For these countries, in which the coronavirus is spreading, the Interior Ministry shared a Circular with various...
by Frank Alvarado | Apr 20, 2020 | Global
Summary Starting March 25, 2020, the following categories of foreign citizens and stateless persons can cross the Russian border despite the border block: Diplomats and consular workers, other officials; Persons with ordinary private visas, issued in connection with...
by Frank Alvarado | Apr 17, 2020 | Global
Recently, the Supreme Government Administration of Peru enacted some provisions to prevent and control coronavirus spread in the country. A summary of selected highlights is below. By Ministerial Resolution N° 055-2020-TR, signed by the Minister of Labor, the...
by Frank Alvarado | Apr 16, 2020 | Global
Following the recent outbreak of coronavirus cases in the North of Italy, parts of the country have limited access in and out of some areas, as well as particular restrictions on work and public activities. Extraordinary health measures have been implemented in Italy...
by Frank Alvarado | Apr 16, 2020 | Global
Briefing Taiwan restricts Hong Kong and Macau travelers from entry until a 14-day home or hotel quarantine passes upon landing in Taiwan. In addition to an earlier decision to ban Mainland Chinese nationals from entering Taiwan, Taiwan has also imposed restrictions on...
by Frank Alvarado | Apr 15, 2020 | Global
Briefing: The country’s main island of Luzon has been in lockdown since March 16. The original lockdown was set to expired April 12, but has been extended to April 30 11:59 PM. Under “enhanced community quarantine,” each household must designate a...
