EB-5 Processing Times Update

Update from USCIS on Dec. 23, 2014:

The average processing time for Form I-829 (Petition by Entrepreneur to Remove Conditions) was increased to 8.6 months from the previous estimate of 6.8 months 2 weeks earlier.

FREE WESTWOOD LEGAL CLINIC TONIGHT

We are pleased to introduce the Khosravi-Malakouti Community Law Clinic on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every Month from 6:30PM to 8:30PM.

Attorneys John Khosravi and Parviz Malakouti will be available to answer your questions regarding your legal problems. Each clinic participant will receive a private 15-minute session to ask questions about a wide variety of civil legal matters.  Criminal law issues will not be addressed at the clinic.  
The service is completely free of charge to participants. Languages spoken include English, Spanish, Persian, and French.

Parviz Malakouti is a California licensed attorney and a graduate of UCLA and the University of Miami School of Law. John Khosravi is a California licensed attorney and a graduate of UCLA and Loyola Law School.

Location: Lutheran Church of The Master Parish House. 10931 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90025 

January 2014 Visa Bulletin Released

This month's Visa bulletin showed regular movement forward in most categories. Interestingly, the Employment-Based 3rd category showed a 6 month jump forward for most countries. This is great for those that are Skilled, Professional, or "Other" workers.

Interesting New EB-5 Facts From USCIS

On December 5th, 2014, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) held a Stakeholder Engagement Meeting discussing important and contemporary issues regarding the EB-5 Immigration Investor Program. The Meeting allowed individuals to attend in-person and by phone, and allowed individuals to ask questions, as well as receive answers to pre-selected questions. Approximately 50 people attended the meeting in-person and 500 individuals participated by phone.

In attendance from the government included the USCIS Director León Rodríguez, EB-5 Chief Nicholas Colucci and other top EB-5 officials, who spoke at the beginning of the conference and provided the following interesting facts:

• Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 represented approximately $5.5 billion in potential investment funds.

• There are approximately 600 approved Regional Centers, 230 of which were approved in FY 2014.

• 11,000 I-526 petitions were filed in FY 2014 (72% increase over FY 2013).

• Those 11,000 I-526 petitions represent over 25% of all petitions ever received by USCIS since the inception of the Program in 1990.

• As a result of these increases, the Program used up its allocation of approximately 10,000 visas, which became unavailable toward the end of FY 2013.

• The 11,000 I-526 petitions represent approximately $5.5 billion in potential investment.

• USCIS received 2,500 I-829s (106% growth).

• Compare these figures to those from 2007, at which time there were only 11 active regional centers. USCIS received less than 800 I-526 petitions, and less than 200 I-829 petitions.

• USCIS terminated seven regional centers for failure to file Form I-924A, and issued 28 Notices of Intent to Terminate (“NOIT”) to regional centers.  

Source: AILA InfoNet Doc. No. 14121200

Photo: Roger Sayles

New Hilton Hotel in San Gabriel through EB-5 Investment Funds #EB5 #GreenCard

Trucks loaded with construction materials park in front of a vacant lot in El Monte, where a homeless man slumbers on the sidewalk next to a mountain of rags and trash bags.

Overhead, colorful flags whip in the breeze, advertising opportunities for wealthy Chinese investors. A large sign above the sidewalk explains the reason for the trucks: the construction of a 133-room Hilton Garden Inn on a run-down section of Valley Boulevard.

The Hilton is part of an unprecedented wave of Chinese investment in a working-class, mostly Latino city, where more than $720 million in projects are under discussion or development.

When it opens in 2015, the Hilton will become El Monte's first full-service hotel since the city was incorporated in 1912. If approved, a $220-million development with about half a million square feet of retail and office space would add another hotel.

(Link)

EB-5 Processing Times Getting Longer

The New EB-5 Immigrant Investor Processing times were published by USCIS on December 5. As usual there was a steady increase in the processing of I-526 Applications (the initial Immigrant Investor Application for the conditional Green Card). However, the processing time for the application for removing the conditions on the Green Card (Form I-829) jumped 1.8 months. 

The processing time for companies to obtain a Regional Center designation also increased by half a month. Overall the EB-5 program is taking much longer than originally intended.

·      Form I-525 (Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur)

o   14.7 months (increase of 0.4 months)

·      Form I-829 (Petition by Entrepreneur to Remove Conditions)

o    6.8 months (decrease of 1.8 months)

·      Form I-924 (Application for Regional Center)

o   9.0 months (increase of 0.5 months)

For best results, consult with an Immigration Attorney experienced in filing EB-5 applications.

Picture: Moyan Brenn

EB-5 Regional Centers Must File Form I-924A by December 29, 2014 #EB5 #GreenCard

USCIS reminds all approved EB-5 regional centers with a designation letter dated on or before Sept. 30, 2014, that they must file Form I-924A, Supplement to Form I-924, for fiscal year 2014. Regional centers must submit Form I-924A no later than Dec. 29, 2014.

If a regional center fails to file Form I-924A, USCIS will issue a notice of intent to terminate participation in the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. If a regional center files an incomplete Form I-924A, USCIS may issue a notice of intent to terminate participation...(Link)

BREAKING: Govt. Hiring Thousands of Employees for Applications For Obama's Immigration Executive Order #DACA

A December 1 bulletin from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) details the immediate opening of 1,000 permanent federal employee positions at a new operational facility that will open soon in Crystal City, Virginia. Newly hired employees will be tasked with approving applications submitted by illegal immigrants taking advantage of President Obama's recently announced executive amnesty program...(Link)

4th Quarter EB-5 Application Performance Released

The Immigrant Investor Program ("EB-5") allows foreign nationals to invest in job creating businesses in the U.S. with the goal of obtaining Lawful Permanent Residency (a "Green Card").

The process begins with the submission of the initial EB-5 package (Form I-526 and supporting documents). If approved, the foreign national will receive a Temporary/Conditional Green Card. Almost two years after the approval of the first EB-5 package, the immigrant must file the second EB-5 package (Form I-829 and supporting documents) to remove the conditions and receive a Permanent Green Card.

Because of the large dollar amount required for the investment, the process can have severe repercussions for participants whose applications are not approved. However, the success rate is still quite high, especially in relation to other U.S. Immigration programs.

For the most current statistics on the number of approvals, denials, and pending EB-5 applications, please visit the links below.


Click here for for I-526 Applications

Click her for I-829 Applications



Photo by: Dr. Wendy Longo

Applying for U.S. Citizenship (Naturalization)

Naturalization is the process by which a foreign national becomes a U.S. Citizen. This process can only begin after the foreign national has been a U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) or Green Card holder for a set period of time, in addition to other requirements.

The following is a summary of the requirements for applying for Naturalization. It is best to consult an Immigration Attorney to properly review your personal history, requirements and potential issues that may arise for your application:

To Review the answers to the following question and see a timeline chart of the Naturalization Process, please visit the JQK Law Firm Naturalization Page.

What are the requirements for being able to apply for Naturalization (U.S. Citizenship)?

What do I need to apply for Naturalization (U.S. Citizenship) through the JQK Law Firm?

What happens after I file the Naturalization Application?

Picture: Damian Bariexca