When Immigration Matters

Israel Admitted to the Visa Waiver Program

Posted by Karen-Lee Pollak on Tue, Oct 03, 2023 @ 12:29 PM

On September 27, 2023, the Biden Administration announced Israel’s entry into the Visa Waiver program. Starting November 30, 2023, Israeli citizens will be able to travel to the US without the need to obtain a B-1/B-2 Visa at a US Consulate. The Visa Waiver Program, recognized worldwide, offers eligible citizens of participating countries a streamlined pathway to enter the United States for tourism, business meetings, or family visits for a period not exceeding 90 days. The traditional visa application process is replaced with a more straightforward Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) application, making travel arrangements more accessible and hassle-free. Applicants applying under the program would have to file the ESTA application on the Custom and Border Protection (CBP) portal here.

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Immigration Reform: What it means for Highly Skilled Foreign Workers

Posted by Karen-Lee Pollak on Mon, Dec 01, 2014 @ 9:00 AM

As part of President Obama’s executive action, he has ordered new policies and regulations to be implemented which will benefit highly-skilled foreign workers by enabling businesses to more easily hire and retain these workers and allow them to make natural career progressions with their employers or seek similar opportunities within the United States thereby creating increased career stability for those foreign workers waiting for green cards. 

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CHINA EB-5 VISAS UNAVAILABLE FOR THE REST OF FY2014

Posted by Karen-Lee Pollak on Tue, Aug 26, 2014 @ 4:07 PM

Charles Oppenheim, U.S. Department of State, Chief, Immigrant Visa Control announced that the China Employment Fifth (EB-5) preference category has become "Unavailable" for the remainder of the FY-2014 because the maximum number of visas allocated ot chinese nationals has been reached.  

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EB-5: USCIS continues to recognize RIMS II for Indirect Job Creation

Posted by Michael Pollak on Fri, Jul 25, 2014 @ 2:20 PM

On June 19, 2013, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) issued a docs/bea report.pdf announcing its plan to eliminate its Regional Input-Output Modeling System (RIMS II) economic model. That model has been specifically approved by USCIS and RIMS II reports have been heavily relied upon by a majority of EB-5 investors and Regional Centers in filing their EB5 applications.

This announcement has left many in the EB5 arena wondering what type of evidence of job creation would BEA start accepting and whether USCIS would continue ot accept RIMS II modeling. 

On July 3, 2014, the BEA announced its "plans to release in 2015 a modified economic model to replace the original" RIMS II model.

Former BEA economist, John Barrett of Performance Economics LLC told David Morris, Chair of the AILA/EB-5 Committee summarized the BEA News as follows:

  • No change in the methodology of the USCIS approved benchmark series of multipliers;
  • Benchmark series now based on the 406-industry 2007 benchmark I/O table instead of 2002, an improvement;
  • USCIS should continue to take a positive view of RIMS II, as they have in the past.

According to Barrett, “Given this announcement by BEA, there is no reason why USCIS wouldn’t continue to recognize RIMS II as a ‘verifiable methodology'".  The Benchmark Series multipliers will be produced exactly as they have in the past and therefore USCIS would be hard pressed to find a reason to reverse itself on past recognition granted RIMS II.”

If your EB5 application is through a Regional Center you must make sure that if the project is relying on indirect job creation reports that these reports continue to be valid and make sure that the reports have been approved by a qualified econoomist as to the impact of the RIMS II changes.

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USCIS: Backlog in Processing of EB5-I526 Immigrant Investor Petitions

Posted by Michael Pollak on Wed, Sep 18, 2013 @ 2:51 PM

USCIS has released an update on the processing times for I 526 Investor Petitions also known as the Immigration Petition for Alien Entrepeneurs.  Petitioners have grown accustomed to adjudication of these Petitions taking 6-9 months.  The latest update provided by USCIS is that Petitioners can expect these Petitions to take 16 months to approve.  As of July 31, 2013, USCIS is working on I526 petitions filed in March 2012.  

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Immigration Reform Bill is Here!!!

Posted by Karen-Lee Pollak on Wed, Apr 17, 2013 @ 9:50 AM
As a framework for reform, this is closer than we've come in years to meaningful change," said AILA President Laura Lichter

We commends the Senate "Gang of Eight" for introducing its bipartisan immigration reform proposal, allowing the Senate Judiciary Committee to forge ahead on the "markup" process. A proposal like this is a necessary first step in any path forward to create a common-sense immigration system that will meet the needs of the U.S. economy, businesses, and families, and integrate into our society aspiring Americans who work hard and want only a better life for themselves and their families.

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Happy Thanksgiving: An Immigrant's Perspective

Posted by Karen-Lee Pollak on Thu, Nov 24, 2011 @ 12:10 PM
                                    Dear Friends,

Thanksgiving is the time of year when we are reminded of all the things we are grateful for. This year, I am looking forward to my husband's parents ' Thanksgiving dinner.  This is a great time of year to enjoy time with family and friends, and of course, watch the Dallas Cowboys.

 

Thanksgiving is a relatively new holiday for me.  It is the holiday of my adopted home and I look forward to passing on all its family traditions to my children.  The United States is a place of improbable stories, of lives that never could have been realized anywhere else in the world.  I do not believe that my life as a lawyer amd all the possibilities that have grown from my career would have been possible in any other country. 

 

You cannot choose the country where you are born.  But  a lucky few have the opportunity to choose the country where they live.  When I was growing up, I never imagined that one day I woud be an immigrant. The United States has allowed me to shape my future and to assist many others in shaping theirs.  Thank you America for giving me this opportunity. 

 

I am so grateful for all the blessings in my life, including each of you-my family, friends, colleagues, and clients. Reflecting on the year, I can truly say that I enjoy my work, I am passionate about the causes I choose to fight, and I cherish the people I get to work with and for.

 

Happy Thanksgiving to each of you, and thank you for allowing me to be a part of your lives.

 
Sincerely,

 

 

Karen-Lee Pollak

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Immigrant Entrepreneurs Critical For Long-Term US Economic Growth

Posted by Michael Pollak on Wed, Feb 09, 2011 @ 3:50 PM

The Brookings Institution releases report:  Immigration and High-Impact, High-Tech Entrepreneurship by David M. Hart and Zoltan J. Acs.

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