U.S. IMMIGRATION LAW UPDATES AS OF APRIL 22TH, 2019

NEW LOOK, SAME FUNCTION

Beginning May 2019, Arrival/Departure Forms: I-94 and I-94W for non U.S. citizens or residents will have a different look. The most notable change is that the digit numerical format will be replaced by alphanumeric characters. According to Customs & Border Patrol, “unexpired I-94s issued in the current numeric-only format will continue to be valid until the Admit Until Date printed on the paper I-94 and/or the date displayed on the public I-94 website…”

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/i-94 

ISRAELI NATIONALS ARE NOW ELIGIBLE FOR E-2 VISAS

Starting May 1, 2019, Israeli nationals who are seeking to invest in a new or existing business in the United States, and who intend to direct or control the business, may now have the opportunity. After the U.S. and Israeli Governments signed a treaty investor agreement, Israeli nationals are not eligible to file for the E-2 visa classification, if they meet the requirements.  For more information on the E-2 visa classification, please refer to my previous post. Israeli nationals who are lawfully in the U.S. will be able to request of change of status to E-2 treaty investor classification.

https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/israeli-nationals-eligible-treaty-investor-visas 

ECONOMIC VALUE OF EB-5 RECOGNIZED IN NEW BILL

Upon the release of a study by The EB-5 Investment Coalition and Invest in the USA about the positive economic impact of the EB-5 Investor Program, Representative Jennifer Gonzalez-Colon introduced a bill in support of the Program. On April 9th, 2019, Representative Gonzalez-Colon introduced H.R.2173 – “To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to reserve EB-5 visas each fiscal year for investors in new commercial enterprises in areas with respect to which a major disaster has been declared by the President.” For more information on what EB-5 petitioners should know before investing, check this previous post. For a better understanding of what information EB-5 petitioners need to provide, you can read this post.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/2173

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