EB2-NIW Premium Processing

Jan19

The USCIS processing times have long been somewhat of an inconvenience for individuals. Especially during the COVID-19 Pandemic that caused major delays. Premium Processing was offered as a solution by USCIS, which allowed individuals to receive results to their petition 15 to 45 working days for an extra cost. However, in the employment category, this option was only available to EB1-A (Individuals with Extraordinary Abilities).  This caused individuals who petitioned for EB2-NIW (National Interest Waiver) to remain without an option.  Recently, the USCIS announced premium processing starting January 30th 2023, for all previously filed NIW cases

January 19, 2023
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EB1 and EB2 NIW Processing Times

Blog Kameli Eb2 processing time
Jan13

Immigration processes in the US can be lengthy and time-consuming. Which can cause frustration for individuals with certain goals in mind. This also includes Eb1 and EB2 NIW Processing Times which can usually be unpredictable. However, the USCIS provides certain information that can help get an understanding of approximately how long the process can take and also give the option of premium processing to speed up the procedure. How long does it take to complete & submit my case to USCIS? The process of putting together an immigration file is not just the gathering of documents. It has

January 13, 2023
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What is EB2-NIW?

Dec22

What is EB2-NIW? EB2-NIW stands for Employment-Based Immigration: Second Preference – National Interest Waiver. The EB-2 NIW visa is for foreign nationals who are highly skilled or hold advanced degrees and will show they have a project or endeavor that will serve the national interests of the United States & Individuals may self-petition for an EB-2 NIW visa.   What is NIW? National Interest Waiver (NIW): the labor certification required for EB2 is waived because it is in the interest of the United States, which means no employer is required. The endeavors that qualify for a national interest

December 22, 2022
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DACA: Under Constant Threat

Aug13

By Taher Kameli and Chathan Vemuri   In 2012, then-President Barack Obama provided a crucial piece of legal protection for residents who unlawfully arrived in the United States as children in the form of the policy known as the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA.[1] By executive action, the president provided these residents (or “Dreamers”) a two-year shield from deportation despite not having citizenship or lawful permanent residence.[2] Under the DACA policy, these residents are able to obtain work permits, health insurance offered by employers, afford an education, and pursue higher education.[3] Depending on the state, Dreamers

August 13, 2021
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Senate Bill 667 Sent to Governor Pritzker Would Improve Trust Between Undocumented Immigrants and Local Law Enforcement

Jul20

By Taher Kameli and Chathan Vemuri     The Illinois legislature has forwarded a bill to Governor J.B. Pritzker that, if passed, would go far in strengthening trust between Illinois law enforcement and immigrant communities. The bill, known as Senate Bill 667, or, the Way Forward Act, restricts local law enforcement from working with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and close immigrant detainment centers across Illinois.[1] Proponents of the Way Forward Act argue that the bill would improve trust between immigrants and the police so that there would be better cooperation between the two to help detect and deter crimes, without

July 20, 2021
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Biden Administration Gives Much Needed Legal Protection to Undocumented Crime Victims with a Sped-Up U-Visa Application Process

Jul14

By Taher Kameli and Chathan Vemuri   In a move that is sure to be welcomed by many in both the immigrant community and law enforcement, the Biden administration has decided as of June 14, 2021 to speed up the process of granting U-Visas some undocumented immigrants who are victims of crime.[1] Under the new policy, the Biden administration will expand access to work permits and deportation relief to certain immigrant victims of crime with pending visa applications.[2]   Typically, the Government is only permitted to issue 10,000 U-Visas a year, with the rest of the U-Visa applicants being left on a

July 14, 2021
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Supreme Court Jeopardizes Thousands of Migrants with Temporary Protected Status in Its Ruling in Sanchez v. Mayorkas

Jul07

By Taher Kameli and Chathan Vemuri   On June 7, 2021, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that unlawful migrants in the United States whose presence was permitted by having Temporary Protected Status (TPS) were not eligible to apply for green cards to become lawful permanent residents.[1] This ruling followed a case involving Jose Santos Sanchez and his wife, who had arrived in the US unlawfully during the late 1990s and both of whom were granted Temporary Protected Status after the 2001 earthquakes in El Salvador, when the US made El Salvadorian nationals eligible for that status.[2] In 2014, Jose Santos

July 7, 2021
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Zhang v. USCIS Signals a Victory for EB-5 Immigrant Investors Looking for More Options to Fund Their Investments as USCIS Approves Petition at Heart of the Case Yet Questions Remain

May27

By Taher Kameli and Chathan Vemuri   On October 27 of 2020, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals invalidated a United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) denial of an EB-5 immigrant investor’s petition under its Loan Proceeds Policy.[1] The DC Circuit invalidated the Loan Proceeds Policy, under which cash from loans were treated as indebtedness and had to be collateralized by the investor’s assets.[2] This policy, which was adopted in 2015, differed from its older policy where the USCIS only looked at “whether capital resulting from secured loans was secured by the assets of the investor (indebtedness),” and that

May 27, 2021
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Biden Raises the Refugee Cap to 62,500 in Response to Pressure, Signaling a Dramatic Improvement in the United States’ Refugee Policy

taher kameli
May17

By Taher Kameli and Chathan Vemuri   The Biden administration challenged a core controversial feature of the Trump administration’s immigration policy this Monday when President Biden announced that it was abandoning the noticeably low Trump refugee cap.[1] Instead, President Biden has announced that the refugee cap would be raised to 62,500 people for this fiscal year.[2] This was done in response to pressure challenging the President for initially sticking by the Trump-era policy.[3] President Biden also announced that he would set a goal of 125,000 refugee admissions for the next fiscal year.[4] He justified

May 17, 2021
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Biden Administration Partially Lifts Green Card Ban

Biden Administration Partially Lifts Green Card Ban
Mar04

Written by Taher Kameli & Chathan Vemuri   This week, a major Trump-era immigration ban has been considerably rescinded by executive order.[1] On Wednesday 24th, 2021, the Biden administration lifted the Trump administration’s immigrant visa ban for many green card applicants.[2] The ban was originally imposed on April 2020, under an order known as Presidential Proclamation 100014[3], and was justified as being necessary to protect American workers in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]  Under the ban, the Trump administration froze the issuing of green cards for new immigrants and stopped temporary work visas for

March 4, 2021
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