Gonzalez & Hart

01/25/2023

AILA Canada Chapter Annual Conference today in Toronto and via zoom. I'm on the panel called "New Policy Guidance - O-1A, EB-1A and STEM" with my colleagues Kevin Zemp and Elizabeth Rompf Bruen. My favorite visa topic! Hope to see you.

01/23/2023

As of January 11, 2023, USCIS is extending by 48 months the validity of the green cards of US conditional residents, including those who have recently filed and those who have long pending I-829 removal of conditions forms. While this is welcome relief for investors and their families from the annual scramble for an Infopass appointment to extend conditional status as they wait, it also indicates USCIS sees no end in sight to these massive delays. Some investors have been waiting 4+ yrs for the end of conditional status!

12/28/2022

Look what arrived today! The US immigrations law bible, in two parts.

12/27/2022

These are advances, to be sure. But these are "drop in the bucket" advances. The data indicate the U.S. immigration system is drowning in processing delays fueled by staffing and funding shortages, perhaps further complicated by mixed-messaging policy from the top. Foreign nationals - our clients - expect efficiency and fairness from the US and find it hard to believe an American agency is so dysfunctional.

USCIS released its 2022 Progress Report, highlighting data on the agency’s approach to reducing backlogs and addressing labor shortages.

12/22/2022

Important: USCIS has issued guidance for nonimmigrant workers who have been fired or quit U.S. jobs that were authorized under an employment-based visa. The point is to try to avoid unlawful presence or status violations.

These tips can help you find what you are looking for: Check the URL (web address) for proper spelling and completeness; Use our

12/22/2022

Germany has handed over 20 Benin Bronzes from its museums to Nigeria, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Tuesday, making it the latest European country to return cultural artifacts to their African homeland.

12/22/2022

Read the full story and comment on CityNews Halifax.

12/21/2022

As of December 15, 2022, the US Congress passed two major changes to E visa (trade and investment) eligibility:

- Portugal has been designated a treaty country. Dual citizens in Venezuela and Brazil (which are not treaty countries) can now apply for the E-1 trade visa or E-2 investor visa. If you might qualify for Portuguese citizenship through family, go for it!

- Investors from non-treaty countries who seek to acquire citizenship in Grenada or other treaty countries through financial investment must be domiciled in that country for "a continuous period of not less than 3 years at any point before applying for a E visa." This likely ends the "citizenship by investment" option for those who acquired a treaty country citizenship through investment in order to qualify for the E visa. Those who already have an E visa through these citizenship scheme are grandfathered.

12/12/2022

On , AILA’s Paul Stern writes why Congress must provide greater funding and to ensure the agency can continue addressing its backlogs and processing delays:

AILA Policy Associate Paul Stern writes why Congress must provide greater funding and accountability for USCIS to continue addressing its backlogs and processing delays.

12/10/2022

Read the full story and comment on CityNews Halifax.

12/09/2022