Bank statements are among the most important documents in an EB-5 case because they do more than show that an investor earned or received the relevant investment funds. For EB-5 purposes, USCIS is not only interested in whether funds were lawfully obtained, but also in the path those funds took to reach the EB-5 project....
Jacqueline Treviño
Jan62026
The Gold Card program is a newly announced U.S. immigration initiative created by the Trump administration through Executive Order #14351. The program is described to establish a pathway to permanent residency, allowing foreign nationals to obtain lawful permanent resident (LPR) status—and potentially U.S. citizenship—by making a substantial financial gift to the United States Department of...
Dec122025
USCIS announced on December 4, 2025, that certain Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) will now have shorter validity periods for both initial and renewal applications, affecting many individuals seeking or extending work authorization in the U.S. USCIS explained that the purpose of these changes is to ensure more frequent vetting, deter fraud, and identify applicants who...
USCIS has reinstated EB-5 filing fees to the pre-April 1, 2024 amounts. This change follows a federal court decision invalidating the April 2024 fee rule after finding that USCIS implemented the increases without following required legal procedures. As a result, EB-5 investors, regional centers, and project developers will currently benefit from significantly lower filing costs....
Funding an EB-5 investment with personal salary savings or business profits is common. However, more investors are now turning to less traditional funding sources, such as retirement accounts. In particular, using a Self-Directed Individual Retirement Accounts to fund an EB-5 investment has become increasingly popular. What is a Self-Directed IRA? A Self-Directed IRA is a...
Many EB-5 applicants breathe a sigh of relief once they receive their Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and Advance Parole (AP). These benefits allow applicants to work and travel while waiting for a green card, but there’s an important consideration to keep in mind. Using your EAD or Advance Parole will directly impact your underlying visa...
The Social Security Administration (SSA) issues Social Security Numbers (SSNs) and cards to U.S. citizens, immigrant visa holders, and certain nonimmigrant visa holders residing in the U.S. with work authorization from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Applying for an SSN is free. SSNs are used for reporting earnings and taxes to the IRS,...
On November 28, 2023, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) provided updates regarding the long-anticipated pilot program for renewing visas domestically. Starting as soon as December 2023, this program will allow certain foreign nationals to renew or apply for their next visa while within the United States. Individuals residing and working in the United States...