President Trump Cannot End Birthright Citizenship
In late October, shortly before the midterm elections in the United States, President Donald Trump announced that he would sign an executive order ending what is known as “birthright citizenship.” This move was seen as an effort to distract voters before the elections, as nearly all American legal scholars agree that President Trump lacks the legal authority to change the law in this way. Birthright citizenship is part of the United States Constitution. It was added in 1868 by the 14th...
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November USCIS “Final Action” on EB-5 Changes Increasing Investment Amount to $1,350,000. Is it Really Final?
We understand. This is probably not the first time over the last few years you have heard the EB-5 Visa investment amount is on the verge of increasing so you may not pay too much attention to the “breaking news” that within the next two months or even earlier, the minimum investment requirements for the EB-5 Visa will likely go up from $500,000 to $1,350,000. Looking back over EB-5 industry pronouncements over the last several years there have been no less than a dozen pronouncements of a...
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Immigration Detention Under Trump: Vast Majority of Detained Immigrants Have No Criminal History at All
In the past years, the general consensus in immigration policy has been to focus deportation resources and efforts on undocumented immigrants with a criminal record, gang members and national security threats. The current administration’s most recent figures, however, are showing a very different trend. According to research data from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) at Syracuse University, as of June 30, 2018, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) held in custody...
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Delayed EB-5 Application? Consider a Writ of Mandamus Federal Lawsuit to Obtain a Decision on Your Case
What is the EB-5 Visa Program and Why are the Visas Delayed? The EB-5 visa program is an investor visa program that allows foreign nationals and their dependents to reside in the United States in order to manage large-scale investments. This program presently requires an investment of either $500,000 in a targeted employment area (TEA) or $1,000,000 anywhere in the United States as well as the creation of full-time employment for at least ten American workers. This visa program ultimately...
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E2 Visa for Event Decorating and Design Business Approved for Dual Indian and Canadian National
Congratulations to our client, a dual national of India and Canada, on the recent approval of her E2 Visa at the US Consulate in Toronto, Canada. Our client previously operated an exceptionally successful event decor business in Canada and has over a decade of experience in the industry. She elected to open her business in Central Florida to serve the community with an event design, decor and rental business in Kissimmee, Florida. Our sincere and heartfelt congratulations to our client who was...
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EB1 Visa Approved for Plastic Surgeon
Congratulations to our client, a well-recognized and respected plastic surgeon and Brazilian national on his recent EB-1 Visa approval! Our client created a special plastic surgery technique which does not require any cuts or incisions and is minimally invasive. His innovative technique has received worldwide recognition for significantly altering the industry. As a result of his numerous contributions to the field, he has received several awards, garnered praise from the media, and has been...
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E2 Visas Thailand – E2 Investor Visas for Thai Nationals
E2 investment visas are a great way for entrepreneurs to invest in an American business or commercial enterprise while gaining the ability to live in the United States to develop and direct that enterprise. On average, over 400 E-2 visas are approved through the U.S. Consulate in Bangkok each year. For Thai nationals, this type of visa represents an opportunity for not only an investor to live in the United States, but for his or her spouse and children under the age of 21 to as well. In...
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Record Number of EB5 (I-526) Approvals for June 2018 at Colombo & Hurd
This past month was a banner month at Colombo & Hurd for approval of EB-5 I-526 Immigrant Petitions by Alien Entrepreneurs. A total of 19(!!) EB-5 petitions were approved for clients of Colombo & Hurd during June. The total of just under twenty EB-5 approvals was a record for the firm but one that firm President Carlos Colombo anticipates will be surpassed in the near future. The Approvals included clients from Argentina, Belgium, Brazil Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom and...
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E2 Visa Approved for National of Brazil and Italy for Video Production Company
Congratulations to our client who recently received an approval for his E2 Visa at the US Consulate in São Paulo, Brazil. Our client invested in a full service video production company with the aim of offering its services to businesses, advertising companies, and marketing firms. He also plans to work with screenwriters and directors looking for a production company to being their ideas to life. As Florida is one of the largest hubs for creativity in the United States, his company will be...
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P1 Visa Approved for an International Soccer Player Support Specialist
Congratulations to our client, a Brazilian national, on their recent P-1S approval after overcoming a difficult Request for Assistance (RFE). The RFE noted that the Beneficiary does not have the critical knowledge, qualifications, and experience for the position. We provided evidence indicating that the Beneficiary has worked alongside and supported Professional players in this capacity. We also obtained letters from professional soccer players as well as top-level professional sports teams...
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E2 Visa for Canadian and Brazilian Dual National Approved at US Consulate General Toronto
Congratulations to our client, a dual national of Brazil and Canada, whose E2 Visa was approved at the US Consulate in Toronto earlier this week. Our client was an essential employee for a private carrier, trucking services organization that provides high quality truckload freight services in partnership with a transportation and logistic brokerage organization which works with an extensive variety of distributors and customers. The transportation company is based in Orlando and serves the...
read moreAttorney Rusten Hurd Interviewed on Federal Court’s Rejection of Trump Administration’s Attempt to End DACA
Attorney Rusten Hurd was interviewed by Channel 13 News in Orlando, Florida concerning a recent Federal Court decision. On April 24, 2018 a Washington D.C. Federal Court Judge found that the memorandum utilized by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program was unlawful. The Judge provided the Trump administration an additional 90 days to provide some form of legal explanation for the termination of DACA or found...
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Options for Immigrant Investors and Entrepreneurs in 2018 (One Year into the Trump Era).
Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX and Garrett Camp, the co-founder of Uber are amongst the many immigrant entrepreneurs that have been attracted to the United States to develop their companies and ideas. Immigrant startup founders have not only transformed travel in the US but also the healthcare industry, the employment sector, and information technology. More than half of US startup companies valued at one billion dollars or more were started by immigrants. Those companies are collectively...
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EB1C (Green card for Foreign Executive or Manager) Approved for Orlando Gym Executive and Manager
Congratulations to our Ukranian Client who recently received an approval of his EB1C Application for Foreign Executives or Managers. Our client manages a very successful gym and fitness center located in Orlando, Florida. His successful management of the domestic business coupled with prior successful management of the parent company abroad led to an affirmative determination from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services. Our client has indicated that he will continue to manage and...
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E2 Visa Status Approved for National of India and Canada for Gas Station and Convenience Store
Congratulations to our client, a dual national of India and Canada, who recently had his E-2 Visa status approved through a domestic application with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Our client purchased an existing gas station and convenience store on a contingent basis and was able to gain approval for his E2 status through his Canadian nationality. The application was approved within two weeks of filing without a Request for Evidence of any other query from...
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EB1 Visa Approval for Software Developer Artist from Argentina
We are very proud to announce the approval of an EB-1 Visa for our Argentinian client, a Software Developer Artist. The US Immigration Service agreed with our assessment that our client was deserving of approval as an Alien of Extraordinary Ability in light of the fact he had been awarded with one of the most recognized awards in his field from Argentina and had worked as a Software Developer for some of the worlds top companies and advertising agencies. He has developed websites, digital...
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L-1 Visas Receive Increased Scrutiny Under Trump Administration
The “Buy American, Hire American” executive order issued by President Trump has caused difficulties for immigrants seeking visas across a wide variety of categories. One of the latest casualties of the Trump Administration’s focus on protecting American workers — often at the expense of the good of American industry and enterprise — is the L-1 visa program. The L-1 visa allows certain employers to transfer executives, managers, and workers with specialized knowledge between afflicted...
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How to Hire the Best Orlando Immigration Lawyer for your Case
If you are considering immigrating to the United States or are already in the US and have concerns about your immigration status, you are likely attempting to determine which immigration lawyer will be the best option for you. Immigration laws are complex, and in the current political climate immigration policies and priorities have the potential to change rapidly. That is why it is vitally important to have a highly skilled immigration lawyer to represent you. Yet for many, choosing an...
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The Three Most Important EB-1 (Extraordinary Ability) Visa Trends in the Trump Era
The EB-1 Visa is a self-petitioning green card application for foreign nationals with extraordinary ability. An EB-1 requires an individual to show that they have sustained national or international acclaim in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics. It is a category reserved only for those who have risen to the top -- the crème de la crème of their field. A person demonstrates extraordinary ability by showing a one-time major international achievement, such as the Nobel Prize or...
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EB 5 Visa Approval for Brazilian Client and his family.
Please join us in congratulating our clients Luis and Debora from Brazil who received the approval of their EB-5 this week. Luis made an investment through the Magic Village, a luxury vacation townhome community offering the services, amenities, and facilities of a vacation resort with the privacy and comfort of home located in Kissimmee, Florida. We would like to congratulate Luis and Debra on their success from both an immigration and business...
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