On September 28, 2012, President Obama signed into law an extension of several important immigration law programs.
The EB-5 Regional Center Program, similar to the EB-5 Investor Program, enables stimulation of the U.S. economy by overseas investors, the difference being that the EB-5 Regional Center Program is provided for by “The Immigrant Investor Pilot Program” through investments that are affiliated with an economical unit known as a “Regional Center”. Under the main EB-5 Investor Program, minimum investment of $1 million dollars is required. However, under the Regional Center Program, minimum investment of $500,000 is required. In both cases, job creation of at least 10 U.S. workers is required. EB-5 Program, which was scheduled to expire on September 30, 2012, has been extended to September 30, 2015.
The Non-Minister Religious Worker Program is able to function by way of a special immigrant category that has been established for foreign national ministers and non-ministers in religious vocations and occupations to immigrate to or adjust status in the United States for the purpose of performing religious work. Although there exists a cap of 5,000 workers who may be issued a special immigrant non-minister religious worker visa during each fiscal year, there is no cap for special immigrant religious workers entering the United States solely for the purpose of carrying on the vocation of a minister. This program, which was supposed to expire on September 30, 2012, has been extended to September 30, 2015.
Finally, the Conrad State 30/J-1 Visa Waiver Program alters the pre-existing requirement for international medical students who have completed their medical education in the U.S. to return to their country of nationality for at least two years before pursuing a career in the U.S. to instead be offered a place in underserved areas of the State. Under the Conrad State 30/J-1 Visa Waiver Program, this home residency requirement can be waived for up to thirty (30) J-1 physicians annually. In exchange, the J-1 physicians must agree to practice medicine full-time at a pre-approved sponsoring site for a minimum of three years. These practice sites must be located in federally designated health professional shortage areas (HPSA) or a medically underserved area (MUA). This program also has been extended to September 30, 2015.
For more information about any of these programs, please feel free to contact your immigration lawyers and attorneys at Nachman Phulwani Zimovcak Law Group, (NPZ) P.C. at 201-670-0006 (x107) or by e-mail to info@visaserve.com.
SOME OF THE IMMIGRATION RELATED LEGISLATION (JAN. – SEPT. 2012)
The following immigration-related bills were introduced into the House of Representatives and the Senate January 2012-September 2012.
BRAINS Act (S. 3553)
Introduced by Sen. Schumer (D-NY) on September 19, 2012. It provides for immigrants visas for certain advanced Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) graduates, student visa reform, age-out protections for children, retention of priority dates, and family reunifications for high-skilled workers.
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