US Immigration News

The minimum investment amount for the US EB5 Green Card will almost double from $500,000 to $900,000 for areas of higher unemployment called Targeted Employment Area TEA, which is by far the most popular for investors.  In other areas not covered by TEA the amount will increase from $1 million to $1.8 million.

There are even greater difficulties in obtaining L1 visas under Trump.  This means more Requests for Further Evidence and more refusals.  Trump’s Buy American and Hire American executive order has resulted in significant changes in the processing of visas.  This has happened without changes in the law passed by Congress.

There are very limited options to work in the US.  In many cases the only option is either the E2 visa or E1 visa scheme.  Under Trump the refusal rate for US work visa categories has greatly increased and it has also become more difficult to obtain visas including the L1 visa and H1B visa and B1 in lieu of H1B visa.

Immigration is an emotive area.  More so under Trump.  There have been numerous concerns about conditions in detention camps for migrants.  Families have been separated  Trump’s harsh rhetoric has upset many people.  So it is not surprising that Tech employees will oppose their companies providing IT services to Immigration and Customs Enforcement ICE and other organisations such as Customs and Border Protection CBP.

Trump and Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II, the acting director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services have been working hard to think of ways to make like difficult for both temporary and permanent visa applicants.  It is extremely difficult to make significant changes to US immigration law.  Congress is unable to agree changes.  So instead Trump is making administrative and policy changes to increase visa restrictions.

We suspect that with these sanctions against certain Nigerians it seems likely that adding Nigeria to the E2 Treaty Investor and E1 Treaty Trader Country list seems unlikely.  Perhaps in the longer term this may happen.