Greenberg Traurig, LLP (LexBlog India)

On March 8, 2024, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) published the April 2024 Visa Bulletin. The April 2024 Visa Bulletin reflects no advances in final action dates for India and China. Specifically, the priority dates are as follows: As a background, the DOS Visa Bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers and releases Dates for...

The U.S. Department of State (DOS)’s September Visa Bulletin, the last visa bulletin of fiscal year 2023, saw small movement for the EB-2 Final Action Date, except India and China, while all other employment-based Final Action Dates remain unchanged from last month. All dates listed below are based on the Final Action Dates for Employment-Based...

The U.S. Department of State’s (DOS) August 2023 Visa Bulletin will retrogress 10 years for EB-1 India. EB-1 all chargeability, Mexico, and Philippines will also retrogress from current to Aug. 1, 2023. There is no change in EB-1 China. Retrogression occurs when a country has exceeded their 7% annual limit on immigrant visas in a...

As an update to our previous blog, President Biden signed a Presidential Proclamation on April 30, 2021, that will be effective May 4, 2021, at 12:01 a.m. The Proclamation will prohibit the entry of nonimmigrants and noncitizens of the U.S. into the United States, who were physically present within India during the 14-day preceding entry into the United...

As an update to our previous blog, President Biden signed a Presidential Proclamation on April 30, 2021, that will be effective May 4, 2021, at 12:01 a.m. The Proclamation will prohibit the entry of nonimmigrants and noncitizens of the U.S. into the United States, who were physically present within India during the 14-day preceding entry...

The Department of State (DOS) July 2020 Visa Bulletin shows significant advancements for EB-1 India and slight movement in the majority of employment-based categories. In the EB-1 category, all countries with the exceptions of India and China will remain current in July. India will advance by 11 months on the Final Action chart, while China...

The Department of State (DOS) August 2019 Visa Bulleting shows significant retrogression in employment-based (EB) categories. In the EB-1 category, final action dates retrogress to July 1, 2016, for all countries of chargeability except for India. The cutoff date for India’s EB-1 category remains at Jan. 1, 2015. The EB-2 category retrogresses to July 1,...

The July 2019 Visa Bulletin has been released, and it confirms retrogression for the EB-5 visa category for nationals of India, earlier than many in the industry had anticipated. As of July 1, 2019, only approved Indian EB-5 investors whose EB-5 petitions (I-526 forms) were filed earlier than May 1, 2017, will be able to proceed...

The U.S. State Department has just released the June 2019 Visa Bulletin, and the headline is the significant retrogression in EB-1 India, where the Final Action Date goes back to January 2015. There is slow forward movement in almost all employment-based categories; EB-1 China remains unchanged and EB-3 India remains more advanced than EB-2 India. For more visa...

It is widely known that India has become a major EB-5 investor market in recent years, as EB-5 is becoming an increasingly popular option for Indian nationals who seek permanent residence in the United States; the fact that there has been a growing number of high-net-worth individuals in India clearly helps to stimulate this demand....

The Department of State (DOS) November 2018 Visa Bulletin shows movement in employment-based categories. The EB-1 category remained retrogressed for November 2018. Although it is likely that there will be some forward movement in December 2018 for EB-1 India, it will probably NOT return to “current” this calendar year. The EB-2 India category will likely move...

The Department of State (DOS) recently released the September 2017 Visa Bulletin.  The charts show movement in some employment-based categories, with no movement in other employment-based visa categories. According to the September Visa Bulletin, the following are updates to Final Action Dates: EB-1: The Worldwide EB-1 category for India and China remains stalled at Jan. 1,...

The Department of State’s (DOS) August 2017 Visa Bulletin showed some minor forward movement in some employment-based categories, with no movement or retrogression in other employment-based visa categories. Referring to the Final Action Dates, the following are the updates for the August Visa Bulletin: The Worldwide EB-1 category for India and China remains stalled at Jan....

This week the Department of State released the August Visa Bulletin, which contains some significant movement in certain employment-based categories. In its July Visa Bulletin, which we wrote about here, the Department advised that it would impose cutoff dates for India and China in the EB-1 category.  In the August Bulletin, the Department has imposed...

This week the Department of State released the August Visa Bulletin, which contains some significant movement in certain employment-based categories. In its July Visa Bulletin, which we wrote about here, the Department advised that it would impose cutoff dates for India and China in the EB-1 category.  In the August Bulletin, the Department has imposed...

On September 28, 2015, several highly-skilled immigrant workers from India and China filed a federal class action lawsuit in the State of Washington against the U.S. Department of State (“DOS”) and U.S. Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) over revisions to the October 2015 Visa Bulletin (Revised Visa Bulletin).  A temporary restraining order was subsequently filed...

September 9, 2015, brought great excitement to many foreign nationals—particularly nationals of India, China, and the Philippines—who were anxiously awaiting the opportunity to file their Adjustment of Status applications with USCIS several years earlier than expected so they could secure independent work authorization and travel permission while waiting to obtain their green cards.  GT wrote...

The U.S. Mission to India announced that it is discontinuing its Business Executive Program (BEP) on April 1, 2015, indicating the program is no longer necessary due to improvements to its standard visa appointment system. Since the 1990s, the BEP has provided a dedicated appointment system (among other benefits) to companies with Indian offices that...

Matt Galati, an associate in Greenberg Traurig’s Business Immigration & Compliance Practice, wrote an article for EB5 Investors regarding India loosening currency restrictions, making it easier for the EB-5 investment funds to be transferred out of the country. Read the full article here.

Cox & Kings Global Services Pvt. Ltd (CKGS) now requires all Indian employment visa applicants in the United States to include a signed checklist and declaration form with their applications. As we reported in May 2014, CKGS is India’s visa application service provider in the United States. In addition to required information and documents, the...

U.S. Embassies and Consulates in India, Singapore, and Malaysia will be closed on Wednesday, October 22, for the Diwali (Deepavali) holiday. Immigration services for visa applicants will not be available while offices are closed for the Diwali (Deepavali) holiday. It is encouraged to submit applications before the holiday to avoid delays.

Today, The Wall Street Journal, featured a cover article reporting the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State will fine India’s second largest outsourcing company for illegal use of United States visas. Specifically, the government is expected to announce the $35 million fine on Wednesday, October 30th. This will be the largest ever fine...

On August 14, 2013, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced a series of measures designed to stem the sharp decline in currency value as the rupee fell to an all-time closing low against the dollar. The new policies, which aim to ease pressure on the rupee and stem the flow of foreign currency outside the country,...