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By Sanwar Ali
We are covering the following important US visa related news in this report:
- DV-2021 Green Card Lottery from Wednesday, 2 October 2019 to Tuesday 5 November 2019. If you are luck and are picked an easy immigration Route.
- Reminder that the minimum investment amount for the EB5 immigrant investor visa category almost doubles from 21 November 2019.
- Prepare for the new H-1B visa lottery program.
- Social Media Profile and refusal of Entry
The Green Card Lottery is about to start again from 2 October 2019
The likelihood of success is very low. However, for the 55,000 people who are fortunate to be picked, this is a relatively easy way of gaining an immigrant visa for the US, with the right to stay in the US for you and your family on a permanent basis. You have from Wednesday, 2 October 2019 to Tuesday 5 November 2019 to apply. You or your spouse need to have been born in the relevant Country, and you need to have either at least a high school level education or two years experience in a skilled job.
For DV-2021, those born in the following countries are not eligible to apply, because more than 50,000 natives of these countries immigrated to the United States in the previous five years:
Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland-born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam.
Persons born in Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, and Taiwan are eligible. In addition, those born in other Countries are able to apply.
The EB5 immigrant investor visa minimum investment amount almost doubles 21 November 2019
This is the first time ever that the EB5 immigrant investor scheme has seen an increase in the investment amount, which will increase from $500,000 to $900,000. Currently it may be possible to find low risk investments via an EB5 Regional Center scheme. This is by far the most popular type of EB5 Immigrant Investor Scheme as it makes it simpler for the investor. However, Agents fees make it expensive. The EB5 Green Card scheme enables the applicant and family members to obtain a “Green Card” allowing them to stay in the US permanently.
New H1B visa lottery system to start in April 2020
The new H1B visa scheme should benefit those with US masters degrees. Others may find it even more difficult to gain entry. One good thing is that applicants will no longer have to prepare a full application, pay the Government fee in advance and then receive a refund if the application is not selected for further processing. Under the new system employers will electronically register the applicants with USCIS during the registration period. After random computer generated selection successful applicants can submit an H1B petition.
US visa applicants facing increasing problems due to Social Media remarks
Since June 2019 almost all US visa applicants have had to provide their Social Media account names over the last five years. Recently more visa applicants and visa holders have had problems gaining entry to the US due to Social Media comments. In addition, controversial remarks in a Facebook or Twitter profile or other Social Media account of someone that you may know, may also lead to refusal of entry to the US. Obviously, some people are self-censoring because they are worried that certain remarks may upset the US.
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