Articles Posted in Permanent Residents

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Are you applying for an immigrant visa and want to know when your priority date will become current? Then you won’t want to miss our analysis of the January 2026 Visa Bulletin.

In this video, attorney Jacob Sapochnick explains what you can expect to see in terms of the movement of the family-sponsored and employment-based visa categories in the new year.

USCIS Adjustment of Status

For adjustment of status filings to permanent residence in the month of January, USCIS will be using the Dates for Filing Chart for the employment-based and family-sponsored categories.

Highlights of the January 2026 Visa Bulletin

At a Glance

What can we expect to see in the month of January?

Employment-Based Categories

Final Action Advancements

EB-1 Aliens of extraordinary ability, Outstanding Professors and Researchers, and Certain Multinational Managers or Executives

  • EB-1 India will advance by 10 months to February 1, 2023
  • EB-1 China will advance by 10 days to February 1, 2023

EB-2 Members of the Professions and Aliens of Exceptional Ability

  • EB-2 India will advance by 2 months to July 15, 2013
  • EB-2 China will advance by 3 months to September 1, 2021
  • All other countries will advance by 2 months to April 1, 2024

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers

  • EB-3 India will advance by 1.8 months to November 15, 2013
  • EB-3 China will advance by 1 month to May 1, 2021
  • All other countries will advance by 1 week to April 22, 2023

EB-3 Other Workers

  • EB-3 India will advance by 1.8 months to November 15, 2013
  • EB-3 China will advance by 1 year to December 8, 2018
  • All other countries will advance by 1 month to September 1, 2021

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The Gold Card permanent residence program is now open. Under this initiative, foreign nationals—or their employers—may apply for lawful permanent residence by:

  • Paying a non-refundable $15,000 processing fee for each applicant and dependent, and
  • Making a gift donation of $1 million for individual applicants, or $2 million for corporate-sponsored applicants to the U.S. Treasury.

These contributions are not investments— they are treated as unconditional gifts.

The program, established by presidential executive order 14351, allows eligibility for a green card under the existing EB-1 (extraordinary ability) or EB-2 (National Interest Waiver) categories based on the qualifying donation.

Application Process

Applicants start with by submitting their initial information, along with payment of the $15,000 processing fee (per applicant) on the Gold Card website.

USCIS then notifies applicants when they can file Form I-140G on the USCIS website to verify lawful source of funds. Once the applicant demonstrates the lawful source of funds and passes security vetting, the applicant or sponsor will receive instructions to submit the required $1 million (individual) or $2 million (corporate) donation to the Department of Treasury via ACH debit or SWIFT wire.

Once approved and a visa number is available, applicants proceed with consular processing for their immigrant visa.

Corporate Sponsorship

Employer Gold Card sponsors will be subject to a 1% annual maintenance fee – presumably, 1% of the employer’s $2 million donation ($20,000). If the employer decides to transfer its donation to a different foreign national, a 5% transfer fee would apply ($100,000).

The government has not yet indicated whether the “annual” maintenance fee must be paid until the foreign national obtains their green card.

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Navigating the U.S. immigration system is difficult enough — but what many people don’t realize is that even legal immigrants can face deportation for mistakes they never knew were serious.

From minor paperwork oversights to everyday misunderstandings of immigration rules, these pitfalls can put lawful status at risk without warning.

In this guide, we break down the 7 most common mistakes that get even legal immigrants deported — and number 4 surprised even us. Understanding these risks is essential to protecting your future in the United States.

Mistake #1 Crimes of Moral Turpitude

Certain offenses—known as crimes involving moral turpitude—carry especially harsh consequences, including deportation, even for green card holders.

These crimes typically involve conduct considered dishonest, deceptive, or morally unacceptable, such as fraud, theft, domestic violence, or certain assault-related offenses.

What complicates things further is that even a single conviction could trigger removal proceedings for permanent residents and nonimmigrant visa holders.

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Are you applying for an immigrant visa and want to know when your priority date will become current? Then you won’t want to miss our analysis of the December 2025 Visa Bulletin.

In this video, attorney Jacob Sapochnick explains what you can expect to see in terms of the movement of the family-sponsored and employment-based visa categories in the month of December.

USCIS Adjustment of Status

For adjustment of status filings to permanent residence in the month of December, USCIS will be using the Dates for Filing Chart for the employment-based and family-sponsored categories.

Highlights of the December 2025 Visa Bulletin

At a Glance

What can we expect to see in the month of December?

Employment-Based Categories

Final Action Advancements

EB-1 Aliens of extraordinary ability, Outstanding Professors and Researchers, and Certain Multinational Managers or Executives

  • India will advance by one month to March 15, 2022
  • China will advance by one month to January 22, 2023
  • All other countries remain current

EB-2 Members of the Professions and Aliens of Exceptional Ability

  • India will advance by six weeks to May 15, 2013
  • China will advance by two months to June 1, 2021
  • All other countries will advance by 2 months to February 1, 2024

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers

  • India will advance by one month to September 22, 2013
  • China will advance by one month to April 1, 2021
  • All other countries will advance by two weeks to April 15, 2023

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If you’re a U.S. Green Card holder, you might think your permanent residency means smooth sailing through Customs and Border Protection (CBP) after returning from temporary foreign travel. But 2025 has brought some surprising developments that remind every lawful permanent resident (LPR) to be extra cautious. These changes might sound a little crazy—but ignoring them could cause big problems at the port of entry.

New CBP Policy—Mandatory Data Collection Practice

Starting December 26, 2025, CBP will roll out a new policy mandating the collection of biometric data from green card holders and noncitizens upon their entry to and departure from the United States.

This new policy requires all noncitizens, including green card holders, to have their photograph taken and potentially provide additional biometrics (such as fingerprints, iris scans, or voice prints) when entering or exiting the U.S. via land, sea or airports.

The regulation is intended to strengthen border security, reduce travel document fraud and ensure more accurate records of departures and arrivals; however, it also raises significant privacy considerations as agencies will collect, store, and process biometric data from large numbers of individuals.

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Launching or scaling a startup in the U.S. can be an exciting journey—but for many international founders, securing permanent residency is a critical step toward building a long-term future.

In 2025, entrepreneurs have several viable Green Card options designed to support innovation, attract global talent, and strengthen the startup ecosystem.

Whether you’re a founder, key employee, or investor, understanding these pathways can help you make informed immigration decisions that align with your business goals.

Here’s a clear breakdown of four Green Card options for startups in 2025—and how each can open the door to lasting opportunities in the U.S.

Option 1: EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW)

The EB-2 National Interest Waiver is one of the most popular Green Card pathways for startup founders and entrepreneurs.

Unlike many other employment-based visas, the NIW allows applicants to bypass the labor certification process and self-petition—meaning you don’t need a U.S. employer to sponsor you.

Instead, you must demonstrate that your work has substantial merit and national importance, that you’re well-positioned to advance your proposed endeavor, and that waiving the job offer requirement would benefit the U.S.

For startup founders, this often means showing how your company contributes to areas like technological innovation, economic growth, or job creation. Strong evidence—such as funding, traction, patents, or industry recognition—can strengthen your case.

In 2025, the NIW continues to be a flexible and founder-friendly route to permanent residency, making it an excellent option for entrepreneurs driving impactful ventures.

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In this video we discuss five emerging trends in 2025 that are likely to affect U.S. green card holders — they reflect changes and risks that are gaining traction.

If you’re a green card holder—or hoping to become one—you need to know that getting arrested for driving under the influence, accumulating speeding tickets, not paying taxes, or even prolonged absences from the United States can have serious consequences for your status.

What to Avoid

To stay off the radar of immigration enforcement—especially under stricter policies—it’s crucial to avoid any legal troubles that could flag your record. This means steering clear of DUIs, repeated traffic violations like speeding tickets, and making sure you’re fully compliant with tax filings. Also, be cautious with international travel. Extended or frequent trips abroad without proper documentation can raise red flags.

Staying law-abiding, keeping your paperwork in order, and consulting an immigration lawyer if issues arise are the best ways to minimize risk and protect your status.

Here’s what you need to know.

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On September 19th President Trump signed an executive order establishing the Gold Card (EO 14351)—a new visa program allowing foreign nationals who make a $1 million nonrefundable gift to the U.S. Department of Commerce—or $2 million if made by a corporation or other entity on their behalf—to qualify for expedited immigrant visa processing.

These gifts are treated as evidence of “exceptional business ability” or “national benefit” when applying under employment-based immigrant visa categories, such as EB-1 or EB-2 (including national interest waivers). Federal agencies have 90 days to implement the program, including setting up application procedures, fees, and adjustment-of-status mechanisms.

Looking ahead, the Trump administration is reportedly considering the rollout of a “Platinum Card” program. This initiative would allow individuals to contribute $5 million in exchange for the ability to live in the United States for up to 270 days per year, without being taxed on their foreign income. However, no official details have been released at this time.

Is the Gold Card Set to Replace the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program?

The big question many are asking is whether the Gold Card will ultimately replace the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program.

According to the latest announcement, the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program will continue operating separately from the Gold Card.

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Are you applying for an immigrant visa and want to know when your priority date will become current? Then you won’t want to miss our analysis of the September 2025 Visa Bulletin.

In this video, attorney Jacob Sapochnick explains what you can expect to see in terms of the movement of the family-sponsored and employment-based visa categories in the month of September.

USCIS Adjustment of Status

For employment-based preference categories, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has confirmed it will continue to use the Final Action Dates chart to determine filing eligibility for adjustment of status to permanent residence in the month of September.

For family-sponsored preference categories, USCIS will also continue to use the Dates for Filing chart to determine filing eligibility for adjustment of status to permanent residence in the month of September.

Please click here for more information.

Highlights of the September 2025 Visa Bulletin

At a Glance

What can we expect to see in the month of September?

Employment-Based Categories

There will be no changes to the employment-based Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing for the month of September.

The Visa Bulletin contains an important note that says the Visa Office expects to reach the FY 2025 annual limit for most employment-based categories during August and September. When this occurs, affected categories will become “unavailable” and no visas will be issued.

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In a significant shift in immigration policy, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) now has the authority to deny green card applications outright—without first issuing a Request for Evidence (RFE) or Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID).

In this video, attorney Jacob Sapochnick explains how this new change empowers USCIS officers to make immediate decisions when an application lacks sufficient initial evidence, potentially leaving applicants with fewer opportunities to correct mistakes or provide missing documentation.

This makes the application process more unforgiving and raises the stakes for submitting a thorough and complete green card application from the start. Here’s what you need to know about how this policy could impact your green card journey, and more importantly how to protect yourself.

What’s changed?

Previously, when a green card application was submitted with missing or insufficient information, USCIS would typically issue a Request for Evidence (RFE). This notice outlined the specific issues or missing documents and gave the applicant a chance to respond and provide the necessary information to support their case by the specified deadline.

The RFE process served as a safeguard, allowing applicants to correct honest mistakes or oversights before a final decision was made on their application.

Now, that safeguard is no longer guaranteed. Under new USCIS policies, officers can deny green card applications outright if they determine the initial submission lacks sufficient evidence, without first issuing a Request for Evidence (RFE) or Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID).

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