BAGON LAW FIRM

Warmest thoughts and best wishes for a wonderful holiday and a very Happy New Year! BAGON LAW FIRM 21550 Oxnard Street, 3rd Floor Woodland Hills, CA 91376 Tel.: (818) 224-6632 Tel: (818) 539-0120 Fax: (888) 589-0804 www.bagonlawfirm.com

The Department of State had recently released the Visa Bulletin for January 2011. Unfortunately, for many Petitioners and Beneficiaries who had been waiting to be reunited with their families, the new year brings about additional waiting. As seen this month, December 2010, there were only two family based categories affected by visa retrogression, 3rd and 4th preference. However, for January 2011, all other preference categories (1, 2A, 2B, and 3) will be affected. As for the 4th preference, there was no movement from December 2010 to January 2011 for all chargeability. For example: Family Sponsored Preference - 1st Category (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Citizens) All Chargeability: January 01, 2005 compared to February 15, 2006 in December 2010. China: January 01, 2005 compared to February 15, 2006 in December 2010. Dominican Republic: January 01, 2005 compared to June 01, 2004 in December 2010. ***No retrogression*** India: January 01, 2005 compared to February 15, 2006 in Decemb

The Immigrant Investor Program, also known as “EB-5,” was created by Congress in 1990 to stimulate the U.S. economy through job creation and capital investment by immigrant investors by creating a new commercial enterprise or investing in a troubled business. There are 10,000 EB-5 immigrant visas available annually. In 1992 and regularly reauthorized since then, 3,000 EB-5 visas are also set aside for investors in Regional Centers designated by USCIS based on proposals for promoting economic growth. There are two distinct EB-5 pathways for an immigrant investor to gain lawful permanent residence for themselves and their immediate family—the Basic Program and the Regional Center Pilot Program. Both programs require that the immigrant make a capital investment of either $500,000 or $1,000,000 (depending on whether the investment is in a Targeted Employment Area [TEA] or not) in a new commercial enterprise located within the United States . TEA is defined by law as “a rural area or an ar