On December 28, 2020, the U.S. Congress has approved a second $900B round of stimulus (the second draw) which includes $284B in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans in forgivable, federally backed loans and other assistance for small U.S. businesses. The Second Round PPP is slightly different from the first PPP funding. Who can apply for […]

Do spouse and children of the L-1 visa holder qualify for the National Interest Exception according to the June 22, 2020 Executive Order? If the L-1 applicant is granted National Interest Exception under the June 22, 2020 Executive Order, then his or her spouse and children can accompany the L-1 applicant in the United States […]

What are the National Interest Exceptions for L-1 Visa? The June 22, 2020 Presidential Proclamation 10052 suspends the entry into the United States of foreign individuals on an L-1 visa until December 31, 2020, unless the L-1 visa applicant is not subject to the order. This proclamation does not apply to those individuals who were […]

You can become a US citizen through the naturalization process and have access to the benefits a US citizenship provides including having a US passport, the right to vote in elections, protection from deportation, US citizenship for your children, eligibility for certain government jobs that are otherwise not open for non-US citizens, access to public […]

Please note: On July 31, 2020, the Department of Homeland Security (DHA) announced that the fees for USCIS for Application for Naturalization will be increased. Starting October 2, 2020, the fee for filing an application for US citizenship with USCIS will be $1,170, an increase from the current $640, excluding the USCIS biometric service fee. […]

The SBA EIDL loan application for your business was denied. How to apply for an SBA EIDL loan reconsideration, including for US businesses that are foreign-owned by individuals who hold an E-1, E-2, L-1, O-1 visa or are in the process of adjusting status to a permanent resident through EB-5, EB-1 and other programs?   […]

What is the SBA EIDL loan for Coronavirus and how to apply? In response to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has issued in March 2020 disaster declarations of economic injury for entire United States and US Territories for the COVID-19. As a result of the SBA’s disaster declarations nationwide, SBA Economic […]

The Public Charge Rule implemented on February 24, 2020 by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) allows denial of nonimmigrant and immigrant visa applications, adjustment of status applications, extension or change of status applications and green card applications for those applicants who are more likely than not […]

What is the Public Charge Rule of February 24, 2020? On February 24, 2020, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) implemented nationwide the Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds final rule (Public Charge Final Rule), including in Illinois. Simply put, an individual who is a foreign […]

PPP and EIDL loans for investors on US visas and foreign-owned U.S. Companies during COVID-19 The recent Coronavirus pandemic combined with the COVID-19 restrictions on international travel and the “Shelter in Place” orders issued by state governments, cities and counties throughout the US to slow down the spread of the virus have led inadvertently to […]