Law Offices of Esther Wong, APLC

11/22/2020

If you or your relative intends to immigrate to the United States, this seminar will provide the prima facie legal, school and housing information to help planning.

Come and join us. Click on the link to register. Look forward to seeing you.

如果你或你的親友最近移民來到LA，或仍身在海外，考慮移民，此「移民LA須知」網上講座提供法律，就學及房屋的說明，不容錯過！

移民LA， 羅省一浸幫到你👇
https://youtu.be/o3ATWzKrVs8

請登記以索取講座連結👇
https://tinyurl.com/yxders6w

09/09/2020

EB5Investors.com posted on LinkedIn

The Expo opens to migration agents, HNWIs and developers around the world. Register today and join us!

Join us on October 13-14 at the virtual EB-5 Expo Hong Kong, where Esther Wong will share his insights on the changing EB-5 landscape. Register today! ...

04/16/2020

EB5 Investors - Facts vs Myths - CHINESE -

Our panel is live in HK, Virtual EB-5 Immigration Expo.

What is the reality regarding investment rates, wait times and visa caps for EB-5? Moderated By: Bernard Wolfsdorf Fellow Panelists: Christian Triantaphyllis, Dillion Colucci, Esther Wong, Matthew Galati, and Tofigh Shirazi.

03/27/2020

SELECTED in H1B LOTTERY👏

While our team has transitioned to remote work during the COVID-19 crisis, we will file H1B petitions starting April 1, 2020
626-457-8884

10/26/2019

Success thread this week:
FOUR FB family based green cards received with ONE pending over 22 years
THREE EB 1 executive manager green cards received
TWO EB4 religious worker green cards received

06/19/2019

We are here to get immigration practice updates to ensure our clients’ immigration benefits and interests are protected.

01/31/2019

American Immigration Lawyers Association

The published final rule today on H1b filing towards fiscal year 2020 will have a reversed lottery selection. This means all eligible applications will be selected in the 65,000 poll first. Subsequently, the unselected advanced degree applicants will be selected one more time in the 20,000 poll.

The electronic registration will be deferred to 2021 Cap filing which is April 2020.

The electronic registration system – part of DHS’s final rule on H-1B cap petitions – will be suspended for this year’s H-1B cap filing season. Thank you to all those who participated in our comment campaign. Learn more about the final rule and what changes to expect this H-1B cap filing season in this AILA quicktake.

09/26/2018

Proposed Change to Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposes on 09.22.2018 to prescribe how it determines whether an alien is inadmissible to the United States because the proposed change of Public Charge of Inadmissibility.

Self-sufficiency has been a basic principle of United States immigration law since the country's earliest immigration statutes. It continues its notion that aliens will not depend on public resources to meet their needs, but rather rely on their own capabilities and the resources of their families, their sponsors, and private organizations.

In the proposed change of Public Charge, DHS will consider the following factors when making a public charge inadmissibility determination:
Age;
Health;
Family status;
Assets, Resources, and Financial status; and
Education and skills.
DHS is also proposing to consider the alien’s prospective immigration status, expected period of admission, and affidavit of support, when an affidavit of support is required under section 212(a)(4)(C) or (D) of the Act.

After DHS carefully considers public comments received on the proposed rule, DHS plans to issue a final rule in effect and with an effective date.

Self-sufficiency has long been a basic principle of United States immigration law. Since the 1800s, Congress has put into statute that individuals are inadmissible to the U.S. if they are unable to ca

09/05/2018

Another blessed work day. After years of hard work of the work team including employer, employee and our office, Issues all cleared and on the way to green card printing pending visa availability

08/06/2018

Blessed early work day. Client is in proceedings and expect to be a difficult and harsh hearing. Turned out the people I worked with this morning were courteous and professional.

05/25/2018

You Can Eat That Fork

EB-1 Person of Extraordinary Ability: Not Just for Einsteins and First Lady Melania Trump.
Our office has been helping and guiding a long-term filing tips to qualify person of extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business or athletics.
Zack, a bioengineering alumnus of UCSD takes us to the next level of biodegradable cutlery to fill the void of restaurants in Southern California will be banned from using plastic cutlery.

Restaurants in the city of Malibu, CA soon will be banned from using or selling plastic cutlery. Last year, the Indian capital of Delhi banned all plastic bags entirely. These decisions are part of a growing concern about the fact that plastic doesn’t just disappear when it’s thrown in the trash...

05/11/2018

Reception in support of John Chiang, Governor for California 2018. California Statewide Direct Primary Election is Tuesday, June 5, 2018. Remember to register to vote and exercise your right to Voice your choice

02/28/2018

2018 Ho Chi Minh City EB-5 Expo

Our EB-5 team will be presenting our EB5 practice at the 2018 HCMC EB-5 Expo. Please stop by to meet and view a portfolio of projects we have represented.

2018 Ho Chi Minh City EB-5 ExpoMarch 6-7, 2018Park Hyatt Saigon In light of Vietnam booming as one of the fastest growing EB-5 markets, EB5 Investors Magazine proudly announces the first of its two Vietnam conferences of 2018: the Ho Chi Minh City EB-5 Expo at the Park Hyatt Saigon on March 6-7. The...

12/24/2017

Happy Holidays from us!

12/11/2017

Despite the uncertainties of EB5 program and USCIS Policy Memo, our team strives to provide solutions to help with projects and investors encounter the following issues:
1. Material change to the Project,
2. Redeployment of investment fund,
3. Inconsistencies of prior DS160.

11/23/2017

A special thanksgiving note to friends, clients, project partners and fellow attorneys.

08/28/2017

Another day working at the San Bernardino Immigration Field Office. Thanks to our inland empire clients continue to entrust legal affairs to our office.

05/27/2017

Green means "an ongoing, active and legitimate" agricultural business.

Do not panic when you are called for EB5 Site Visit by USCIS Fraud Detection and National Security. Our office can evaluate your case and go through the process of investigation with you.

The EB-5 Program is good for America and investors. Some parents save every penny and live sparingly, so they can invest in the EB-5 program with a dream to educate their children at top universities. This program admits only about 3,000 families annually and has created thousands of direct and indirect jobs for US workers without costing the US taxpayers one penny.

05/01/2017

Legislative Update:
Clean Extension of EB-5 Regional Center Program with no changes to TEA qualification or minimum investment ($500K /$1M) Until September 30, 2017


Early Monday morning, a bipartisan omnibus spending deal was filed by Congressional Leadership to fund the government through September 30, 2017. This deal includes a clean extension of the EB-5 Regional Center Program through the same date.
Bill Text (p. 734):
SEC: 542. Section 610(b) of the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1993 (8 U.S.C. 1153 note) shall be applied by substituting "September 30, 2017" for "September 30, 2015".
Explanatory Statement (p. 65):
Section 542. A new provision is included extending the Regional Center program within the "EB-5" immigrant investor program authorization until September 30, 2017.

We are grateful for another extension of the Regional Center Program and look forward to the opportunity to achieve a legislative solution for a long-term reauthorization before any regulatory changes are implemented and as we face our next sunset date of September 30th.

If you have any questions, contact our office at 626-457-8884 or email us at [email protected]

02/03/2017

How does Trump Administration affect 'global investment and business immigration'? Joined former USCIS Director, Leon Rodriguez for a 'rethinking of global investment capital' and 'preparation for transparency and compliance documents' seminar.

Our office provides analysis and compliance package on the directives. If you are concerned about the potential impact of these directives, contact our office or schedule a consultation.

01/26/2017

Wishing you have a healthy and prosperous lunar new year!

12/21/2016

May the peace and joy of Christmas be with you and your family!

11/30/2016

ATTORNEY APPRECIATION DINNER

It is time of the year to meet and cheer, appreciate the goals achieved for our clients, and projects and work we have done together successfully.

ATTORNEY APPRECIATION DINNER

02/24/2016

Alhambra District wide career fair.

11/10/2015

EB5 Seminar. Around 22 potential investors reached

08/05/2015

EB5 Conference to discuss the potential legislative reform, meet and greet friends, clients and business partners

01/30/2015

Attended a conference with Congressman Jared Polis in Vegas to support eb5 job creation policy.

Glad to see clients' eb5 projects launched in state of Nevada.

04/10/2014

Choosing EB5 Projects:
There are 2 distinct EB5 pathways to choose from, namely the Direct Investment pathway and the Regional Center pathway.

If the EB5 petitioner decides to use the Direct Investment pathway then the investor will have to choose the type of business he or she will invest in. Selecting the business type is a very unique personal choice that embodies a wide range of options that are based on the investor's preferences and comfort zones.

Under the law, the investor can choose to buy an existing business and expand it. The investor can also choose to start a new business from the ground up.

In either case, the investor could choose to purchase a franchise that offers an established product or service. In the U.S., franchising is a multi-billion industry with a very long history of financially successful business models.

Purchasing a franchise will require performing a great deal of due diligence about the company and the business model it provides. However, an EB5 investor with little business experience in the U.S., can benefit from the support and guidance offered by the franchise company. ( Also known as the "franchisor").

For an immigrant investor who is not familiar with doing business in the U.S., the franchise option could help him / her avoid the pitfalls of launching or buying a free standing business. This is perhaps the most compelling reason for taking a serious look at the franchise option. In addition, a franchise for a reputable , well known company will retain its value over time and may be easier to sell than a non-branded, stand alone business. There are plenty of highly qualified individuals in the industry that can help invetors find a franchise to invest and acquire their immigration benefits through this pathway of investment.

As always, the final decision rests with the investor.

03/10/2014

Law Offices of Esther Wong, APLC's cover photo