How can one shorten the immigration wait times in the United States? This is a question many immigrants are eager to have answered. Before addressing this question, I would like to share some news: The official website of the U.S. Department of State's Visa Office has recently been revamped, adopting a more minimalist and modern style. The previous link for checking visa wait time announcements is no longer accessible, so those who need to check immigration wait times should bookmark this new link: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin.html.
Additionally, the official website of the immigration bureau has also released the latest data on I-526 and I-829 approvals for the third and fourth quarters of 2017. We have summarized the following:
1. Number of I-526 Applications
As of September 30, the number of applications has finally decreased. However, the total number of applications for the fiscal year 2017 is 12,165, compared to 14,147 in fiscal year 2016, 14,298 in fiscal year 2015, and 10,919 in fiscal year 2014, showing only a slight adjustment.
2. I-526 Approval Rate
The approval rate for I-526 is 92.98%, which is relatively high. However, there is a concerning trend in the immigration bureau's approvals that may create some difficulties. Ultimately, the immigration bureau and industry organizations will reach a balance, but it is advisable to focus on I-829 and the fundamentals of the project to more easily reach the finish line.
3. I-829 Approval Rate
In this quarter, the approval rate for I-829 is 99.41%, which is very high. However, we must understand that not all investors whose I-526 applications are approved will have the opportunity to submit an I-829 application; they are not included in the statistics. Beneath the data's prosperity, some projects fail, and even if they obtain a temporary green card, they do not have the opportunity to submit an I-829 and are still waiting.
4. Backlog of Approvals
For I-829, the number of approvals this quarter is high, and thus the backlog of applications has decreased, indicating that the human resources allocation for the I-829 team has improved.
Returning to the main topic, how can one shorten the immigration wait times in the United States? Choose the City Priority Investment Area EB-5 projects! Mr. Ronald Klasko, the former chairman of the "U.S. EB-5 Committee" and a renowned immigration attorney, has stated during a previous visit to the WorldWay Immigration Group and discussions with senior management that the provision for reserved visa quotas for "City Priority Investment Areas" will almost certainly appear in the new legislation. He also believes that under the current circumstances, projects in the "City Priority Investment Areas" will undoubtedly be favored by investors.
The WorldWay Manhattan No. 9 Luxury Boutique Hotel project not only has the potential to shorten wait times but also offers numerous advantages, greatly assisting investors in quickly obtaining U.S. permanent residency and ensuring smooth repayment.