A proposed bipartisan government spending bill was revealed for the fiscal year 2022. The bill is presented to the House of Representatives and is likely to be voted on in the current week. Then the bill moves to the Senate, where we see delays in many proposals. However, the U.S. government funding is estimated to run out on March 11, 2022. As such, this bill is critical. There are many proposals in the bill, but here we focus on the impact on immigration.
The bill increased the budget for USCIS by $281.7 million compared to the previous fiscal year. The increase includes $275 million to address ongoing backlogs in processing applications. Several lawsuits have been filed due to delays in processing. However, the bill does not include the recapture of previous years’ unused employment-based and family-based green cards. Without the recapture, these visas will simply expire.
In addition, the EB-5 program is reestablished in the proposal. The EB-5 Regional Center Program lapsed in June of 2021. The EB-5 program gives foreign citizens and their families the option to pursue U.S. residency if a qualifying investment of a required amount is made in a U.S. effort. Several requirements apply for the foreign investor.
ILBSG continues to monitor ongoing proposed government spending and adjustments to immigration programs. If you have questions about immigration, contact us. We work with you to ensure you get the right advice.
