Misc

Antao & Chuang, Attorneys at Law, can represent YOU in all types of U.S. Immigration matters, including:

• EMPLOYMENT BASED GREEN CARDS: PERM Labor Certifications, EB1 Multi-National managers, EB1 Extraordinary ability, EB2 Professors and Researchers, EB2 Advanced Degree cases; EB3 Professionals and Skilled Workers;
• FAMILY BASED GREEN CARD: Citizen Spouse petitions, and other family based green card cases;
• TEMPORARY WORK VISAS: H-1B, H-1B1 (Singaporeans and Chileans), E3 (Australians) J waivers, L, E, O, P , TN visa cases, and many others;
• EXTENSION OF STAY: all types of extensions of current nonimmigrant status cases.

This year the H-1B quota ran out on the very first day! In fact, there was such a deluge of H-1B applications that the USCIS was forced to run a lottery to decide who among the applicants would receive a coveted H-1B visa. As a result, many applicants who applied on the very first day were unable to get an H-1B visa. Therefore, if you want to have a chance of obtaining an H-1B visa, your best bet is to qualify under one of the quota exemptions listed below. Best of all, if you qualify for an H-1B exemption, you can proceed with your H-1B petition immediately, to start work now (either immediately upon approval of the H-1B petition or upon receipt of the petition if you qualify for portability), without having to wait for the next fiscal year!

14.  Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC)

Approved: May 1, 2007

Address: 756 N. Milwaukee Street

  Milwaukee, WI 53202

Phone/fax: 414-287-4100

Geographic Area: The seven (7) counties of southeastern Wisconsin:  Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington, and Waukesha (including Targeted Employment Areas within the cities of Racine and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Focus of Export/Economic Growth Activity:  Business and professional services; Financial activities and business process services; Health services and medical technology; Manufacturing; Printing and printing support; Wholesale Trade and distribution; and Hospitality and Entertainment.

Point of Contact: Timothy R. Sheehy, President

13.  Global Century Development Group I, LP (Global Century)

Approved:  April 18, 2007

Phone/fax:

Geographic Area: The contiguous geographic area of Houston’s Chinatown encompassing the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone #15 (TIRZ), a 60-block area bounded by Preston Street on the North, Dowling Street on the East, St. Joseph parkway on the South, and Chartres Street on the West. Focus of Export/Economic Growth Activity:  will concentrate on financing and developing commercial and mixed-use real estate within the GCRC geographic area in the following five (5) target industries: Hotel and Hospitality; Retail; Mixed Use Residential; Commercial Office; Restaurant & Entertainment.

Points of Contact:  Mr. Dan Nip, President

Global Century Development Group I, LP

12. CMB Export LLC      

Approved: August 15, 1997 

Reaffirmed by USCIS:  April 18, 2007

Contact: 

Address:   Address of Regional Center

Corona Professional Center, 400 S. Ramona Avenue, Suite
212AA,

Corona, CA 91719

Phone/fax: 800-238-8022

Geographic Area: CMB Export LLC development area which is
related to former military bases  located in the counties of Sacramento, San
Bernardino and Riverside CA Focus of Export/Economic Growth Activity: export activity
related to development of military bases; air cargo, sea port development as export
centers

Point of Contact: Patrick F. Hogan, President 

CMB Export LLC

11. Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic

Development Regional Center

Approved:   April 13, 2007

Address:  Department of Community and Economic Development 

Harrisburg, PA 17120 

Phone/Fax: (718) 624-7850

10. Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development 

Approved:    June 26, 1997

Reaffirmed by USCIS: March 19, 2007

Address:  National Life Bldg., Drawer 20,  Montpelier, VT  05620

Phone:   (802) 828-5202 

Geographic Area:  State of Vermont

Focus of Export/Economic Growth Activity:  Export-related
companies; tourism, hospitality and Commercial Resorts Development.

Point of Contact: John Kessler, General Counsel

9. Whatcom Opportunities Regional Center, Inc. (WORC,
Inc.)  

Approved:    October 13, 2006

Address:   P.O. Box 2803

Bellingham, WA 98227

1305 11th Street, Suite 301

Bellingham, WA 98225

Geographic Area:  the legal boundaries which constitute Whatcom
County, Washington.

Focus of Economic Growth Activity: capital investments and
job creation in assisted   

living facilities for the elderly within Whatcom County 

Point of Contact:   Rob Pochert, CEcD, EDFP, Executive
Director

   K. David Andersson, Attorney

8.  Mayor's Office of Economic Development (New Orleans)    

Approved:    January 18, 1994

Reaffirmed by USCIS: February 16, 2007

Address:   Mayor's Office of Economic Development

      1515 Poydras Street, Suite 1150

      New Orleans, LA 70112

Phone/fax:       Office: 504-658-0919

Geographic Area:   Orleans Parish and the City of New
Orleans

Focus of Export/Economic Growth Activity: International
Trade Center; export-related companies

Point of Contact:  Chase Story, International Liaison

    504-658-0919

E-mail: cstory@mayorofno.com

7.  The Redevelopment Agency of the City of Vernon Regional Center                                        

Approved:   December 27, 2005

Address:  4305 Santa Fe Avenue   

   1500 Market Street

   Vernon, CA 90058

Phone/Fax:  (215)496-8020; (215)977-9618

Geographic Area:  The legal boundaries which constitute the
city of Vernon, CA.

Focus of Economic Growth Activity:  Food Products processing
and manufacturing; apparel manufacturing; transportation and warehousing;
household furniture and furnishings. 

Point of Contact:   Bruce V. Malkenhorst, Executive
Director     

Lincoln Stone,  Attorney

6. Capital Area Regional Center

Approved: November 25, 2005

Geographic Area: Legal boundaries of the District of Columbia (Washington, DC) and the contiguous adjacent areas of Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties in Maryland, Arlington and Fairfax counties in Virginia, and the city of Alexandria, VA.

Focus of Economic Growth Activity: Mixed hotel, retail, office and residential space; a soccer stadium; conference center space, and industrial space.

Current Project: Diversified RE Fund- Watergate Hotel & Condominium Project

Officers
Michael R. Sears, Founder & Managing Principal
John Tung, Founder & Managing Principal
Michael L. Kolodner, Managing Principal
Yu Ping, Ph.D. Managing Principal

5. Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED) 

Approved:       December 2004

          Address:    200 East Grand Avenue

      Des Moines, Iowa 50309

           Phone/Fax:    (515)242-4700/(515)242-4809

       Geographic Area:  77 Rural and Small Urban Counties
in Iowa

       Point of Contact:    Mr. Michael T. Blouin, Director,
IDED

SPECIAL REGIONAL CENTER PROVISIONS

Of the 10,000 investor visas (i.e., EB-5 visas) available annually, 5,000 are set aside for those who apply under a pilot program involving an CIS-designated “Regional Center.”

A "Regional Center:"

This page discusses the general requirements for a non-U.S. citizen to lawfully accept employment in the U.S., assuming that the individual does not already have some type of work authorization (e.g., greencard).

The USCIS has published a Fact Sheet regarding travel outside the United States by Asylum Applicants, Asylees, or Lawful
Permanent Resident who obtained Lawful Permanent Resident status based on Asylum Status. The USCIS notes:

NO. Neither a Re-entry Permit, nor a green card (for trips taking less than one year), nor the "special immigrant" visa, will guarantee that a permanent resident will be readmitted to the U.S.

Remember: the immigration inspector at the port of entry always has the right to refuse entry to any permanent resident if he or she deems that the individual has either abandoned the intent to remain permanently in the U.S., or has committed a crime, or falls within one of the grounds for exclusion under U.S. immigration law.

While the U.S. does not provide the liberal type of investor visas that are common in certain other countries, U.S. Immigration law does provide some options for investors.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on 12/6/06, Georgia State Senator Curt Thompson's wife will not be deported out of the U.S. after all. A deportation order was entered against the Colombian national, however, apparently as a result of shoddy work by a "notario". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that the ordeal began as follows:

The general purpose of a Re-entry Permit is to allow green card holders, who have left the U.S. for more than one year, but for less than two years, back into the United States. Permanent residents who leave for less than one year can generally re-enter the U.S. through the use of their "green card" plus their passport. However, permanent residents who remain outside the U.S. for more than one year CANNOT use their "green card" for this purpose. Consequently, they must obtain a Re-entry Permit IN ADVANCE, PRIOR TO LEAVING THE U.S.

Those green card holders who remain outside the U.S. for more than two years must obtain a "special immigrant" visa at a U.S. consulate abroad, in order to re-entry the U.S.