The State Council has published draft regulations implementing the Exit-Entry Administration Law, which was enacted by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee last year and due to go into effect on July 1, 2013. Continue reading
U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou Closed Due to Suspicious Powder
The visa section at the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou was closed yesterday, May 14, and remains closed today after staff discovered a suspicious white powder in an envelope received by the Consulate. Continue reading
American Chamber of Commerce-China 2013 White Paper on Visa Policy
AmCham China has just published its 2013 White Paper. Below is a brief introduction to the chapter on US and China visa policy, which I co-authored. Check it out. Continue reading
Judge Orders $147 Million Returned from Chicago Regional Center to Chinese EB-5 Visa Investors
A federal judge has ordered that Anshoo Sethi and his company, A Chicago Convention Center LLC, return $147 million to Chinese investors. Continue reading
Bill Would Facilitate Hong Kong Entry to U.S. Visa Waiver Program
A bill has been introduced in the Senate that would allow Hong Kong to be considered for the U.S. visa-waiver program, making it easier for visitors from the special administrative region of China to travel to Hawaii. Continue reading
Comprehensive Immigration Reform: EB-5 Proposals
How would comprehensive immigration reform (CIR) impact Chinese investors seeking EB-5 visas?
Here’s what’s in the Senate bill introduced by the bipartisan “Gang of 8″, called the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 (BSEOIMA): Continue reading
WSJ on Hot Immigration Destinations for China’s Wealthy
“Unimpressed with the U.S., shut out of Canada, not deep-pocketed enough for Australia and spooked by Cyprus, mainland China’s wealthy are exploring unlikely destinations for immigration, including Portugal and the small Caribbean nation of St. Kitts and Nevis.” Read the article here.
New Visa Appointment System at the U.S. Mission in China
The U.S. Mission in China will adopt a new system for paying nonimmigrant visa application fees, scheduling appointments, and returning passports, effective March 16, 2013. This is part of the State Department’s Global Support Strategy (GSS). U.S. Embassy in Beijing, New Process for U.S. Visa Applications (last visited Mar. 1, 2013), http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/niv_info.html. Continue reading
Job Opening: Bilingual Administrative Assistant at Beijing Law Firm
The Bilingual Administrative Assistant will handle administrative duties in our Beijing law firm, such as: Continue reading
SEC Says Chicago Convention Center EB-5 Project Fraudulently Sold $145 Million in Shares to Chinese Investors
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) last week charged that Anshoo R. Sethi fraudulently sold more than $145 million in securities and collected $11 million in administrative fees from more than 250 investors, primarily from China. Sethi is alleged to have duped investors into believing that by purchasing interests in a company known as “a Chicago Convention Center” (ACCC), they would be financing construction of a hotel and conference center near Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. The investment was marketed as a way for the investors to get green cards through the EB-5 immigrant investor program. Continue reading


