In February 2025, President Donald Trump floated the idea of a new visa program designed to attract wealthy foreign investors. Dubbed the “Gold Card,” this program would offer a fast track to lawful permanent residency in exchange for a $5 million investment. Trump has suggested that the revenue from this initiative could help reduce the U.S. deficit while keeping high-net-worth individuals—and their capital—inside the country ..read more

Congratulations to Pollak PLLC for achieving a Chambers Spotlight ranking in 2025.  A Chambers Spotlight ranking shows that through Chambers' independent research process, the firm emerged as a leading small to medium-sized firm handling high-quality work on behalf of a range of clients in Texas and beyond. Since 1990, Chambers and Partners has been identifying and ranking the most outstanding law firms and lawyers on the qualities of their associated attorneys and exclusively lists attorneys who are strongly recommended from in-depth interviews with peers and cl ..read more

On February 7, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order titled “Addressing Egregious Actions of the Republic of South Africa” in response to South Africa’s recently enacted Expropriation Act 13 of 2024.   In addition to cutting off funding to South Africa, this Executive Order empowers the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security to prioritize humanitarian relief including admission and resettlement through the United States Refugee Admission Program of “Afrikaners” in South Africa “who are victims of unjust racial discrimination”.  Such plan must be submitte ..read more

Executive orders can disrupt immigration processes with little warning, and recent policy changes like the pause on Form I-134A (Declaration of Financial Support) in January 2025 demonstrate just how quickly plans can be affected. While this kind of uncertainty can feel frustrating, there are steps you can take to prepare for situations like these and stay in control of your case ..read more

 On February 5, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the initial registration period for the fiscal year 2026 H-1B cap will open at noon Eastern on March 7 and run through noon Eastern on March 24, 2025. During this period, prospective petitioners and representatives must use a USCIS online account to register each beneficiary electronically for the selection process and pay the associated registration fee for each beneficiary.   Prospective H-1B cap-subject petitioners or their representatives are required to use a USCIS online account to regi ..read more

On February 7, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order titled “Addressing Egregious Actions of the Republic of South Africa” in response to South Africa’s recently enacted Expropriation Act 13 of 2024. This Expropriation Act purportedly enables the South African Government to seize ethnic minority Afrikaner’s agricultural property. President Trump said this Executive Order is in response not only to South Africa’s new land law but also because of South Africa’s international court case accusing Israel of genocide ..read more

Karen-Lee Pollak appeared as a special guest on the Immigration & Jobs Talk Show, which covers discussions on various US visas and employment opportunities. The episode, titled "Ready to Start Your American Dream? Which Immigration Options Are Right for You?" was broadcast on January 17th, 2025. Karen Lee joined host Sam to discuss the American Dream, a vision many aspire to achieve, often overcoming significant challenges. Karen Lee might just make this journey a bit simpler. This podcast outlines the main immigration routes to help you identify the one that suits you best. From work vis ..read more

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Citizenship represents a profound commitment between an individual and their adopted country. For naturalized citizens, it’s often a symbol of triumph after years of effort and dedication. But what happens when that bond is questioned? Can the government revoke citizenship once it’s granted? The short answer is yes, but only under specific circumstances, and the process is far from arbitrary ..read more

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the H-2 Modernization Rule on December 18, 2024, set to take effect on January 18, 2025. This rule significantly alters the H-2 visa category, allowing H-2 workers to apply for green cards without automatic denial based on immigrant intent. Key changes include a new Form I-129, job portability for eligible workers, the elimination of eligible country lists, and extended grace periods for H-2 workers. These updates aim to enhance efficiency and flexibility within the H-2 program, benefiting both employers and workers navigating U.S. immigrati ..read more