Sophie Zhang Teamat Reid & Wise · Immigration

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✦ Insights

Briefings & analysis
on U.S. immigration.

A small selection of recent posts from the Sophie Zhang Team's policy and practice briefings. Topics range from USCIS adjudication trends to lottery results, fee changes, and case-strategy guidance for founders, investors, and exceptional-ability candidates.

Regulatory update
Automatic EAD Extensions Have Ended: Renew Early, and Make the Green Card the Real Plan
You filed your work permit renewal, but can you keep working once the old card expires? A new DHS rule ends automatic extensions for many EAD categories. We explain who is affected, when to renew, and how concurrent EB-5 filing can secure a work permit on the way to a green card.
November 8, 2026
Guide
The Key to an L-1 Petition: How Should Ownership Be Structured Between Affiliates?
Whether two companies are L-1 affiliates turns on ownership and control, and the U.S. and foreign companies do not need identical shareholdings. Here is what the L-1 rules require of an ownership structure, and what to check before raising money or changing ownership.
October 28, 2026
Regulatory update
New EB-5 Rule: Spouses and Children Can File the I-829 on Their Own
A final DHS rule effective November 30, 2026 confirms that when the principal investor does not file Form I-829, an eligible spouse, former spouse, or child can file on their own. We cover the four situations, family planning, and filing deadlines.
October 14, 2026
Case insight
I-130 Approved, Immigrant Visa Refused? How an I-601 Waiver Opened a Way Forward
An approved I-130 is not an approved green card. An arrest record, a claimed overstay, or inconsistent records can derail the final eligibility review. Here is how an I-601 waiver turned around a complicated case that once looked all but impossible.
October 9, 2026
Guide
Your Priority Date Is Current: How to File the I-485 With Confidence
A current Dates for Filing chart does not mean the green card is secure. The I-485 requires a review of your status history, tailored evidence, and a plan for work permits, advance parole, and travel. Here is what to prepare before you file.
October 9, 2026
Regulatory update
Your Date Is Current, Now What? A Five-Year Look at EB-1 and NIW Priority Dates
In October 2026 the window to file I-485s widened for EB-1 and NIW applicants born in mainland China. We look back at five years of visa bulletin movement and explain how to prepare for the next step.
September 30, 2026
Regulatory update
The H-1B Landscape Now: The Lottery, Job Changes, Layoffs, and Visa Stamping Under the Latest Rules
A wave of H-1B changes has arrived at once. We separate the rules already in effect, the fees limited by court rulings, and the proposals still under review, and walk through the lottery, job changes, the layoff grace period, and visa stamping.
September 23, 2026
Guide
Expanding Into the U.S.: Choosing Work Visas for Executives and Technical Staff
Setting up a U.S. team? This guide walks through the L-1, H-1B, and O-1 options for executives and key technical staff, starting from how the company actually plans to staff the business, and how to bridge status for people already in the U.S.
September 11, 2026
Guide
Divorced Before Removing Conditions? Filing the I-751 on Your Own: Eligibility, Evidence, and Interviews
If your marriage has ended or your spouse will not cooperate, you may still be able to remove the conditions on your green card. When can you file the I-751 alone, how do you show the marriage was genuine, and will there be an interview?
September 2, 2026
Case insight
A Critical Step for Academic EB-1A Applicants: The Hidden Standard Behind the “Three Out of Ten” Checklist
FY2025 EB-1A approvals fell quarter by quarter while RFEs climbed. Meeting three of ten criteria no longer wins the case: the Final Merits step asks what the record proves as a whole. What academic applicants must show about original contributions of major significance.
August 14, 2026
Guide
Compelling Circumstances EAD: What H-1B Employees Facing a Layoff Need to Know
Lost your H-1B job while stuck in the green card backlog? The Compelling Circumstances EAD can keep you working, but job loss alone rarely qualifies and approval carries real trade-offs. Here is who qualifies, what counts as compelling, and what happens after.
August 13, 2026
Case insight
Beyond Dhanasar: Scrutinizing NIW Trends
Explore how EB-2 NIW petitions are evaluated beyond the Dhanasar three-prong test, including national-importance trends, evidence standards, common weaknesses, and practical ways to strengthen a self-sponsored green card case.
July 2, 2026

These summaries are general; your circumstances may differ. For situation-specific advice, please reach out.

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