8 U.S.C. § 1186b: Conditional permanent resident status for certain alien entrepreneurs, spouses, and children

An alien investor, alien spouse, and alien child shall be considered, at the time of obtaining status as an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence, to have obtained such status on a conditional basis subject to the provisions of this section. At the time an alien investor, alien spouse, or alien child obtains permanent resident status on a conditional basis under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide for notice to such an investor, spouse, or child respecting the provisions of this section and the requirements of subsection (c)(1) to have the conditional basis of such status removed. In addition, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall attempt to provide notice to such an investor, spouse, or child, at or about the beginning of the 90-day period described in subsection (d)(2)(A), of the requirements of subsection (c)(1). The failure of the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide a notice under this paragraph shall not affect the enforcement of the provisions of this section with respect to such an investor, spouse, or child. the investment in the commercial enterprise was intended solely as a means of evading the immigration laws of the United States, the alien did not invest the requisite capital; or the alien was otherwise not conforming to the requirements of section 1153(b)(5) of this title , Any alien whose permanent resident status is terminated under paragraph (1) may request a review of such determination in a proceeding to remove the alien. In such proceeding, the burden of proof shall be on the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish, by a preponderance of the evidence, that a condition described in paragraph (1) is met. the alien investor shall submit to the Secretary of Homeland Security, during the period described in subsection (d)(2), a petition which requests the removal of such conditional basis and which states, under penalty of perjury, the facts and information described in subsection (d)(1); in accordance with subsection (d)(3), the alien investor shall appear for a personal interview before an officer or employee of the Department of Homeland Security respecting the facts and information described in subsection (d)(1); and the Secretary shall have performed a site visit to the relevant corporate office or business location described in section 1153(b)(5)(F)(iv) of this title . no petition is filed with respect to the alien in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (1)(A), or unless there is good cause shown, the alien investor fails to appear at the interview described in paragraph (1)(B) (if required under subsection (d)(3)), In any removal proceeding with respect to an alien whose permanent resident status is terminated under subparagraph (A), the burden of proof shall be on the alien to establish compliance with the conditions of paragraphs (1)(A) and (1)(B). a petition is filed in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (1)(A), and the alien investor appears at any interview described in paragraph (1)(B), notify the alien involved of such determination; and remove the conditional basis of the alien’s status effective as of the second anniversary of the alien’s lawful admission for permanent residence. the Secretary, in the Secretary’s discretion, may provide a 1-year extension of the alien’s conditional status; and if the alien files a petition not later than 30 days after the third anniversary of the alien’s lawful admission for permanent residence demonstrating that the alien complied with subsection (d)(1)(B)(i), the Secretary shall remove the conditional basis of the alien’s status effective as of such third anniversary; or if the alien does not file the petition described in item (aa), the conditional status shall terminate at the end of such additional year. If the Secretary of Homeland Security determines that such facts and information are not true, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall so notify the alien involved and, subject to subparagraph (D), shall terminate the permanent resident status of an alien investor, alien spouse, or alien child as of the date of the determination. Any alien whose permanent resident status is terminated under subparagraph (C) may request a review of such determination in a proceeding to remove the alien. In such proceeding, the burden of proof shall be on the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the facts and information described in subsection (d)(1) and alleged in the petition are not true with respect to the qualifying commercial enterprise. invested the requisite capital; created the employment required under section 1153(b)(5)(A)(ii) of this title ; or is actively in the process of creating the employment required under section 1153(b)(5)(A)(ii) of this title and will create such employment before the third anniversary of the alien’s lawful admission for permanent residence, provided that such alien’s capital will remain invested during such time; and is otherwise conforming to the requirements of section 1153(b)(5) of this title . Except as provided in clause (ii) and subparagraph (B), a petition under subsection (c)(1)(A) shall be filed during the 90-day period immediately preceding the second anniversary of the alien investor’s lawful admission for permanent residence. Aliens described in subclauses (I)(bb) and (II) of section 1153(b)(5)(M)(ii) of this title shall file a petition under subsection (c)(1)(A) during the 90-day period before the second anniversary of the subsequent investment. Such a petition may be considered if filed after such date, but only if the alien establishes to the satisfaction of the Secretary of Homeland Security good cause and extenuating circumstances for failure to file the petition during the period described in subparagraph (A). In the case of an alien who is the subject of removal hearings as a result of failure to file a petition on a timely basis in accordance with subparagraph (A), the Attorney General may stay such removal proceedings against an alien pending the filing of the petition under subparagraph (B). The interview under subsection (c)(1)(B) shall be conducted within 90 days after the date of submitting a petition under subsection (c)(1)(A) and at a local office of the Department of Homeland Security, designated by the Secretary of Homeland Security, which is convenient to the parties involved. invested in a regional center, new commercial enterprise, or job-creating entity that was sanctioned under section 1153(b)(5) of this title ; or is in a class of aliens determined by the Secretary to be threats to public safety or national security. For purposes of subchapter III, in the case of an alien who is in the United States as a lawful permanent resident on a conditional basis under this section, the alien shall be considered to have been admitted as an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence and to be in the United States as an alien lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence. The term “alien investor” means an alien who obtains the status of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence (whether on a conditional basis or otherwise) under section 1153(b)(5) of this title . The term “alien spouse” and the term “alien child” mean an alien who obtains the status of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence (whether on a conditional basis or otherwise) by virtue of being the spouse or child, respectively, of an alien investor. The term “commercial enterprise” includes any entity formed for the purpose of doing for-profit business. Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [ Mar. 15, 2022 ]. The amendment made by subsection (a)(5)(B)(iv) shall take effect on the date that is 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act. The amendments made by subsection (a) shall not apply to the beneficiary of a petition that is filed under section 216A of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1186b ) if the underlying petition was filed under section 203(b)(5) of such Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1153(b)(5) ) before the date of the enactment of this Act.” In lieu of the provisions of section 216A(c)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1186b(c)(3) ), subsection (c) shall apply in the case of an eligible alien described in subsection (b)(1). filed, under section 204(a)(1)(H) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)(H) ) (or any predecessor provision), a petition to accord the alien a status under section 203(b)(5) of such Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1153(b)(5) ) that was approved by the Attorney General after January 1, 1995 , and before August 31, 1998 ; pursuant to such approval, obtained the status of an alien entrepreneur with permanent resident status on a conditional basis described in section 216A of such Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1186b ); and timely filed, in accordance with section 216A(c)(1)(A) of such Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1186b(c)(1)(A) ) and before the date of the enactment of this Act [ Nov. 2, 2002 ], a petition requesting the removal of such conditional basis. In the case of a petition described in paragraph (1)(C) that was denied under section 216A(c)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1186b(c)(3)(C) ) before the date of the enactment of this Act, upon a motion to reopen such petition filed by the eligible alien not later than 60 days after such date, the Attorney General shall make determinations on such petition pursuant to subsection (c). the alien is inadmissible or deportable on any ground; or the petition described in paragraph (1)(C) was denied on the ground that it contains a material misrepresentation in the facts and information described in section 216A(d)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1186b(d)(1) ) and alleged in the petition with respect to a commercial enterprise. In the case of such an eligible alien who was placed in deportation or removal proceedings by reason of the denial of the petition described in paragraph (1)(C), a motion to reopen filed under subparagraph (A) shall be treated as a motion to reopen such proceedings. The Attorney General shall grant such motion notwithstanding any time and number limitations imposed by law on motions to reopen such proceedings, except that the scope of any proceeding reopened on this basis shall be limited to whether any order of deportation or removal should be vacated, and the alien granted the status of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence (unconditionally or on a conditional basis), by reason of the determinations made under subsection (c). An alien who is inadmissible or deportable on any ground shall not be granted such status, except that this prohibition shall not apply to an alien who has been paroled into the United States under subparagraph (B). the petition described in subsection (b)(1)(C) contains any material misrepresentation in the facts and information described in section 216A(d)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1186b(d)(1) ) and alleged in the petition with respect to a commercial enterprise (regardless of whether such enterprise is a limited partnership and regardless of whether the alien entered the enterprise after its formation); subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), such enterprise created full-time jobs for not fewer than 10 United States citizens or aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence or other immigrants lawfully authorized to be employed in the United States (other than the eligible alien and the alien’s spouse, sons, or daughters), and those jobs exist or existed on any of the dates described in subparagraph (D); and on any of the dates described in subparagraph (D), the alien is in substantial compliance with the capital investment requirement described in section 216A(d)(1)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1186b(d)(1)(B) ). For purposes of subparagraph (A)(ii), an investment that satisfies the requirements of section 610(c) of the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1993 ( 8 U.S.C. 1153 note), as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [ Nov. 2, 2002 ], shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of such subparagraph. In the case of an eligible alien who has made a capital investment in a troubled business (as defined in 8 CFR 204.6(e), as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act), in lieu of the determination under subparagraph (A)(ii), the Attorney General shall determine whether the number of employees of the business, as measured on any of the dates described in subparagraph (D), is at no less than the pre-investment level. The date on which the petition described in subsection (b)(1)(C) is filed. 6 months after the date described in clause (i). The date on which the determination under subparagraph (A) or (C) is made. If the Attorney General renders an affirmative determination with respect to clauses (ii) and (iii) of subparagraph (A), and if the Attorney General renders a negative determination with respect to clause (i) of such subparagraph, the Attorney General shall so notify the alien involved and shall remove the conditional basis of the alien’s status (and that of the alien’s spouse and children if it was obtained under section 216A of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1186b )) effective as of the second anniversary of the alien’s lawful admission for permanent residence. If the Attorney General renders an adverse determination with respect to clause (i), (ii), or (iii) of subparagraph (A), the Attorney General shall so notify the alien involved. The notice shall be in writing and shall state the factual basis for any adverse determination. The Attorney General shall provide the alien with an opportunity to submit evidence to rebut any adverse determination. If the Attorney General reverses all adverse determinations pursuant to such rebuttal, the Attorney General shall so notify the alien involved and shall remove the conditional basis of the alien’s status (and that of the alien’s spouse and children if it was obtained under section 216A of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1186b )) effective as of the second anniversary of the alien’s lawful admission for permanent residence. If the Attorney General renders an adverse determination with respect to clause (ii) or (iii) of subparagraph (A), and the eligible alien’s rebuttal does not cause the Attorney General to reverse such determination, the Attorney General shall continue the conditional basis of the alien’s permanent resident status (and that of the alien’s spouse and children if it was obtained under section 216A of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1186b )) for a 2-year period. If the Attorney General renders an adverse determination with respect to subparagraph (A)(i), and the eligible alien’s rebuttal does not cause the Attorney General to reverse such determination, the Attorney General shall so notify the alien involved and, subject to subsection (d), shall terminate the permanent resident status of the alien (and that of the alien’s spouse and children if it was obtained on a conditional basis under section 216A of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1186b )). An alien may seek administrative review of an adverse determination made under subparagraph (A) by filing a petition for such review with the Board of Immigration Appeals. If the Board of Immigration Appeals denies the petition, the alien may seek judicial review. The procedures for judicial review under this clause shall be the same as the procedures for judicial review of a final order of removal under section 242(a)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1252(a)(1) ). During the period in which an administrative or judicial appeal under this clause is pending, the Attorney General shall continue the conditional basis of the alien’s permanent resident status (and that of the alien’s spouse and children if it was obtained under section 216A of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1186b )). In determining under this paragraph whether to remove a conditional basis continued under paragraph (1)(F)(ii) with respect to an alien, the Attorney General shall consider any capital investment made by the alien in a commercial enterprise (regardless of whether such enterprise is a limited partnership and regardless of whether the alien entered the enterprise after its formation), in the United States, regardless of whether that investment was made before or after the determinations under paragraph (1) and regardless of whether the commercial enterprise is the same as that considered in the determinations under such paragraph, if facts and information with respect to the investment and the enterprise are included in the petition submitted under subparagraph (B). In order for a conditional basis continued under paragraph (1)(F)(ii) for an eligible alien (and the alien’s spouse and children) to be removed, the alien must submit to the Attorney General, during the period described in subparagraph (C), a petition which requests the removal of such conditional basis and which states, under penalty of perjury, the facts and information described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 216A(d)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1186b(d)(1) ) with respect to any commercial enterprise (regardless of whether such enterprise is a limited partnership and regardless of whether the alien entered the enterprise after its formation) which the alien desires to have considered under this paragraph, regardless of whether such enterprise was created before or after the determinations made under paragraph (1). Except as provided in clause (ii), the petition under subparagraph (B) must be filed during the 90-day period before the second anniversary of the continuation, under paragraph (1)(F)(ii), of the conditional basis of the alien’s lawful admission for permanent residence. Such a petition may be considered if filed after such date, but only if the alien establishes to the satisfaction of the Attorney General good cause and extenuating circumstances for failure to file the petition during the period described in clause (i). In the case of an alien with permanent resident status on a conditional basis under paragraph (1)(F)(ii), if no petition is filed with respect to the alien in accordance with subparagraph (B), the Attorney General shall terminate the permanent resident status of the alien (and the alien’s spouse and children if it was obtained on a conditional basis under section 216A of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1186b )) as of the second anniversary of the continuation, under paragraph (1)(F)(ii), of the conditional basis of the alien’s lawful admission for permanent residence. In any removal proceeding with respect to an alien whose permanent resident status is terminated under clause (i), the burden of proof shall be on the alien to establish compliance with subparagraph (B). the petition contains any material misrepresentation in the facts and information alleged in the petition with respect to the commercial enterprises included in such petition; this clause shall apply only if the Attorney General made an adverse determination with respect to the eligible alien under paragraph (1)(A)(ii); the provisions of subparagraphs (B) and (C) of paragraph (1) shall apply to a determination under this clause in the same manner as they apply to a determination under paragraph (1)(A)(ii); and if the Attorney General determined under paragraph (1)(A)(ii) that any jobs satisfying the requirement of such paragraph were created, the number of those jobs shall be subtracted from the number of jobs otherwise needed to satisfy the requirement of this clause; and this clause shall apply only if the Attorney General made an adverse determination with respect to the eligible alien under paragraph (1)(A)(iii); and if the Attorney General determined under paragraph (1)(A)(iii) that any capital amount was invested that could be credited towards compliance with the capital investment requirement described in section 216A(d)(1)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1186b(d)(1)(B) ), such amount shall be subtracted from the amount of capital otherwise needed to satisfy the requirement of this clause. If the Attorney General renders an affirmative determination with respect to clauses (ii) and (iii) of subparagraph (E), and if the Attorney General renders a negative determination with respect to clause (i) of such subparagraph, the Attorney General shall so notify the alien involved and shall remove the conditional basis of the alien’s status (and that of the alien’s spouse and children if it was obtained under section 216A of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1186b )) effective as of the second anniversary of the continuation, under paragraph (1)(F)(ii), of the conditional basis of the alien’s lawful admission for permanent residence. If the Attorney General renders an adverse determination under subparagraph (E), the Attorney General shall so notify the alien involved. The notice shall be in writing and shall state the factual basis for any adverse determination. The Attorney General shall provide the alien with an opportunity to submit evidence to rebut any adverse determination. If the Attorney General reverses all adverse determinations pursuant to such rebuttal, the Attorney General shall so notify the alien involved and shall remove the conditional basis of the alien’s status (and that of the alien’s spouse and children if it was obtained under section 216A of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1186b )) effective as of the second anniversary of the continuation, under paragraph (1)(F)(ii), of the conditional basis of the alien’s lawful admission for permanent residence. If the eligible alien’s rebuttal does not cause the Attorney General to reverse each adverse determination under subparagraph (E), the Attorney General shall so notify the alien involved and, subject to subsection (d), shall terminate the permanent resident status of the alien (and that of the alien’s spouse and children if it was obtained on a conditional basis under section 216A of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1186b )). Any alien whose permanent resident status is terminated under paragraph (1)(F)(iii) or (2)(G)(ii) of subsection (c) may request a review of such determination in a proceeding to remove the alien. In such proceeding, the burden of proof shall be on the Attorney General. In the case of an alien who obtained the status of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence on a conditional basis before the date of the enactment of this Act [ Nov. 2, 2002 ] by virtue of being the child of an eligible alien described in subsection (b)(1), the alien shall be considered to be a child for purposes of this section regardless of any change in age or marital status after obtaining such status. For purposes of this section, the term ‘full-time’ means a position that requires at least 35 hours of service per week at any time, regardless of who fills the position. With respect to each eligible alien described in subsection (b), the Attorney General or the Secretary of State shall approve the application described in subsection (b)(2) and grant the alien (and any spouse or child of the alien, if the spouse or child is eligible to receive a visa under section 203(d) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1153(d) )) the status of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence on a conditional basis under section 216A of such Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1186b ). Such application shall be approved not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [ Nov. 2, 2002 ]. filed, under section 204(a)(1)(H) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)(H) ) (or any predecessor provision), a petition to accord the alien a status under section 203(b)(5) of such Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1153(b)(5) ) that was approved by the Attorney General after January 1, 1995 , and before August 31, 1998 ; pursuant to such approval, timely filed before the date of the enactment of this Act [ Nov. 2, 2002 ] an application for adjustment of status under section 245 of such Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1255 ) or an application for an immigrant visa under section 203(b)(5) of such Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1153(b)(5) ); and is not inadmissible or deportable on any ground. If the Attorney General revoked the approval of a petition described in subsection (b)(1), such revocation shall be disregarded for purposes of this section if it was based on a determination that the alien failed to satisfy section 203(b)(5)(A)(ii) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1153(b)(5)(A)(ii) ). failed to satisfy section 203(b)(5)(A)(ii) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1153(b)(5)(A)(ii) ); or departed the United States without advance parole. In the case of an eligible alien who filed an application for adjustment of status described in subsection (b)(2), but who is no longer physically present in the United States, the Attorney General shall establish a process under which the alien may be paroled into the United States if necessary in order to obtain adjustment of status under this section. Upon the approval of an application under subsection (a), the Attorney General shall record the alien’s lawful admission for permanent residence on a conditional basis as of the date of such approval and the Secretary of State shall reduce by one the number of visas authorized to be issued under sections 201(d) and 203(b)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1151(d) and 1153(b)(5)) for the fiscal year then current. In order for a conditional basis established under this section for an alien (and the alien’s spouse and children) to be removed, the alien must satisfy the requirements of section 216A(c)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1186b(c)(1) ), including the submission of a petition in accordance with subparagraph (A) of such section. Such petition may include the facts and information described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 216A(d)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1186b(d)(1) ) with respect to any commercial enterprise (regardless of whether such enterprise is a limited partnership and regardless of whether the alien entered the enterprise after its formation) in the United States in which the alien has made a capital investment at any time. the petition described in paragraph (1) contains any material misrepresentation in the facts and information alleged in the petition with respect to the commercial enterprises included in the petition; subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C) of section 11031(c)(1), all such enterprises, considered together, created full-time jobs for not fewer than 10 United States citizens or aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence or other immigrants lawfully authorized to be employed in the United States (other than the alien and the alien’s spouse, sons, or daughters), and those jobs exist or existed on either of the dates described in paragraph (3); and considering the alien’s investments in such enterprises on either of the dates described in paragraph (3), or on both such dates, the alien is or was in substantial compliance with the capital investment requirement described in section 216A(d)(1)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1186b(d)(1)(B) ). The date on which the application described in subsection (b)(2) was filed. The date on which the determination under paragraph (2) is made. In the case of an alien who was a child on the date on which the application described in subsection (b)(2) was filed, the alien shall be considered to be a child for purposes of this section regardless of any change in age or marital status after such date. “The Immigration and Naturalization Service shall promulgate regulations to implement this chapter [chapter 1 (§§ 11031–11034) of subtitle B of title I of div. C of Pub. L. 107–273 , enacting this note] not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act [ Nov. 2, 2002 ]. Until such regulations are promulgated, the Attorney General shall not deny a petition filed or pending under section 216A(c)(1)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1186b(c)(1)(A) ) that relates to an eligible alien described in section 11031, or on an application filed or pending under section 245 of such Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1255 ) that relates to an eligible alien described in section 11032. Until such regulations are promulgated, the Attorney General shall not initiate or proceed with removal proceedings under section 240 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1229a ) that relate to an eligible alien described in section 11031 or 11032. “Except as otherwise provided, the terms used in this chapter shall have the meaning given such terms in section 101(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1101(b) ).”