Immigration Lawyer in Chinatown NYC: Chinese Immigration Services

Last Updated on: 11th October 2025, 11:05 am

Immigration Lawyer in Chinatown NYC: Chinese Immigration Services

Thanks for visiting Spodek Law Group. We’re a second-generation immigration law firm managed by Todd Spodek – with over 40 years of combined experience handling immigration cases. You might know us from the Anna Delvey case that became a Netflix series, or our work on the Ghislaine Maxwell juror matter that made national headlines. You’re here because you need an immigration attorney who understands the challenges Chinese immigrants face in New York – whether it’s EB-5 investor fraud, family green card backlogs, or immigration scams targeting your community. This article covers what’s happening in 2025 and how to protect yourself.

EB-5 Investor Fraud Is Targeting Chinese Nationals in New York

In August 2025, ICE arrested a Long Island woman who ran a $30 million fraud scheme targeting Chinese EB-5 investors. Sherry Xue Li told victims that $500,000 investments would guarantee them green cards through the EB-5 program – but no investor ever received even a temporary green card. More than 150 people invested $31.5 million, including $16.5 million from EB-5 applicants who were promised permanent residence.

Another case in Queens involved the Mayflower Hotel Group promising Chinese investor Jean Xie a green card and full refund – neither happened. She lost $530,000 and never got her immigration benefits. A separate lawsuit filed by over 20 Chinese EB-5 investors seeks $13.4 million from developers who misled them into funding a casino-resort project that collapsed.

These aren’t isolated incidents. The SEC has investigated multiple EB-5 Regional Centers for securities violations – finding that many were Ponzi schemes designed to steal investor money while promising immigration benefits. On February 25, 2025, President Trump announced the EB-5 program would be abolished and replaced with a “gold card” program, though details remain unclear and the change hasn’t been implemented yet.

If you’re considering EB-5 investment – hire an immigration attorney before you transfer any money. Our immigration attorneys review the business plan, verify the Regional Center’s credentials, confirm job creation projections, and make sure the investment structure complies with USCIS requirements. We’ve seen too many Chinese families lose their life savings to fraudulent developers who promised green cards they couldn’t deliver.

Green Card Backlogs Hit Chinese Applicants Harder Than Most Countries

The Immigration and Nationality Act caps green cards from any single country at 7% of total annual issuance – regardless of population size or demand. Approximately 4.7 million applicants are waiting for green cards because of these quotas, and Chinese applicants face some of the longest delays.

For employment-based immigration, China faces around 7.5 years of wait time in certain categories due to high demand. Family-based immigration through sibling sponsorship (F-4 category) can take decades – some Chinese applicants who filed in the early 2000s are still waiting in 2025.

The monthly Visa Bulletin from the State Department shows which priority dates are currently being processed. If your priority date isn’t current – you can’t file for adjustment of status or attend your green card interview, no matter how long ago you filed your petition. For Chinese nationals, priority dates move slowly or sometimes retrogress backwards, which means wait times increase instead of decrease.

Some people try to speed up the process by switching to a different immigration category – like moving from EB-3 to EB-2 through additional education or job changes. Others pursue premium processing where available, though premium processing only speeds up USCIS’s initial review, not the underlying visa quota availability. When your priority date finally becomes current – you need to act fast, because dates can retrogress again within months.

Immigration Scams Are Targeting Chinese Communities Through WeChat and Fake Embassy Calls

Scammers are calling Chinese immigrants in New York pretending to be from the Chinese Embassy or immigration authorities. The incoming phone number may resemble your own number or the Chinese Embassy’s actual number (212) 244-XXXX. They also use WeChat and email to contact victims.

The Chinese Embassy is not a law enforcement agency – they will never call you about a legal case, ask for personal information, or demand money. If someone claiming to be from the embassy threatens you with deportation unless you pay immediately – it’s a scam.

Notario fraud is another problem affecting Chinese, Vietnamese, Indian, and other immigrant communities. In countries with civil law systems – a notario is a lawyer authorized to give legal advice. In the United States – notaries public cannot provide legal advice and are not attorneys. Fraudulent notarios charge thousands of dollars to file immigration forms, then submit incomplete or incorrect applications that get denied, leaving you worse off than before.

In June 2025, New York City Council passed legislation doubling penalties for immigration fraud – first violations now cost $7,500 to $10,000, and repeat violations cost $18,000 to $20,000. Report fraud by calling the Attorney General’s Immigration Fraud Hotline at 1-800-771-7755.

Family-Based Immigration Options for Chinese Families

U.S. citizens can sponsor immediate relatives – spouses, parents, and unmarried children under 21 – without waiting for visa quotas. These petitions get processed relatively quickly, though USCIS backlogs in 2025 still mean 12 to 24 months for adjustment of status.

For other relatives – like married children, adult children over 21, or siblings, you fall into family preference categories with annual visa limits. This is where Chinese nationals face the longest waits due to per-country caps. If you’re a U.S. citizen sponsoring your sibling in China – expect 10 to 15 years or more from filing to green card approval.

Green card holders can sponsor spouses and unmarried children – but not parents or siblings. If you’re a permanent resident trying to bring your parents to the United States – you need to become a U.S. citizen first, which typically requires 5 years as a green card holder (or 3 years if married to a U.S. citizen), plus passing the citizenship test.

Some families try to use tourist visas to bring relatives while waiting for immigrant petitions to process – this creates problems. Entering on a B-2 tourist visa with intent to stay permanently is visa fraud. If USCIS discovers your relative entered with immigrant intent on a tourist visa – they can deny the green card application and place your relative in removal proceedings.

Why You Need An Immigration Attorney Who Understands Chinese Immigration Issues

Chinese immigration cases often involve complex issues – like EB-5 investments requiring business analysis, family petitions with decades-long backlogs requiring strategic planning, and fraud risks from scammers targeting Chinese-speaking communities.

Our immigration attorneys have handled thousands of cases since 1976 – including EB-5 investor petitions, family-based green cards with priority date issues, removal defense, and fraud victim cases. Todd Spodek grew up in Brooklyn working for his father’s law firm – learning immigration law as a second-generation attorney before attending Northeastern University and Pace Law School. Our law firm has been featured in major media outlets, like the New York Post, Newsweek, and Bloomberg.

If you’re considering an EB-5 investment, if you’re waiting for a family petition with a backlogged priority date, if you’ve been scammed by a notario or fake immigration consultant – contact our immigration attorneys. We’re available 24/7 at our offices throughout NYC and Long Island.