Who Should Care? This new executive order primarily impacts foreign nationals working or investing in the U.S., especially L-1 intracompany transferees, EB-1C multinational executives, EB-5 investors, and H-1B professionals. These groups often rely on U.S. financial institutions for payroll, investment funds, and business transactions. Stricter vetting could delay access to essential banking services, affecting their daily operations and immigration processes.

What Changed? On May 19, 2026, President Trump signed Executive Order No. 14406, titled "Restoring Integrity to America’s Financial System." It mandates enhanced due diligence by banks and financial institutions when onboarding customers who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents. The order requires financial entities to verify immigration status more rigorously and flag potential risks related to money laundering or fraud.

Attorney Insight
From our experience, this means banks may request additional documentation such as visa approval notices (e.g., I-797), employment verification letters, and proof of lawful presence more frequently than before. For EB-5 investors, this could translate into more intense scrutiny of source-of-funds documentation, potentially extending fund clearance timelines.

Step-by-Step Action Plan:

1

Verify Your Documents

Immediately check your current immigration documents (I-797, visa stamps, I-94) for validity. Ensure they are up-to-date and accessible to present when opening or maintaining bank accounts.

2

Coordinate with Employers

For L-1 and H-1B visa holders, ask your HR to prepare formal employment verification letters specifying your visa status and job role. This can expedite bank verification.

3

Prepare Financial Proof

EB-5 investors should organize clear, traceable source-of-funds evidence, including tax returns and bank statements, as banks will scrutinize these more strictly under the new order.

4

Communicate Early with Your Bank

Proactively reach out to your financial institutions to understand their updated procedures and provide requested documents promptly to avoid service interruptions.

Legal Reference and Practical Insight The order aligns with 31 CFR Part 1010, which governs anti-money laundering (AML) and customer due diligence (CDD) standards. While these regulations have existed, the executive order signals a renewed federal focus on immigration-related compliance within financial services. We have seen in recent cases that delays in financial verification can impact timely visa renewals and employment start dates, especially for L-1 and H-1B workers who must demonstrate lawful status for payroll and benefits.

Case Example Last month, a fintech executive on an L-1A visa experienced a two-week delay in bank account access because the bank requested additional USCIS approval notices and employer letters after this executive order. We helped prepare the documents per USCIS Form I-797 guidelines (8 CFR 214.2(l)(1)(ii)) and coordinated with the bank to resolve the issue quickly.

What This Means for You If you are an executive, investor, or professional relying on U.S. financial institutions, do not wait for banks to request documents. Instead, audit your immigration and financial paperwork now, and maintain open communication channels with your bank and HR department. This proactive approach will minimize disruptions and help you maintain smooth business and personal financial operations.

Important Notice
彭律师团队建议，尤其是企业高管和EB-5投资者，应将此作为例行合规管理的一部分，及时更新并妥善保存所有签证和资金证明材料。同时，配合雇主准备标准化的雇佣及身份确认信件，有助于加速银行审核流程，避免因材料不全而耽误重要业务。

以上措施不仅符合现行31 CFR法规要求，也有助于应对未来可能更加严格的金融合规环境。务必在签证续签、身份转换或资金调拨前完成相关准备，确保顺利通过银行的尽职调查。

这对你意味着，提前准备和主动沟通才是应对新政的关键。现在就登录USCIS官网核对你的I-797有效期，联系HR安排雇佣信，整理资金来源文件，避免因金融审查延误影响你的美国生活和工作。我们律所随时支持你完成这些准备工作，保障你的跨境事业顺利推进。

Data Sources

[1] U.S. Department of State, travel.state.gov [2] USCIS, uscis.gov [3] Code of Federal Regulations, 31 CFR Part 1010