February 8th, 2010 |
Many regional centers claim to have an excellent record at I-526 stage (approval of your petition by the USCIS service center) however, there are problems in simply listing these regional centers. USCIS does not provide this data; therefore the only information comes from the regional centers themselves, this can be of concern.
Even with such information there are further issues of concern; Examples:
• The economic outlook may have changed since a regional center received earlier I-526 approvals and there may now be concerns that the necessary jobs will not be created, or the exit strategy may be vulnerable and all the investment not returned, or delayed.
• Projects with insufficient size or momentum may have potential issues. For example, if a program requires 50 investors, but only has succeeded in signing up 20, could failure to raise the required funds compromise the project? Does the center have sufficient experience with USCIS if these issues arise?
By the time a regional center has successfully reached one hundred I-526 approvals it has at least established a track record that can be measured, although there are still very important issues you need to be aware of.
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Tags: I-526, regional center, track record, uscis
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February 4th, 2010 |
 Job creation in the EB-5 Visa Program This is particularly important at the I-829 stage when conditions are removed, assuming of course that the $500,000 principal has been utilized as required, and the 10 jobs required have been created.
All too often this is an area where not enough attention is given, and in many cases evidence of jobs created will be required. In certain cases a delay or problem with a program could jeopardize the creation of these all important jobs.
However, there is an interesting alternative that is operated by a very small number of regional centers. USCIS recently indicated they are accepting the use of economic models based on infusion of capital. If such a model is used to calculate job projections at the I-526 stage, an investor could receive credit for job creation at the I-829 stage by establishing that the regional center utilized the requisite amount of capital into the new commercial enterprise, and that the new commercial enterprise spent that capital. All this could be done without specific direct data about actual job creation.
“If the infusion of capital occurs according to the approved business plan and economic analysis, and the capital investment scheme comes to fruition in the manner outlined in the business plan, then the economic data provided in support of the Form I-526 petition regarding indirect job creation may demonstrate the creation of the indirect jobs without the submission of further detailed data about job creation at the Form I-829 petition stage”.
Contact Which EB5 for more information on job creation methods and the effect upon your EB-5 visa success.
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Tags: eb5, I-526, I-829, job creation, regional center, uscis, visa
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February 3rd, 2010 |
 How many I-526 petition approvals does this Regional Center have? The majority of regional centers claim to have a 100% record at I-526 stage.
There are however a number of problems in simply listing which regional centers have a 100% record at I-526 stage. In fact, following several years of investigation we have covered this point in our latest book Green Card via the Red Carpet.
The initial problem is that USCIS does not provide this data; therefore the only information comes from the regional centers themselves. In some cases this may be of concern. Even with such information there are further issues, for example –
• A center may have had rejections through no fault of its own – for example an applicant could not satisfy the proof-of-funds condition.
• A center with only 20 previous applications may claim to have a 100% record, whereas a far more established center with several hundred successful applications may only have 98% success.
Beware of statistics, they can be misleading. For more information on I-526 Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur contact Which EB5
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Tags: eb-5, established, Green Card via the Red Carpet, I-526, imigrant petition, regional center, rejections, success, uscis
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February 2nd, 2010 |
 Does the EB5 Visa Program need an Exit Strategy? The exit strategy has been a key consideration for many, not all, EB5 clients. All too often this information has been hard to tie down, with very little specific evidence of a definitive exit strategy from many Regional Center programs.
For many people the security of their $500,000 principal, and when it will be returned to them, is of prime importance alongside the obtaining and maintaining of their visa.
As many regional center programs have not been in operation for a sufficient time period it has been difficult, until very recently, to examine the hard facts in this area.
There have certainly been a number of surprises. Such as one program potentially looking to repay an excess over the $500,000 due to specific circumstances tied in with the nature of the project. Another program has repaid the full principal amount as laid out in the exit strategy. One regional center is planning to repay funds prior to the planned date and yet another has repaid less than the sum invested.
It is certainly very useful to have this information, particularly in light of programs which are very much dependent on the economic outlook. For more information on Regional Center exit strategies contact Which EB5
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Tags: eb-5, eb5, exit strategy, regional center, visa, Which EB-5
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February 1st, 2010 |
Which EB5 sometimes come across potential EB-5 visa applicants attempting a very analytical approach to compare the various regional center alternatives.
In the absence of detailed statistical regional center information from USCIS, searching for meaningful data often results in asking a regional center (not always ideal) or relying on information usually found buried somewhere on a web site. As part of our ongoing research, we regularly monitor information relating to the EB-5. The latest batch of incorrect information includes –
• A site offering consultancy services on various centers which quotes an entirely inaccurate figure for I-829 (Removal of Conditions) successes for a particular regional center. We know the figure to be incorrect as the center in question has not been operating long enough to obtain any I-829 approvals for its clients.
• A site quoting a whole range of comparative figures that are over two years old, particularly worrying given the completely different economic climate in 2010.
For an independent look at EB5 statistics contact Which EB5
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Tags: eb-5, eb5, I-829, regional center, statistics, uscis, visa, Which EB-5
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January 29th, 2010 |
 Priorities for EB5 investment visa applicants Next week we are going to take a look at the different priorities people who have gone down the EB5 investment visa route have had when choosing a particular regional center program.
Priorities vary enormously and can be affected by the amount of information they have gathered, particularly if (sometimes unknowingly) they have worked with a group who are de facto agents of one particular regional center program rather than independent advocates who look at the positives and negatives of many of the programs.
By examining the priorities of various individuals and then looking at the reality of the experiences of those who have actually gone down the EB-5 path you are in a better position to identify important points to be aware of when selecting a regional center program.
Make sure you don’t miss all the latest EB5 news from Which EB5 by signing-up for our blog.
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January 28th, 2010 |
 You quite likely have an idea of what you will need to attend to in order to make the move from your home country to the United States. But have you considered all the finer points of what that entails? Have you thought about the actual act and timing of when to start looking for a home, how to go about doing that, how to secure a living space from thousands of miles away, and how to set up your financial house in the U.S. so that you are able to function once here?
Just to start you will need to consider these major relocation considerations:
• Where to live – where will you make your permanent U.S. home, and what type of property will best suit your needs? Is a temporary arrangement better for you and yours?
• Where to learn – if children are in your family picture, how will they be educated? What are your choices and responsibilities? How do you go about enrolling your child in a school or university in the United States?
• Health matters – the U.S. healthcare system is quite foreign to most immigrants. How do you navigate it? How do you obtain quality medical care in the U.S.? Are you prepared for an emergency upon arrival if need be?
• Financial concerns – your financial concerns are not ended with EB-5 investment; you still have the many daily concerns to consider and manage, including planning for living expenses, taxations, insurances, and even the mundane of day-to-day banking needs.
• Establishing credit in the U.S. is a very important factor, but one that is so often taken for granted and mistakenly overlooked. Learn the why and the how of reestablishing your good financial name so that you have the power to live well in the States.
These and many other finer points are all critical considerations to start learning about now. Relocation experts at WhichEB5 are available to help you with these and many other considerations.
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January 27th, 2010 |
 A list of useful questions for all EB-5 visa applicants Over the past few days we have looked into the questions that really need to be asked when looking at short listing the regional centers that you are interested in. We have given examples of questions which can lead to misleading and somewhat dangerous conclusions. Today we will focus on the question of jobs which we feel can be of significant importance but is often skimmed over or neglected completely.
We have already covered concerns we have resulting from the need of regional centers to create 10 jobs to comply with USCIS requirements. In many cases these jobs, will at some stage, (probably I-829 Removal of Conditions) require evidence such as individual tax records to prove that the jobs exist.
However, there is an interesting alternative that is operated by a very small number of regional centers.
USCIS has accepted the use of economic models based on infusion of capital. If such a model is used to calculate job projections at the I-526 stage an investor could receive credit for job creation at the I-829 stage simply by establishing that he/she invested the requisite amount into the new commercial enterprise, and that the new commercial enterprise spent that capital, regardless of any data about actual job creation. Call us for clarification of this important point. +1-561-771-1330 or email at info@whicheb5.com
USCIS has clarified that this form of capital investment involves more than simply investing a certain amount of investment dollars into a particular industry. An important aspect to any economic analysis model is the feasibility and quality of the business plan that is the basis for determining the appropriate inputs into an economic model, such as RIMS II, IMPLAN, etc. If the infusion of capital occurs according to the approved business plan and economic analysis, and the capital investment scheme comes to fruition in the manner outlined in the business plan, then the economic data provided in support of the Form I-526 petition regarding indirect job creation may be sufficient to demonstrate the creation of the indirect jobs without the submission of further data about job creation at the Form I-829 petition stage.
So what does this actually mean in relation to the jobs aspect – for detailed information contact Which EB5 via phone or email: +1-561-771-1330 or info@whicheb5.com
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Tags: I-526, I-829, IMPLAN, indirect job creation, regional center, RIMS ll, uscis
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January 26th, 2010 |
 What is the difference between a regional center and a regional center program? It can be Important to be aware of these differences, which raise a number of significant issues.
Basically a regional center has been approved to offer programs qualifying for the EB5 visa. Some regional centers offer constantly differing programs whereas others offer the same ongoing program. Perhaps in separate phases.
There are generally three key regional center program models that you need to be aware of.
1. A regional center offering an ongoing program possibly divided into different stages. With some of the more established regional centers the same type of program may have been operating for some years. This can make it possible to gauge useful feedback such as how many visas have been granted and/or have there been any requests for further information served? As such programs are well established this may lessen the likelihood of having a request for further information served on the project.
2. Other regional centers may offer a series of constant new and different programs. For example different real estate projects or loan based projects to different entities. The question that needs to be considered in this scenario is simply; because a regional center has a previous program that went well it is not necessarily certain that the current one (which may be very different) will. For example each real estate project has critical differences, such as how much was paid for the building, how certain is it that it will rent out, what are the realistic job creation implications. If every project is unique they may be vulnerable to delays due to a request for further evidence.
3. A number of regional centers provide programs which are unique and more complex as they offer a diverse portfolio. You will probably be told this helps to spread any financial risk and maximize opportunity. However, it may create potential difficulties, particularly in forecasting and monitoring the job creation side given that each separate area of the investment may have to contribute a certain proportion of jobs.
Which EB5 will be able to clarify all these questions for you.
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January 25th, 2010 |
 Confused with all the conflicting EB-5 visa information? With more than 75 regional centers approved by USCIS to offer programs qualifying for the EB-5 visa we are increasingly investing time researching the hidden details behind the headlines.
The need to look beneath the surface has become increasingly apparent as regional centers often devote significant expenditure on sales and marketing, sometimes using specialist consultants to advise them on how to attract immigrants from specific countries.
We remain concerned that those looking at some of the EB-5 programs may fail to realize that the primary focus of the regional center may be on attracting sources of funding, (particularly given the difficulties in raising finance in the current tighter financial markets), rather than concentrating on the needs of the EB-5 immigrant investor.
We are also concerned where there may be possible conflicts of interest when some regional centers are advised by specialist consultancies. This is of particular concern when the very same consultancies are also advising the potential immigrants.
Sometimes issues that may be important to the immigrant investor are very hard for the potential EB-5 investor to track down – here is one such nugget relating to a proposed scheme:
“The Investment firm that is going after the EB5 investors, to the best of my knowledge, has NEVER SUCCESSFULLY FUNDED one of these projects. There are a few EB5’s that have been implemented in [location] but the firm that is heading up this hasn’t done it.”
Don’t be mislead. Find out exactly what you need to know BEFORE you chose a regional center for your $500,000.
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Tags: eb-5, immigrant investor, immigrants, information, regional center, visa
Posted in Immigration | 1 Comment » |
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