February 28th, 2009 |
A Non-Immigrant E visa such as the E2 visa is a very poor option for someone who intends to reside indefinitely in the United States. The treaty investor visa program was designed to enhance commercial interaction between the US and other countries. It is not intended as a means of self-employment or immigration. Should an E-2 visa holder retire or sell his or her investment, the visa status lapses and he or she must leave the US. Similarly their children will have to leave the USA once they reach the age of 21.
The EB-5 visa is designed to provide permanent residence for husband, wife and children under 21 who are free to work or retire anywhere they want to in the USA.
Contact your Independent Immigrant Investor Advocates Andrew Bartlett & Stephen Parnell at Which EB5 for important updates on the EB-5 visa program.
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Tags: E visa, E2, eb-5, eb5, immigrant investor advocate, Immigration, permanent residence, treaty investor, united states, visa status, Which EB-5
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
February 25th, 2009 |
There have been a number of families going through the final stages of the EB-5 visa process during the past few weeks and we are of course in regular contact with them at this critical stage - the consulate interview. This can be something of a stomach churning time even for those with nerves of steel and despite the fact that the success rate to date is extremely good.
The EB-5 pilot program investor visa is a somewhat different visa process to many other types of application as the first stage, I-526, will have already been approved by the California service center of the USCIS prior to the consulate interview. However, there are still key points that the immigration attorneys we work with take clients through, prior to their interview to ensure as smooth a process as possible.
An enormous advantage of specializing in EB5 visa relocation’s is that we have experience of taking many families successfully through the journey to obtain the visa, their feedback on the process can be invaluable to you if you are relocating to the States.
Please feel free to contact Andrew Bartlett or Steve Parnell at Which EB5 for personal guidance.
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Tags: california service center, consulate interview, eb-5, I-526, immigration attorneys, pilot program, relocating to the states, uscis, visa, Which EB-5
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
February 24th, 2009 |
Investment in a regional center pilot program is generally $500,000 (although there are a few centers that participate in the one million dollars program only), but what are the real costs you can expect when investing in the EB5 pilot program?
EB-5 Visa investors need to budget for administration costs which vary considerably from center to center. Typically $30,000 to $65,000. Additionally, some charge a sizable upfront deposit for a for copy of their prospectus.
Attorney fees can also vary significantly and some applicants have found themselves billed for unexpected additional costs.
Some of the programs offer interest payments and other potential returns on the investment – however, this brings up a number of implications which you should be aware of.
Then there is the $500,000 question; HAS ANYONE HAD THEIR MONEY BACK AND IF SO HOW MUCH? The programs have exit strategies, fine, but in the current economic climate the question of the likely return of the investment, and on the investment, is on many peoples’ minds.
Some original investors, in certain programs, have gone through the process and had their investment returned, but there are points behind that fact you should be aware of before investing in the EB-5. We can cover these points with you.
For full details contact Which EB5.
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Tags: eb-5, eb5, investment visa, investors, pilot program, regional center
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
February 23rd, 2009 |
The annual report from the President of American Life contains some particularly interesting observations at what is generally recognized as a challenging time for the American economy.
The report concludes, “2009 looks like a potentially tough year. Rents may decrease until the infrastructure projects take root. On the other hand the Pacific Northwest’s abundance of natural resources, trading location, and educated work force will survive the hangover of a credit binge. American Life is positioned to survive the year in better shape than most because no-debt was more important than I imagined.”
We have visited this Seattle area program several times and have a number of important considerations that we go over with our clients while they may be considering the American life program, or indeed any of the various alternative EB-5 options.
We can take you through the most valuable and illuminating feedback we have from clients who are now living in various parts of the USA having been granted residency through American Life EB-5 investment programs.
For an independent perspective of the American Life program click here
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Tags: alternative eb-5, american life, eb5, Immigration, investment visa, seattle
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
February 22nd, 2009 |
An article in this weeks Economist under the Lexington column provides an analysis of President Obama’s $787 billion stimulus package.
The stimulus package sends a somewhat protectionist signal by including a number of Buy American provisions. It also sneakily interferes with the financial services industry, laying down stern limits on pay and making it harder for foreigners to work there. Incredibly, many of the details emerged only after the bill had been passed.
We have concerns regarding the long term implications and eventual impact this may have on the availability of routes of immigration to the USA, particularly with the failure last year by the Senate to agree a five year extension to the EB-5 visa pilot program.
Currently we are waiting to see if the visa is extended for a further six months after March 6th 2009. Stay up to date on all matters relating to the EB-5 Visa.
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Tags: eb-5, Immigration, pilot program, USA, visa
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
February 21st, 2009 |
It is fascinating how potential immigrants from different countries have such widely varying initial priorities when looking at their choice of regional center investment programs.
In working with clients from around the world it can often surprise us how these initial priorities affect the regional center choices that clients of different nationalities make.
We remain concerned that not all potential EB5 applicants are given the widest range of regional center options.
Your choices at this critical stage can have a major impact.
For example, some programs may well seem an excellent option in terms of successfully completing the initial I-526 petition stage, and the two year conditional green card approval. However, this is only half the story. It is also necessary to have the conditions removed, (application at 21 months for I-829 removal of conditions) to ensure your stay in the USA is not of a temporary nature. In addition, most investors are looking for a return of their investment after a finite number of years.
The important implications of your early choices require detailed explanation – for further information without obligation please contact Which EB5.
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Tags: eb-5, eb5, I-526, I-829, Immigration, options, regional center, removal of conditions, USA
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
February 20th, 2009 |
The latest EB-5 program to be announced is the long awaited Los Angeles Film Regional Center project through Can Am enterprises. It is an program that will be a $100 MM loan to Time Warner Inc.
Time Warner is the world’s second largest media and entertainment conglomerate, with major operations in film, television, publishing, Internet service and telecommunications. This project is projected to create more than 3,500 direct and indirect jobs, allocating 17-18 jobs per investor.
As security, the Los Angeles Film Regional Center will receive a corporate guarantee from Time Warner.
WhichEB5 have arranged for one of our Senior Partners to meet with the principals of CanAm and go through this option in detail to clarify a number of points we feel need detailed verification .
You need to be aware that this project is likely to subscribe relatively quickly. The track Record of CanAm projects, particularly in the current economic climate, and the fact that the program is associated with a blue chip company such as Time Warner, will likely make this a popular option – There appears to be a waiting list from Asian investors for this program, so if you are interested, you may need to act sooner rather than later.
For full details on this or other Regional Center programs, and our findings, please click here.
All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
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Tags: CanAm, eb-5, eb5, guarantee, jobs per investor, regional center, security, subscribe, time warner, verification
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
February 18th, 2009 |
There was an interesting article in one of the immigration magazines recently that contained research from a psychologist, as to why a significant number of immigrants return back to their original home country after less than a year – and did extroverts or introverts tend to adjust better.
From the large number of troubleshooting briefs we have carried out over the past five years, we have identified two particular types of people who seem more vulnerable to adjusting when inevitably some things don’t always work out the way they planned.
The problems can often be traced back to a lack of due diligence ay the very start of their planning process and the two types of people affected are in many ways at opposite ends of the personality spectrum.
Those, who without realizing it, become dependent on advice from the people who have a sales related interest in them moving – they end up with all the positives and are not prepared for any of the negatives.
At the other extreme is the independent minded person who often has been very successful in their own country and feel they need the bare minimum, or none of the professional advice available.
It is interesting how these two groups feature in case studies For more details click here.
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Tags: emigration, expert, Immigration, Relocation, USA
Posted in Relocation | No Comments » |
February 17th, 2009 |
With a number of new EB-5 regional centres approved over the past few months, and a significant number of additional centers in the pipeline, there has never been more need for thorough due diligence before determining which regional center option best meets your requirements. A number of businesses have approached us for advice regarding obtaining regional center status and we have been concerned with certain aspects of the focus and experience of some of them. It remains critical that the EB5 regional center program maintains its credibility and provides a sound source of suitable projects for potential immigrants. For details of our concerns with aspects of particular centers visit Which EB5 for further information.
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Tags: eb-5, eb5, expert, Immigration, visa
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
February 16th, 2009 |
We understand that attempts are being made to include a temporary extension bill in the 2010 Appropriation Bill, that must pass to replace the expiring Continuing Resolution bill, to continue government operations beyond March 6.
There might be a short gap after March 6th for the Appropriation Bill to be signed. Then, there will undoubtedly be attempts to pursue separate stand-alone bills to try to make EB-5 Regional Center a permanent program, as well as make some other improvements to the Program.
Our enquiries have indicated that both the House and Senate, and both Democrats and Republicans, are in support of the Regional Center EB-5 Program. However, there is a disagreement as to whether the extension should be for 5 years or permanent, or the extension should contain other improvements or revisions to the current EB-5 law – and of course there is always the risk that wider immigration issues could enter into the debate.
For further information concerning timing issues click here
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Tags: eb-5, eb5, Immigration, Relocation, USA, uscis, visa
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
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