July 15th, 2010 |
 The gentleman had relocated to the USA from India several years ago. After working in the USA for a number of years and renewing the H1-B visa he faced a problem with the waiting time required for a further renewal of the H1-B. This, despite both his desire to remain in his job and his companies willingness to help him, could have necessitated his departure from the USA. After a discussion with Stephen Parnell he looked at the EB-5 regional center pilot program in more detail. Project track record, speed of obtaining the green card and investment with a company that offered a specific exit strategy were important criteria for him. He decided to invest $500,000 in a well established center that had an existing program loaning development funds over five years for the expansion of a major state/city conference center –he was less concerned about the modest interest rate on the loan as his focus was on minimizing risks regarding the return of funds. The I-526 approval took just over three months and the applicant received his green card a little more than a month later – the process taking a total of just over four months. We have continued to keep in touch and checked out issues that have come up with him for the benefit of new investors.
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Tags: eb-5, green card, H-1B, I-526, regional center, USA
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
July 13th, 2010 |
 A Canadian businessman’s main priority when looking at relocation to the USA via the EB-5 visa was selecting a regional center to obtain a green card as fast as possible then to recover the initial capital invested as quickly as possible. A return on the investment was felt to be a bonus but not a priority. The businessman initially expressed a preference for a center with a simple business plan that invests in a tangible asset as opposed to providing business loans. He had some concerns regarding a few of the asset based programs compared to loan ones given their potential vulnerability at I-829 stage in relation to job creation, poor returns from the initial programs (i.e. less than the initial investment), and ambiguous exit strategies. The actual process from investment to approval took just under four months and he has now resettled in the USA and remains pleased with his choice.
Read more EB-5 Success Stories here |
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Tags: canadian, eb-5, green card, I-829, regional center, USA, visa
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
July 9th, 2010 |
 A Brazilian entrepreneur had discussed the concept of the EB-5 visa with a number of Attorneys but was concerned that they did not appear to have an in-depth knowledge of proven regional center projects and importantly, in his view, had not made visits to a significant number of the actual regional center facilities. He felt it important that the program of choice had a 100% success record, would repay the investment by a specified date and was involved with State or regional center projects rather than involvement exclusively in the private sector.
Read more EB-5 Success Stories by clicking on this link |
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Tags: eb-5, regional center, USA, visa
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
July 8th, 2010 |
This family owned a large business in Australia and the UK. They required a visa that offered permanent residency and green cards for the whole family as they had older teenage children they were concerned that otherwise there was too much risk for their future. They decided to invest $500,000 in a Limited Partnership under a Regional Center in a Targeted Employment area. The Project involved the demolition, renovation and construction of a warehouse/storage complex for mixed use. Upon completion of the construction the new structure housed tenants and created 10 direct/indirect jobs for each of the Investors in the project The I-526 approval took several months and the couple were then interviewed at the U.S. Consulate and granted visas. The family have now had their conditions removed (I-829 stage) and are considering US citizenship.
Read more EB-5 Success Stories by clicking on this link |
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Tags: eb-5, green card, I-526, I-829, regional center, targeted employment area, USA, visa
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
July 7th, 2010 |
 An Argentinean family, father (in the legal profession), mother and their children had spent several months looking at their options for immigration to the USA. Time was a key factor as they wanted their children to be able to start school at the beginning of the school year in August. Like a number of families in the current world economic climate they placed emphasis on a regional center with a fixed term exit strategy, and a reliable policy to create the necessary ten jobs, rather than an unknown and potentially unspecified exit strategy. From the time of the filing of their application to the successful approval of their I-526 took three months and the family achieved their timetable objectives to relocate in the USA.
Read more EB-5 Success Stories here |
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Tags: eb-5, green card, I-526, USA, visa
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
June 29th, 2010 |
 Is the E2 visa really an option to the EB-5 visa? We have decided in this blog to let someone else do the talking rather than us, in this case an interesting and important article from the New York Times.
For a long time we have discussed issues that concern us regarding the E2 visa which, unlike the EB-5 visa, does not provide permanent residence. We write often about the difficulties that can be experienced with the E2. Indeed Consular officials in the past have gone on record and said the E2 is not a suitable visa for those seeking permanent residence in the USA.
This article from the New York Times sets out one unfortunately typical example of why we are so concerned about the E2 visa. New York Times Article about the dangers of the E2 visa |
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Tags: E2, eb-5, New York, permanent residence, USA, visa
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
June 23rd, 2010 |
Having assisted over 150 families throughout the world, successfully obtain their EB-5 visas and permanent residency in many different areas of the USA we have developed a clear understanding of the support many families require once they are living in the USA.
Of course all families have different requirements and there are a few who are perfectly happy going their own way and do not require our services again once they have moved. However, the majority appreciate a service where they can instantly obtain answers to questions that inevitably arise when moving to another country.
Questions that we have been asked in the past cover a massive range of issues and have included:
- Where can I find an experienced and confidential international tax specialist?
- How does the education and college system work?
- What do I need to know about driving in The USA and the driving test?
- What important issues do I need to know about after I have been in America for twenty one months?
- What are the positives and negatives of living in different parts of the USA?
- Where can I obtain good health insurance from a reputable company?
For some families, particularly a high number from China, these questions assume even more importance as in a high number of cases the Mother and children relocate and permanently reside in the USA while the Father continues to work and reside in China operating his business interests perhaps travelling to the USA a number of times a year. In this scenario it is very reassuring for the Mother to have someone they feel confident in to assist them and the Father to know someone trusted can be there to help his family when he is thousands of miles away.
We are concerned that many immigration consultants and attorneys do not provide this service feeling their role is completed once their fee has been paid and you have obtained your I-526 petition and conditional EB-5 visa. In reality, for many families, this is not the end of the process but actually the start of another different process, adjusting to the challenges thrown up by the American way of life. From the feedback we have received a friendly voice at the end of the phone that has vast experience of dealing with many other families is an important and much appreciated service. |
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Tags: America, attorney, china, eb-5, I-526, immigration consultants, permanent residence, USA, visa
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
June 18th, 2010 |
Which EB5 have assisted many clients who have opted for different regional centers depending on their priorities.
Questions we have answered for previous clients include:
- What is the track record of the various regional centers?
- Which have the quickest processing times?
- Which have returned investors funds on program completion?
- What are key dangers to be aware of?
- Where are there hidden costs?
- Where have problems occurred?
- What has gone wrong?
- What are the implications of programs that is slow reaching the required number of investors?
- What is the feedback from previous clients regarding their experiences?
- What information was found on visiting centers that does not appear elsewhere?
- Which centers have had good track records?
- What are the implications of the program ending in 2012?
- What is the likely impact of the present economic circumstances on different programs?
These important questions are covered in a free consultation with our clients. You can book your consultation by completing this short form. |
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Tags: eb5, investor visa, regional center, USA
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
June 7th, 2010 |
 All over the world there are people who want to live in the USA but despite their qualifications find that they are unable to obtain business sponsorship, labor certification or a suitable offer of employment.
As specialist EB5 Immigration Attorney Anthony Olson recently explained, labor certification is dependent on the sponsoring employer not finding a qualified, willing, able, and available worker in the local job market. In the current market there are many well-qualified people out there looking for jobs thus labor certification is not looking very promising as a vehicle to permanent residence. This could well be one of the reasons for the growing popularity of the US EB-5 investor visa green card.
Which EB5 research all EB-5 investment visa options and our impartial advice has helped many families obtain Green cards and permanent residence in the USA. For more details of how the EB5 program can help you read the Guide to the EB5 immigrant investor visa program. |
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Tags: eb-5, eb5, green card, immigration attorney, investor visa, relocate, USA
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
May 27th, 2010 |
 "My New Life in the USA using the EB-5 Visa" Recently an EB-5 immigrant investor who used our services when reviewing regional center programs was interviewed by a local newspaper in California concerning his EB-5 visa experience. We thought you would like to read his comments. Here is the text of the interview:
“Paul Little made the $500,000 investment and moved to Hemet, California from Manchester, England. His father-in-law already lives nearby, one of the reasons for the move.
We’ve been coming out here on vacation for nine, 10 years. We fell in love with California,” Little said. The children were 8 and 10. We thought if we’re going to move to the states, we’re going to do it now.
Little, a former travel company executive, sold the house he inherited from his parents in rainy Manchester, where housing prices are triple those in Hemet, so he could raise enough money for the investment and the move.
I expect to get it all back, plus maybe a little more, Little said. Some of the other schemes say you’re going to make X amount but it’s not guaranteed. That’s why I wanted to go for the most solid-looking.
As he and his wife adjust to Southern California life and new jobs, their children, he jokes, are already shedding their strong British accents.
It’s obviously really multicultural here. They love it, Little said. They’re not allowed to speak American to me but at school they don’t want to stand out. They use the English accent when they need it.”
Paul and his wife approached us two years ago for details of the various EB-5 program options and their track record. After a number of consultations he opted for one of the most popular programs in recent years that offers a fixed term exit strategy and has a 100% record in visa approvals to date; currently approvals are coming through in three months. For details of how we can add you to our list of happy clients please contact us using the form on the right. |
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Tags: consultations, eb-5, exit stratergy, immigrant investor, USA, visa
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
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