Things To Consider with an EB5 Investment

• How to Choose a Regional Center
• How to Get Impartial Information on an EB5 Investment
• Should I Visit the Regional Centers?
• Fraud and The EB5 Visa
• Which Attorney Should I Use for My EB5 Visa Application?
• Hidden Fees & Costs of an EB5 Visa Application
• Implications of Escrow Accounts and the EB-5 Visa Process
• How Long is the Application Process for an EB-5 Investment Visa?
• What Size of EB5 Regional Center Should I Choose?

How to Choose a Regional Center

When spending $500,000 to qualify for permanent residence under the EB-5 Regional Centre Program it is critical to obtain independent advice from experts who have actually made in depth visits to Regional Centers. With such a relatively specialist visa this can be easier said than done.

There are problems in finding relevant, impartial information on the positives and NEGATIVES of all the EB5 regional centre programs and projects.

An Attorney

Generally focuses on the legal aspects of EB5 visa but have they actually visited all the proven regional centers? Have they any ties or interest with particular regional centers? How many EB-5 applications have they successfully processed? Why do their fees vary so enormously?

Web Sites and Blogs

What is their agenda? Are they a sales platform for a particular center? Comments on blogs can actually be dangerous – recent well meaning advice on an expat blog recommended a particular visa Consultant who is now under investigation by the FBI.

Centers themselves

Promote their own programs but how do you verify fact and fiction –you cannot expect regional centre to necessarily point out weaknesses in their programs. Examples of claims made on certain sites which require checking out include: - A center claiming to be the only one operated by the US Government, agents of another center claiming 100% success.

click here or telephone ++1.561.771.1330.

How to Get Impartial Information on an EB5 Investment

The big question for many investigating the EB-5 visa options is where to obtain detailed and most importantly IMPARTIAL information from.

It is important to investigate all the proven centers. Few Consultants have spent the time travelling to various centers, looking beyond the guided tour to what is actually happening and updating information from local sources. We have found the process to be very time consuming and costly to carry out but it does allow those using our services to obtain an unrivalled picture of the reality.

How we can help you save you time and money and avoid making dangerous mistakes when relocating permanently to the USA via the EB5 visa.

Many applicants using the EB5 regional centre program want to know the likelihood of getting their $500,000 back, and the risks of being deported from the USA if a regional centre program does not perform.

We have spent a considerable amount of time researching all the proven options as well as a number of the programs that remain unproven. You will be provided with key criteria during our in depth briefing consultations. We go through the facts with you pointing out the potential weaknesses you need to be aware of.

“You need to be given the options and facts by impartial specialists with an extensive TRACK RECORD specializing in the EB5 regional centre program; those who regularly visit regional centers (as opposed to a one off visit) and look beyond the guided tour. Don’t simply rely on promotional sales material highlighting particular regional centers”.

click here or telephone ++1.561.771.1330.

Should I Visit the Regional Centers?

Many of the approved regional centers will provide a guided tour of their projects. Sometimes these are group tours, sometimes individual. The tours can vary from being short and to the point whereas others can incorporate a program that takes a few days combining the tour with recreational activities.

From our troubleshooting role it has been reported that many families do not know what to look for on such tours, many families find they do not have time to carry out the guided tour and certainly not the time to view more than one or two centers overall.

How else can you obtain an insight into those important but missing points that you need to be aware of before making a decision? Very few specialist Consultants have spent time in the Regional Centre areas looking beyond the tour and investigating potential centre weaknesses on the ground.

Even the projects at an established regional center can vary enormously from program to program, later ones may differ significantly from an earlier one – this can have major repercussions that you need to be aware of. Just because a regional center has enjoyed a successful reputation on earlier projects does not mean it will on the current project. Remember; past experience is no guarantee of future success.

It has become evident to the families whom we have assisted with their EB-5 investment visa that it is extremely beneficial to have access to detailed information that we have obtained during our visits and research.

click here or telephone ++1.561.771.1330.

Fraud and The EB5 Visa

You need be made aware of cases of alleged fraud relating to certain EB5 applications - The worst possible scenario is to lose $500,000 and end up without your visa – We can update you on these cases.

Unfortunately the immigration process to the USA has suffered from various instances of fraud from time to time with families sadly being poorly advised or losing their investments and having to return to their home country.

The hardship that can be caused when this happens is often horrendous and through our troubleshooting role we have come across a number of instances where this has happened. Although this has previously been focused on L1 and E2 visa applicants there have been recent allegations regarding a few EB-5 applicants who unwisely deposited large lump sums in ways that were inappropriate and left them vulnerable.

Sometimes it can be very hard to identify past cases – people do not like coming forward to admit they have made a mistake and information on the web does not always give the full facts, also names can change making it difficult for you to get real insight into the problems. We strive to eliminate these situations for you.

We feel it very important that families who use our services are made aware of cases involving fraud.

click here or telephone ++1.561.771.1330.

Which Attorney Should I Use for My EB5 Visa Application?

You need to know about the track record of Attorneys who specialize in the EB-5. Some centers require you to use their own recommended attorney, we explain the positives and negatives of this arrangement.

Charges made by Immigration Attorneys for carrying out applications for the EB-5 visa can vary enormously as can their previous experience in EB5 regional center cases.

Some attorneys have carried out  out direct work for one or more regional centers, some might accept fees from regional centers which can have implications. Some are used exclusively by particular regional centers – in other words you have to use their Attorney.

“We feel it is important that you have access to as much information as possible regarding your attorney choices and we will go through the various options with you at our briefing/consultation”.

click here or telephone ++1.561.771.1330.

Hidden Fees & Costs of an EB5 Visa Application

You need to know the implications of hidden risks and costs rarely mentioned until it is too late.

We have seen claims which are economical with the facts. Bear in mind you are considering investing $500,000 and the possibility of permanent residence in the USA. You need to see behind the brochure sales talk as all may not be as it seems. You need to be impartially advised on what to look for behind the claims and fees. You need to know the actual track record of the various regional centers, have any actually returned investors funds? What are the implications of a RFE? (Request for further evidence issued by the USCIS) What is the relevance of previous programs –v– current ones? What are the all important job requirements that are the subject of ongoing debate?

It never ceases to surprise us what some sales people will say to make a sale. We are constantly surprised by how many families take at face value what they are told, particularly if backed up by a glossy brochure or a high quality DVD. At a recent EB5 seminar in Orlando this point was bought home to us by a well known immigration attorney, who rather spectacularly used the word lies regarding some of the claims being made.

You really do need to know the implications of a RFE (Request for further evidence issued by the USCIS), how programs have changed over the past few years and the implications of research our senior managing partners have carried out on job creation following discussions with leading economists in this field.

When we have gone through these points with families at our briefing/consultations they have stressed to us afterwards the importance of these points to them when determining which regional centre to opt for.

click here or telephone ++1.561.771.1330.

Implications of Escrow Accounts & the EB-5 Visa Process

You need to be made aware of the implications of escrow payments (which Companies have been or are under investigation for alleged fraud). We never take escrow payments.

We are aware of a few cases which are presently under investigation by the Authorities where it would seem that families made part payments or indeed full payments (the full $500,000) to unauthorized persons/companies – those monies are now unaccounted for.

We have stressed for a number of years our concerns regarding potential fraud and yet sadly families continue to fall victim despite regular TV and press coverage highlighting Companies and individuals being prosecuted/imprisoned for misuse of funds.

During our consultations we take you through the danger signs to be aware of as well as cases that are ongoing. Nothing should be taken for granted. In at least two of the more recent cases where families lost monies there were entries on self-help expat sites indicating that the companies concerned were entirely trustworthy – clearly not the case. You need this information.

click here or telephone ++1.561.771.1330.

How Long is the Application Process for an EB-5 Investment Visa?

You need a detailed impartial explanation of why applications from some regional centres could take as long as two years and why others 7 months or less? Why you are not always told this and what are the less obvious implications of processing time variations.

There are a number of very specific reasons why there has so far been significant differences in the processing time of applications through various centers. Although the USCIS has put in planed proposals to streamline processing time there remains reasons why there will be variations between the centers and individual projects.

In certain instances the difference in processing times could be critical; we cover these points at our briefing/consultations.

click here or telephone ++1.561.771.1330.

What Size of EB5 Regional Center Should I Choose?

You need to be guided on the implications and dangers of the size of the project. This may be vital to both your permanent residency status after two years and the safety of your investment funds. What are the implications of an apparent clear exit strategy that really isn’t, particularly in a difficult economic climate?

The implications relating to project size are often not properly explained and yet this can in particular circumstances have a fundamental impact on exit strategy. This may raise issues not only with the potential success of a project and return of funds but also the granting of the permanent green cards after two years.

In the current economic climate assumptions made prior to the credit crunch and economic down turn may need to be seen in a different light. We are aware of a number of issues you need to take into account before identifying which regional centers you may wish to shortlist.

This is an important issue we go through with you at our briefing/consultation.

click here or telephone ++1.561.771.1330.