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- Senator Leahy Introduces EB-5 Amendment for Vote May 20, 2013 May 13, 2013 – Senator Leahy (D) Vermont, introduced an Amendment to the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill, (S. 744) addressing how indirect and direct EB-5 jobs are documented. The current rule requires investors to document with econometric evidence that specific benchmarks and milestones in the economic report have been met, particularly job creation.Senator Leahy’s Amendment…
- What if my EB-5 Petition is denied for “Project” Reasons? May 10, 2013 According to the USCIS, unlike I-526 denial due to Investor issues (ill-gotten funds, OFAC listed, illegal occupation, criminal conviction, etc.) where it is typically doubtful a second application will be successful, the EB-5 Investor may reapply for another project if the EB-5 applicant’s I-526 petition is denied for "Project" reasons (insufficient job creation, etc). While…
- Self Prepared EB-5 Petitions Often Denied by USCIS May 8, 2013 Some EB-5 applicants cannot resist preparing their own EB-5 petitions. They research the program on the web, download the required documents from the USCIS site, prepare the application, collect the documentation, and finally submit their work to USCIS.According to the United States Citizens & Immigration Services (USCIS) of the 4,176 applications for conditional permanent residency…
- Immigration Attorney Anthony Korda Takes Final Step in his own EB-5 Process, Receives U.S. Citizenship April 24, 2013 April 22, 2013 – For former British Barrister, Anthony Korda moving from England to the U.S. with his family via the EB-5 visa has been a five year journey. Mr. Korda’s EB-5 experience began as one of the first investors of the Jay Peak Ski Resort project in Vermont. That journey concluded last Friday when…
- EB-5 Funds South Florida Franchise Restaurant Expansion April 16, 2013 When traditional sources of financing to fund U.S. franchise restaurant projects dried up in 2007 many business developers and restaurateurs turned the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program for financing. And according to a recent South Florida Sun-Sentinel report, EB-5 financing has become front and center for many restaurant chains expanding into South Florida.According to the report,…
- VooDoo BBQ & Grill Named #1 Barbecue in S. Florida, Featured on TV March 25, 2013 After only being open for 2 months, VooDoo BBQ & Grill placed FIRST in the WPLG Local 10 Top 10 Best BBQ in South Florida! “To take first means so much to us. Thank you to all our customers who helped spread the word,” said Jack Flechner, President of VooDoo BBQ’s Florida Franchise group.In addition…
- Construction has officially begun for the SLS Hotel & Casino EB-5 project! March 18, 2013 Construction has officially begun for the SLS Hotel & Casino EB-5 project! The SLS Hotel & Casino project, currently being offered as an EB-5 investment opportunity under the Regional Center Charter of the American Dream Fund, has officially started construction. The SLS Hotel & Casino project has sought EB-5 investors to participate in the capital…
- Prospect EB-5 Investors from Brazil visit South Florida EB-5 Projects March 1, 2013 Brazilians have become more and more interested in the EB-5 program, being that it is a fast-track towards US legal residency. Brazilians are no strangers to boosting Florida’s economy. In 2011, over 634,000 Brazilians visited Miami-Dade County alone, spending about $1.345 billion, according to a recent article published by the Miami Herald. Brazilians have snatched…
- Exclusive Visas to visit Brazil February 18, 2013 This coming March, Exclusive Visas will be holding various meetings in Brazil, with prospect EB-5 investors, attorneys, and immigration agents in the country. With the impending EB-5 quota system that will severely impact the availability of EB-5 visas to largest group of EB-5 applicants – Chinese nationals – the interest of Brazilians in the EB-5…
- Exclusive Visas Featured in INC. Magazine January 29, 2013 VooDoo BBQ and Grill is featured in this month’s issue of Inc. magazine, the leading U.S. business publication for growing businesses. A huge part of the February 2013 issue is focused on “How to Attract Foreign Money” to the U.S. The feature spotlights VooDoo BBQs Florida Franchisee and President Jack Flechner and his quest to…
- Another Palm Beach Regional Center (PBRC) Project Receives I-526 Approvals January 26, 2013 “The Magic” tastes better and better by the day. If a successful grand opening to a turnout of over 1,000 hungry customers wasn’t enough to bring bright smiles to the VooDoo ownership and investment group, the news of USCIS approval of the first four I-526 petitions of VooDoo’s EB-5 investors has the group very excited…
- USCIS Publishes Operational Guidance for EB-5 Tenant-Occupancy Cases January 7, 2013 December 20, 2012 -- USCIS published operational guidance on EB-5 adjudications regarding tenant-occupancy and the economic methodology applied by Regional Center applicants to determine jobs created. Since February 2012 USCIS has sought evidence that the projected jobs attributable to prospective tenants (which would occupy the commercial space created by EB-5 capital) would represent newly created…
- Young Chinese Investors Enjoy New Way of Life through EB-5 November 14, 2012 China’s emergence as an economic power over the last decade has led to the creation of a sizable class of entrepreneur / investor who are looking to the EB-5 program as a way to secure U.S. permanent residence.Despite finding success in their own country many Chinese citizens are seeking opportunities in the United States in…
- How to Find the Right EB-5 Regional Center November 13, 2012 With over 250 Regional Centers nationwide choosing the right EB-5 regional center is challenging, confusing, and often overwhelming.The United States Citizen and Immigration Service (USCIS) publishes the active list of designated regional centers broken down by state on its website at uscis.gov. It is important to note that just because a regional center that is…
- Chinese EB-5 Investors Fund Florida Retirement Center, Charter Schools and Aquaculture Operation October 22, 2012 Chinese Eb-5 Investors are enthusiastically funding projects in the state of Florida. Recently Tallahassee, FL Mayor John Marks visited Beijing and met a group of investors who organized an EB5 Florida Regional Center to fund a $40 million Five-Star-Retirement-Retreat in Tallahassee. While American investors may participate in the project the center is predominately being funded…
- Escrow May Be Problematic in Realizing Investor Goals October 19, 2012 EB-5 investors and EB-5 projects share two primary goals:Create the jobs required by EB-5 to grant the investor permanent residence within 24 months.Meet the expected return on investment (usually within 6 years).If these goals are achieved both parties benefit.Since the project has at least five years to achieve its investment goal, its top priority is…
- Beneficios del Programa EB-5 September 18, 2012
- EB-5 Meeting in Arkansas September 14, 2012 By Renata CastroThe Arkansas Economic Development Commission will be holding an EB-5 Meeting on September 18th, 2012 at the ASU Delta Center for Economic Development (319 University Loop West Jonesboro, AR 72401), from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm.Les Lane and Sam Walls III with Arkansas Capital Corporation will be discussing details and qualifications for EB-5…
- IIUSA sends open letter to Majority Leader Senator Reid asking for immediate re-authorization of the EB-5 Regional Center Pilot Program August 1, 2012 On July 27, 2012, the President of the Association to Invest in the USA also known as IIUSA, K. David Andersson, sent an open email posted to the IIUSA blog, asking Senators Harry Reid (D-NV), Mitch McConnell(R-KY), Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Charles Grassley(R-IA), to support the renewal of the EB-5 Regional Center Pilot Program. The…
- USCIS Director Announces New EB-5 Program Office July 20, 2012 USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas announces new EB-5 program officeSource: USCISMessage from the DirectorI am pleased to announce that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will be creating a new office to oversee our administration of the EB-5 Immigrant Investor program.The EB-5 program has spurred the creation of tens of thousands of new jobs and the…
- Debo Liquidar Mi Negocio en Mi Pais? July 6, 2012
- Fourth of July – Celebrate Independence! July 3, 2012 At Exclusive Visas we feel very fortunate and can’t help but talk about the love that goes into what we do every day. Day in and day out we speak to several EB-5 investors from countries such as India, Brazil, Nigeria, China, Vietnam, to name a few of the nationalities we have assisted in the…
- Exclusive Visas Visits EB-5 Project in Birmingham, AL. June 27, 2012 On June 20th 2012, Fred Burgess, Managing Partner at Exclusive Visas and Renata Castro, Project Manager at Exclusive Visas, escorted a group of prospect Brazilian Investors on a visit to the Princeton Baptist Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. The project, which is currently being offered under the EB-5 Regional Center Pilot Program as part of Sunbelt…
- Key Points To Look For On An EB-5 Project June 20, 2012
- Direct vs. Indirect Jobs in the EB-5 Visa Program June 8, 2012 One significant issue that you as an EB-5 Investor will need to consider when researching the EB-5 Visa Program is Job Creation. Under the EB-5 Program each foreign investor is required to invest $1 million or $500,000 (if the EB-5 Project is located in a “TEA”) and to create and preserve at least 10 full-time…
- What Happens if EB-5 Jobs are NOT Created? February 28, 2011 Some EB-5 investors do not take the EB-5 job creation requirement into consideration when choosing an approved EB-5 Project to invest in. This question is not asked as frequently as it should be by potential EB-5 Investors. EB-5 Visa stands for “Employment Based Visa”; it is required by the USCIS that the approved EB-5 project…
- Taking Advantage of the Indirect Job Creation with the EB-5 Visa February 25, 2011 The two major EB-5 visa requirements are investing USD 1,000,000 (or USD 500,000 in Targeted Employment Area) in an approved EB-5 investment project and creating or sustaining 10 full-time jobs using that investment.In this article let us concentrate on EB-5 job creation guidelines, paying specific attention to indirect EB-5 job creation.The EB-5 investor visa program…
- Call center in Dallas to utilize EB-5 visa funding January 27, 2011 According to a recent announcement by Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert, a $15 million call center in the city that is expected to employ 300 people will soon open using funding from the city's EB-5 regional center.The Dallas Morning News reports that while an exact location for the facility has not yet been chosen, the Encore…
- Owners of Colgate property in Indiana seeking foreign investment through the EB-5 visa program January 21, 2011 The new owners of the Colgate plant in Clarksville, Indiana, are optimistic that they can add a significant number of new jobs through the redevelopment of the property, WDRB Fox 41 reports.First, however, these owners plan to look all over the world for investors, in order to make the dream of new jobs a reality.…
- Maryland company could employ 100 in Pennsylvania thanks to EB-5 visa program January 4, 2011 CaerVision, a Maryland-based company that specializes in internet video systems for healthcare offices, could soon expand to employ 100 people in the Crown American building in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, the Tribune-Democrat reports.Local officials believe that their partnership with company CEO Jack Zhang could ultimately increase jobs and foreign investment in the area, according to the news…
- EB-5 visa program brings growth to metro Detroit November 29, 2010 The federal EB-5 visa program has given investors from South Korea and China incentive to bring jobs and economic growth to the metro Detroit area, Crain's Detroit Business reports.One example of the investments made through the program occurred in October at electric powertrain manufacturer Alte LLC, which is based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, according to…
- Proposed EB-5 hotel causes historic building controversy November 4, 2010 A group of developers want to build a full-service Marriott in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, using EB-5 investments but first they will need to convince to the city to let them tear down a number of historically designated buildings.Jackson Street Management is seeking to build the $50 million hotel, according to the Milwaukee Small Business Times.Spokesman for…
- Iowa City considers adopting sanctuary status for undocumented immigrants November 2, 2010 A group in Iowa City, Iowa, is trying to create the first sanctuary city for illegal immigrants in the state, according to the Des Moines Register.In a sanctuary city, illegal immigrants can call the authorities if they are a victim of or witness to a crime without fear of being deported. Illegal immigrants who commit…
- Vermont governor announces EB-5 trip to Asia September 17, 2010 Vermont Governor Jim Douglas will travel to Asia next month to try and drum up foreign investors for a number of projects in the Green Mountain State that utilize the EB-5 visa program.Douglas will make the trip with representatives from six different companies hoping to find EB-5 investors for their projects, according to the Burlington…
- Proposed Alabama hybrid car plant to use EB-5 funding September 8, 2010 A proposed $1.5-billion hybrid-car plant in Alabama that is utilizing the EB-5 visa program could be eligible for $1 billion in tax breaks, according to a letter from Alabama Development Office (ADO) Director Neal Wade, reports AL.com.The proposed HK Motors plant is anticipated to bring 4,000 jobs to the area that pay more than $15…
- Company eyes EB-5 regional center in Vermont September 3, 2010 A Massachusetts-based company has applied to become an EB-5 regional center, hoping to build a $500 million wood pellet manufacturing facility and biomass plant in Vermont.Beaver Wood Energy is hoping that the EB-5 visa program will help it fund the proposed project, which is planned for the former site of the Green Mountain Race Track…
- EB-5 investment invited for Kentucky riverfront area April 15, 2010 Years after city officials in Dayton, Kentucky, voted to erect a floodwall to protect the city from the destructive and economically crippling effects of the Ohio River, city planners are turning to the EB-5 visa program and other investments to develop the flood plain area.The developer DCI Properties-DKY Cincinnati, has already laid out plans with…
- EB-5 visa program looks to leverage California’s strategic location April 12, 2010 It's no secret that California's unstable regulatory laws, floundering economy and high costs of production have caused the state to lose manufacturing jobs and business to low-cost foreign labor.But some companies in the area have taken advantage of the state's strong transportation connections with the rest of the country to bring in foreign money and…
- Ohio development group praises EB-5 visa program for job creation April 7, 2010 Jon Ansel, the president of the warehouse management company D+S Distribution, was named the winner of this year's Excellence in Economic Development Award, for his assistance in bolstering the Ohio economy during the past year.The award, which was presented to Ansel during a meeting of the Wayne Economic Development Council (WEDC) in Wooster, Ohio, was…
- Silicon Valley looks for top talent by expanding EB-5 visa program April 2, 2010 Anyone who knows the name Silicon Valley, most likely knows of it because of its link to innovation in the technology industry. In efforts to maintain standing as leading developer of new technological hardware and software, some valley executives are calling for the expansion of the federal EB-5 visa program, in order to secure top…
- Immigration attorney pitches EB-5 visa program to Portland officials March 30, 2010 A Seattle immigration attorney who has helped Seattle businesses gain more than $100 million in investment from the federal EB-5 visa program, has pitched the idea of using the immigration program to officials in Portland, Oregon.Henry Liebman, who heads the firm American Life Incorporated, last year spoke with officials at the Portland Development Commission (PDC)…
- St Louis looks to immigration to help floundering economy March 30, 2010 Ascertaining a dire need to promote entrepreneurship, immigration and economic development in metro Missouri, the St Louis County Economic Council has applied to become eligible for foreign investment under the EB-5 visa program.Under the federal program, foreign nationals become eligible for a U.S. green card in exchange for an investment of at least $500,000 in…
- Brewers consider using EB-5 visa program to attract investment March 29, 2010 Two brothers who own a brewery in Immokalee, Florida, are intent on using the federal EB-5 visa program (or EB-6 visa, if a recent proposal is passed in Congress), to draw investment and drive the growth of their small business.Ernest and Curtis Sittenfeld, residents of Naples, Florida, said that attracting foreign investors through the federal…
- Firm looks to become Indiana’s first EB-5 regional center March 23, 2010 The Eastern Indiana development group Energize-ECI recently announced that it has applied to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to be recognized as a certified EB-5 Regional Center to help advance economic growth in the area.The unemployment rate in Indiana currently sits at 10.6 percent, which is higher than the national average of 9.7…
- California County expected to embrace EB-5 visa program March 22, 2010 Concerned with a soaring unemployment rate that remains drifting above 15 percent, officials in Riverside County, California, are expected to approve a campaign to promote foreign investment in the county through the use of the federal EB-5 visa program.While Riverside would become the first county in California to formally incorporate the use of the EB-5…
- Immigration and startups can stimulate job creation March 17, 2010 Several new reports on job creation in America reveal that the two institutions supported by the EB-5 visa program - immigration and startup businesses - are the most influential in sparking job growth in the U.S.A joint study from McGill University and the National Bureau of Economic Research has found that immigrants who entered the…
- Investment in startups under through EB-5 visa program a key for job growth March 16, 2010 The EB-5 visa program gained popularity among foreign investors and American business executives alike, mostly due to its capacity to match rewarding investment opportunities with individuals who have the most to gain by pouring their money into the venture.Because so many EB-5 investment opportunities pair foreign nationals with U.S. startups, the potential for job growth…
- Report says job growth dependent on new businesses, expanding EB-5 visa can help March 12, 2010 Supporters of expanding the existing EB-5 visa program to permit green cards to qualified foreign entrepreneurs, as well as investors, are citing a recent study that depicts a job market that relies on increased hiring from the nation's top companies.Authors of a study released on Tuesday by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation argue that job…
- Southwest Florida could gain from StartUp Visa Act, lawyer says March 11, 2010 While the EB-5 visa program has been supporting local economies in the U.S. since its inception in 1990, a Florida immigration attorney is now saying that an expansion of the measures of the existing investor visa under the proposed StartUp Visa Act of 2010 would provided an added spark to the commercial markets in some…
- Lawmakers aim to keep business owners in U.S. March 11, 2010 In the business world and among proponents of immigration reform, the recently proposed StartUp Visa Act of 2010 has received astute attention.The proposal, by essentially expanding the parameters of the existing EB-5 visa program to include entrepreneurs as well as investors, would allow the government to grant a 2 (two)-year visa to a foreign capitalist…
- When is a good time to apply for an EB-5 visa? March 10, 2010 In 2009, a total of 4,218 foreign investors from successfully applied for and received an EB-5 visa, giving them and their families a good chance of attaining permanent residency in the U.S. in as little as two years.According to the U.S. State Department, that figure nearly tripled from 1,443 visas granted in fiscal year 2008.The…
- San Antonio sees influx of investors, entrepreneurs from Mexico March 9, 2010 It appears that San Antonio is the latest city to benefit from the growing demand of investment visas, such as the EB-5, among Mexicans looking to escape the violence and civil unrest of their homeland.On Wednesday, March 10, at least 160 Mexican business owners will be gathering at a hotel in Monterrey, Mexico, to attend…
- EB-5 regional center to hold informational event in Seoul March 9, 2010 Shortly after the real estate and developing firm Twin Development was approved as an EB-5 regional center by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the enterprise has vigorously reached out to South Koreans in an attempt to draw investors seeking EB-5 immigration status.Managers of the regional center, based in Federal Way, Washington, plan to construct…
- What to consider when researching EB-5 regional center projects March 8, 2010 According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, foreign nationals can now choose among 83 enterprises certified as EB-5 regional centers as targets for an investment that could award them an investor visa.By investing in one of these regional centers under the EB-5 visa program, foreigners looking to immigrate to the U.S. may be granted…
- Is the EB-5 investor visa right for you? March 5, 2010 The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has promoted the EB-5 visa program as a way to stimulate local economies through the invitation of large amounts of foreign capital.And so far, the results seem favorable. For instance, through 2009, South Koreans alone were estimated to have invested about $400 million in U.S. businesses, according to…
- How does a direct EB-5 investment differ from an EB-5 regional center? March 4, 2010 In just over a year, the number of public and private enterprises recognized by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as EB-5 regional centers has rocketed from around 20 to 83.The phenomenon can not entirely be contributed to a growing class of industrialists who are willing to take on a foreign investment to stimulate…
- What is the difference between the EB-5 visa and EB-2 visa? March 3, 2010 As the American economy looks to recover from one of the deepest recessions in recent history, lawmakers have begun to pursue new measures to promote job growth in the country.Of the more popular and novel approaches, the immigration visa has drawn the attention of Congress members, who cite the ways that introducing foreign business leaders…
- Popularity of investor visas grows among Mexicans March 2, 2010 While most foreign investors pursue the EB-5 visa program and other investor visa initiatives to chase down a potentially lucrative investment opportunity, others are simply looking to gain access to the American way of life.One investor from Mexico City, Pierre Gama, was determined to move to the U.S. after he evaded kidnappers in his hometown…
- Victorville, California uses EB-5 program to create jobs at water treatment plant March 1, 2010 With assistance from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the EB-5 visa program and a list of potential investors from Asia, the economically depressed town of Victorville, California has taken steps to create jobs in their region.Last week, the first foreign investor to target Victorville confirmed that he would designate $550,000 in capital to…
- Venture capital trade group supports expanded EB-5 visa program February 25, 2010 On Thursday, the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), a trade group representing the U.S. venture capital industry, praised the newly-introduced StartUp Visa Act of 2010 as a crucial tool to spur economic growth in the country.The bill, sponsored by Senators John Kerry of Massachusetts and Dick Lugar of Indiana, proposes to issue two-year visas to…
- ITIC: Expansion of EB-5 visa program will bring new jobs February 25, 2010 On Wednesday, a prominent national tech group offered resounding approval in response to the StartUp Visa Act of 2010, a measure that effectively aims to expand the EB-5 visa program by making U.S. visas available to immigrants eyeing the country as location to launch a startup.The Information Technology Industry Council (ITIC) predicted in a letter…
- Analysts tout role in investor visa in job creation February 22, 2010 Suggesting the positive direction of the U.S. EB-5 immigration program, economic and immigration experts are proposing even more ways to stir job creation in the U.S. by allowing foreign investors to bring their ideas and capital to the country.Paul Kedrosky and Brad Feld, columnists for the Wall Street Journal, wrote that government officials should leverage…
- Immigration lawyers: EB-5 visa program provides stimulus without using federal dollars February 17, 2010 Outwardly, the EB-5 visa program purports to be a useful way for an individual or family looking to immigrate to the U.S. to receive a green card. But in a period defined by its economic instability, the immigration program offered by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is proving to provide a promising route for…
- Company directs EB-5 investment to Colorado ethanol plant February 2, 2010 A California-based company has announced that it will use foreign investments made available through the EB-5 visa program to purchase and develop an abandoned ethanol plant, which could create job opportunities for employees in Colorado and Kansas.The company, Nexsun, plans to upgrade the Walsh, Colorado plant, which used to be owned by Sun Energy, by…
- Analysts question USCIS policy on EB-5 visa job creation January 22, 2010 Comments made by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) during a December stakeholders call has lead investment analysts and businesses to a debate about what qualifies as job creation under the EB-5 visa program.The USCIS' interpretation of EB-5 visa statutes indicate that the calculation of both direct and indirect jobs created as a result…
- Hybrid Kinetic Motors seeks investments through EB-5 visa program January 21, 2010 An Alabama startup company that works on developing and producing hybrid concept cars has announced that it will look to raise capital through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' (USCIS) EB-5 visa program.The company, Hybrid Kinetic Motors, recently displayed a model of its first concept car, the Quaranta, in a Montgomery, Alabama, hotel in an…
- Experts: ‘Misinterpretation’ belies value of expanded EB-5 visa proposal January 19, 2010 The main argument against the proposal by Congressman Jared Polis, a Democrat speaking for Colorado in the House of Representatives, to expand the EB-5 visa program to foreign-born entrepreneurs interested in starting a technology in the U.S. is predominately rooted in a fear that immigrants will take jobs away from American citizens.However, as venture capital…
- Green-minded wood exporter seeks investment through EB-5 visa program January 19, 2010 Green Energy Resources (GRGR), a U.S. company that purports to be the only wood and fiber fuel exporter in the country that is environmentally certified and Kyoto compliant, has announced that it will offer foreign investors an expedited green card under the federal EB-5 visa program.The company recently signed a two-year $55 million contract to…
- Mayor Bloomberg throws support behind expanded EB-5 visa program January 18, 2010 Last week, a group of entrepreneurs from India won the NYC Next Idea 2009-2010 competition, which is aimed at supporting and encouraging foreign entrepreneurs who submit their business plans in New York City.In this, the competition's first year, the winners were awarded $20,000 and an incubator space in the city for two years. The entrepreneurs…
- City in upstate New York to apply for new EB-5 regional center January 15, 2010 As interest in the EB-5 visa program continues to grow in the U.S., a city in upstate New York has recently announced its desire to apply for the right to create a new regional center.The North Country EB-5 Regional Center would be located in Plattsburgh, New York, and is part of the city's Strategic Vision…
- Enduring EB-5 regional center a blueprint for success January 14, 2010 The EB-5 visa program has been the focus of increasingly more media reports entering the new year for two main reasons: 1) the national unemployment continues to straddle the all-too-high benchmark of 10 percent and companies remain starved for investment and 2) the number of immigrants who have obtained EB-5 visas jumped from 1,443 in…
- Senators: Make EB-5 visa regional centers permanent January 13, 2010 Congressional members from both parties are throwing their support behind an effort to maintain EB-5 visa regional centers.Bipartisan support, which is particularly rare on immigration issues, has lead lawmakers to support proposal that aims to eliminate the EB-5 regional center pilot program, which has continually been extended since its establishment in the 1990s, in favor…
- EB-5 visa holders invest in businesses, American life January 12, 2010 The advantage of the EB-5 visa program to the U.S. economy and American business executives is clear: substantial foreign investments are likely to create jobs and spur recovery at a time in which loans and shareholder confidence are scant.But for the investors themselves, the returns on their capital may manifest themselves in more ways than…
- Experts: Word spreading on EB-5 visas January 12, 2010 Business executives and immigration experts alike have noted the paramount increases in the demand for EB-5 visas among foreign investors over the past several years, but are still anticipating the frequency of investments to accelerate in the future.Though the EB-5 visa program was established two decades ago, applications for the immigration and business opportunity are…
- Investment firm applies for recognition as EB-5 regional center in Colorado January 11, 2010 A national financial investment firm is looking to raise millions of dollars in foreign investment in Colorado by applying for recognition by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as a federal EB-5 visa regional program center.Under the EB-5 Regional Center Investment program, a private enterprise or government agency with a targeted investment program can…
- California investors lobby for expanded EB-5 visa eligibility January 8, 2010 A group of investors in California's Silicon Valley is lobbying lawmakers to provide visas to foreign citizens who want to establish technology start-ups in the U.S., in what would effectively constitute an expansion of the EB-5 visa program.The proposal was introduced by Brad Feld, a managing director at the venture capital firm Foundry Group in…
- EB-5 visa holders help expand Jay Peak ski resort January 8, 2010 At the end of December, the ski resort Jay Peak in Vermont officially opened its new Tram Haus Lodge, which was largely funded by foreign investors participating in the country's EB-5 visa program.Bill Stenger, the resort's owner, received investments from 35 citizens of other countries totaling $17.5 million to open the new lodge, which includes…
- EB-5 visas gaining popularity among Chinese immigrants January 7, 2010 In search of lucrative business opportunities and an improved education for their children, an increasing number of the wealthy Chinese population are looking to relocate to the U.S. by means of an EB-5 visa.Qi Lixin, chairman of Bejing Entry & Exit Service Association, told the media outlet China Daily that the number of applicants for…
- Cap on one visa program may turn attention to EB-5s in 2010 January 6, 2010 The popularity of EB-5 visas for foreign parties seeking to relocate to or conduct business in the U.S. may continue its climb in 2010, after the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced last month that it has stopped accepting H-1B visa applications for fiscal year 2010.The H-1B visa allows U.S. companies to employ foreign…
- House proposal may expand EB-5 visa eligibility January 5, 2010 Congressman Jared Polis, a Democrat from Colorado, has penned a proposal in the U.S. House of Representatives that aims to encourage foreign-born entrepreneurs interested in starting a technology company to bring their investments and know-how to the U.S.An addendum to the EB-5 visa system, which provides green cards to qualifying immigrants who invest in American…
- EB-5 visas more attractive to foreign investors in recession January 5, 2010 Though the distribution of green cards in exchange for investment in American business has been an obscure program to most immigrating foreign nationals, the current economic downturn has created conditions that spurred the number of EB-5 visas issued to triple in the past year.Though 10,000 EB-5 visas are available each year, only 867 were granted…