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EB-5 News Archive for the ‘EB-5 Visas News’ Category
The transition of EB-5 adjudications from California to Washington is in high gear with the new facility housing the EB-5 Adjudication unit in Washington D.C. now open for business.
Adjudications of I-924s and EB-5 projects will be handled by newly hired economists – in opposition to the lower skilled USCIS adjudicators that current perform adjudications.
USCIS is actively recruiting qualified economists to serve as adjudicators with many economists having already been hired. Its goal is to speed up the process by not only centralizing the center’s location but also by adding highly qualified economists to (hopefully) adjudicate petitions more expertly and efficiently.
The DC unit is staffed by high level (GS15) government economists. It will first handle adjudications of I-924s, then I 526s and finally I-829s. The new DC unit and the California Service Center EB-5 adjudicators will work closely until the eventual phase-out of the California center when all applications will be handled exclusively by the EB-5 unit in Washington.
The new unit is headed by Dan Renaud, Acting EB-5 Program Chief, and Robert Cox, the Acting EB-5 Deputy Chief.
EB-5 stakeholders are optimistically cautious of the USCIS move. The new economists are generally higher level than those previously hired into the EB-5 program and should make the program function more efficiently. Unfortunately, new hires mean training and mastering the EB-5 learning curve, which is expected – at least in the short term – to slow the process.
“This really is good news for EB-5 investors. At the end of the transition period there should be a significant increase in efficiency and expertise in adjudicating petitions. This should result in faster turn-around times on I-924s, I-526s, and I-829s,” and – we hope – fewer RFIs.” said Joe Sloboda, Vice President and co-founder of Exclusive Visas, a Florida-based EB-5 consultancy.
Click here to contact an Exclusive Visas EB-5 Expert to discuss exactly what USCIS’ latest move means to you
Exclusive Visas brings together all the elements of the program, manages timelines, and gives the client the broadest likelihood of success. An Exclusive Visas Expert EB-5 Consultant will cut through the confusion by providing trustworthy information on how the program works generally and specifically. From petitioning the USCIS to assisting the client in choosing a credible project to invest in, Exclusive Visas will see to it that the investor has all the information necessary to give them peace-of-mind while making the best of the EB-5 opportunity.
Contact Exclusive Visas Today for more Information on the EB-5 Program
On Thursday, May 23, 2013 at 12:30 p.m. (Eastern) the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) invites all stake holders and interested persons in EB-5 to participate in a conversation regarding USCIS ELIS and the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program.
According to USCIS, Form I-526, Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur, will be the first of the EB-5 forms available for e-filing in the USCIS Electronic Immigration System(ELIS).
Many concerns regarding multiple investors submitting duplicate documents with Form I-526 were expressed at the March 2013 stake holder’s meeting. USCIS plans to address these concerns by adding a document library to USCIS ELIS later in the year. The document library will allow Form I-526 petitioners to share documents related to a new commercial enterprise that were previously submitted with an approved I-924, Application for Regional Center, rather than submitting these same documents with the Form I-526.
Accordingly, USCIS officials will give an overview of the concept for the document library, solicit feedback regarding access to the document library, uploading and storing documents, and Regional Center and Investor expectations.
The engagement may be attended in person or by teleconference. Those wishing to attend in person should note that attendance is limited to the first 25 registrants. Those attending via teleconference will be in listen-only mode.
To Join the Session in Person please email the Public Engagement Division no later than May 22, 2013. Please include your full name organization, if any, in the body of the email and reference ELIS EB-5 in the subject line. Attendees must bring government-issued photo identification and plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early to complete the security process.
To Join the Session by Phone please visit the event’s registration page. All registrations must be received no later than May 22, 2013.
On the day of the session, please call in 10 to15 minutes before the start time.
Toll-Free Call-in Number: 1-800-857-0174 – Passcode: ELIS
Any questions regarding the registration process should be directed to the Public Engagement Division.
When applying for an EB-5 Visa, many focus on the initial approval of the I-526 petition. And while the approval of the I-526 is critical, it is not the final part of the process before immigrating to the United States. After the I-526 Petition is approved, the next step in the process is the consular interview.
The consular interview takes place at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate that has jurisdiction (typically where the citizenship of the applicant lies) over the beneficiary. The purpose of the interview is to make sure the petitioner is not subject to any grounds of exclusion. Upon establishment of admissibility by the consular post, an immigrant visa to the investor is issued. The consular post will also determine if the spouse and the qualifying children of the investor are admissible. If the investor is denied an immigrant visa, applications by the spouse and children of the investor for such a visa will also be denied.
Immigrant visas are usually issued shortly after the interview, unless the consul detects problems in the visa application, the underlying I-526 petition, or during the interview process. Visa applicants should allow six to twelve months after the I-526 is approved to complete consular processing, although times for processing vary greatly among consular posts.
Upon Consular approval, travel documentation and conditional green cards are issued to investors and their family members. Investors are required to enter the US within six months of the date of the Embassy approval. After two years, the I-829 petition may be filed to remove conditions and change green card status from conditional to permanent. Removal of conditions petitions are not conducted by the consular post, but by USCIS.
Immigration officers carrying out the immigration interviews are given great deference in using discretion when questioning applicants. However, there are basic approaches for preparing efficiently for the Consular interview.
Be on time for the scheduled immigration interview. Simply securing an immigration interview appointment can be difficult. With caseloads at record volume, being only minutes late after the slated time in a hectic United States consulate or at U.S.C.I.S. office, can throw the interview off its schedule and possibly endanger the entire case. Therefore, it is a good idea to arrive at least 30 minutes before the reserved immigration interview.
Pay attention to every single question the officer asks and then respond appropriately and truthfully. Listen closely to each thing the interviewer asks. Answer each question specifically. Do not offer less or more information. Not responding to a question or giving the official a great deal more information than requested can confuse and often aggravate the interviewer. The goal is to keep the official as comfortable as possible, increasing the likelihood of an expedited approval. Therefore, it is okay to not remember or not know the reply to a query (rather than risk not being accurate).
Bring a copy of your I-526 petition to the Interview. Even if documents were sent together with the application, access to them could be limited. Therefore, it is a good idea to bring copies of all legal documentation to the interview to insure easy access should the immigration officer request a document.
Under the EB-5 program the investor is issued a conditional Green Card providing Permanent Residency for themselves, their spouse and children (under the age of 21) on an investment of at least $500,000. The investment must result in the development of at least 10 permanent jobs.
While key features of EB-5 are easily stated, the EB-5 process can be arduous and confusing. Besides the Consular interview, the entire process is a vast combination of timelines, deadlines, tax returns, supporting documentation, and due diligence involving, immigration attorneys, the USCIS and the SEC.
An Exclusive Visas Expert EB-5 Consultant will cut through the confusion for the investor by explaining how the program works generally and specifically for the candidate. Exclusive Visas brings together all the elements of the program, manages timelines, and gives the client the broadest likelihood of success.
From petitioning the USCIS to choosing a credible project to invest in, Exclusive Visas will see to it that the investor has all the information necessary to give them peace-of-mind while making the best of the EB-5 opportunity.
Don’t wait another day. Click here to contact an Exclusive Visas Eb-5 consultant now.
Many refer to EB-5 as the Retiree Visa because the EB-5 Regional Center program meets the needs of so many foreigners who want to retire in the U.S. Exclusive Visas regularly consults EB-5 investors who chose this program specifically because of their goal of retiring to the United States.
Why the EB-5 Visa and not any other visa? Visa options are few for retirees. Since retirees have ended their careers, a working visa or a visa based on employment is not an option for those wishing to retire and live in the U.S. permanently.
Through the EB-5 Regional Center Program, retirees have the option to work or not work – if they desire, to live anywhere in the United States, and to travel in and out of the country whenever they wish. And unlike some other visa options, the EB-5 Regional Center pilot program does not require candidates to directly operate a business. 
The EB-5 program provides permanent resident status for husbands, wives, and unmarried children (under the age of 21). In return for a $500,000 investment in an approved Regional Center program many can achieve their dream of retiring in the US. The ability to obtain permanent residence makes EB-5 stand out when considering other visa options.
CLICK HERE TO SEE EB-5 REQUIREMENTS
For more on the EB-5 program contact Exclusive Visas. An Exclusive Visas EB-5 Expert will see to it that the retiree has the factual and trustworthy information necessary to give them peace-of-mind while making the best of the EB-5 opportunity. Exclusive Visas brings together all the elements of the program, manages timelines, and gives the client the broadest likelihood of achieving their goal of retiring to the U.S.
Contact Exclusive Visas today for full details on how EB-5 may be able to help you achieve your retirement goals.