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Posts Tagged ‘Green Card’








Senator Leahy Introduces EB-5 Amendment for Vote

May 20, 2013 @ 12:30 pm
Posted by Exclusive Visas

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 proposes: a presumption that 10 indirect jobs have been created per investor at the I-829 stage providing evidence that the investor’s money has been spent in the regional center project.

Many EB-5 professionals believe Senator Leahy’s Amendment will provide much needed flexibility to the regional center program’s job creation requirements. However, Senator Leahy’s Amendment is not without opposition.

Senator Grassley (R) Iowa, has introduced an Amendment (to Senator Leahy’s Amendment) that many industry leaders believe will effectively keep the current practice in tact – investors at the I-829 stage are required to provide evidence that they have created 10 indirect or direct jobs.

Senator Grassley’s amendment also requires regional centers to utilize the Employment Verification System (E-Verify) and authorizes the Fraud Detection and Nationality Security Directorate (FDNS) to conduct random site visits and compliance audits of Regional Centers.

The Amendments are set to be voted on, on Thursday May 16th.

 

In addition to creating a pathway to citizenship for the nearly 11 million unauthorized aliens residing in the U.S. the Comprehensive Immigration Reform proposal submitted by the Gang of 8 U.S. Senators, also includes significant changes to the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program.

Senators Graham, Rubio, Flake, Schumer, McCain, Bennet, Menendez and Durbin, have submitted in their bill changes that include: the recapture of unused immigration visas from past fiscal years; making the EB-5 Regional Center program permanent (it was originally introduced as a pilot program in 1992 and continues under that status); eliminating per country quotas for visa numbers (China is predicted to reach its quota in 2014), and issuing more EB-5 immigrant visas, which is currently capped at 10,000 visas. 

The Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 as it is titled proposes changes that will benefit the EB-5 Program, which in turn will increase job creation and foreign investment in America. These provisions to make the program a permanent one will improve U.S. communities and infrastructure by attracting foreign investors to the U.S., according to Senator Patrick Leahy (D), Vermont.

The chief EB-5 proposals in the bill include:

  • Making the EB-5 Regional Center program permanent. Introduced in 1992 as a pilot program, its status has remained unchanged yet has been consistently reauthorized by Congress since its inception. Its latest extension is through September 30, 2015.
  • Recapture of unused immigrant visa numbers from prior fiscal years.
  • Elimination of per country quotas for employment based visa numbers (China, the largest consumer of EB-5 is predicted to reach its quota in fiscal year 2014). 
  • Exemption from EB-5 immigrant visa numbers for spouses and children of principal applicants, resulting in the allocation of the currently capped 10,000 visas solely to principal investors. 
  • Additional immigrant visas for the EB-5 program as a whole.

Contact Exclusive Visas to discuss how Comprehensive Immigration Reform relates to the EB-5 program and what it means to you.

For many foreigners the EB-5 program is the fastest way to work and establish permanent residence in the U.S.The EB-5 visa does not require having a close relative or a U.S. company willing to sponsor the immigrant, as required by conventional immigrant visas.

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 the key features of EB-5 are easily stated the EB-5 process can be arduous and confusing. 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. It is not a world anyone should attempt to navigate without an experienced expert at their side.

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 and what can be expected from the newly proposed reforms. 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.

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 Mr. Korda was sworn in, taking the oath of a U.S. Citizen. “Exclusive Visas salutes Antony Korda and congratulates him as a true EB-5 success story,” said Fred Burgess, President and co-founder of Exclusive Visas, a Weston, Florida-based EB-5 consultancy.

For Mr. Korda the EB-5 program was the answer to his vision of residing permanently in the U.S. – the same vision shared by all EB-5 petitioners. He invested $500,000 in the Vermont Ski Resort which used his investment to capitalize new infrastructure and as a result created the required 10 jobs.

Mr. Korda now permanently resides in Florida with his family where he practices immigration law and helps clients from all over the world find the best, safest American EB-5 projects to invest in. As an expert EB-5 consultant and an affiliated partner of Exclusive Visas, he has helped literally hundreds of immigrants over the past years receive their own EB-5 visas. And as an EB-5 petitioner himself Mr. Korda brings his unique perspective when addressing clients’ challenges associated with emigrating to the U.S. via the EB-5 visa.

“The EB-5 program has given us a new life and, yes, it’s given me a new business to go into,” Mr. Korda said. “And it’s an interesting one, too.”

The EB-5 visa is attractive for high net worth immigrants (willing to invest in a U.S. business) because it does not require having a close relative or a U.S. company willing to sponsor the immigrant, as required by conventional immigrant visas.

While the key features of EB-5 are easily stated the process can be arduous and confusing. 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. It is not a world anyone should attempt to navigate without an experienced expert at their side.

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.



Cypriots Expected to Utilize EB-5 in Wake of Economic Bailout

April 15, 2013 @ 8:30 am
Posted by Exclusive Visas

Cyprus’s economic bailout by the European Union (EU) without the proposed “levy on bank deposits” has done little to quell the anxiety of its citizens who had feared that the government would extract money from their bank accounts to cover the tiny EU island-nation’s debt crises.

As part of the deal, Cyprus agreed to shut down the bankrupt Laiki Bank, transferring its deposits under 100,000 Euros to the country’s largest lender, Bank of Cyprus. Deposits over 100,000 Euros at Bank of Cyprus will be subject to a yet-to-be determined tax, which reportedly could reach as much as 60 percent of their value. Cyprus has also committed itself to raise taxes, rein in spending and carry out structural reforms in the public sector.

International Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director Christine Lagarde said in a recent ABC News Report that the measures adopted “seek to distribute the burden of the adjustment fairly among the various segments of the population and to protect the most vulnerable groups.” But not everyone agrees.

Analysts say even though the levy was averted the attempt to confiscate money from depositors has opened a Pandora’s Box that probably cannot be closed. “How can I trust any bank in the Euro Zone after this decision,” asked Andreas Andreou, a trader with a Cypriot investment firm in a recent New York Times report? “I’m not waiting around to see what happens to my 130,000 Euros ($169,000). I’d rather put the money in my mattress,” he added.

Mr. Andreou’s feelings are not unique. Not only have many Cypriots withdrawn their money from their country’s banks. Because of the instability many are showing strong interest in pursuing residency outside their native country leading industry insiders to expect an increase in EB-5 by Cypriots.

“Bad economies and uncertain political conditions typically motivate individuals to investigate alternatives to residing in their country of origin,” said Joe Sloboda, Vice President and Co-founder of Exclusive Visas, a Weston, Florida-based EB-5 consultancy. “With the popularity of the U.S. and Cyprus’ current situation it’s only natural to expect more interest from Cypriots in EB-5,” said Mr. Sloboda.

The EB-5 visa is attractive for high net worth Cypriots (willing to invest in a U.S. business) because it does not require having a close relative or a U.S. company willing to sponsor the immigrant, as required by conventional immigrant visas. 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 the key features of EB-5 are easily stated the process can be arduous and confusing. 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. It is not a world anyone should attempt to navigate without an experienced expert at their side.

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 Cypriot 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.



French EB-5 Growth Expected as Rich Leave Over 75% Tax Rate

April 11, 2013 @ 9:30 am
Posted by Exclusive Visas

An exodus of the Gallic super-rich to ‘wealth-friendly’ nations is occurring in the wake of the French government’s proposed 75-percent tax rate for millionaires. The issue was brought to light last year when French actor and academy award nominee Gerard Depardieu renounced his French citizenship for Russian citizenship in order to avoid the looming French tax hike.

But it’s not just the super-rich who are unhappy with the government’s proposed tax rate. Depardieu’s departure has divided France. A recent survey by French pollster Ifop showed that 54 percent think the government’s fiscal policies are too tough and are encouraging people to leave the country.

Depardieu is not the only French celebrity to minimize their tax bill by moving abroad. According to the newspaper Le Parisien, Switzerland has been a country of choice for years for French fiscal expatriots, including a colony of actors, singers, tennis players and sports stars. Another report earlier last year by London (real) estate agents showed many of France’s richest people were heading to Britain to escape new higher taxes.

Due to the new 75 percent tax rate, the mood in France, and the current exodus of French millionaires already under way EB-5 industry leaders expect French interest in permanent residency in the United States to increase significantly in the coming year(s).

Whenever there is instability in a country, we see an increase of interest in immigrating here, according to Exclusive Visas EB-5 consultant Renata Castro.  We have seen growing interest from France especially since the new tax was proposed, Ms. Castro added.

The EB-5 visa is an attractive way for French people who posess the means to invest in a U.S.-based business to gain permanent U.S. residency status. 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 the key features of EB-5 are easily stated the EB-5 process can be arduous and confusing. The entire process is a vast combination of timelines, deadlines, tax returns, supporting documentation, due diligence, immigration attorneys, and petitions.

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 French 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 trustworthy information necessary to give them peace-of-mind while making the best of the EB-5 opportunity.

Click here to contact an Exclusive Visas Eb-5 consultant now