January 12th, 2011 |
YES
Although it is always advisable to look in the greatest possible detail into an organization that you are both considering investing $500,000 into, as well as trusting your family’s emigration plans to, there is a limit in the usefulness of such information.
Some of the Regional Center Programs have a Management Team who would seem blue chip based on their previous areas of work, but in relation to the requirements of the EB-5 have very little if any experience. Simply because a Regional Center has a well known Politician or Entrepreneur or Attorney or Businessman on its management team is not in itself evidence that their regional center will be trouble free in relation to being a safe investment, obtaining and maintaining your visa and returning your $500,000.
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Tags: attorney, eb-5, emigration, regional center, visa
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
October 19th, 2010 |
As part of the investigations carried out when writing the only consumer guide (Green Card via the Red Carpet) on the implications of the EB-5 visa research was undertaken on the information available for immigrants undertaking due diligence into the various EB-5 regional centers.
The internet is often the first point of information for many people. However all may not be as it appears at first sight, this is illustrated by the following problems:-
- EB-5 websites that appear independent and seem to provide impartial and useful information, often with some legal explanations. However after undertaking extensive investigations when researching our book, sites were uncovered where the information presented as independent was actually provided by a specific regional center. There would be nothing wrong with this if this was made clear to the reader that the site is actually written for and on-behalf of a particular center – remember sites tend not to criticize their own programs!
- Self-help advice from individuals own web sites, some of whom are in the process of applying for the EB5 others from emigrants trying to be helpful. The problem here can be that everybody has different requirements. Assuming that the circumstances relating to someone else’s decision process mirrors your own requirements can be potentially dangerous.
- Emigration forum sites can seem helpful and the chatty exchanges seem reassuring. However having researched these in some depth it is evident that these sites contain potential dangers, including examples of commenters (unknowingly) recommending centers that have been subject to alleged fraud, I-829 refusals and court action.
- Some sites seem to be offering sound advice – the problem can be that they have simply copied this information from other sites. The worry is how they can provide competent follow up advice if they themselves have inadequate experience and knowledge of the programs which they may not even have visited.
For further information on the pros and cons of regional center programs please contact us to arrange a consultation.
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Tags: eb-5, eb5, emigration, Green Card via the Red Carpet, I-829, immigrant investor, independent, information, internet, regional center, research, visa, websites
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
December 10th, 2009 |
 Be very careful with the source of your EB5 Visa information As immigrants to the USA ourselves, we feel a strong empathy with those of you looking down the path of immigration to the USA. We understand the importance of being given as much information as possible to make that all important life changing decision.
If you are considering the EB5 investor regional center visa and are searching as many sources as possible for information on particular centers, you would probably want to know of complaints relating to the agents of any particular regional center.
It was of concern therefore, that while doing one of our regular searches this week, which included looking at a couple of overseas emigration exhibitions, that we noted that an EB5 regional center website listed a representative on its stand. This individual is presently facing a case of alleged racketeering involving an immigrant who relocated to the USA.
We cannot emphasize enough the need for caution when you are considering immigration, as exposure to a different way of life and culture can leave you potentially vulnerable.
For information on the EB-5 regional center program please register for all the information now.
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Tags: complaints, eb-5, eb5, emigration, investors, regional center, USA, visa
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
May 7th, 2009 |
Potential immigrants who are considering relocating to the U.S. permanently often find it useful to attend an emigration exhibition. These exhibitions are designed to provide potential immigrants the opportunity to obtain information about the options and process from presenters who are identified as experts in the field, while giving attendees the opportunity to talk face to face with these “expert” exhibitors. In theory, this is a very good opportunity to talk to some real people with real experience in immigration and/or obtaining an EB-5 visa, as all sorts of participants and specialties are present. Sometimes that really is the case, but unfortunately, it is not always so.
Potential immigrants attending these events often maintain the perspective that by using such an event as a first-line information resource, they are assured of the quality and accuracy of the information given. The format itself gives them a feeling of insurance because they rightly presume that the presenters and exhibitors have been checked out ahead of time by the exhibition organizers, especially if the organizer is a well-known magazine or promoter.
What is not often known is that exhibition organizers do not always have the facilities to perform thorough background checks on all the companies who are exhibiting. In the past, this has led to problems with rogue traders and unscrupulous presenters.
Currently the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) has investigated allegations lodged against a number of emigration organizations regarding millions in missing escrow funds in what is alleged to be a scam. One company presented free property and emigration seminars and was also featured at a number of emigration shows and exhibitions for several years, handing out advice to eager potential immigrants at the events as an invited expert, at the express invitation of event organizers.
After recent allegations came to light, a local UK newspaper (The Lymington Times) alleged a history of problems that a comprehensive background check could have exposed, had one ever been performed. The article uncovered incidences of company mismanagement and failure, as well as millions owed to creditors, for at least two companies. This is hardly the resume of someone in whom you would want to place your trust and hundreds of thousands of dollars, and indeed you entire future. Sadly, several potential EB-5 immigrants did and stand currently at a loss, all for want of a good background check.
A number of other problems have also arisen from the information given to interested immigrants at exhibitions. These span from false information to scams, and very distressing stories of emigrants who have applied for a visa through an illegal immigration program and lost not just their opportunity to obtain a green card, but also their life savings. Subsequent prosecutions and now TV and media coverage have helped to warn others, but have unfortunately been unable to do anything to help these people who were so sadly and unfairly taken advantage of—true victims in every sense of the word.
These are extremely sad outcomes, and we do want to point out that these issues have only affected a small minority of emigrants (however, any number is too large in this case!). Still, the impact is devastating for those who have been victims of immigration scams or false information, and we reiterate once again, that much of this could have been prevented with some careful consideration and proper research to uncover those points and persons who are cause for concern.
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Tags: eb-5, emigration, FBI, illegal, immigrants, Immigration, scam, visa
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
March 9th, 2009 |
I spent a weekend recently reviewing an emigration exhibition and it bought back to me memories of my own family’s emigration process. At that very same emigration exhibition ten years ago my family, as part of our research, (my wife Siri and children Kris then 14 and Candice then 12) were trawling through the exhibitors looking for help with our move to America. We, like most attendees, made an assumption that the exhibition organizers had checked through the exhibitors background and credentials and all would be well. Despite my due diligence we were caught out when our goods were shipped out from UK to the USA by a company who were at the exhibition and we ended up paying twice, even though we had been careful even to the extent of checking out their depot!
Although other elements of the move all those years ago were OK, and the family are now US citizens, it is worrying that giving seminars on emigration at that exhibition ten years ago was a man by the name of Derek Coles of the New Horizons group. This man is now under investigation by U.S. authorities regarding allegations involving client funds for EB-5. E2 and L1 visas. There seem to have been a steady stream of such problems over the years with emigrants losing their life savings.
We remain concerned just how vulnerable those planning to immigrate to the USA can be and it is comforting to see that those who plan well and utilize advice can have a happy ending. See comments here.
This blog entry brought to you by Andrew Bartlett
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Tags: E2, eb-5, emigration, immigrate, L1, seminars, US citizens, USA, visas
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
February 18th, 2009 |
There was an interesting article in one of the immigration magazines recently that contained research from a psychologist, as to why a significant number of immigrants return back to their original home country after less than a year – and did extroverts or introverts tend to adjust better.
From the large number of troubleshooting briefs we have carried out over the past five years, we have identified two particular types of people who seem more vulnerable to adjusting when inevitably some things don’t always work out the way they planned.
The problems can often be traced back to a lack of due diligence ay the very start of their planning process and the two types of people affected are in many ways at opposite ends of the personality spectrum.
Those, who without realizing it, become dependent on advice from the people who have a sales related interest in them moving – they end up with all the positives and are not prepared for any of the negatives.
At the other extreme is the independent minded person who often has been very successful in their own country and feel they need the bare minimum, or none of the professional advice available.
It is interesting how these two groups feature in case studies For more details click here.
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Tags: emigration, expert, Immigration, Relocation, USA
Posted in Relocation | No Comments » |
February 12th, 2009 |
According to reports in The Daily Telegraph, a growing number of British people are becoming fearful of the threat of increased taxes to finance the government’s economic policies, the persistent claims of doom and gloom in the media, the weather, and a sense that state pervasiveness of lives is growing. Another concern for young families is the quality and cost of good quality education in the UK. The Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development claims the UK is experiencing the largest exodus of professionals for fifty years.
With the world potentially facing the worst global recession/depression for sixty years we have seen interest in the EB-5 grow significantly from immigrants in a number of countries. In such uncertain times the USA is increasingly becoming the country of choice for immigrants who are relatively wealthy (i.e. have $500,000 for the investment visa) and are concerned about the future for their families in their home country.
Some view the right to permanent residence in The USA as insurance if things deteriorate back in their home country, for others the focus is education prospects, better opportunity or simply to retire in the warmth of Florida or California. Whatever your reasons for more information on which EB5 click here
To date we have advised and worked successfully with immigrants from The UK, Canada, India, South Africa, China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Russia, Singapore, Sweden, Australia, Holland, and those actually living in the USA but on E2.L1 and other visas which they feel fail to provide the security of the EB5.
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Tags: eb-5, eb5, emigration, florida, Immigration, Relocation, USA, visa
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
February 10th, 2009 |
A number of immigrants considering relocation to the USA find it useful to go to an immigration exhibition. These can provide an opportunity to obtain information from presenters identified as experts and talk to a number of exhibitors.
There is a perspective that by talking to stand holders at exhibitions gives a feeling of insurance, as presumably they have been checked out by the exhibition organizers, particularly if the organizers are a well known magazine or promoter.
It needs to be remembered however that exhibition organizers do not always have the facilities to check out all the companies who are exhibiting and in the past this has led to occasional problems with rogue traders.
Currently there are investigations by the FBI into allegations against New Horizons and Derrick Coles regarding missing escrow funds.
New Horizons presented free immigration and property seminars and also featured at a number of emigration shows for several years, giving advice at the invitation of the organizers as expert speakers. However, following recent developments an article in a local paper alleged a history of problems which a comprehensive background check could have exposed see the article here http://www.derickcoles.com/Images/lymingtontimes.pdf
Sadly we have been made aware of a number of other problems arising from information given at exhibitions subsequently involving potential scams or false information where emigrants have applied for visas through an illegal scheme losing not just the opportunity for a visa, but also their life savings. Although there have subsequently been prosecutions and TV coverage warning others, these have not helped the unfortunate victims.
Although these issues affect only a small minority of immigrants they obviously have a devastating impact on the victims – for more information on the fraud issues we are aware of click here
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Tags: dangers, emigration, escrow funds, exhibition, expert, illegal, Immigration, investment visa, scams, seminars, USA, victims
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
February 1st, 2009 |
Two senior partners of Which EB5 recently attended a meeting with specialized advisors to review the latest information from all the regional centers which have been approved. Having worked with 100+ successful EB-5 applicants who have invested in a variety of approved centers, our senior partners are among the most experienced independent experts specializing in the EB5 visa and it became apparent during our meetings that independence in looking at the options is vital in avoiding costly mistakes . When visiting centers to review their programs it has been discovered, in certain cases, that their are big differences between brochure claims and reality. It is critical to remember when reviewing EB5 visa options that you need much more than the brochure and guided tour.
Don’t forget; you need the conditions removed from your Green Card after two years, and most of you would like your money back after 5 years. You need aggressive, specialist independent advice to see the reality behind the claims.
Regional Center Availability Update
Two of the most popular proven EB5 regional centers have nearly filled their places under their current projects – one of these programs proved very popular given the current economic situation as their job measurement criteria should mean there are fewer problems satisfying government requirements and their program is in association with state government financing which although providing a low interest rate to investors has proven popular in an uncertain world.
If you are presently considering the pros and cons of approved regional centres contact the most experienced EB-5 advisers.
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Tags: eb-5, eb5, emigration, Immigration, investment visa, Relocation, USA
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
January 30th, 2009 |
There has been concern that the EB5 regional centre visa pilot program is due to end on March 6th 2009. For many considering permanent residence and work or retirement in the USA the $500,000 investment in an approved regional centre has been the only realistic option open to them.
The latest news is that it does look as though there is the possibility that a six month extension for the EB5 visa may be incorporated into a continuation bill, which covers the temporary financing of government. However, we believe that a further five year extension is not clear as both the President and Congress may review the entire process and it has become apparent that the new administration may well have a number of other priorities.
Obtaining the latest information on the future of the EB5 may be critical to your timing for a move. To obtain the latest information on what is happening in Congress, particularly if you are planning a move or considering the EB5 route, its worth getting an update on the progress of the EB-5 extention.
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Tags: eb-5, eb5, emigration, Immigration, investment visa, Relocation, USA, uscis
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
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