December 20th, 2011 |
 An article in the New York Times has highlighted a potential weakness in the EB-5 visa program that may impact on certain regional center projects. The EB-5 visa requires an applicant to invest $500,000 to $1,000,000 in what are termed regional centers; these centers are approved by The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS).
The EB-5 visa has proved an increasingly popular choice in 2011, interest in the program has grown so fast that the USCIS are attempting to streamline the application process.
Given the tightening of credit availability the EB-5 has been viewed by some real estate developers as the ideal way to raise funds, particularly for construction projects.
The idea behind the program is to create jobs, ten per $500,000 investment in targeted employment areas [T.E.A’s]
An examination of the program by The New York Times suggests that in New York, developers and state officials could be stretching the rules to qualify projects for this foreign financing.
There is concern that developers are relying on gerrymandering techniques to create development zones that are meant to be in areas of high unemployment (thus qualifying for the $500,000 investment) but according to federal and state records are in prosperous ones.
The article mentions as a prominent project the International Gem Tower, a 34 storey glass tower in Manhattan that is to cost $750 million with one fifth of the funding coming from EB-5 applicants.
Although it is being built in an area that is reported as one of the wealthiest in the country, the Times reports that through the selective use of census statistics the project falls under (the $500,000) EB-5 requirements.
The newspaper reported that during an interview a senior federal immigration official, Alejandro Mayorkas, acknowledged that the program may need more scrutiny and maps being approved by certain states might not adhere to the spirit and intent of regulations.
There is mention of another area which has been classified as being located as an area that needs help attracting jobs; however there are concerns that the zone resembles a gerrymandered political district.
The article does raise an issue that may be of concern, in that if a particular EB-5 project is judged not to be in a properly qualified Targeted Employment or Rural area the $500,000 investment should actually be $1,000,000.
The continued importance of obtaining independent impartial advice before considering a move to the USA, using the EB-5 visa program, is critical. As a first step it is worth studying the only published consumer guide on the EB-5 process Green Card via the Red Carpet which is available at Amazon.
For personal, one-on-one, impartial information on the EB-5 visa contact Which EB-5 via Email or telephone at +1-561-771-1330
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Tags: Alejandro Mayorkas, amazon, eb-5, EB-5 requirements, EB-5 Visa, gerrymandering, Green Card via the Red Carpet, International Gem Tower, Manhattan, New York Times, regional center, TEA, uscis, Which EB-5
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
December 16th, 2011 |
 2011 has seen significant numbers of families from all over the world choosing the EB-5 visa as their preferred method to gain permanent residence in the USA.
Unfortunately some of those families received inadequate or poor advice and selected regional center programs which were flawed.
Some of the problem programs were identified before applicants received their I-526 approvals and have had their status revoked by The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). However, other applicants have chosen programs which face potential issues at either I-829 stage or at the time when the exit strategy was planned to take effect.
Many users of the EB-5 visa program rely on overseas agents and regional centers to provide information; however, the information fails to disclose important weaknesses.
Each year we travel many thousands of miles looking at regional center programs. I recall one particular visit to meet with two Regional Center principles, they asked me to meet them at a local hotel as they could not meet on the site where their program was due to be operated. I located the gentlemen in a public area of the hotel with a number of cell phones spread out in front of them. During the meeting the phones would ring from time to time. It turned out these calls were from people calling from overseas to get details of their program. However, the program which required enormous amounts of foreign capital did not even have an office to work from, or any staff (other than the principals) to answer the phone!
Over the years there are many other issues I have come across from visiting regional center programs that would not be evident to anyone who has not made a visit to the site. I have also come across well run programs where jobs have been created.
The importance of obtaining independent impartial advice before considering the EB-5 visa is critical. As a first step it is worth reading the only published consumer guide on the EB-5 process Green Card via the Red Carpet.
For a personal one-to-one consultation with an expert EB5 attorney and consultant please contact Which EB5
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Tags: EB-5 Visa, Green Card via the Red Carpet, I-526, I-829, permanent residence, regional center
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
December 15th, 2011 |
 Yesterday was the last EB5 discovery day of 2011 and it was a great success – Thank You
Our EB5 discovery day meeting yesterday was a great success. I wanted to personally thank those who attended and especially those that stayed afterwards for one-on-one consultations. These new format meeting have been very succesful all year and we are going to expand the opportunity for you to attend in 2012.
During the first quarter of 2012 we will be holding our now famous EB5 Discovery Day meetings in the following cities:
These discovery day meetings are designed for a small group of potential EB5 clients who want to get an in-depth overview of the EB-5 Visa program in a personal setting followed by personal one-to-one meetings with expert EB-5 attorneys and consultants. No fee is charged to attend any of our meetings. You can get more expert EB-5 visa information in this meting than is possible with investing a week on the internet.
If you would like to attend one of our 2012 discovery days please use the following links to request location and date information.
EB5 Visa Discovery Day in Beijing
Existing Which EB5 client
Not yet registered with Which EB5
EB5 Visa Discovery Day in Miami
Existing Which EB5 client
Not yet registered with Which EB5 Existing Which EB5 client
EB5 Visa Discovery Day in Orlando
Existing Which EB5 client
Not yet registered with Which EB5 Existing Which EB5 client
Those of you who are new to the subject of the EB-5 visa program may want to read the only guide written for the exclusive use of potential EB-5 clients “Green Card via the Red Carpet” available in hard-copy or Kindle direct from Amazon.
We look forward to meeting you and discussing your EB5 questions and concerns in 2012. In the meantime we are available for Video & Telephone consultations at any time by appointment. Please email our client services director here to set up an appointment.
+Stephen Parnell
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Tags: amazon, attorney, Beijing, china, consultant, consultations, Discovery Day, EB-5 Visa, eb5, exclusive, Green Card via the Red Carpet, investing, kindle, miami, orlando, USA, Which EB-5
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
December 14th, 2011 |
 H-1B visa holders who are approaching the six-year limit on their visa may find they face a major problem in holding onto their jobs and maintaining their lives in the USA. Once an H-1B visa holder has reached the six-year limit, or if they are laid off, the ability to extend the H-1B visa is often gone. In many cases, unless the person can qualify for a different visa, it becomes necessary to leave the U.S. for a year to restore H-1B visa eligibility.
Even if the H-1B visa holder manages to hold on to the job and the visa sponsorship, it can take many years to get permanent residency status (green cards) despite years of waiting. It has been pointed out that if you are an Indian or Chinese professional with an advanced degree, due to the country-specific green card backlog in the EB-2 category, you are little better off than your fellow countrymen with a bachelor’s degree.
Students holding F1 visas also face problems given the current economy has created a difficult job market, particularly at a time when there are many highly qualified U.S. citizens and permanent residents available who do not need H-1B visa sponsorship. In some cases, overseas students are even having a difficult time to find an employer just to maintain eligibility to stay in the U.S. for the optional practical training period, let alone to find sponsorship for an H-1B visa or the green card.
With the help of the EB5 visa program, people in these difficult situations can get green cards. The EB-5 visa program has its own specific annual quota of green cards and at present there is no backlog. The only delay is the about one year that it can take to go through the entire EB-5 immigration process.
Once the EB-5 investor obtains conditional residence they have all the rights and benefits of a permanent resident. This means they are no longer dependent on the existing U.S. employer, or on finding employment with a U.S. employer, indeed they can even go into business for themselves.
The EB-5 visa can give freedom, more career options, competing on equal terms with U.S. citizens and permanent residents in the labor market and business world, and the security that allows you to stay in the U.S.
As long as you maintain your investment in a regional center that achieves its business plan and creates 10 jobs per investor you will receive permanent residence after the two-year conditional period.
The importance of obtaining independent impartial advice before considering relocation to the USA is critical. As a first step it is worth reading the only published consumer guide on the EB-5 process Green Card via the Red Carpet.
For more impartial information on the EB-5 visa contact EB5 Experts at Which EB5 via Email or telephone at +1-561-771-1330
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Tags: chinese, eb-2, EB-5 Visa, eb5, eb5 experts, F1, green card, Green Card via the Red Carpet, H-1B, Immigration, permanent residence, sponsorship, USA, visa
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
November 14th, 2011 |
 There is a well-known saying; “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” Which basically means that if people copy you they are paying you a compliment. Unfortunately, this may not always be true, as has become clear in the business of providing advice to would-be EB-5 visa applicants.
Some time ago we published a book on the EB-5 visa titled “Green Card via the Red Carpet” and we have since written a series of articles and blogs covering consumer implications behind the EB-5 visa process.
We have noticed over the years that some of the content of our book and articles have been copied by various other companies to advertise their service or product. Just recently, a new entrant into the EB-5 advice business has published an article stating that EB-5 applicants should only seek advice from “experienced” EB-5 consultants; we would like to thank them for that endorsement as they are obviously referring to Which EB5.
As we do not recommend any specific regional center, but instead seek to independently educate potential EB-5 applicants on the positives and negatives of different options, we are concerned that other companies are misleading potential applicants by using our work out of context.
If you are looking into the EB-5 Regional Center visa program, you can meet with us either at one of our discovery day seminars, face to face at a private meeting, on the phone or Skype, you can ask any questions and get information about the program and the points that are all too often not explained.
To arrange a meeting please contact us via email at info@WhichEB5.com
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Tags: advice, consultants, eb-5, EB-5 Visa, experianced, Green Card via the Red Carpet, regional center, Which EB-5
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
November 11th, 2011 |
 Every program has its own set of strengths and weaknesses and one group of programs that has specific potential issues are the slower filling regional center programs.
These centers may be relatively new and unproven i.e. they have not yet obtained an I-526 approval.
A regional center may have been established to raise funds for a specific development project however, the owners may have severely underestimated the skills required to attract subscribers. They may have spent some money on glossy sales material and made marketing trips to China but a lack of a successful track record may make for a very slow rate of client interest.
Potential clients of these regional center projects face a number of risks including:
- If the program fails to attract enough money will the project go ahead?
- Will the required number of jobs be created?
- Are there a number of places that must be filled before it is practical for the project to go ahead?
- Will the slow filling of the program lead to delays in their visa application?
Many who are starting the EB-5 process to achieve permanent residency status in the USA (green cards) have found it useful to begin their research by reading a consumer orientated guide on the EB-5 visa pilot program such as Green Card via the Red Carpet.
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Tags: eb-5, EB-5 Visa, Green Card via the Red Carpet, I-526, pilot program, process, projects, regional center, slow
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
November 7th, 2011 |
 For those applying for permanent residence in the USA via the EB-5 regional center visa program the process certainly seemed a lot simpler a few years ago. For a start there were only a handful of regional centers to choose from in 2007 where today there are about 200 approved by United States citizenship and Immigration service (USCIS) to offer programs.
Despite concerns at the time that those early investors were entering unchartered waters all those first few centers have remained in business several years later.
Nowadays the EB-5 visa has given birth to a whole industry, but all is not always as it seems. Sales and marketing hype has become an increasing feature with promises and guarantees made that are unlikely to always be kept. A number of regional center programs have been terminated by USCIS not long after opening but having already recruited unfortunate Chinese clients.
A few people who used to champion the protection of the EB-5 applicant and warn about the dangers of the sales people have themselves become sales people sometimes selling their own products in China.
It has become ever more important to get detailed impartial, independent information from experienced experts before choosing the EB-5 regional center programs that best matches your own specific requirements.
Many who are starting the EB-5 process to achieve permanent residence status in the USA (green cards) have found it useful to begin their research by reading the only published consumer guide on the EB-5 visa pilot program Green Card via the Red Carpet.
To receive the latest independent information on the EB-5 visa contact Which EB5
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Tags: chinese, eb-5, EB-5 Visa, experianced, green card, Green Card via the Red Carpet, impartial, independent, permanent residence, regional center, USA, uscis, visa, Which EB-5
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
November 4th, 2011 |
 If you are thinking of immigrating to the USA but are concerned about the country’s economic position, and worry if the country is in terminal decline, you may find an article in Britain’s Daily Telegraph interesting.
Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, International Business Editor of the Telegraph makes a strong case that although the USA may have hit a difficult period, there is a strong likelihood the USA will continue as the strongest economic power.
The article refers to a number of experts including Francisco Blanch of The Bank of America, Harold Sirkin of The Boston Consulting Group, Sandra Pianalto Chief of the Philadelphia Fed, and Charles Dumas and Diana Choyleva from Lombard Street Research and authors of The American Phoenix.
The article includes a number of interesting points about the many advantages enjoyed by the USA including having many of the best Universities in the world and concludes that America may well recover its preeminent position in the world.
To read the article go to:- http://goo.gl/MBOi5
Many who are starting the EB-5 process to gain permanent residency status in the USA (green cards) have found it useful to begin their research by reading the only published consumer guide on the EB-5 visa pilot program Green Card via the Red Carpet.
Which EB5 has a 100% track record in assisting applicants in obtaining an EB-5 visa.
To receive the latest independent information on the EB-5 contact Chase Brodsky at Which EB5
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Tags: America, eb-5, EB-5 Visa, Green Card via the Red Carpet, pilot program, USA, Which EB-5
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
November 3rd, 2011 |
 Andrew Bartlett, one of the Senior Partners of Which EB5 and joint author of Green Card via the Red Carpet, will be carrying out a number of one to one consultations in November and December in The United Kingdom, France, Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany.
Andrew has made extensive visits to a number of regional center programs throughout the USA and Which EB5 have a 100% success record with over 250 clients throughout the world who have obtained their EB5 visa.
Many of you who are considering permanent relocation to The USA on the EB5 visa may have a number of questions and concerns or wish to know about the experience of other applicants and the issues you need to be wary of.
The importance of doing in-depth due diligence cannot be under estimated.
If you would like to schedule a one-on-one consultation with Andrew, or a telephone consultation, please request via email to: info@WhichEB5.com
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Tags: andrew bartlett, due diligence, EB-5 Visa, eb5, free consultation, Green Card via the Red Carpet, regional center, USA, Which EB-5
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
October 28th, 2011 |
 If you are considering the EB-5 visa as the quickest method to achieve permanent residency in the USA for you and your family, you will be requiring the latest independent information on this visa and the background information on the many Regional Centers that claim they have the best program!
Unfortunately there are many important issues you are not told in all the sales material. A lack of information has led to a number of EB-5 users facing potential deportation and others facing the loss of some or all of their $500,000.
It is absolutely vital that you receive detailed, impartial, information before deciding which program best matches your specific requirements. However, a number of the sources that claim to be independent actually have sales / marketing agreements with specific regional centers so beware.
Many who are starting the EB-5 process have found it useful to begin researching the EB-5 by reading the only published consumer guide on the EB-5 Visa pilot program: Green card via the Red Carpet.
To receive the latest independent information on the EB-5 Visa program contact Chase Brodsky at Which EB5
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Tags: EB-5 Visa, Green Card via the Red Carpet, immigration update, impartial information, independent, permanent residence, regional center, update, USA, Which EB-5
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
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