September 5th, 2011 |
 A special message from Stephen Parnell – Joint Founder of Which EB5
September 5th 2011 is the 20th anniversary of my arrival here in the USA. The latter years of this period have been very good to me, in stark contrast to those early years when I made every mistake a new immigrant can make.
Some of you reading this blog have perhaps heard some of my own experiences as a first generation immigrant during our long telephone consultations. Some of you already know that a large part of my motivation in this business is to help you avoid the mistakes a new arrival to the USA can so easily make.
For those of you yet to spend time with me on the phone or in-person, discussing your immigration goals, I want to let you know that I have experienced a lot of the same feelings and fears you have about making the USA your home.
Arriving in a new country, particularly with young children (mine were 10 and 12 back in 1991), can be a very tough challenge.
Although I did not have the advantage of being able to utilize the most predictable path to permanent residence (the EB-5 visa), I have made it through all the trials and tribulations any immigrant could be expected to encounter. It is armed with that personal experience that I urge you to not miss out on the predictability the EB-5 program can offer you and your family. Call me or email me and I will be only too happy to arrange a free one-on-one consultation with you.
Remember, the EB-5 Visa Pilot Program is due to end on September 30th 2012 unless we are able to secure an extension or permanent program by that time. If you want to make sure you can take advantage of the current program you may need to file your application by the end of January 2012.
As a first generation immigrant to The USA, and now a proud American Citizen, it would be my pleasure to assist you in any way I can. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Stephen Parnell
info@WhichEB5.com
Telephone: +1.561.771.1330
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Tags: Immigration, stephen parnell, USA, Which EB-5
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
August 22nd, 2011 |
 When your I-526 petition is filed to obtain your conditional Green Card, in addition to the petition itself, there are two specific and important pieces of information that will be included within the application.
- The detailed personal and investment funds documentation that you will have submitted to your Attorney.
- Full documentation of the regional center you selected and their program. Your choice of regional center program will play an extremely important role in your application.
That is why it is vitally important that you chose your regional center carefully. It is critical to take a careful look at the histories and track records of the regional centers.
- Have they been realistic in their aims and objectives?
- How much do they really care about you and your family as immigrants to the USA or is it all about their own profits?
- Do they not only have a good idea for the project but the experience to make it happen successfully?
- What qualities make for the most appropriate regional center program options for your particular requirements?
The EB-5 visa requires a $500,000 investment in a United States Citizenship and Immigration center (USCIS) Regional Center Program. The track record of these programs varies considerably and investment terms can be as little as four years. It is vital you obtain independent information from experienced advisers prior to making a decision on Regional Center programs.
If you would like more information on these visa options and a free consultation contact Chase Brodsky at Which EB5 who will be happy to set up a free personal consultation for you with one of our senior partners.
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Tags: application, attorney, eb-5, green card, I-526, Immigration, regional center, USA, uscis, visa, Which EB-5
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
July 13th, 2011 |
 A comprehensive immigration reform bill has been recently introduced by some leading Senate Democrats. The bill is intended to enhance U.S. economic productivity and national security. Political commentators have pointed out that the bill also “provides a path to legislation for 11 million undocumented immigrants”.
President Obama has previously emphasized the need for comprehensive immigration reform.
A previous attempt at comprehensive reform in 2007 failed, although at the time the Democrats had control of both houses of Congress and the support of the then Republican President, George W Bush.
The current EB-5 Immigration Investor (Regional Centers) visa is a pilot program that is due to time out in September 2012. The comprehensive immigration bill includes proposals to make this program permanent.
Despite Presidential support the bill has to overcome a number of obstacles if it is to be passed into law.
The USA is approaching a Presidential election (2012) and immigration reform is viewed by some as a contentious issue. There can be no guarantees that the bill will become law.
Currently then the ongoing survival of the EB-5 pilot program (beyond September 2012) is, among other things, tied into a complex comprehensive immigration bill, we will keep our readers updated on the progress of the bill.
For further information contact Chase Brodsky to arrange a free consultation with a senior partner at Which EB5
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Tags: comprehensive immigration reform, eb-5, George W Bush, immigrant investor, Immigration, pilot program, President Obama, regional center, USA, visa
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
June 3rd, 2011 |
 For those of you planning on permanent residence in the USA and looking at the EB-5 visa, finding impartial information, particularly when you are many thousands of miles away is very important.
Although some EB-5 applicants start the information seeking process by either contacting Regional Centers directly, or by contacting an Immigration Attorney, both these approaches can have significant drawbacks.
The Regional Centers themselves are generally excellent at pointing out their strengths but are most unlikely to point out their potential weaknesses. The problem is the weaknesses could, in certain situations, lead to potential deportation and loss of your $500,000.
Immigration attorneys should be able to guide you through the legal process of immigration but it is unlikely they regularly visit the many and varied regional center programs which are spread out all over the USA; their knowledge of all the positives and negatives may be somewhat limited.
Many EB-5 applicants work with Consultants before deciding which EB-5 program is the most appropriate to meet their requirements.
As we have pointed out in our book Green Card via the Red Carpet Consultants operate in different ways and have different levels of experience in the EB-5 field.
It may be important to you to work with Consultants who have at least 250 successful clients from many different countries through different regional center programs and a 100% track record of success at each and every stage of the process.
You may also consider that Consultants should only work with EB-5 applicants rather than also offering their services to new and existing Regional Centers. You may be concerned that a Consultancy who also acts as an adviser for one or more Regional Centers which require EB-5 applicants to fill their places, could at some stage face potential difficulties with a conflict of interest.
You may also be concerned that your Consultants have an impeccable track record and wish to check for any previous issues that have been recorded by bodies such as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and The New York Stock Exchange.
For more information about the consulting services of WhichEB5 please contact us for an informal discussion about the EB-5 program. As first generation immigrants to The USA our Senior Partners understand the problems and concerns faced by immigrants better than most.
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Tags: consultant, eb-5, Green Card via the Red Carpet, Immigration, immigration attorney, regional center, USA, Which EB5
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
June 1st, 2011 |
Over the past few years we have worked with people from all over the world who have used the EB-5 visa to gain permanent residency in the USA.
Every now and then we come across a person who is determined to find out by themselves as much information as possible which, although perfectly understandable, can pose many hidden risks.
When reviewing the EB-5 visa the first area many prospective applicants seek to find out about is which regional center program they should invest in, and this is often where problems can start to occur.
Many start by looking on the internet but may not realize that some of the claims made by regional centers just cannot be taken at face value due to the sales promotion angle.
It seems ironic that many of these potential EB-5 applicants would never consider diagnosing themselves from the web if they were sick but would seek professional advice through a Doctor or if seeking tax advice would use a qualified Accountant rather than the pages of the internet.
It is strange therefore that something as important as immigration is an issue some people seek to do themselves, particularly given what can go wrong with deportation a possible end result.
With the EB-5 it is important to have all the answers. For example some potential applicants are led to believe that all will be well if a regional center has been operating long enough to have I-829 approvals, however what if the center also had I-829 refusals?
Some potential applicants believe big projects may provide all the answers however certain big programs have been heavily criticized locally and others have had press reports of the developer having previous problems– how will you find out which these are?
Another popular regional program has questions relating to its location which are not readily apparent unless visited, however few potential applicants realize the importance of this.
For independent information on the actual statistics behind the EB-5 program contact Which EB5
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Tags: deportation, eb-5, EB-5 Visa, I-829, Immigration, independent, regional center, USA, visa, Which EB-5
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
May 9th, 2011 |
When you are searching for information on the EB5 visa you may come across a few companies that offer due diligence services.
These services can provide a range of information that may include details of the names of the people behind the Regional Center and their previous business experience. Often these services fail to provide information that may be a critical consideration to you such as:-
What is the track record of a Regional Center on returning my money if my application is rejected by USCIS?
Do the regional center operators really understand all the issues faced by immigrants?
 Are the regional center operators solely a money making machine for their company or do they really have empathy for the applicants going through their program and the immigration process?
Is much of the regional center’s business done with China? who are the agents they use and why is this so important?
It can be very important for you to have correct, truthful answers to these and other questions, if you would like answers to these points please contact the partners at Which EB5 Visa
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Tags: agents, china, eb5, Immigration, regional center, stephen parnell, visa, Which EB5 Visa
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
April 25th, 2011 |
Currently same sex couples are treated differently to heterosexual couples if they are seeking immigration to the USA.
For those considering the EB-5 visa this different treatment can prove to be costly.
Whereas the EB-5 visa allows the applicant their spouse and unmarried children under 21 to be covered on a single EB-5 investment of $500,000, same sex couples would currently need to make individual visa investments of $500,000 each.
Members of the House of Representatives recently reintroduced a measure that would dramatically change current immigration law and provide immigration rights to same-sex couples that are equal to those currently given to traditional couples.
The new terms are defined by the proposed statute as follows:
- The term “permanent partner” means an individual 18 years of age or older who
- Is in a committed, intimate relationship with another individual 18 years of age or older in which both parties intend a lifelong commitment;
- Is financially interdependent with that other individual;
- Is not married to or in a permanent partnership with anyone other than that other individual;
- Is unable to contract with that other individual a marriage cognizable under this Act; and
- Is not a first, second, or third degree blood relation of that other individual. The term “permanent partnership” means the relationship that exists between two permanent partners.
At this stage it is unknown if this measure will be passed and if so how it would impact the EB-5, we will continue to monitor and report on progress.
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Tags: eb-5, Immigration, law, same sex couples, USA, visa
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
March 18th, 2011 |
 Stephen Parnell of Which EB5 with Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont during an EB-5 stakeholders meeting in Washington DC. It is with great pleasure that I inform you that yesterday, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) introduced S. 642 (“Creating American Jobs Through Foreign Capital Act”) – which would permanently authorize the EB-5 RC Program – into the Congressional Record. The Honorable Senator also included a glowing statement about the EB-5 RC Program. A full text can be found below: We will circulate a PDF of the bill as soon as it is available.
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Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Creating American Jobs Through Foreign Capital Investment Act. This bill does one simple thing: It makes the EB-5 regional center program permanent. The EB-5 Regional Center Program has been highly successful since its inception in 1992, but it has always lacked the security of assured continuity. Extending the program by a few years at a time hampers the growth of the program and creates a disincentive for immigrant investors to bring their capital investments to the United States. EB-5 regional center programs have drawn jobs and millions of investment dollars to struggling communities and regions of our country. We can expand these job-creating programs and allow new regional centers to compete for investments with quality projects–if the EB-5 authorization is made permanent in law.
The State of Vermont and Vermont entrepreneurs recognized the potential of this program early on, and Vermont gained regional center status in 1997. Our State and the Vermont entrepreneurs who took advantage of the regional center planned their projects with great care. As a result, both the State and our entrepreneurs have successfully attracted investors and created jobs. Other states have taken note of Vermont’s success, and today there are now about 135 designated regional center programs across the country, which are creating jobs in States like Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Iowa, and New York, to name just a few.
A regional center program is an economic engine for the state or region in which it is located. In a small state like Vermont, the economic activity generated by EB-5 projects at resorts like Jay Peak and Sugarbush has created direct jobs in those communities. Some of those jobs are for the construction and expansion phase, and others are for long-term employees of the resorts. These resort expansions bring more tourists to Vermont to enjoy skiing and summertime activities. Then there are the multiplier effects of these projects. Our visitors spend money while skiing and touring Vermont, supporting other Vermont businesses with every purchase they make. The economic activity is not limited to tourism, and there are other innovative projects in the pipeline in Vermont–projects like biotechnology; water purification; and manufacturing. Because the entire State of Vermont is a designated regional center, there is great potential for diversity both in terms of projects and geographic location.
The Regional Center program attracts foreign investors seeking legal permanent residency and a chance to invest in the American economy. Investors must pledge a minimum of $500,000 to a project within a Regional Center, and they independently apply for EB-5 visas. If approved by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration, USCIS, foreign investors are granted conditional 2-year green cards. After 2 years, these investors must provide proof that they have created at least 10 jobs as a result of their investments, and that they have met additional investment requirements set by USCIS.
The Federal Government authorizes approximately 388,000 green cards each year. Out of that number, only 10,000 annually are reserved for the EB-5 program. The vast majority of the green cards issued by our Government are family-based and available to anyone who meets the admissibility criteria, irrespective of personal wealth. It is true that this program requires a significant up-front investment from a prospective immigrant, but that does not disadvantage others who wish to become permanent residents. Most importantly, that investment directly benefits American communities and workers at no cost to American taxpayers. Similar programs have long yielded extraordinary economic benefits for the people of Canada, Australia and other countries.
There is virtually no substantive opposition to the EB-5 program. Most elected officials will agree that creating jobs and capital investment is a good, bipartisan goal.
The bill I introduce today makes the program permanent, but I am also working on a broader package of improvements to the EB-5 program to modernize it and ensure it operates efficiently, and as Congress intended. We must make sure that the immigration agency has the tools it needs to keep the program free from fraud and abuse. We must offer stakeholders an efficient process with fair standards so that they have confidence in the program. I am developing legislation in consultation with stakeholders and agency officials to make changes that will bring about lasting improvements for everyone involved.
The EB-5 regional center program is one small corner of our overall immigration system–and it is one that generates tangible, ongoing economic benefits for Americans in the form of jobs and capital investment in local communities. It is an American success story, and we can build on its success with a continuing charter, with careful cultivation, and with appropriate oversight.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 642
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Creating American Jobs Through Foreign Capital Investment Act”.
SEC. 2. PERMANENT REAUTHORIZATION OF EB-5 REGIONAL CENTER PROGRAM.
Section 610 of the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1993 (8 U.S.C. 1153 note) is amended–
(1) by striking “pilot” each place such term appears; and
(2) in subsection (b), by striking “until September 30, 2012”.
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Tags: Alabama, and New York, arizona, Australia, california, Canada, Creating American Jobs Through Foreign Capital Act, eb-5, florida, green card, Immigration, Iowa, jay peak, permanent, permanently authorize the EB-5 RC Program, regional center, Sen. Patrick S. Leahy D-Vt., Sugarbush, vermont
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
February 24th, 2011 |
The EB-5 visa is and should be primarily a visa that grants a family permanent residence in the USA. The visa requires an investment of $500,000 in one of a number of regional center programs that have been approved by The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS).
Thousands of immigrants throughout the world have used this visa and now live happily in the United States. This visa has now been operating long enough for the early investors, on certain specific programs, to have had their investment returned in full.
However, despite the excellent record of the best proven centers some other programs continue to cause concern. It is important to remember when looking for a regional center program that you are trusting your family’s immigration safety as well as your investment of $500,000. Please remember that facts are much more important than glossy brochures and sales promises.
If certain programs have higher risks, are poorly thought through with poor exit strategies and are unlikely to create the required ten jobs, you may be vulnerable to both losing some or all of your money as well as deportation from the USA .
What can happen when you don’t ask the right questions – DEPORTATION?
For impartial information on the status and record of the various regional center programs contact Which EB5
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Tags: deportation, eb-5, Immigration, impartial information, investment, permanent residence, regional center, USA, uscis, visa
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
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