January 30th, 2012 |
 The EB5 visa process seems to have had more than its share of misleading information and fraud over the years.
Following checks on the EB5 visa program we have come across a number of problems that could have been avoided if proper independent and impartial due diligence had been thoroughly carried out before applying for the EB5 visa.
Despite earlier complaints however, dubious sales claims continue to be made by a number of regional centers, as well as some EB5 visa consultants; these need to be looked into.
Ongoing examples of dubious claims that need further elaboration and explanation include:
“An EB5 visa in just 6 months”
While it is correct that some center programs have actually received I-526 approval from The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) in a very short time period, this is certainly not the norm. If time is an important factor when you are considering permanent residence in the USA it is critical to receive independent advice on the time line record of different regional centers.
“Only government approved regional center”
While there are regional centers operated by Governments there are important issues to be aware of. The operation is via State Government not The Federal Government. Although a regional center may itself be operated by a State Government, the programs it offers are generally in the private sector. This becomes particularly important when the $500,000 the EB5 visa holder invested is to be repaid. If anything goes wrong it is highly unlikely the State will step in and repay the money, repayment will be down to the private sector program operators.
“A guaranteed return of your investment”
There are very few real guarantees in the current economic climate and although this claim has been used by agents selling EB5 visa programs outside the USA it needs to be looked at with caution.
“The safest regional center program”
One of the conditions relating to the EB5 visa requires project investment to be “at risk”, there can be no guarantees of the return of the $500,000 investment. While some programs may seek to lower risk factors no program can claim to be risk free.
These are just a few of the reasons why these statements need further research as they either fail to give the whole story or they are just plain wrong.
If you are considering the EB5 visa it is very important that you are given hard-hitting, in-depth, impartial advice from experts who have actually visited regional center programs, can arrange for you to have specialist financial and legal advice and have a 100% successful track record with several hundred EB5 visa holders.
For more information contact Chase Brodsky at Which EB5
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Tags: eb-5, EB-5 Visa, eb5, EB5 visa, expert, impartial advice, independent, permanent residence, regional centers, visa consultant, Which EB5
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 » |
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 » |
September 22nd, 2011 |
 If you are trying to find out as much information as possible about the EB-5 Regional center program the task facing you can be daunting.
Inquiries to Attorneys can sometimes be met with being passed off to a junior member of staff, or a stream of complex legal information or even in certain cases a quasi sales pitch actually promoting a particular program that the Attorney may receive a fee from, but which they may never have visited.
Inquiries to the Regional Centers are usually met with a mass of information that often falls into two types: There is the glossy promotional material, usually one sided saying how great their program is. Following this can be an extremely large document written in one sided legal language that may be very difficult to understand without expert help.
If you do not speak/read English fluently you may be relying on an agent who speaks your language who receives a commission from the Regional center if you buy the program through them; or perhaps material translated by that very same agent.
The problem is, choosing the most appropriate regional center that best matches your personal requirements is fundamental to the success or failure of your immigration path and the return of your $500,000 capital.
Get this wrong and you and your family could face deportation and/or loss of some or all of your $500,000.
It is important that you receive impartial, independent and experienced advice from experts with a 100% track record working with EB-5 clients.
Many have found it useful to begin the process by reading the only published consumer guide on the EB-5 visa pilot program Green card via the Red Carpet.
For more information about the EB-5 visa contact Which EB5
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Tags: attorney, EB-5 Visa, Green Card via the Red Carpet, impartial, independent, regional center, visa, Which EB-5
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
August 16th, 2011 |
 Reading various articles on the EB-5 visa over the past few weeks, I have become increasingly worried about the direction being taken with some of the EB-5 projects being planned or currently on offer.
The EB-5 visa is based on the applicant investing $500,000 of their hard earned money in a Regional Center Project. The US Government, through The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), approve these Regional Centers and require at least ten jobs per investor to be created.
From the Regional Centers perspective the EB-5 program is a method of attracting capital funding at a time when many more traditional methods have dried up. However, for a number of projects the priority is more about obtaining the funds than a deep seated concern about the welfare of the immigrant, whose priority is the granting and confirmation of their green cards and the return of their $500,000 in a timely period.
Talking to a number of leading regional center experts over the past few months, (including several economists) it is clear that some risky projects are being offered to potential EB-5 applicants. These potential immigrants are being viewed primarily as a convenient funding source, rather than families whose requirements are to live permanently and safely in the USA and whose investment should be looked after as safely as possible.
If you are considering the EB-5, or indeed any visa, to gain permanent residence status for you and your family in The USA; it is absolutely vital that you obtain unbiased and independent advice on the various Regional Center programs.
The EB-5 visa requires a $500,000 investment in a United States Citizenship and Immigration center (USCIS) Regional Center Programs. 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 advisors prior to making a decision on Regional Center programs.
If you would like more information on these visa options and a free consultation contact Which EB-5 for a free consultation.
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Tags: eb-5, EB-5 Visa, independent, regional center, track record, unbiased, USA, uscis, visa, Which EB-5
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
August 15th, 2011 |
 There are many regional centers competing for your business. Some are truly excellent at the art of selling you a place on their program regardless of the merits of your other options. Certainly there are some excellent programs, but without independent expert advice how are you going to sort the good from the bad?
There are centers that have had refusals (at both the I-526 and I-829 stage), a center that lost its permission from USCIS to operate its program, a center where there may be concerns regarding meeting the required 10 jobs per investor criteria. One suspects that these regional centers may not be highlighting these points to potential investors.
Last year, a regional center in California had its regional center status revoked. The Center was unable to demonstrate that they met the criteria required by The United States Citizenship and Immigration service (USCIS) to raise funds; this was after the center had already received $9.5 million dollars from foreign investors! Have those investors received all their money back? Did they receive independent advice prior to selecting this center? were they warned of the investigations into the center?
Even a visit to a regional center is no guarantee of success. An official regional center tour can often highlight the positives but ignore the negatives. As an example a couple of centers in tourist areas often seem an attractive option to tourists on holiday / vacation in the areas. However, research from independent sources indicate specific reasons for, among other things, low property values in these areas which could severly impact your choice.
Another issue you may wish to consider is the track record of top management/directors in a regional center program. If the heads of a regional center have had adverse criticism or coverage in the past, are they likely to be highlighting this in their sales material?
Other centers may have difficulties in terms of creating the required ten jobs per investor or providing the necessary evidence of being Targeted Employment Areas (TEA).
The EB-5 visa requires a $500,000 investment in a United States Citizenship and Immigration center (USCIS) Regional Center Programs. 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 Which EB-5
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Tags: california, consultants, EB-5 Visa, eb5, expert advice, I-526, I-829, independent, regional center, TEA, uscis, Which EB-5
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
August 12th, 2011 |
 If you are considering the EB-5 visa, to gain permanent residence status for you and your family in The USA it is absolutely vital that you obtain unbiased and independent advice on the various Regional Center programs.
It is also absolutely vital that you thoroughly look into the background of the Consultants and Attorneys you may use to provide all the necessary background information you need to make the right decision.
If you chose an inappropriate Regional Center program all may seem all right at first, i.e. you obtain your I-526 approval (Initial Green Card). However, you could well face problems at the I-829 stage (removal of conditions) and/or difficulties obtaining the return of your $500,000 investment. Ultimately get it wrong and your whole family could face deportation.
We are very concerned that some of the Attorneys and Consultants providing advice are either not equipped or may be unsuitable. We have come across a number of issues which are of concern:-
- Consultants / Attorneys recommending programs which they are actually advising and taking fees from (for their advice). Questions as to a conflict of interest arise in such cases i.e. how can an organization be completely independent if they have a paid professional advisory relationship with one or more Regional Centers?
- Consultants / Attorneys / Agents who have not even visited a Regional Center they are providing information on.
- Consultants and Attorneys who have been the subject of complaints from previous clients and/or been banned from operating by FINRA, a Stock Exchange or other regulatory body and are still advising clients on Regional center options.
- Misinformation being given on web sites and in sales material etc.
The EB-5 visa requires a $500,000 investment in a United States Citizenship and Immigration center (USCIS) Regional Center Programs. 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 advisors prior to making a decision on Regional Center programs.
If you would like more information on these visa options and a free consultation contact Which EB-5 for an in-depth personal consultation.
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Tags: attorneys, consultants, eb-5, I-526, I-829, independent, regional center, unbiased, USA, uscis, visa, Which EB-5
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
July 29th, 2011 |
Despite the fact that there are over 150 Regional Centers which have been approved by The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), a very small number of these Centers actually offer well proven programs (as has been explained in a number of previous blogs).
We often find that clients, who have been looking to determine which the most appropriate program is for them, become frustrated as the specific program they decide to invest in sells out quicker than was expected and they fail to obtain a place.
Programs fall into a number of categories and those that have been well thought through and / or have an excellent track record, can sell out in a relatively short time, sometimes a matter of just a few weeks.
It may be important to distinguish the reasons for a program subscribing so quickly and it’s useful in considering this to look at a couple of examples.
Let’s say a Regional Center focuses almost exclusively on the Chinese market (the largest by far) and has a strong network of Chinese Agents. Let us also say they pay an extremely high commission to these Chinese agents. In such circumstances the program is likely to fill relatively quickly, however, it is important to ascertain if the investors fully understood the positives and negatives of the program or did the Agents give a very one sided view? If so you may want to obtain a detailed independent analysis before considering such a program.
Let’s now look at another Regional Center that has established an excellent track record for its previous programs. The Center may have a 100% track record of I-526 and I-829 applications; it may be a particularly attractive concept with an excellent clear exit strategy. The excellent reputation and performance of such a program will mean it will generally sell out very quickly.
For more information on well proven centers due to release limited programs contact Chase Brodsky at Which EB5
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Tags: chinese, eb-5, exit stratergy, I-526, I-829, independent, regional center, track record, uscis
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
June 17th, 2011 |
 As immigrants to the USA we have become used to the fact that when watching an advertisement on TV so many claims are made it can be hard to distinguish fact from fiction, or to determine the true reality of any product.
Unfortunately the American tendency to make so many puffed up claims and to promote the sales angle covers many things you may buy in America, including some of the Regional Center EB-5 programs.
This sales approach is particularly unfortunate because of what is at stake for families trying to identify the most appropriate program to match their requirements. Not only are they investing $500,000 but get it wrong and the family could face deportation after two years in the USA.
There are a number of sales claims we have identified in the past that are simply not true, for example:-
- A program guaranteeing the return of your investment – USCIS itself states the investment has to be at risk.
- A program stating it has quicker processing times at the I-526 stage – USCIS has confirmed to us all programs are treated equally.
- A program stating it was confident it would not be closed despite investigations being carried out at the time by USCIS – USCIS did close the program.
- A program stressing the security of the commercial property market – However commercial property prices in many areas of the USA have fallen substantially over the past few years and may continue to fall.
These are a few of the examples we have come across in our ongoing research into the many regional center programs on offer. That is not to say everything is bad, there are a number of well proven programs available that have delivered on all their promises and these have generally subscribed very quickly.
If you would like further information on the EB-5 program and/or your specific questions answered from an independent EB-5 expert contact Which EB5.
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Tags: american, eb-5, expert, immigrants, independent, regional center, truth, USA, uscis, visa
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 » |
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