September 15th, 2011 |
 It has become apparent that there was a lot of important information to be learnt from the research carried out by our previous 250 plus clients, as well as their experience with the various Regional Center programs they selected.
Families looking at the EB-5 over the years have used different approaches to decide which is the most appropriate regional center program for them. Some just wanted to know which regional centers with proven programs best matched their requirements, others spent literally months working with us on looking in great details at all the options and then undertook very detailed additional due diligence on a shortlist.
A number of these clients bring considerable business, financial and legal experience to these checks as they are leading accountants, CEOs, lawyers, and business owners and thus they know exactly what qualities they are looking for and require very detailed information.
Feedback from these families, who we have successfully worked with, all add to the important information we can provide for those of you looking for as much detailed and impartial advice on the various EB5 programs. Interestingly, these are not necessarily the programs heavily promoted in non-English speaking countries, and the reasons for this are particularly interesting!
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 the EB-5 Visa experts at Which EB5.
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Tags: accountants, CEO's, due diligence, eb-5, eb5, EB5 visa experts, impartial advice, information, lawyers, regional center, research, uscis, Which EB-5
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
July 28th, 2011 |
Those looking at the list of EB-5 Regional Center programs a few years ago were limited to 10 or so options whereas today the number of approved Regional Centers exceeds 150 and continues to grow as if on steroids!
It was certainly a less complex job to select the most appropriate option from 10, rather than 150, particularly as all is not as it seems at first sight.
Many of the 150 plus Regional Centers are currently not offering programs, others have no measurable statistics to draw comparisons on and others have not yet developed a critical mass of applicants, therefore requiring careful review when considering projects.
The amount of information available on the EB-5 has also grown, but much of this information is marketing and sales based. The information often fails to provide prospective applicants with an independent perspective and does not point out the negative aspects, as well as the positive issues.
Every day we read through a mass of information released by a variety of sources on the EB5 that may be of interest if you are considering the various Regional Center programs. Among the most interesting is the progress or otherwise of the Programs set up in the earlier days, have they repaid clients? What is there I-829 record? (Removal of conditions), have there been complaints? Etc.
For the latest information contact Chase Brodsky at Which EB5
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Tags: complaints, eb-5, eb5, I-829, information, regional center, removal of conditions, statistics
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
May 23rd, 2011 |
 We have written several articles and blogs warning those of you looking at the EB5 visa to be very careful when carrying out your research.
Many of you begin your research by searching the web for information. However, from our studies over the years we have come across many examples of information about the EB5 visa Regional Center program that fail to provide all the facts, particularly negative ones.
We have regularly carried out specific research on the regional center programs and have come across many examples on the web of information that is out of date and/or inaccurate. This is important as immigrants searching for information often assume the information on the web is generally correct and may fail to identify problems until it is too late.
It is very important that if you are planning to immigrate to the USA on the EB-5 Regional Center program that you check for the latest information, please contact Chase Brodsky [info@WhichEB5.com] to arrange for a free consultation to go through our findings.
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Tags: beware, eb-5, eb5, information, regional center, USA, visa
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
January 20th, 2011 |
The program is due to end in September 2012 unless it is extended or made permanent before that date.
Applications are currently taking between approximately nine months to a year depending upon which Regional center Program is selected, which immigration attorney is selected and which country you are applying from.
Given the current political scenario in the USA with a Democratic President, A Democratic Senate and a Republican House of Representatives and the fact that the next Presidential election is in 2012 it is unclear at this stage if the program will be renewed.
For those looking to obtain permanent US residency through the EB-5 program and wishing to select a well proven program, rather than one or other of the more speculative and unproven programs which are being highlighted, it may be appropriate to start carrying out due diligence sooner rather than later, particularly as some of the most proven programs have filled up very quickly in the past few months.
For more information contact us via email at info@whicheb5.com or sign-up for complete EB-5 visa information.
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Tags: eb-5, immigrant investor, immigration attorney, information, permanent residence, regional center, September 2012, USA, visa
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
December 14th, 2010 |
 Finding information on the EB-5 visa is relatively easy with so many regional centers and their agents regularly issuing articles and press releases on the current investment visa programs. Additionally, an ever increasing number of immigration attorneys are issuing information identifying their suitability to prepare your EB-5 visa application. However, all too often the information from these sources is simply a sales method designed to get clients to commit to a particular program rather than taking an in-depth look at the large amount of regional center programs and the real track record beneath their sales presentations.
Which EB5 are unusual in this respect as they only work with clients looking to emigrate to the US on the EB-5 visa. Unlike some other so called visa experts they do not represent business enterprises looking to raise capital as a USCIS EB-5 Regional Center. This is what truly sets Which EB5 apart from other EB5 consultants.
The impartiality of Which EB 5 maybe the reason we have a 100% track record with our clients who come from over seventy-five (75) countries around the world. [See some of their stories here]
In addition, a number of Government Agencies, including the Executive Office of the President of the USA, have sought information from the extensive Which EB5 website. The Which EB 5 website includes content from the only published book written from an immigrants perspective on the EB-5 visa – Green Card via the Red Carpet.
Consultations with the authors of Green Card via the Red Carpet, who are also the Managing Partners of Which EB-5, can be arranged via email at: info@WhichEB5.com
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Tags: consultants, eb-5, Green Card via the Red Carpet, immigration attorney, information, President of the USA, regional center, uscis, visa, Which EB-5
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
December 3rd, 2010 |
 We sometimes come across potential EB-5 visa applicants attempting to compare the various regional center alternatives.
In the absence of detailed statistical regional center information from USCIS, searching for meaningful data often results in asking a regional center (not always ideal) or relying on some information, usually found somewhere on a web site.
As part of our ongoing research we regularly monitor information relating to the EB-5 and the latest batch of incorrect facts includes –
- A site offering consultancy services on various centers which quotes an entirely inaccurate figure for I-829 successes for a particular regional center. We know the figure to be incorrect as the center in question has not been operating long enough to obtain any I-829 approvals for its clients.
- A site quoting a whole range of comparative figures that are over two years old, particularly worrying given the completely different economic climate in 2010.
For more updated EB-5 information please contact Which EB5 at: info@whicheb5.com
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Tags: applicants, approvals, eb-5, I-829, information, regional center, statistics, uscis, 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 » |
October 14th, 2010 |
 Some of the information on self-help type expat forums can be extremely misleading and dangerous and emphasize why it is so important to obtain independent and expert advice. To show how dangerous the expat forums can be, even when trying to provide genuine well meaning advice, we have taken the following recent entries from some popular forums:
“ ……… seems very safe and I would recommend them” This regional center has I-829 refusals.
“We are very happy with the …………… program and with the backing of the Governor and State Senator it is one of the “real” EB5 programs that you can see and touch.” This center makes a claims in literature and at exhibitions that the USCIS confirm as untrue.
“I recommend the ………” This regional center project has investors who are now taking court action against one of its programs – in this case the investment was lost yet the expat commentator is taken seriously as he has posted so many entries.
Be careful what you read on immigration forums. Many well meaning individuals do not necessarily give expert advice.
If you would like specific independent information on the EB-5 programs contact us to arrange a consultation with a Senior Partner
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Tags: eb-5, eb5, expat forums, Governor, I-829, independent, information, misleading, refusals, regional center, State Senator, uscis, visa
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
May 28th, 2010 |
 Where to get real information on the EB-5 visa program As the EB-5 program has now been operating for several years there are a numbers of families who have experienced the entire cycle. They originally obtained their I-526’s, and their green cards, had conditions removed via the I-829, have lived in the US long enough to apply for citizenship, and have had a return on their original $500,000 investment or are due to in the next few months.
Their experience on the return on their investments are particularly interesting for those considering the EB-5 option as some investing in particular regional centers received back less than they originally invested; others are likely to receive back at least the $500.000 they initially invested possibly more.
It is also interesting to analyze the experience of the many regional centers that have been approved by the USCIS to offer regional center EB-5 programs; there are significant differences when using different criteria to measure results, all of which are important for potential EB5 investors to understand.
If you are seeking feedback of either immigrant’s experience of the EB-5 or the experience of the various regional centers it would be worth contacting Which EB5 who have carried out extensive research in these areas and received feedback from families who have been through the entire EB-5 process.
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Tags: eb-5, eb5, eb5 investors, green card, I-526, I-829, information, investment, investors, regional center, uscis, visa, Which EB-5
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
May 18th, 2010 |
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Every now and then, people considering the EB-5 program decide that they can find all the information they need on their own, without any help. As you might expect we do not recommend this course of action, particularly as impartial and experienced advice can be obtained for free.
In the next few articles we will cover the feedback from some families who have tried going it alone and subsequently sought our help when things have not gone as planned.
Today we focus on the experiences of families who have run into issues on the inspection tour.
On one occasion a gentleman took a 5000 mile flight and then drove over 300 miles to visit a couple of regional centers he had pre arranged to be shown around. On arriving at one of the centers he was informed that the head of the program was not available, so he waited for an eternity while someone else was found to show him round. During the tour it became clear they had not done this before and could not answer all his questions. Indeed their whole attitude seemed to be along the lines that he was lucky to be taking up their valuable time! Sometimes the little things count in life and after all that travelling he expected to be offered a drink of some sort, but was not even offered a glass of water – his view was that if you are considering investing $500,000 you expect somewhat better treatment.
Of course equally worrying is the familiarization/inspection trip where discourtesy is not the issue but the opposite, ie several hours of hard sell based on the skills of salesmanship rather than hard facts on the key aspects of the program ie Will I get my visa?, Will I keep my visa? Will I get all my money back? Unfortunately we have heard that some regional center visits may have taken this approach by focusing on the sales aspects rather than focusing on facts.
Ultimately by undertaking a center tour without taking advice from an independent, experienced and impartial adviser you may waste the cost of airfares, car hire and hotels etc but if you make the wrong decisions based on an inspection trip you not only risk losing $500000 but also potential deportation. You don’t need to do this alone. Contact us for support using the form on the right.
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Tags: eb-5, free, independent advice, information, regional center
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
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