March 26th, 2010 |
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With so many new regional centers approved over the past few months, and a significant number of additional centers in the pipeline, there has never been more need for thorough research before determining which regional center option will meet your immigration and financial requirements.
In the past, a variety of businesses have approached us for advice regarding obtaining regional center status. We have been extremely concerned with certain aspects of the focus and experience of some of these proposals. It remains critical that the EB-5 investment visa program maintains its credibility and provides a sound source of suitable projects for potential immigrants.
Unlike a number of Consultants, we do not advise both regional centers and immigrants looking into the regional center program; our focus is to educate potential EB-5 applicants.
For details of our concerns with aspects of particular centers and/or to chat with the authors of Green Card via the Red Carpet contact Which EB5
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Tags: eb-5, investment visa, regional center
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
March 23rd, 2010 |
 In order to qualify under the EB-5 investment visa, you must invest with a regional center program that has had its application for designation as a regional center approved by USCIS. Moreover, the regional center must maintain compliance with the regulations and guidelines of the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Pilot Program, or USCIS can strip the program of its regional center designation, and then those investors who have not yet removed the condition from permanent residence could potentially cease to qualify for conditional permanent residence.
In short, without the regional center designation, there is no permanent residence for the client and no regional center program for the entity that originally obtained the designation.
We understand from the recent meeting with the USCIS that more structured reporting by the regional centers can be expected soon. This may or may not lead to regional centers losing their designation. Feel free to contact us to discuss this important issue before you decide on a choice of regional center for your investment visa.
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Tags: eb-5, immigrant investor, investment visa, regional center, uscis
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
March 19th, 2010 |
 Each year many students plan to go to the USA to study at the Countries world recognized Colleges and Universities, many would like the opportunity to work during their studies and find employment in the USA following graduation. However, on the visas most students use, the F1 or M1, this is not possible. For many the EB-5 investment visa, by allowing permanent residence, enables applicants to study and work as they wish.
An increasing number of students are preferring the EB-5 visa route as it enables them to develop their career in the USA after graduation and live as permanent residents obtaining US citizenship after five years if they so choose.
For details please contact our Student Liaison Director Candice Bartlett via email to info@whicheb5.com
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Tags: citizenship, eb-5, F1 visa, investment visa, M1 visa, permanent residence, students, USA, visa
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
February 26th, 2010 |
 Consider the Pros & Cons of your EB-5 Visa Program Choice For those deciding which EB-5 regional center program to invest in, life was, in some ways, a lot easier a couple of years ago when there were only a few centers to choose from. Now with more than 75 regional centers it seems a lot more complex.
However, a number of these centers are not yet offering a program, some have no measurable statistics to analyze and others have not built up a critical number of applicants; does that make it easier or tougher?
Hardly a day goes by when we do not see a news headline in a local newspaper or magazine in the USA, flagging up an issue that will be of interest if you are considering a particular EB-5 program. However, although the number of centers would seem to make the choice more complex there is also more information available. In the early days of the program there was very little to go on. Now that some centers have been operating long enough it is possible to obtain details on which programs have returned the initial investment, where there have been I-829 (removal of conditions) refusals and why. Additionally, the USCIS have clarified some important points.
All in all, now there is at least more concrete information to base your decision on. For more questions and THE ALL IMPORTANT ANSWERS contact Which EB5
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Tags: eb-5, eb5, I-829, investment visa, regional center, USA, uscis
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
February 24th, 2010 |
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Each year we work with several hundred applicants keen to use the EB5 route to permanent residence in the USA. Their reasons vary – however the majority fall into three main groups.
1. Those seeking to retire and live permanently in the States, often in the warmer climate of Florida or California, who had not realized that a suitable visa option is now available.
2. Overseas students about to be educated at Universities and Colleges in the States who want to be able to work while they study, or those who have just graduated and want to remain and work in the States. The EB5 has been particularly attractive for students from India following complications with the few other options.
3. Those relocating to the States with their families who have found that the complications of the E2 visa and the L1 visa can make these options risky, particularly if their children have to leave the USA at 21.
Read Green Card via the Red Carpet for extensive information on the EB-5 Visa program
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Tags: california, E2, eb-5, eb5, florida, India, investment visa, L1, permanent residence, USA
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
January 29th, 2010 |
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Next week we are going to take a look at the different priorities people who have gone down the EB5 investment visa route have had when choosing a particular regional center program.
Priorities vary enormously and can be affected by the amount of information they have gathered, particularly if (sometimes unknowingly) they have worked with a group who are de facto agents of one particular regional center program rather than independent advocates who look at the positives and negatives of many of the programs.
By examining the priorities of various individuals and then looking at the reality of the experiences of those who have actually gone down the EB-5 path you are in a better position to identify important points to be aware of when selecting a regional center program.
Make sure you don’t miss all the latest EB5 news from Which EB5 by signing-up for our blog.
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Tags: blog, eb-5, eb5, investment visa, regional center
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
December 28th, 2009 |
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A recent article in the Economist magazine (December 19th 2009) looked at this question in some depth and made some interesting points; including the observation that one of the greatest strengths of America is that people want to live there. A recent immigrant was quoted as saying “America is a land that offers the chance to be whatever you want to be, it is a place where nearly any immigrant can find a niche. In America you can say what you think.”
The article points out that as America is so big and diverse that immigrants have an incredible array of choices. The proportion of Americans who are foreign born is 13% and nearly all Americans are descended from people who came from somewhere else in the past couple of centuries. No matter where an immigrant comes from he can find a cluster of his ethnic kin somewhere in America.
America has 50 states with 50 sets of laws. In America people with unusual hobbies are generally left alone.
Alejandro Mayorkas of the United States Citizenship and Immigration service is quoted as saying “People come to America either because they yearn for freedom or because they are fleeing something – be it a war or a culture that irks them “.
For more information on immigrating to America on the EB-5 investment visa contact info@whicheb5.com
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Tags: America, eb-5, emigrate, immigrant, investment visa, Which EB-5
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
December 22nd, 2009 |
 Solve the EB5 Visa Puzzle Green card restrictions can be removed long before investments pay off.
Immigrant investors looking for the right Visa to gain residency in the United States shouldn’t expect a fast return on their money from the EB-5 program. Still, when the right choice in a regional center is made, green card restrictions can be successfully removed fairly quickly and risk can be minimized.
The EB-5 program provides a relatively fast way to obtain a permanent green card, but it doesn’t necessarily offer a fast return on investment. There are risks involved in all regional center investments, but they can pay off with eventual earnings returns and, more importantly, a permanent green card.
Immigrants who choose the EB-5 Visa route can expect to have to wait between 21 to 24 months before they can file an I-829 petition for the removal of conditions on a green card. After this, the wait can be several years for an investment return.
The general rule of thumb is five years, Still, it is important to keep in mind that regional centers are not allowed to guarantee a return on investment. Although the EB-5 program is still relatively new, some early immigrants are beginning to see their returns now.
There are steps investors can take to increase their chances of seeing a return on investment. Carefully researching different regional centers, their programs and the stability of investments is vital. Consultants and experienced advisers can be very useful in this process.
Ask all pertinent questions before making a decision with an EB5 investment visa.
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Tags: consultants, eb-5, eb5, green card, I-829, immigrants, investment, investment visa, regional center, removal of conditions, visa
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
November 16th, 2009 |
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Our clients from around the world all have one thing in common, they want to know how much money they require for an EB-5 investment in the regional center pilot program. Our answer is of course $500000. We also explain that they will need to be aware of the additional costs of an EB-5 investment visa such as the regional center administration fee typically between $30000 and $65000 plus legal fees which typically vary from $10000 to $35000.
All this information on the cost of an EB5 visa is fine but much of the time our clients ask us what the true cost is in their own currency. With currency fluctuations taking place by the minute we have been looking for a way to accurately show these costs in the many home country currencies of our EB-5 clients. From today that is possible.
You will want to bookmark this page so you can refer back to it for the latest EB-5 investment amounts (this information is updated automatically) in your own currency.
If you would like further information on how we may be able to help you with your currency transfer needs please contact us via email at: info@whicheb5.com
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Tags: currency exchange, eb-5, eb5, investment visa, legal fees, pilot program, regional center, true cost
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
November 6th, 2009 |
Recently, several clients have asked us if EB-5 Regional Centers in California might be affected by the economic conditions in that state. We found a recent cover article in Time magazine that offers a candid look at the current and future state of the State of California. We have not drawn any conclusions from reading this but, in the spirit of providing as much information to our readers as possible, we thought you might enjoy this piece.
We would be interested to hear your thoughts especially if you think this information will help you decide which EB5 regional center is right for you. Please feel free to comment on this blog.
Here is the link: Despite Its Woes, California’s Dream Still Lives
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Tags: california, eb-5, investment visa, regional center, time magazine, Which EB-5
Posted in Immigration | No Comments » |
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