Over the last week I have been traveling America continuing my quest to meet with representatives and/or attorneys representing regional centers. I am digesting the content of my notes from this trip and will be looking for points that affect our client’s choice of EB-5 Regional Center. We will feature many of these observations here on our Which EB-5 blog in the coming weeks.

Some of my early observations still come back to the same important questions:

1. How safe is the job creation methodology, will my Green Card become permanent?
2. What is the exit strategy – How will I get my investment back and when?
3. What are the implications of a regional center requiring the client to use a designated attorney and does that create a conflict of interest?
4. How do relatively new regional centers compare to those with a track record?
5. Does the geographic location of a regional center have an impact on the client’s choice of where to invest? Should it?
6. With so many new EB-5 regional center choices becoming available, what is the best way for a potential immigrant investor to choose where to invest, who to trust?

As we progress through 2009 our clients around the world will undoubtedly be bombarded with creative advertising offering all sorts of exotic camera shots of fantastic looking destinations all in an effort to promote any one particular regional center. Don’t let that glamour cloud your judgment. Forget the sales spiel; focus on the cold hard facts, some of which may be a little cloudy!

Despite what you might be told by employees or representatives of regional centers I have one sage piece of advice: Don’t be hasty! Even if you are told that spaces are limited, or time is running out (both of these statements may be perfectly true). Make sure you are entirely happy with your decision before you sign agreements or part with your funds. A very wise and wealthy friend once said to me “If it’s a good deal today, it will be a good deal tomorrow”.

Keep watching this space for updates. Contact me directly for a chat or with questions if you want help with your EB-5 visa choices.

Stephen Parnell