关于EB-5相关新闻

Submit Your Comments to DHS on Proposed EB-5 Regulations by April 11

IIUSA | April 6th, 2017

In January, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published two separate proposed rules in the Federal Register, one addresses program monitoring and oversight, the other addresses TEAs and investment amounts. The deadline to provide comments on either of the proposed regulations is next Tuesday, April 11th.

At this time DHS has not provided any further information on the status of these proposed regulations in light of President Trump’s regulatory freeze so it is critical that the industry submit comments of the potential negative effects that these regulations pose for the EB-5 Program.

If you have not yet provided your comments to DHS on either of the proposed rules you can do so by following the steps below. It is imperative that as many EB-5 stakeholders as possible submit comments before the deadline.

IIUSA will be submitting comments on behalf of the Association for both the NPRM and the ANPRM, but it is critical that individuals and companies submit their own comments as well.

Mend, Don’t End, the EB-5 Program

Angel Brunner | April 06, 2017

The EB-5 program puts Americans to work. According to a recent Commerce Department study, in fiscal year 2012-2013 alone, global EB-5 investors provided $5.8 billion in foreign capital to invest in 562 projects in communities from California to Alabama and created an estimated 174,039 jobs. That’s a hefty economic punch for a program that operates at no cost to taxpayers. Yet, unless Congress acts quickly, the EB-5 Regional Center program will expire on April 28. For 27 years, EB-5 has been repeatedly reauthorized with large, bipartisan majorities. Now, some vocal critics — and classic Washington intransigence — threaten the survival of the program and the jobs it helps to create.

USCIS to Host Stakeholder Webinar on Form I-924 Wednesday April, 26

IIUSA | April 5th, 2017

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will host a webinar on Wednesday April, 26 from 1:00 to 2:30pm (Eastern) to discuss the Form I-924, Application for Regional Center Designation Under the Immigrant Investor Program. This webinar will discuss certain changes to the Dec. 23, 2016 edition of Form I-924.

Form I-924 is used by any economic unit, public or private, in the United States that is involved with promoting economic growth (including increased export sales, improved regional productivity, job creation, or increased domestic capital investment) to:

--Ask USCIS to be designated as a regional center under the Immigrant Investor Program; or
--Request an amendment to a previously approved regional center.

To register, please follow lease steps:

--Please email ipostakeholderengagement@uscis.dhs.gov with your full name and the name of your organization. Also, please place “I-924 Webinar” in the subject line. Once we process your registration, you will receive a confirmation email with additional details.
--If you have any questions regarding the registration process, or if you have not received a confirmation email within two business days, please email the same address.

Congress Moves Closer to EB-5 Reform

Beth Mattson-Teig | Apr 4, 2017

Reforms to the EB-5 Immigrant Investor program is a can that Congress has been kicking down the road for the past two years. Despite growing optimism that comprehensive changes will be introduced this year, those changes likely won’t come in time for the next big deadline—the program’s April 28th expiration.

Both Republicans and Democrats agree that changes to the nearly 30-year-old program are needed. Yet coming to terms on new rules has proved to be a big stumbling block. Instead of passing a new bill, EB-5 has been receiving short-term, three- and six-month extensions since 2015 just to keep the program running.

Given the looming deadline, it looks like at least one more short-term extension is in the cards. Players in the EB-5 industry have not given up hope of seeing a comprehensive EB-5 bill approved prior to April 28th. However, it is more likely that Congress will approve new rules along with a five-year renewal later this summer or fall

Text Now Available for S. 727, a Bill to Reform and Permanently Reauthorize the EB-5 Regional Center Program

IIUSA | April 4th, 2017

On March 27, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced S. 727, the Invest in Our Communities Act. The bill would not only increase the worldwide levels of employment-based visas, but also permanently reauthorize the EB-5 Regional Center Program. If enacted, the bill would exempt dependents of visa applicants from being counted towards the visa cap and would also remove the per country visa cap for the EB-5 visa category. In addition to permanently reauthorizing the EB-5 Regional Center Program the bill includes several integrity measures specific for EB-5. Among other provision, the bill would:

• Prohibit bona fides of regional centers from participating either directly or indirectly if they have been found guilty of certain crimes in the past 5 years;
• Bar involvement by a foreign government in regional centers;
• Require criminal and other background checks (including fingerprinting) of regional center or regional center affiliated enterprises and any person involved in them;
• Allow for termination of regional centers by the Secretary of Homeland Security for reasons of fraud, abuse, misrepresentation, or otherwise failing to comply with the law;
• Statutorily reaffirms the requirement to comply with securities laws;
• Require oversight and record keeping by regional centers of offers, purchases, and sales of, and advice relating to securities made by parties associated with the regional center.

USCIS Announces Launch of EB-5 Regional Center Compliance Audit Program

Carolyn S. Lee | March 30, 2017

On March 20, 2017, USCIS announced the launch of the EB-5 Regional Center Compliance Audit Program. According to the USCIS website, “compliance audits are an additional way to enhance EB-5 program integrity and verify information in regional center applications and annual certifications.”

The categories of auditing activities can be grouped under: (1) verification of information in regional center applications and annual certifications, including updates, (2) verification of continued eligibility, based both on regional center submissions and outside records, and (3) consensually obtained information through “data requests” and site inspection.

Foreign Investors Rush to Apply for EB-5 Visas as Latest Program Deadline Approaches

Randyl Drummer | March 29, 2017

As Congress prepares to take up budget negotiations, the future of the popular EB-5 immigrant visa program is facing the end of its latest temporary extension -- and the real possibility that the program, which offers permanent U.S. residency to foreign nationals who invest in certain job-creating businesses or projects, is coming to an end.

Meanwhile, developers and foreign nationals uncertain about the program's future are rushing to apply ahead of the April 28 deadline, when lawmakers may either sharply raise minimum contribution requirements or allow the program to expire.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-KY, a longtime advocate for the EB-5 program, on Monday introduced a bill to "increase the worldwide level of employment-based immigrants and to reauthorize the EB-5 regional center program" in advance of its scheduled expiration.

New Proposal Seeks To Raise Minimum Investment For EB-5 Visa

Ellen Sheng | JAN 26, 2017

Earlier this month, about a week before Donald Trump's inauguration, the Department of Homeland Security proposed increasing the minimum investment amount required for the EB-5 program to $1.35 million in a "targeted employment area," up from $500,000 currently. A targeted employment area is an area with high unemployment or a rural area. The proposal suggests raising the minimum investment to $1.8 million for developments in low- to average-unemployment areas, up from the current $1 million.

The proposal also seeks to change how a "targeted employment areas" (or TEA) is determined. The power to define what is a TEA now lies with the states but the Department of Homeland Security suggests taking on that task.

EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program Modernization - A Proposed Rule by the Homeland Security Department

Homeland Security Department | 01/13/2017

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposes to amend its regulations governing the employment-based, fifth preference (EB-5) immigrant investor classification and associated regional centers to reflect statutory changes and modernize the EB-5 program. In general, under the EB-5 program, individuals are eligible to apply for lawful permanent residence in the United States if they make the necessary investment in a commercial enterprise in the United States and create or, in certain circumstances, preserve 10 permanent full-time jobs for qualified U.S. workers. This proposed rule would change the EB-5 program regulations to reflect statutory changes and codify existing policies. It would also change certain aspects of the EB-5 program in need of reform.

IIUSA Statement on Ongoing Efforts by Congress to Improve EB-5 Program Integrity​​

IIUSA | Dec 21, 2015

IIUSA supports efforts by Congress to strengthen the integrity of the EB-5 Regional Center ​Program through enhanced oversight and ​law ​enforcement. That is why we supported the bipartisan, bicameral agreement among judiciary committee leadership to enact ​thoughtful and comprehensive ​reforms ​as part of long term reauthorization ​of the Program in this week’s​ omnibus appropriations legislation. ​Unfortunately, Congress did not enact these reforms as part of the omnibus appropriations legislation passed last week.

This means our work continues with even more urgency. The legislation from the current 114th Congress also continues to grow with important reform ideas to consider. IIUSA welcomes the interest of all congressional offices, and introduction of new legislation, to achieve the necessary reform that will enable the long term reauthorization the EB-5 Regional Center industry truly needs.

EB-5 visa program extended with no reforms till September 30, 2016

THE AMERICAN BAZAAR | December 16, 2015

The EB-5 visa program has been extended with all current rules intact till September 30, 2016 as part of the omnibus spending bill Congress reached Tuesday night.

The regional center part of the program was set to expire last Friday, and lawmakers had come close to a compromise that would have reauthorized it for another five years, but with many changes designed to addresses myriad criticisms, reported the San Francisco Chronicle.

U.S. Department of State Issues January Visa Bulletin; EB-5 Categories Now “Unauthorized”

IIUSA | Dec 14, 2015

The U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs released its Visa Bulletin for the month of January. For the first time, all EB-5 Regional Center categories have all gone to “U” meaning unauthorized (i.e., numbers are not authorized for issuance). Visas issuance for EB-5 applicants will remain unauthorized until legislation for the EB-5 Regional Center Program is extended.

EB-5 Regional Center Program Temporarily Extended; Changes Expected

Jeffrey W. Pitts | December 10 2015

The continuing resolution that President Obama signed into law on September 30, 2015, that averted the federal shutdown included a critical extension of the EB-5 Regional Center Program.

The extension for the Regional Center Program permits immigrant investors to continue to file EB-5 petitions through a Regional Center under the current investment threshold. In addition to extending the current program to December 11, 2015, this temporary reprieve provides additional time for Congress to consider a long-term reauthorization bill that would include reforms to the current eligibility requirements. Prior to the sun-setting of the program, there was much debate in Congress over changes that are believed needed to strengthen federal oversight and the integrity of the program. Although most practitioners in the EB-5 arena believe a permanent reauthorization is likely, it is also believed there will be changes that will impact both individual investors as well as developers and Regional Centers.

Reforms proposed as EB-5 immigrant investor program faces expiration

Sanjay Bhatt | Dec 10, 2015

On Friday, Congress passed a stop-gap bill to keep federal agencies funded through Wednesday. That gives lawmakers time to complete negotiations over a $1.1 trillion budget and decide on the future of the EB-5 visa program.

A copy of the compromise proposal hashed out by House and Senate leaders, obtained by The Seattle Times, reserves 4,000 visas annually for rural areas and “priority urban investment areas,” a move that could shorten the wait time for immigrant investors. While the proposal encourages more EB-5 projects in high-priority areas, it also raises the cheaper EB-5 visa’s minimum investment to $800,000.

IIUSA Supports Bicameral, Bipartisan Agreement by Judiciary Committee Leaders to Reform and Reauthorize EB-5

IIUSA | Dec 04, 2015

The Invest In the USA (IIUSA) Board of Directors has voted unanimously in support of a bipartisan, bicameral agreement among the chairmen and ranking members of both the House and Senate Judiciary Committees to reform and reauthorize the EB-5 Regional Center Program (the “Program”). The vote followed a review of draft legislation which is the result of extensive discussions among Congressional leaders and industry stakeholders that began with the last Program reauthorization in 2012 and continued throughout the 113th Congress (2013-2014) in the context of broader immigration reform efforts and current 114th Congress (2015-2016).

EB-5 Regional Center Program to Get Short-Term Reprieve with Passage of Continuing Resolution

Alexander Hecht | Sept 30, 2015

Coinciding with the end of the current fiscal year, the EB-5 regional center program is set to expire today but will get a temporary reprieve with expected final passage of a Continuing Resolution (CR) that will fund the government through December 11 and also temporarily extend the regional center program through that same date.The next two months, leading up to December 11, are sure to see a renewed effort by Grassley, Leahy, Amodei, and Polis to push for action on reauthorization and reform of the regional center program.

Keep EB-5 working for America

Sept 23, 2015 | http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/economy-budget/254583-keep-eb-5-working-for-america

With the clock ticking down on the end of the fiscal year, Congress is working feverishly to avoid a government shutdown. One important economic development program that should not be shutdown is the EB-5 Investor Visa Program, and the related EB-5 Regional Center Program, which will sunset on September 30 absent reauthorization.

Since 2008, EB-5 has generated $11.92 billion in foreign direct investment. And, from 2010-2013 alone, the program contributed $9.62 billion to gross domestic product while supporting an average of 29,300 jobs per year.

Failure to reauthorize EB-5 would shut down this critical flow of investment to American communities. National economic output is built on thousands of local economies – towns, counties and cities with their own needs and plans for economic growth. The impact of EB5 on local, struggling economies is tremendous.

U.S. Senate’s Government Funding Bill Contains an Extension for the EB-5 Regional Center Program through December 11, 2015

Matthew Virkstis | Sept 22, 2015

Today, leaders in the United States Senate unveiled legislation to fund the Federal Government through December 11, 2015 that contains an extension for the EB-5 Regional Center Program. The bill, known as a continuing resolution, contains an extension for the EB-5 Program along with extensions for E-Verify, the Conrad-30 Waiver Program, and the Non-Minister Religious Worker Visa Program. The bill would extend all four of these programs through December 11, 2015. Section 106 sets out the duration of the funding authority. Section 131 of the bill contains the language to extend the EB-5 program.

U.S. Job Creation at No Cost to the Taxpayer: An Idea We Can All Agree on

Peter D. Joseph | Aug 12, 2015

Even with the partisan wrangling and increasingly heated presidential campaign rhetoric, there are general principles Republicans and Democrats coalesce around: increased investment in the United States and more U.S. jobs without the burden on the taxpayer. As members of Congress adjourn for their August recess, a consensus is building to reauthorize a program that supports such job creation in our still recovering economy.

Bringing Our Immigration System into the Digital Age - White House Blog

CECILIA MUÑOZ, MIKEY DICKERSON | July 15, 2015

Federal agencies are undertaking new actions to improve the visa experience for families, workers, employers, and people in need of humanitarian relief. This includes reforms to the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program.

Reform of EB-5 visas proposed in Senate

Seattle Times staff | June 5, 2015

A bill introduced this past week by Senators Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, would reform program weaknesses, including the misdirection of money to prosperous areas that was documented by The Seattle Times earlier this year.

The senators said Senate Bill 1501 would “help to restore the program to its original intent, by ensuring that much of the capital generated and jobs created occur in rural areas and areas with high unemployment.” Their measure would also extend the EB-5 program, set to expire in September, for 5 more years.

One Year Until EB-5 Regional Center Program’s Sunset Date

IIUSA | Sep 30, 2014

Summer is over and autumn is in full swing. We are also one year out from the EB-5 Regional Center Program’s sunset date of September 30, 2015. Now, more than ever, it is important to come together as an industry with a unified voice to ensure that this regional economic development tool continues its work of creating jobs and enhancing communities all around the country.

EB-5 visa is in danger of retrogression

Deepak Chitnis | June 12, 2014

For the first time ever, the US Department of State may introduce a retrogression on all EB-5 visa dates from China, creating the country’s first backlog in the 24-year history of the EB-5 visa program.

The announcement of such a drastic measure came in the State Department’s visa bulletin for this month, which states that China’s EB-5 cap for the entire year of 2014 is already dangerously close to being met. China’s EB-5 cap is approximately 10,000, and if the number is met prematurely, it will likely necessitate that priority dates are shifted back, thus creating a Chinese backlog for the first time since the program’s inception.

USCIS Publishes Petition Processing Times & Adjudication Data

IIUSA | June 10, 2014

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) posted updated estimated average processing times for I-526, I-829 and I-924 petitions. Most notably, the average processing times for I-526 and I-924 petitions have been significantly reduced. I-526 petitions have been reduced by six months. Average I-829 processing times remain at about 8.7 months and I-924 designation went from 10.6 months to 4.4 months. USCIS recently posted the adjudication data representing the first two quarters of the fiscal year 2014. At the current pace, full year data would show over 9,000 I-526 petitions being received by USCIS, indicating that investor demand is at an all-time high. Moreover, there are only 3,000 visas left for EB-5 category in FY2014. There will undoubtedly be retrogression implications in FY2015 if changes are not made by Congress to current EB-5 legislation which place limits on the number of visas allotted per country or increases the annual allotment.

IIUSA Statement on Brookings Institution’s New Report on the EB-5 Program

IIUSA | February 5, 2014

As the trade association representing EB-5 Regional Centers that account for 95 percent of the capital flowing through the EB-5 program, IIUSA served as a resource for the report providing economic data and other relevant information. We agree with the paper’s finding that the EB-5 program is an important economic development tool for state and local governments – particularly in an economy where traditional financing is hard to come by.

Report: Immigration Agency Should Seek EB-5 Help

DIRK LAMMERS | February 5, 2014

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services should get help from the Department of Commerce to oversee projects funded by the federal EB-5 investment-for-green-cards immigration program, a Washington think tank says in a report released Wednesday. The Brookings Institution report found that the EB-5 program seems to work well when the regional centers approved to recruit foreign investors collaborate with local and regional economic development entities.

Improving the EB-5 Investor Visa Program

Audrey Singer and Camille Galdes | February 5, 2014

Although utilization of EB-5 financing has increased dramatically in recent years as a source of regional economic development, the program faces some major challenges. The following suggestions for a reconsidered EB-5 regional center program can help federal policymakers strengthen the utility of this tool and better accomplish the central goal of the program.

Report for 2012 Reveals Strength of U.S. as Destination for Foreign Investment

IIUSA | January 28, 2014

SelectUSA, the U.S. federal initiative to promote and support business investment in the United States, released its report Foreign Direct Invesment (FDI) in the United States: Drivers of U.S. Economic Competitiveness late last month. The report, highlights several important investment trends for 2012. Foreign direct investment creates jobs, increases wealth and living standards, and bolsters innovation that drives U.S. economic competitiveness. In many ways, EB-5 is a microcosm of total FDI in the U.S. The EB-5 Program, which totaled over $2 Billion or 1.2% of total FDI inflow in 2012, is by its very nature a vehicle for job creation and economic development throughout the U.S.

FAQs on EB-5 Quota Backlog

H. Ronald Klasko | January 27, 2014

Last Monday, H. Ronald Klasko posted an instructive article on his blog simplifying the impending issue of quota retrogression into a FAQ format. The article, below, is worth a read no matter your expertise in the nuance of immigration law.

Lawmakers to review EB5 program

Bob Mercer | January 22, 2014

Republican and Democratic leaders agreed Wednesday the Legislature will review state government’s involvement in the EB-5 immigrant-investor program. “You have my word,” Sen. Corey Brown, R-Gettysburg, said during a discussion on the topic by House and Senate members on the Legislative Procedure Committee.

EB-5 Visas for Investors See Record Demand

Angus Loten | Jan. 20, 2014

Program Saw 6,434 Foreigners Apply in the Latest Year. A federal program that allows foreigners to live in the U.S. if they invest in job-creating ventures took in a record number of applications last year. The program has boomed over the past seven years, as traditional forms of financing dried up for projects ranging from hotels and casinos to wind farms and frozen-yogurt franchises.

Foreigners Finance More Diverse Ventures To Obtain U.S. Visas

Tom Banse | August 13, 2013

What do these things have in common: an Idaho gold mine, a proposed wind farm in central Washington, a new hotel in Portland and the replacement floating bridge across Lake Washington? They're all investment vehicles for families seeking U.S. green cards.

Under U.S. immigration law, foreigners can get a green card by investing at least $500,000 to create at least 10 jobs here. In the Northwest, an increasingly diverse range of projects are competing for such foreign investment.

President Obama on Foreign Investment

C-SPAN | Oct 31, 2013

President Obama announced a new government-wide effort to encourage foreign business investment in the United States at the SelectUSA Investment Summit.

EB-5: The Immigrant Investor Program in Washington State.

TVW | September 13th 2013

A hearing on the EB-5 program in Washington State from the Immigrant Investor's perspective.

Create 10 Jobs In The U.S Get A Green Card

Tom Banse | August 13, 2013

Under U-S immigration law, wealthy foreigners can get a green card by investing at least half a million dollars to create at least 10 jobs here. In the Northwest, an increasingly diverse range of projects are competing for such foreign investment.

Leahy proposal would alter EB-5 job creation formula

Hilary Niles | August 9, 2013

In a bid to shore up the controversial EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., has proposed a roster of improvements: stronger oversight, better reporting and streamlined reviews of business plans and visa applications, among them. His revisions also would tweak the job creation requirement to define full-time employment by the equivalent of a full-time job.

EB-5 Issuers May Commence General Solicitation For Rule 506 Offerings On Sep. 23, 2013

John Tishler | August 7, 2013

The final rules for eliminating the prohibition against general solicitation and general advertising in Rule 506 offerings will become effective on September 23, 2013.

What the SEC’s Elimination of the Prohibition on General Solicitation means

John Tishler | July 12, 2013

The SEC adopted amendments to Rule 506 that would permit issuers to use broad-based marketing methods such as the Internet, social media, email campaigns, television advertising and seminars open to the general public. Find out what this means to the EB-5 community.

SEC liberalizes restrictions on advertisements of most EB-5 projects

Dillon Colucci | July 10 2013

The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) voted 4 to 1 to lift an 80-year-old ban on advertisements of private offerings. This will fundamentally alter the marketing landscape for EB-5 projects by allowing project companies to solicit investors through social media, press releases, newspapers, billboards and other traditional marketing campaigns.

U.S. Senate Looks to Expand Current EB-5 Program

Reno Charlton | 06/28/2013

It has now been revealed that the U.S. Senate is looking to expand on the current EB-5 program that is in place with an investor visa that would reduce the investment threshold for those who are looking to gain residency in the United States. The new visa is set to run alongside the existing EB-5 visa.

Investing in the American Dream: Immigration and the EB-5 Program

Preetam Kaushik | 06/25/2013

Lost in the debate that will soon begin in the Senate is an existing highly innovative path for foreign nationals who want to contribute to the U.S. economy, and become permanent residents in return. Domestic U.S. businesses also have great expectations from the program's ability to provide alternative sources of capital.

Is Immigrant Investment Right For Your Project?

Jeffrey Craven | June 10, 2013

What do Marriott, Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, American Life Insurance Company and Jay Peak Ski Resort know that you don't know?

USCIS issues final EB-5 policy memo

Jennifer Hermansky | May 31, 2013

USCIS finally issued the much anticipated Final EB-5 Adjudications Policy Memorandum. The Final EB-5 Adjudications Policy Memorandum makes significant changes to and provides clarifications for the EB-5 Program.

Immigrants Wanted: Cities Need You!

David Koeppel | May 22, 2013

The loss of manufacturing jobs and declining populations have intensified efforts in Rust Belt cities to attract new immigrant entrepreneurs and startups to help revitalize ailing economies. “It’s important to have this kind of vibrancy and talent to make for a growing economy,” said Jerry Schlichter.

Senator Leahy’s EB-5 Amendment Added to Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill

Dawn M. Lurie Catherine Risoleo | May 21, 2013

The Senate Judiciary Committee held day three of the markup of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill under review by the Senate. The Committee unanimously approved Senator Patrick Leahy’s (D-Vt.) amendment to make improvements to and permanently codify the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Regional Center program.

The New EB-5 Program office in Washington, DC

Mahsa Aliaskari | May 19, 2013

The new EB-5 Program office in Washington, DC, went “live” on Monday, May 6, 2013, and stakeholders are waiting anxiously to determine if the centralization of the EB-5 program will improve service, reduce processing times and further the dialogue promised by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) leadership.

Leahy Pushes for Permanent Authorization of the EB-5 Program in Immigration Reform

Peter D. Joseph - IIUSA | May 13, 2013

Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) introduced an amendment to permanently authorize and improve the EB-5 Program. The amendment pushes for maximizing visa capacity while protecting Program integrity and would potentially put processes in place that should help with the USCIS backlog.

Support Sen. Leahy's Effort to Permanently Authorize the EB-5 Regional Center Program

Peter D. Joseph - IIUSA | May 13, 2013

IIUSA's letter to Senator Leahy supporting his leadership on EB-5 related issues, Including the proposed ammendment to (1) permanently authorize the EB-5 Program, (2) mazimize the Program's capacity for economic impact, and, (3) address with the processing backlogs.

Chinese investors to fund Pennsylvania Turnpike-I-95 connection construction

Paul Nussbaum | May 10, 2013

To help pay for the construction of the long-awaited connection between the Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-95, turnpike officials plan to borrow from foreign investors. If the financiers get federal approval, the deal will offer something for everyone: The turnpike will get cheap money.The investors, expected to be primarily from China, will get a quick path to legal residence in the United States.

IIUSA Announces More Speakers, Extends Group Hotel Rate for June EB-5 Forum

(PRWEB) | May 08, 2013

The Association to Invest in the USA (IIUSA), the national trade association for the EB-5 Regional Center Program industry, announced updates to its 3rd Annual International Investment & Economic Development Forum in Las Vegas, NV this week. IIUSA is hosting the 2013 Forum at the Mirage Hotel from June 19-21, and recently extended the group rate for conference attendees.

In Immigration Debate, Investment Visa Under the Radar

Kelly Chung Dawson | May 04, 2013

The Immigration Act of 1990 introduced the EB-5 visa, an "employment-based" route to legal permanent US residency - a "green card" - for foreigners with enough money to invest. The program will expire in September 2015 unless Congress reauthorizes it, but its long-term future is uncertain. President Barack Obama said earlier this year that he hopes to make the EB-5 visa permanent.

USCIS Ombudsman's office meeting highlights EB-5 program challenges

Greenberg Traurig LLP, Kate Kalmykov | Apr. 29, 2013

The Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (“USCIS Ombudsman’s Office”) held a meeting for stakeholders of the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program (“EB-5 program”) to address issues ranging from persistent adjudication delays to the conflict between agency standards and business realities.

Senate pushes EB5 visa's limits

Meisha Perrin - Miami Today | April 25, 2013

Last week, officials released proposals that included some key EB5 provisions they seek to change, which include changing the limit on immigrant visas that can be given out from the current 10,000. As it stands, that 10,000, includes not only the principal investor, but also the investor's family — and that limit in turn puts a limit on the amount of capital that can be raised each year through the program.

New EB-5 program office to be established in Washington, DC

Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo PC, Douglas Hauer | Dec. 3, 2012

USCIS announced the creation of a new EB-5 Program Office in Washington, DC. The Chief of the new EB-5 Program Office will report to the Deputy Director of USCIS. This is a significant realignment, which USCIS intends to accomplish within four to six months.

Foreign Investor Program May Remain to Create Jobs in Whatcom County

Dave Gallagher - The Bellingham Herald | November 10, 2011

Earlier this week U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Everett, unveiled legislation to make permanent a program that has created hundreds of jobs in Whatcom County over the past three years.

Special report: Overselling the American dream overseas

James Kelleher, Karin Matz and Melanie Lee | Dec 22, 2010

Jason Lee is literally selling the American dream. Lee runs Maslink, a firm that connects cash-hungry American businesses with Chinese investors keen to move to the United States.

Senator Leahy calls for permanent extension of EB-5 Program

Senator Patrick Leahy | April 29, 2010

Senators Reid, Schumer and Menendez have released a productive framework for the process of drafting comprehensive immigration reform legislation. I share their commitment to enacting key legislative efforts including AgJobs, the Uniting American Families Act, the DREAM Act, and a permanent extension of the EB-5 foreign investors program, as part of comprehensive reform.

Immigrants invest in U.S. businesses in exchange for visas

N.C. Aizenman - Washington Post | January 10, 2010

The number of foreigners willing to invest $500,000 to $1 million in a U.S. business in exchange for a visa roughly tripled in the past fiscal year, as dozens of cash-strapped enterprises and local governments scrambled to attract wealthy foreign backers through a previously obscure provision of immigration law.

Federal Program Funnels Millions Into County

Tara Nelson - The Northern Light | Aug 26, 2010

The Whatcom Opportunity Regional Center (WORC) unveiled its new $7.8 million senior living community, Correll Common, in Ferndale Monday, as part of its goal to stimulate growth in Whatcom County industries and create jobs.

Ferndale Hosts County Leaders to Discuss Economic Development

Megan Clafin of The Ferndale Record | August 25, 2010

Whatcom Opportunity Regional Center, which also helps to develop industries around the seniors’ population, specifically in the housing sector, spearheaded Correll Commons. Constructing the 125-unit development created more than 160 jobs and between the four projects planned — the remaining three are slated for Lynden — will put more than $35 million back into the local economy, said WORC President David Andersson.

Invest in the U.S., Get a Visa?

Lisa Chow - WNYC News | July 23, 2009

The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Regional Center Program. Guest: Stephen Yale-Loehr, adjunct professor at Cornell University Law School and the co-author of Immigration Law & Procedure Treatise.

Promoting Job Creation and Foreign Investment in the United States

Senate Judiciary Committee | July 22, 2009

An Assessment of the EB-5 Regional Center Program

Foreigners Invest Greenbacks in Return for Green Cards

Cecilia Kang - Washington Post | December 8, 2007

Through a little-known visa program that connects international fortunes to depressed economies around the country, Gaithersburg-based NobleOutReach has set out to rebuild parts of New Orleans through investments from wealthy foreigners seeking a gateway for immigration.