Interested in an EB-5 Visa? Be Sure to Investigate the Regional Center

Applying for an EB-5 Investor Visa is a high-stakes prospect. For many clients, they have not only put a large chunk of money on the line, but have also placed their hopes and dreams on the possibility of immigrating to the United States. As you may have read in one of my articles, the regional center that you choose will be a key factor in your case.

That is why one of the most important pieces of advice that I give to my clients is to be thorough in their investigations into the quality of the regional center in which they will invest, and particularly into the resumes and track records of the management of the regional centers. One of the most important indicators of an EB-5 regional center's success is who is running it. The leadership of the organization can give you an idea of the future success of the project, and an idea of how much transparency you can expect as an investor.

The USCIS expects nothing less than perfect compliance with the law. For an entity to become a regional center, it must submit a detailed business plan to USCIS in which it proposes new commercial enterprises and investment opportunities. It is then up to USCIS to determine whether the proposed business ventures will contribute to the regional economy and meet all the necessary criteria for awarding EB-5 visas. When a regional center submits a business plan, they are expected to deliver what they have promised. When you file your I-526 petition to obtain your conditional Green Card, in addition to the petition itself, there are two critical pieces of the application. First will be the extensive personal and investment funds documentation that you have compiled. The second critical piece will be provided by the regional center, fully documenting their regional center and their projects. The regional center plays a very important role in your application.

That is why it is vitally important that you chose your regional center carefully. Take a careful look at the financial histories and entrepreneurial track records of the management behind a given regional center. Have they been fiscally prudent? Have they been intelligent and savvy? Do they have not only a good idea for the project but the experience to make it happen successfully? The best regional centers are run by those who have long histories of excellent results in investment.

Last year, a regional center in Victorville, California was denied its regional center status. According to this article, the site was unable to demonstrate that they met the criteria to raise funds, namely because of two failed projects-and this was after the center had already received $9.5 million dollars from foreign investors! Clearly, the leadership behind this regional center was not competent.

This provides an important lesson for those who are thinking about petitioning for a EB-5 visa. Do not let this happen to you! Investigate the regional center and the management behind it before you invest. Work with a trusted attorney who can help you make sense of the information that's available to you. This is one of the most important things you can do to ensure the success of your case and begin your dream of living in the United States.

If you are ready to speak with an Immigration Attorney about your immigration goals, contact the Law Offices of Vaughan de Kirby at 415-221-2345. We can also arrange a consultation with our counsel in Beijing. For email inquires please contact Lily@deKirby.net.