Well, in just a few hours I'll be leaving Miami for Dubai via London and I have to tell you guys…this is pretty exciting!  I've done seminars on investment based immigration for a loooooong time now: since the early 1990's, when I had my office in Hong Kong, I've been talking about the EB-5, L-1, and alternative immigration strategies.  But never have I gotten as warm a reception as the one I've gotten for Dubai.  Listen to this:-over 100 prequalfied prospective EB-5 investors will be attending (our original room only sat 70 so we had to get a bigger one!)-folks are flying in from 12 different countries to attend the seminar!Honestly, I feel like I'm opening for Paul McCartney or something. (-;I've never been to Dubai so this is a particu…

My first regional center filing should approved any day now; the site is up, check it out!New Lake Point EcoVentures Regional Center Web Site…

I have received a number of panicked emails this morning in response to my grumpy about certain EB-5 Regional Centers concealing petition denials.  Please note that it is not possible for me to publicly identify any of these entities.  Not only would it be irresponsible to do so (given that I have not given those centers an opportunity to explain their specific situations to me), but the information has come to me via clients…it is privileged information which I cannot disseminate, no matter how much I'd love to "out" dishonest marketers, I cannot name names.However, I CAN tell you who I was NOT referring to: because of my long-established respect for CMB Regional Center, several writers have inquired as to whether that Regional Center is among those to which I r…

For the third time in a month, I have been made aware of I-829 denials issued to some of the self-described "top" EB-5 Regional Centers.  Now, while an EB-5 Regional Center is not required to discuss these denials, deliberately concealing them is another matter.A number of EB-5 Regional Center sites are expressly detailing their records of approval…while conveniently failing to disclose their I-829 denials.  Folks, this isn't eBay feedback on your online used CD store…this is the record of your Regional Center's ability to obtain the permanent residency you promised your investor years ago.  You have an ethical DUTY to state such record truthfully.It is deceptive and false advertising to enumerate your victories while failing to mention your losses. I…

Dubai Event Seats Filled, Waiting List Begins…

Based on the emails that I’m getting, I think it’s time for us to step back and take a fresh look at the big picture of EB-5 Regional Center visas. With over 100 Regional Centers approved by USCIS and almost as many in the pipeline, I’m finding that the quality of the marketing teams does not bear any direct relationship to the quality of the underlying projects.Investors who have the resources to invest in an EB-5 visa and secure their permanent residency come in two basic flavors: entrepreneurs and limited partners.  The former are the folks who want to start their own business in the U.S., want to be “hands on”, and believe they can create 10 direct jobs through their investment.  These are the candidates of the Individual EB-5 Investor visa category.  The secon…

If there's been a recurring theme with EB-5 I-829 adjudications in 2010, it most certainly has to do with job creation numbers and deviations from planned business activity. While the USCIS has been historically liberal in excepting generous job rejections at the initial I-526 stage (i.e., the initial approval of conditional residency as an EB-5 regional center investor), 2010 has been characterized by challenges to such projections, considerable scrutiny of both direct and indirect job creation, and a close look at deviations from the original business plan. Some of these problems have been made public but the majority remain invisible to those contemplating an EB5 Regional Center investment. One of the benefits of being a part of the very small EB-5 Regional Center community is that…

Folks, I just wanted to update you on the Dubai seminar…with just an ad here and there and a lot of word of mouth, we have filled 35 of the 70 seets for our November 17 EB-5 Seminar at the Shangri-La Hotel in Dubai.  My colleague, Namjoo Hashemi, a Canadian immigration consultant who has helped hundreds immigrate to Canada from the Middle East, will be joining me and Jud Laird, owner of BC Properties and the pending Lake Point EcoVentures Regional Center, in presenting a dynamic, fact-filled, myth-dispelling morning discussing the real truths behind the EB-5 visa and the things you need to know to determine which Regional Center is right for you.  In fact, one area we will explore in depth is the phenomenon of attorneys steering clients toward EB-5 visas….when better alternat…

Lately, all I've been blogging about is EB-5 this and EB-5 that…so much so that for the second time this week, a prospective client looking for H-1B and PERM assistance asked if we could refer them to an attorney who did this work!  I guess it's time to remind everyone that although EB-5 is no doubt the squeaky wheel these days, we – I should really say, "Melissa" – are/is STILL providing comprehensive family and business immigration services.As you have no doubt gathered, my time these days is pretty much spent on EB-5 Regional Center structuring, consulting with existing Regional Centers, and helping folks find the right EB-5 program for them.  Between that and my primary corporate clients, for whom I handle a diverse number of investment-related matters, …