Miami: The First Stop on the Four City Tour
Tour Dates and Locations
Topics for Discussion
Featured Event Panelists
Miami: The First Stop on the Four City Tour
We are thrilled to announce the resounding success of the first event in our Four City EB-5 Tour, which took place in Miami on April 25, 2024. The event, co-hosted by Greenberg Traurig and EB5AN, gathered a multitude of attendees eager to discuss the evolving landscape of the EB-5 market and the intricacies of new project structuring post the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (RIA).
The Miami event set an enthusiastic tone for the series, as attendees engaged in dynamic discussions on topics such as the current state of the EB-5 program and the implications of the new USCIS policies. The panelists provided valuable insights and answered questions on the forefront of every stakeholder’s mind.
Michael Schoenfeld, Managing Partner at EB5AN said this about the event, “The engagement we saw today in Miami is testaments to the growing interest of the EB-5 community. We are looking forward to continuing this momentum in the upcoming cities.”
The success of the Miami event has set high expectations for the forthcoming events in Los Angeles, New York, and Atlanta. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to bring together experts and enthusiasts of the EB-5 program, contributing to a stronger, more transparent future for EB-5 investments.
We thank all the participants who joined us in Miami and look forward to welcoming more attendees in the next stops of our tour. Panelists will share key insights for EB-5 developers and sponsors looking to structure new projects, immigration and securities concerns related to raising EB-5 capital, strategies for fixing “problem” EB-5 projects, and a framework for foreign nationals considering seeking permanent residency through the EB-5 program.
Register for Any of the Remaining Events in the Four City Tour: Space is Limited and Advance Registration is Required
Tour Dates and Locations
Los Angeles
Date: Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Time: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. PT
Address: 1840 Century Park East, Suite 1900 Los Angeles, CA 90067
New York
Date: Thursday, May 9, 2024
Time: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. ET
Address: One Vanderbilt Avenue New York, NY 10017
Atlanta
Date: Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Time: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. ET
Address: 3333 Piedmont Road NE, Suite 2500 Atlanta, GA 30305
Topics for Discussion
2 Years into the RIA: Current State of Affairs in EB-5
After two years into the implementation of the Reform and Integrity Act, the EB-5 program has undergone significant changes aimed at increasing transparency and accountability. Stakeholders have witnessed an evolution in the program’s operational aspects, with heightened scrutiny on project approvals and investor safeguards. There has been a push towards ensuring that projects genuinely fulfill the job creation requirements and that investor funds are adequately protected. Compliance measures have become stricter, and the USCIS has implemented new rules to combat fraud and misuse of the program.
Required Sustainment Period: Investing with Uncertainty
On March 29, 2024, Invest in the USA (IIUSA) filed a lawsuit against USCIS. Acting under a decision made by its board of directors, IIUSA took this action without notice to its membership at large. This lawsuit challenges a recently announced two-year sustainment period policy published by USCIS in October 2023. That new policy has redefined the sustainment period, which previously continued through the end of an EB-5 investor’s two-year period of conditional residency. In addition to the lawsuit, IIUSA has proposed a new rule that would increase the required EB-5 investment sustainment period to a fixed five-year duration.
New Project Structuring: Immigration & Securities Considerations
With the changes in the EB-5 regulations, new project structuring has to consider both immigration and securities laws more closely than ever. Project developers and regional centers work in tandem with legal experts in both fields to create investment opportunities that are not only compliant with USCIS requirements but also with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations. This dual focus ensures the protection of investors and the legitimacy of the investment vehicles offered.
Problem Projects: Strategies to Help Investors and Sponsors
When EB-5 projects encounter difficulties, whether through mismanagement, unexpected economic downturns, or other challenges, it’s vital for both investors and sponsors to have strategies in place. These strategies may include restructuring the investment, seeking additional funding, or finding new developers or managers to take over the project. Legal remedies might also be pursued if there has been fraud or misrepresentation.
Featured Event Panelists
- Sam Silverman, Managing Partner, EB5AN
- Michael Schoenfeld, Managing Partner, EB5AN
- Ahmed Khan, Vice President, EB5AN
- Dillon Colucci, Shareholder, Immigration & Compliance, Greenberg Traurig
- David Freylikhman, Shareholder, Real Estate, Greenberg Traurig
- Jennifer Hermansky, Shareholder, Immigration, & Compliance, Greenberg Traurig
- Sheila Oretsky, Shareholder, Litigation, Greenberg Traurig
- Bruce Rosetto, Shareholder, Corporate, Greenberg Traurig
- Nataliya Rymer, Shareholder, Immigration & Compliance, Greenberg Traurig
- Kate Kalmykov, Global Co-Chair, Immigration & Compliance, Greenberg Traurig
- William Mack, Financial Regulatory & Compliance, Greenberg Traurig
- Bracha Pollack, Corporate, Greenberg Traurig
- Courtney Noce, Global Co-Chair, Immigration & Compliance Practice, Greenberg Traurig
- James Sozomenou, Senior VP, Group Director, EB-5 Division, Metropolitan Commercial Bank
Note that each city event has a different set of speakers. Not everyone listed above will be present at each city.
