EB-5 remains one of the most direct paths to permanent residency for families who want more control over their U.S. immigration timeline—especially professionals navigating H-1B limitations and lengthy employment-based green card backlogs.
On Tuesday, February 3, 2026, EB5AN’s founder and managing partner Sam Silverman will host a two-hour in-person presentation and Q&A for prospective EB-5 investors at the Fremont Marriott Silicon Valley. The session will focus on current EB-5 policy, what recent USCIS developments mean in practice, and how investors should think about selecting a project in today’s market.
If you are in the Bay Area, we invite you to join us for an evening of actionable EB-5 insights and open discussion.
Date, Time, and Location
What to Expect
Topics for Discussion
- Why H-1B Professionals Are Turning to EB-5
- Current Filing and Adjudication Trends
- RIA Policy and USCIS Compliance: What Has Changed in Practice
- Rural vs. Urban EB-5 Projects: Timing, Strategy, and Tradeoffs
- How to Evaluate an EB-5 Project in 2026
- Common Pitfalls: Avoidable Mistakes That Cost Investors Time and Money
- Choosing the Right Immigration Attorney
Meet the Host
Register for the Event Today: Space is Limited and Advance Registration is Required
Date, Time, and Location
Date: Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Time: 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. PST
Venue: Fremont Marriott Silicon Valley
Address: 46100 Landing Parkway, Fremont, California, 94538
What to Expect
This event is designed to be practical and investor-oriented. You can expect:
- A clear overview of the EB-5 program as it operates today
- Policy and processing insights under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (RIA)
- A framework for evaluating EB-5 project quality and investor protections, with legal insights from experienced EB-5 immigration attorneys participating in the event
- Time for candid Q&A with EB5AN leadership
Topics for DiscussionWhy H-1B Professionals Are Turning to EB-5
H-1B professionals often look to EB-5 because it can offer:
- A green card strategy not dependent on employer sponsorship
- A clear path to permanent residency for the principal investor, spouse, and unmarried children under 21
- A process anchored in a qualifying investment and U.S. job creation, rather than annual visa lottery constraints or employer-driven timelines
Current Filing and Adjudication Trends
EB-5 investors should understand how trends may affect real-world outcomes:
- What current I-526E adjudication patterns suggest (and what they do not)
- How to interpret processing updates, RFE trends, and case workflow realities
- Practical expectations around milestone timing
RIA Policy and USCIS Compliance: What Has Changed in Practice
RIA reshaped EB-5 oversight and compliance expectations:
- What investors should know about regional center compliance and USCIS oversight
- How project documentation has evolved post-RIA (and why it matters)
- Key concepts that frequently drive investor questions—such as fund administration, reporting expectations, and transparency
Rural vs. Urban EB-5 Projects: Timing, Strategy, and Tradeoffs
Project type is not just a marketing label—it can affect strategy:
- Rural vs. urban projects and what those classifications can mean for prioritization and visa availability
- How set-aside categories factor into planning (and what investors should watch for)
- Tradeoffs that matter beyond visa strategy, including execution risk, construction timelines, and job creation pacing
How to Evaluate an EB-5 Project in 2026
Investors should evaluate projects like institutional lenders do—methodically and with a focus on downside protection:
- Capital stack structure (senior debt, EB-5 capital, developer equity) and why position matters
- Collateral and security package considerations
- Sponsor track record and alignment of incentives
- Construction status, third-party contractors, and budget controls
- Repayment/exit pathways and what “repayment plan” really means
Common Pitfalls: Avoidable Mistakes That Cost Investors Time and Money
We will address frequent issues that can delay or complicate an EB-5 case:
- Source-of-funds preparation pitfalls and documentation expectations
- Overreliance on marketing claims without verifying the underlying documents
- Underestimating how project structure and timelines can affect immigration outcomes
Choosing the Right Immigration Attorney
Selecting counsel is one of the most important early decisions:
- What to look for in an EB-5 attorney (experience, workflow, responsiveness, and documentation rigor)
- How to coordinate effectively between investor, attorney, and regional center
- What investors should ask before signing a retainer
Meet the Host
Sam Silverman – Managing Partner, EB5AN
Sam Silverman brings extensive experience in real estate development, finance, and strategic consulting across the United States and China. Before founding EB5AN, he served as Director of Corporate Strategy for professional golfer Jack Nicklaus in Beijing and previously worked at The Boston Consulting Group advising Fortune 500 companies worldwide. A Forbes 30 Under 30 National Winner for Social Entrepreneurship and frequent Wall Street Journal contributor on EB-5 topics, Sam holds a B.A. in Economics from Yale University and an M.B.A. from Stanford University.
