What is the EB5 Investor Program and How to Select an EB5 Immigration Lawyer?

By: Stanley Hermosillo | Posted: 10th January 2011

The growing popularity of the EB5 Investor Visa these days is something that has caught the US immigration authorities by surprise. Even with the currently struggling economy, interest in this program has reached soaring heights. The huge influx of applications that were filed in 2009 alone has resulted in increasing numbers of immigration lawyers seeking to specialize in this area of law. This article will describe the EB5 Investor Visa Program in greater detail, and will offer some advice to aid in selecting a qualified EB5 Immigration lawyer.

According to statistics released by the State Department, the total number of Eb-5 Green Card Visas has increased thrice times between the fiscal years of 1998 and 1999, and the number of regional center projects has also doubled to total more than eighty centers across the nation. Receiving an Eb-5 Investor Visa allows you fast-track your application for permanent residency in the United States. When considering this option, it is necessary for you to fully understand exactly what the phrase “Immigrant Investor Visa” implies in order for you to avoid any pitfalls along the way. In short, the EB5 Green Card Visa grants its holder permanent residency in the United States, allowing the individual and his or her family to live and work in the United States of America in return for investing half a million to a million dollars in any registered USCIS Business Center or new start-up business that will create ten (10) sustained full-time jobs for U.S. citizens.

Looking for Expert Advice
There is much at stake for EB5 Green Card applicants, and every regional center has its own rules and regulations. Indeed, the role of an attorney for your EB5 application is extremely significant. When searching for the right lawyer to represent your (and your interests), make sure that you know what you can expect to receive. Most leading EB5 lawyers in the country suggest that lawyers new to EB5 and/or immigration law not give out advice on regional center investments for their clients. The two main reasons experienced lawyers suggest this are:
An attorney may have a certain conflict of interest if they charge a fee for the visa application while simultaneously offering advice to regional centers.
Some lawyers may not be skilled or experienced enough to help clients select the best investment center for their money.

Before hiring an immigration lawyer, make sure you ask how he/she bills his/her clients- is it an hourly rate or a flat rate? Make sure you choose someone who specializes in business immigration field, and ask the potential candidate to provide contact numbers for character references so that you can hear what people have to say about his/her services and professionalism.

Although looking for the right EB5 Investor Visa lawyer may seem like quite a daunting task, with the right questions and a little bit of research you will find someone that is qualified to help navigate you through this complicated process.
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Tags: start up business, influx, half a million, time jobs, permanent residency, green card, immigration law, immigration lawyer, card visa, uscis, regional center, immigrant investor, immigration lawyers