New RCs (AK, AZ, CA, FL, GA, IL, KY, MA, NH, NC, NJ, NV, NY, PA, RI, TN, TX, WA), FINRA, AAO Decisions
September 24, 2013 Leave a comment
New Regional Centers
New entries to the USCIS list of Regional Centers from 9/6 to 9/23/2013:Alaska Gold & Mining Regional Center, LLC (Alaska)
Optima Arizona Regional Center, LLC (Arizona)
http://www.optimaweb.com/California Pacific Regional Center, Inc. (California)
http://californiapacificregionalcenter.com
Designation LetterCMB Southeast Regional Center, LLC (Florida, Georgia)
http://www.cmbeb5visa.comAmerican YiYo Regional Center (Georgia)
http://yiyo.net/DMI Real Estate Chicago (Illinois)
Live in America – Boston Regional Center LLC (Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island)
http://www.liveinamerica.us/Live in America – New York Regional Center LLC (New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania)
http://www.liveinamerica.us/Nevada Development Fund LLC (Nevada)
Carolina EB-5 RTP Regional Center, LLC (North Carolina)
http://www.carolinaeb5.com/American Oil Regional Center (Pennsylvania)
Pangaea Regional Center, LLC (Kentucky, Tennessee)
Contact: Joe Gillas (409) 370-1553
USCIS Designation Letter with project approvalCentral Texas Regional Center (Texas)
http://brassfunds.com/American Opportunities Regional Center, Inc. (Washington)
Puget Sound RC, LLC (Washington)
(Note: See my Regional Center directory page for my most updated listings for all RCs. And please email me if you would like to provide additional information regarding your RC.)
FINRA Suitability Rule
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has issued new guidance as to how broker-dealers should take into account aspects of the EB-5 Program when determining whether an investment is suitable. For analysis of this guidance and its implications, see:FINRA Issues Guidance on Suitability Rule for EB-5 Securities Transactions
By Jackie G. Prester, Shareholder, & Robert C. Divine (IIUSA Vice President), Head of Global Immigration Practice, Baker Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, P.C. September 23, 2013FINRA Raises the Bar on Due Diligence by Broker Dealers Involved in EB-5
By Dawn Lurie of Sheppard Mullin on September 19, 2013
New AAO Decisions
Since my last post, USCIS has uploaded new AAO decisions from January to March 2013 to its website folder for Form I-526 and Form I-829 “Decisions Issued in 2013.” Most of these new additions are couple-page dismissals of improper filings, but a few include detailed case analyses interesting to those of us who specialize in the technicalities of EB-5.
Background to AAO Decisions
Joseph Whalen has published a useful article explaining the types of AAO decisions, varieties of cases before the AAO, and points involved in case preparation and presentation. See “Quality of Case Preparation and Presentation Counts for Immigrant Investors or Entrepreneurs” (September 24, 2013)
EB-5 Updates 