Looking to 2022
January 13, 2022 292 Comments
I will start 2022 by attempting a comment on where we are with regional center and direct EB-5, and what should be done
Regional Center Situation
Regional Center Legislation
In 2021, Congressional reformers and the industry lobbies delivered their best offers on EB-5 legislation, worked harder and more successfully than ever before to establish industry consensus around their respective proposals, and still ended up on the horns of their differences, demonstrating power to block each other and inability to overcome each other’s blocks.
Where can we look for resolution to an industry/Congress impasse that’s been ongoing since at least 2015? I’d say it’s theoretically impossible that personally-motivated reformers Senator Leahy and Senator Grassley will change their EB-5 priorities this year, or exercise less power in 2022 than in 2021. Industry theoretically has more motivation to compromise our priorities, because we have more to lose from continued delay and growing investor frustration. Industry priorities are also more open to self-reflection. For example, simple calculation shows that 1,000 or even 3,000 set-aside visas would not accommodate enough investors to significantly re-open a now quota-aware China market, and would not significantly incentivize rural investment. The very limited practical benefit would not justify a bloody battle. Side-by-side comparison of the largely similar industry consensus vs Grassley/Leahy integrity measures begs a blushing question “and this is what we’re still fighting about?”. Narrowing the TEA investment differential to insignificance would be too-obviously bad politics and bad press today, and would be a worthless win in the future if an investor explosion in 2022 gets a chance to permanently stain the reputation of EB-5 at any price. I believe everyone now understands the near-term political impossibility of genuine EB-5-specific visa relief while larger immigration priorities remain unresolved. So maybe there’s realistically not much left to fight about this year. We shall see how realistic advocates will be in assessing costs, benefits and political possibilities in 2022. I hope that the sunk cost fallacy will be recognized and avoided.
At this point, my personal best hope for 2022 legislation is that everyone will unite around a few-sentence grandfathering provision to resume the immigration process for past investors. This would be an interim expedient to protect time for negotiations around substantial reauthorization legislation, otherwise threatened by the imminent mass bloodbath of past investor frustration. My slim hope would depend on all regional centers with lobbyists correctly realizing that near-term grandfathering is in their best interest to buy time, given the political realities delaying holistic reform and the increasing pressure from desperate investors who cannot tolerate further delay. It also depends on Senator Leahy not suspecting the regional center self-interest motive and time-buying tactic in grandfathering, but rather recognizing the unquestionable case of fairness and responsibility to people who invested in the authorized RC program, and/or the real need to protect existing EB-5-funded U.S. jobs and economic activity from being derailed by investor frustration. There’s a long road to making these cases, to regional centers especially, but I see a theoretical possibility at least.
I expect and hope that education will be a major difference between 2022 and 2021. Last year, a large part of the EB-5 ecosystem did not know what was going on. Industry associations tended to provide messaging rather than information. Most of us had no access to intel from lobbyists and Congressional staffers. The typical first-line advisors for EB-5 investors – immigration attorneys, regional centers, and agents – were often honestly unable or sometimes strategically unwilling to inform investors. We witnessed a few concerted efforts to spread misinformation, and some genuine (if still culpable) simple ignorance from advocates about their own proposals and the legislative process. All this ignorance had a function in 2021, deferring delay repercussions and avoiding dissension. But it came with a fearful cost for business and personal decision-making.
In 2022 and going forward, I see the EB-5 ecosystem demanding and getting better information and accountability. The fact and consequences of RC program expiration have had time to sink in. Messaging has had time to stand the test of history. Recent comments on this blog show how sentiment has developed, and the growing investment in education and action far beyond this occasional little blog. Personally, I donate to the EB-5 association AIIA because AIIA is motivated to communicate what their lobbyist finds out and what they hear in meetings with Congressional staffers. I would love every EB-5 investor, service provider, and regional center to take advantage of donor access to the AIIA Microsoft Teams group and Telegram chat for the sake of the intel and collaboration offered, if nothing else. I do not know how much AIIA can accomplish in terms of advocacy in a few months, but even their emerging role in obtaining and sharing info about who’s doing and saying what in Washington DC is gold for accountability and educated action. No wonder my blog comments are filling with advertising “Donate to AIIA! Learn from AIIA!” and also “Do not donate to AIIA! Nothing happening there! Don’t look!”
Hopefully everyone on the front lines of regional center advocacy will step up their game this year, realizing that they are being watched. “Speak and act as those who will be judged” could be a good mantra for all of us in 2022. Along with the reminder “We’re all in this together.”
AIIA is holding a town hall webinar on Saturday January 15th at 6pm PT to discuss reauthorization and provide updates. Free to the public: register here. [UPDATE: A partial recording now available on the AIIA Youtube channel.] AIIA’s informative December newsletter is also still available, in case you missed it.
If anyone else is holding RC-related events to share information plus host discussion, please let me know so that I can promote them. Let the year of information and accountability begin.
Regional Center Petition Processing
The USCIS website continues to have one alert saying that USCIS will hold regional center I-526, I-485, and I-924 and “at the end of calendar year 2021, unless there is new legislation for regional centers, we will reevaluate whether to keep this hold in place.” Now a second alert as of 12/30/2021 adds “USCIS is reevaluating the decision [and] will provide additional guidance as soon as practical.” I am not holding my breath for guidance or action from USCIS.
So far this month, IIUSA has filed a brief arguing that USCIS should process regional center petitions during a regional center program lapse, and sent a letter arguing that USCIS should not process regional center petitions during the regional center program lapse. Each document makes the argument for the sake of investor protection. I can’t tell whether a contradiction has been noticed.
In the case of Yuhua Zhu et al v. Antony John Blinken et al, 111 EB-5 investors with pending I-485 sued USCIS “to either adjudicate their applications, or issue them visas, under the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Regional Center Program.” On January 3, 2022, a judge assessed and dismissed the claim: “The court is persuaded that because the lapse in congressional authorization for the Regional Center Program prevents the court from granting effective relief, the claim is moot and must be dismissed.” (Thanks to Jason and Bunuel Yang who brought the litigation to our attention in their comments on my previous post.)
Unfortunately, we do depend on Congress to act to provide regional center petitions with a basis for approval and visas.
Direct EB-5 situation
Investment Amount
The stability of direct EB-5 investment improved since January 5, 2022 when DHS dismissed its appeal of the Behring Regional Center lawsuit. With the appeal pending, we had operated under the risk that DHS might eventually win the appeal, and that a future win could make today’s direct I-526 retroactively ineligible. With the appeal dismissed, that risk has disappeared, thankfully. I feel more comfortable now that each I-526 may be judged by the rules under which it was filed. (My confidence would be boosted if Congress passes the proposed grandfathering language to that effect.) The EB-5 investment amount is still subject to change, but at least not retroactive change for filed I-526. I’d also worried that the recent lack of I-526 processing might reflect an appeal-related abeyance policy. With the appeal dismissed, that possible explanation for processing delay disappears. All good news for direct EB-5 at least, though the Behring suit and the dismissed appeal complicate regional center legislation negotiations.
I-526 Processing
I-526 processing times for direct EB-5 investors remain in question, as USCIS continues to have apparently almost no one working on I-526 adjudications. Here’s the total I-526 processing activity since January 5, 2022:
- Thursday January 6: One RFE sent to an I-526 filed in 2016
- Friday January 7: One I-526 filed in 2018 approved
- Monday January 10: One notice sent to an I-526 filed in 2016
- Tuesday January 11: No action
- Wednesday January 12: Denied one I-526 filed in 2015 and one I-526 filed in April 2019
In the entire month of December 2021, USCIS approved three I-526 and denied four I-526 and that’s all. (I updated my previous processing post with the full month log.) The estimated I-526 processing time will be very long if we have to assume that the many hundreds of pending direct I-526 will continue to be processed at a rate of less than 10 completions per month. We should not have to assume an indefinite meltdown, since USCIS has over 200 EB-5-fee-funded employees who could be and ought to be working on EB-5 forms. For direct EB-5 to remain an attractive option for project companies and investors, pressure must mount on USCIS to use its EB-5 resources to adjudicate EB-5 forms. And for regional center investment to have a future, we must also press USCIS to retain and use its EB-5 processing resources today.
Direct EB-5 visa timing and availability
Today’s Visa Bulletin is wide open for EB-5, because RC program expiration combined with processing barriers means that the visa stage currently lacks excess demand to control. The future visa availability outlook and timing calculation are complicated. Incoming direct EB-5 investors from China, Vietnam, and India have a slender chance to avoid future delay at the visa stage. This chance is unrelated to visa bulletin conditions today, which only apply to people later in the process. The chance for incoming investors exists if rapid USCIS processing plus delayed Congressional action combine to allow incoming direct investors to eventually reach the visa final action stage while regional center investors are still prevented from claiming visas. If that window closes, and older regional center investors are able (and willing) to rejoin the queue while newer direct investors are still waiting for I-526 processing, then the Visa Bulletin will jump and recent investors from China, Vietnam, and India will find themselves at the back of large regional center crowds (a 7-10+-year queue) at the visa stage. I prefer to avoid bets on USCIS promptness and regional center program failure.
Direct EB-5 project availability and due diligence
I plan to write more about finding and assessing direct EB-5 projects, and I am considering a directory of direct EB-5 contacts. If you have a current or future direct EB-5 project available and might be interested in such a directory, please email me at suzanne@lucidtext.com.
As a business plan writer, I’ve been working with a number of direct EB-5 ventures that could be wonderful for the economy. I hope that EB-5 policy and administration will improve to better reward good projects and their investors.
EB-5 Updates 
Yes it is time to get behind AIIA. Thats the only hope.
We need FIFPA done ASAP or else we will run the risk of having USCIS deny not only our pending petitions but also our future and health.
I request all investors to please..please join AIIA public zoom call on Jan 15th 2022. Its our time to know whats really happening and fully support the alliance to get FIFPA passed. We cannot destroy our future.
If our petitions get denied by USCIS, we must sue these regional centers to get back our funds. They are the ones who have stalled progress on EB-5. If we loose our future, it will be because of these regional centers, not because of Congeess.
This is NOT acceptable. We are NOT weed growing in garden that could be uprooted by regional centers whenever they like. Investors are the ONLY ones who are at loss. We CANNOT let these people play with our lives.
Your ignorance and belligerence is mind-blowing!
As investors now always say to people like you: “Say hi to your employer. Tell them, investors are no longer buying their smokescreen.”
Whom should we blame? Government with whom we are pleading to keep our petitions in abeyance or Regional Centers who are not agreeing to a settlement? Our petitions have been pending for almost 7 months. Thats a capital of at least $500,000. How much has your employer made already with our capital?
Another employee of corrupt Regional Center industry hanging here. Go and tell your boss, we as investors will hold them accountable for playing with our future.
You want us to sue government? Really? And get behind regional centers so they can continue keeping our money and destroy our well being.
NO. Its not going to happen that way.
@robertwfrost
Are you Peter/Jeff/Bhavesh or who ? You are not evolved enough to understand, so keep your mouth and keyboard shut.
What do you suggest then? Lose all our money?
I cannot believe I gave so much of my life savings to the regional center.
@robertwfrost Have some shame. Greed never ends well. Your masters will be legally punished.
There will NOT be an avalanche of lawsuits against government if USCIS denies our petitions. We will launch an avalanche of lawsuits against the corrupt regional center “industry” who brought investors to this state.
@robertwfrost How much you got paid to write this? Did your boss not give you a better job than to spend time and make money by playing your part in destroying the future of investors.
Regional Centers will be held accountable. We are all behind this.
Yep it is a fusttated troll. Suzanne please removerá this troll from this respectable forum
Since we’re in the year of information, lets use this thread to get specific. Give Robert a chance to explain. Ignorance around litigation is a real issue, for me personally and for many investors if not for Tian, and I welcome a more specific comment and input on this topic for our consideration.
I realize the anger amongst most EB-5 investors against regional centers for delaying (and some more delaying) re-authorization. Regional centers also are against grandfathering. With investments stuck and zero clarity on what’s going to happen in future (well USCIS can deny, so thats definitely a possibility), investors are in a bind and have been stitched up by politics, power and bargaining. Congress on the other hand seems in no mood to accept anything that forks too much away from the Grassley Bill.
Litigation against government does not make sense. EB-5 RC is a pilot program. If petitions get denied, litigation against government will only help to buy time to investors to stay in US, while the judge decides the future. Government is not legally bound to provide relief. If it does, it will be solely based on mercy for investors who have been wronged by politics/system. The word “wronged” also does not have legal meaning — its more in the sense of empathy from the government. And such relief from government, if at all provided, will mostly likely be on individual basis, keeping in mind the conduct of investors and possibly any past litigation against government.
Will litigation against government be successful? Attorneys that I have spoken to give me no solid argument against government, in case government denies pending I-485 and corresponding petitions. It seems as if it would be a “mercy petition” rather than really a lawsuit. It will really be upto the judge and government to decide if they want to let the investor settle in US or not. But the idea that litigation against government will be successful, just purely interms of forcing them to give green card is completely non-sensical.
On the other hand, Regional centers have smartly inserted “RC program may be discontinued” in their offering documents. And their attorney will use it. But the argument against RCs relies on the fact that they acted to scuttle re-authorization as they were not in agreement with measures (reasonable measures) that Congress wanted to incorporate. Congress wanted to re-authorize and the program could have been reauthorized in time to avoid discontinuation of the program. Then it will be upto the Judge to decide if regional centers “intentionally discontinued” the program because they were opposed to idea of incorporation of “reasonable measures” — measures on integrity, TEA definations etc.
I do not see any point in blaming government for the stalemate. They will do what is legally decided. Regional Centers can certainly offer relief, if they agree to give away their opposition and look at the big picture of the consequences for investors, in case petitions get denied.
Time already has been lost. 7 months of no movement makes a big statement about the seriousness of regional centers to safeguard investors. Needless to say, regional centers have brought things to a critical junction.
I will be interested in knowing what Robert’s opinion is. However, the lack of knowledge on litigation is quiet intentional. And thats because from the perspective of investors, it would be like fighting a losing battle. In the case of denial of pending petitions, litigation against USCIS or government as some are calling it here, does not seem to be the right step. I mean wouldn’t judge ask the question: “RC has been discontinued. Why are you suing USCIS?”
I too share the frustration against regional centers for their absolutely ignorance towards the safety of investors and their money. They were “nice” as long as we had not “yet” invested. The moment we “did” invest with them, we were treated like “just flies on the wall”. Why did we even go through so many discontinuations? We lose money whenever there is a stalemate.
It seems regional centers have the attitude: “You can blame our greediness all you want..as long we continue making profits..” Hoping that such an industry will safeguard investors whose money is already with them will be wishful thinking. These centers only care about their profits, and providing false hopes to frustrated investors is now an “over-used” weapon in their armory.
I am already gearing up to sue my regional center in case they do not refund back my money, incase our I-485s get denied. And I am not going to fall for their trap to vent out my frustration against the government, let alone suing the government.
Wonder why you and your brother were sued by an EB-5 investor and you lost.
What about pending I131 and I765 applications for approved I526 cases that were filed prior to program expiring? Has anyone got those adjudicated after the expiration?
Thanks
Yes USCIS did adjudicate I-765/I-131 (combo cards) after program expired. Initially they did not, but they started doing it (I think) around October 2021 or maybe a little earlier.
But now situation is more complicated. This is because they adjudicated combo cards before Dec 31st, 2021 timeline for re-authorization. Since that timeline has passed and there is no movement on EB-5 at the hill, I do not know if they are continuing to process combo cards in the New Year.
But really it does not matter. We at risk of losing even approved combo cards as there has been no movement at the hill on re-authorization. We need FIFPA at least to start the process and protect ourselves from USCIS denying I-485 pending petitions. If pending I-485s are denied because no FIFPA talks or reuauthorziation, then we lose our status in US and may have to either litigate against government (with less hopes of success) or leave US voluntarily and initiate talks/litigation against regional centers to refund our money. Time already has been lost. We cannot refund that.
We got our Ead and travel parole last month dec2021 , I -485 pending and filed in Dec 2020.
@Suzanne we don’t know how many investors from China,Vietnam,& India have filled I526 petition to date following court Judgement in case brought by Behring RC in California District court.If large number of I526 petitions have been filled then certainly it will increase the time USCIS likely to take to grant conditional green card to the investors.
Thank you for this information Suzanne. I will be joining the call and look forward to joining the AIIA / FIFPA train, let’s hope we can generate some momentum and help it to pick up steam.
Please please join AIIA. Spread the word and bring more investors to form the alliance of AIIA. We need each other to jointly fend for our future.
Open to the public webinar? We were not accepted because we had not donated
You should be able to register. Email AIIA if there’s a problem, and me if it’s not resolved.
Email us at info@goaiia.org if there’s an issue.
To all Investors like me, please stick to very simple protocols
1. Attend the AIIA meet on 15th Jan. Hear out the options.
2. Silent protest at Capitol to bring attention. Lets add to the group created by Mr Das
Flood of messages or a long worded essay here does not help.
Simply shows the anger and frustration we have accumulated. Lets channelize this anger into something formative.
I believe expressing “anger” is actually good because those are STORIES. We need be upfront. We can just sin in the benches and watch, We have to act and voice out ALL of our stories and opiniones. We are eduated profesional with a lot to offer. We followed the Law. All these stories are evidence to show why we are being negatively affected and how the system is negatively being affected. Being truthful about how is messes up with our life plans, how this is an insult to the legal immigration system, learning how the lapse is affecting HUMANS is actually a good strategy to present to Congress.
@ Suzanne
Do you have any news that Chuck Schumer will host an Eb5 meeting this week and consider attaching it to Omnibus in February 2022 ?
Is there any possibility of success in this Omnibus way ?
This is the big question, and I’d love to hear it asked in AIIA’s webinar, and even better addressed by someone at the meeting (though that won’t happen of course). What I’ve heard so far (and would’ve guessed just based on what’s theoretically likely) is that Senator Grassley and Senator Leahy strongly oppose the 2021 industry consensus bill proposal, that Senator Schumer will not come out now to force EB-5 legislation that Grassley/Leahy oppose or prioritize EB-5 right now considering his other issues pending, and that Grassley/Leahy have yet to start and are unmotivated to expedite negotiations with the industry about a mutually acceptable EB-5 proposal. I’d love it if negotiators somehow managed to navigate all that for a creative solution leading to a February 2022 miracle, because we’re on the cliff of “too late.” I’d also love it if the meeting with Senator Schumer this week at least left attendees in no doubt about what the Senator is and is not willing to actually do, so that the negotiating position is clearer at least to those attendees, and their strategies can be adjusted accordingly.
Dear Suzanne,
First and foremost, thank you for being the only genuine blog in EB5 world and allowing us the opportunities to make the world aware through your blog. Reauthorization is very contentious but can Senator Schumer, Senator Grassley and Senator Lahey be persuaded for FIFPA/Grandfathering in the interim despite some RC factions opposing it ?
Regards
Senators Grassley and Leahy are somewhat wild cards, since their EB-5 activity is motivated by their own views and legacy in EB-5 rather than the interests of particular EB-5 constituents. Theoretically, their support would depend on how they understand grandfathering working with their reform efforts. Senator Schumer’s EB-5 involvement simply represents regional center constituent interests, so RC opposition would be directly reflected in his actions. For stop-gap grandfathering to have any hope, RCs would have to recognize their self-interest in such an interim solution, such that they want to support it. I tried to highlight a few self-interest points in my post, and a few RCs are already on board, but this needs much more work.
Thank you Suzanne.
Alright folks. I mainly read and never participated in comments. Quite a lot of anger already against regional centers. Justified though. So in hindsight and after reading all comments in this and previous blog, pretty sure AIIA is the only forum where we can know the truth and have information on what really is going on.
I will be supporting AIIA from today. Lets get FIFPA passed. Attending #15JanWebinar
Quite cruel to leave investors in uncertainty. This is when we invested so much money. Imagine all the work to save that much, bring it to US and then…getting stuck in a situation where you are at risk of losing everything. Its just cruel.
I have a question: what if appropriations committee actually comes to an agreement and passed the budget on 18 Feb 2022 ( no more CR);
a) would it be easy to attached FIFPA onto that?
B) what would the implications be on reauthorisation after that (seen as though there is no agreement yet on reauthorisation)? would it be the final nail in the coffin? how would they be able to reauthorise thereafter?
c) where are we investors left?
I feel more angry at the fact that “we” have to “convince” these regional centers to allow FIFPA as an “interim benefit” until full re-authorization, so investors could be safeguarded. We gave them our money. So all this while, these regional centers were even opposed to the idea of FIFPA as an interim benefit? I cannot believe this. Me and my family have to go through these torturous hours of unrest just because these regional centers need to be convinced to allow FIFPA as an interim benefit. I would sue these regional centers, not just for destroying my investment but also for causing damage to my family’s well being.
If investors go down, so will these regional centers. They will be taken down through justice.
Absolutely agree. NO, we need to stand strong with Regional Centers. First of all they ARE NOT ABOVE THE LAW. We followed the Law and did our part. They need to actual responsible, Professional and abiding. Ron I understand what you are going through and your story. I think we should form groups within AIIA and work on similar stories to form a more cohesiva strategy
7 months..7 months of no I-485 processing. Time wasted. Health deteriorated. And investment in serious jeopardy. I will never forget this pain
… and those who brought it on us and our families.
Please write a draft about this story. How this deteriorares health is an important tópic for our strategy efforts
I invite everyone here to imagine how the world would look like if AIIA disappeared, or is unable to pursue FIFPA, due to lack of funds.
If you want to see AIIA strengthen, ATTEND the Jan 15th call and DONATE. Nothing else matters.
The factions of RC industry who got Senator Graham to sink the G/L bill have been opposed to AIIA from the inception. AIIA is just not about grandfathering. They just don’t want investors to have voice or an organization which has a sit at the table.
It’s new age imperialism and they are the new colonial masters. Even after FIFPA , investors need a powerful voice for capital redemption. Trust me, most of the RC do not want to return your capital back. COVID is such an excuse that they took money from taxpayers in some form and are going to swallow all our capital. It’s a well crafted game plan and united investors with AIIA can spoil it all for them.
After standing on the sidelines all this time, I have donated to AIIA. Lobbying is the only way grandfathering gets done. Silent vigils are not going to help – No politician is going to step forward to address the concerns of “rich immigrants” in an election year. It’s just bad optics.
The situation we find ourselves in as investors is nothing short of farcical and reflects very poorly on the U.S. I plan to attend the AIIA webinar and donate to their organization as they seem to really understand the plight of investors and approach the issues with common sense. (And thank you Suzanne for your wonderful work).
I would like to know how we can find best attorneys to sue these regional centers if our petitions get denied. My understanding from my civil attorney is as long as regional centers are creating hinderance in bringing the processing of I-485 back, then they can be taken to court. I want my funds back from these crooks and have them compensate for posing serious harm to my money and well being. I will make these crooks pay for threatening to destroy our investment.
I emphasize information, since there can be no accountability without it. As it happens “the crooks” are not regional centers as a class, or every RC individually. It is a few people, with the “malice or stupidity” motive open to question. I’d say at least 80% percent of regional centers have no involvement in or influence over EB-5 legislation whatsoever. Of involved RCs, a good number have supported Grassley/Leahy and the principle of reauthorization ASAP at almost any cost. The few RCs behind the Grassley/Leahy bill block have mostly taken care to hide their political activity, and those who are brave enough to go public have a plausible-sounding argument that they’re also pushing hard for legislation and the RC sunset is G/L’s fault for blocking them, not their fault for blocking G/L. I can imagine a role for civil litigation in accountability, but litigation will require intel about who specifically is creating what specific hindrance. I can only guess at the identity of the culprits, which is why I defer to people who are on the ground in DC and motivated to collect specific facts about what’s going on. The particular RC that holds your funds may or may not have any fingerprints on what’s happening with legislation, so you’d want to collect info before proceeding.
I think its quite important to realize that regional centers are blocking grandfathering or FIFPA (as AIIA calls it) or anything similar that would grandfather existing investors as a standalone bill. Its not Grassley who is blocking grandfathering. Infact, he could be moved towards supporting it as long as his reforms would be taken care of later. Grandfathering is not controversial and probably all senators would agree to support it without much opposition. But the support is not there from regional centers. And this is the main issue — the issue of regional centers not helping in providing relief to investors. If you were to go by regional centers plan of action, there will no re-authorizaition at least in the first half of 2022. The talks will again get pushed to October 2022 (budget talks for next fiscal year), and USCIS will then be under pressure to deny pending I-485. They are not going to keep holding onto pending I-485 until October 2022. And if that happens, standby to see the reaction of investors.
The anger against regional centers is understandable. If support is provided by Regional centers, just merely by stopping their efforts to scuttle grandfathering, then distress amongst investors can be released — but regional centers are not helping with it. The fact that we as investors have to go through all of this and seeing no movement in EB-5 re-authorization or grandfathering is devastating. All of it could be avoided if RCs would just do the right thing — at least support investors to get grandfathered. But they are not doing it. And thats why I agree with the anger of investors pointed at them.
Another brave inventor that admits health is deteriorating. This cannot happen. We must organize ourselves
One of the duty and role of the government is to implement effective programs which benefit both society and commerce alike. Depending on the merit and potential benefits, these programs will be adapted by commercial entities if they are deemed financially viable. In EB5 ecosystem, RC’s are one of the many stakeholders but they should not be decision makers. If a particular RC or RC’s are not ‘ok’ with current government policies then they should either adapt their business as per existing norms or look for other opportunities. I find it hard to believe that in a country like US, which is a beacon of capitalism, is enforcing ‘my way or the highway’ legislation and strangling honest investors who had invested in ‘good faith’ along the way. Both ‘legislators’ and ‘RC’s’ are at fault, one for it’s careless attitude and other for its inherent ‘GREED’ for easy monies. It seems that elected official have completely forgotten that EB5 program is a two way street where both parties (‘investors’ & ‘government’) are entitled to certain benefits during this process. By the looks, government is firing from RC’s shoulder and absolving itself of all responsibilities. We investors are busy blaming RC’s and infighting amongst ourselves and the so called ‘BANANA’ government is getting a free ride.
Well said.
Everyone is talking about FIFPA. However if I’m to understand the way it works is that it needs to be introduced as a bill in the house or as an addition to a bill. Is that the case?
Otherwise FIFPA is just a word.
And reauthorization is the only way forward.
You should join today’s webinar. Its on Jan 15th at 6 PM Pacific Standard Time
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/7016414962844/WN_EP-vbIDSQw-bzfomAiwJGQ
Why can’t we at least bring FIFPA as an interim benefit for existing investors until re-authorization talks conclude? Regional center industry is even opposed to this and won’t support it? If yes, then I agree anger against Regional center is completely justified and they should be held accountable.
Brothers and sisters, please attend today’s AIIA webinar: Jan 15th 2022 at 6:00 PM Pacific Standard Time. This is OUR forum. OUR Alliance to protect ourselves with FIFPA.
I attended the AIIA webinar today. Great work AIIA. Please continue on. You guys won me over today and I will support your efforts.
And as Ishaan said there are over 30,000 EB-5 RC investors whose petitions are on hold. Given the amount of investment at stake, a mere donation of $100 can do a lot interms of increasing the success rate of FIFPA. Please spend the word about AIIA, and request every investor to donate at least $100. Its really a drop in the ocean when compared with $500,000 at stake but makes a huge impact if all investors do their part and make the minimum donation.
Please spread the work about AIIA: Twitter, Facebook or local media if you are in US. We need every EB-5 RC investor, be it in China, Vietnam, India, Brazil, UK and wherever, to be informed about what’s going on with EB-5.
I was very impressed with AIIA during the webinar. Their reasoning against pursuing litigation at this stage, in favour of FIFPA makes sense. With no apparent congressional opposition to this potential bill it seems to me (as an investor with an approved 526) to be the best option available.
IIUSA is saying that they are confident that re-authorization will happen by Feb 2022, but in reality there has been no movement at the hill in terms of talks. Seems like the regional center industry asked IIUSA to put out this hope to investors so investors will not ask for refund from them.
If by Feb 18th, 2022 or even end of Feb there is no re-authorization, then investors should unite to put in a class action lawsuit against industry to get our funds refunded.
We can hire Brad Banias (https://twitter.com/ImmAttyBanias?s=03) a former Department of Justice trial attorney to put in the class action lawsuit against the regional center industry to have our money refunded. Brad is quite experienced in fedral litigations on immigration and I am sure we will have a good chance of success if we consider him.
Why should we keep waiting past Feb 18th. The deal was to get green card, and if we not getting our share of the deal, we should pull our money out. Otherwise it will be in the hands of those regional centers who will just keep making interest money from our investments, and we may eventually end up losing all our money too, not just green card.
I am already beginning to pursue litigation against my regional center. I first tried to talk to them so we could reach a mutual understanding about refunding my money back, but they hung up on me. I will now sue them. I deserve not only my $500000 back but also money regional center made as interest when the program lapsed.
And I spent over 10 years in US. My kids go to universities here and I still have to put up with this non-sense. If the regional center will not refund my money, I will see how they are able to operate. They think they can enjoy life with my money. I will hire the best of law firms and get every penny back from regional center and will make them pay through legal channels. I will see how they are able to continue their business after destroying my and my family’s future.
Hi Liu,
Would you mind sharing your RC’s name. I am in the same situation and when I tried talking to my RC, they completely ignored me
I used to have a better opinion of IIUSA and confidence but reflecting back, I thing they are equally criminally culpable. They allowed decoupling without a back up plan and have not made much efforts for reauthorization.
Their opposition or non-support for FIFPA is absolutely criminal, horrific and horrendous. They are sitting on huge amount of hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars, if not billions. The prolonged lapse allows them to redeploy and keep on minting money by enslaving the investors. I am totally disgusted with them as well, just like EB5 IC.
They are just an outlet for regional centers. They only vouch for industry, not for investors. My guess is donations are just too enticing. Just wait and see when Feb 18th deadline is over, and IIUSA will come out and say “Oh, you know what Congress had OTHER priorities…so we will have to wait until October 2022”..Ridiculous….Best way is to just wait until Feb and if nothing happens, get your money refunded from regional center. Judges will be far more receptive towards investors against regional centers than they would be if investors were instead suing government.
I feel a sizeable number of EB-5 RC investors still are unaware of the risks we are currently in, especially investors in China who rely mainly on their immigration agents or worse regional center for immigration news. RC industry has smartly kept these investors in dark.
We need to spread the word about grandfathering/ FIFPA in China, and seriousness of action. Specifically they need to be informed about what investors set to loose (investment and green card). We need chinese investors to be informed about FIFPA and request them to donate atleast $100, a meager amount compared with investment at stake.
Please if you are from China or have investor friends in China, please let them know about FIFPA/grandfathering.
@Ricardo I like the idea of class action lawsuit against regional center industry to get our investments refunded. We have the right to get back our investment if we are not getting the immigration benefit. I also have law firms that I am speaking with but will only consider Brad Banias. I think we should work together in checking our litigation options against the regional center industry.
I will too join the lawsuit. But I do want to wait and see what happens until end of Feb 2022. If nothing happens on re-authorization or grandfathering by Feb, then count me in.
Why are we only talking about getting our investments refunded? What about the interest money regional center industry is making from our invesyments during the time the regional center program has been discontinued? If there is no program, there should be no interest money RCs can make. Thats our money. We have the right over it.
Because these regional center industry folks are greedy. They have our money and they feel they can wine & dine with it at our expense with no consequences.
Primary objective for most of the investors would be to get the EB5 process is on back track. So instead of litigating for refund of money we should litigate on RCs that are blocking the reauthorization/grandfathering bill!
I filed a Direct EB5 I-526 Petition in late October 2021. Based on current trends, how many months do you think it will take to process? Also how many direct EB5 I-526 petitions do you think are waiting to be processed right now? Love this blog and appreciate the authentic information and news that you supply Suzanne!
@Ric I agree. We need more investors in RC program to be aware of FIFPA. The webinar yesterday was attended by i believe around 300 people. There are around 32,000 investors whose petitions are at risk and are being held in abeyance. Most investors are in China and we need to get the message regarding impending risks to EB-5 RC to them. Can AIIA start a Facebook page to disseminate info on FIFPA in China? Maybe an intensive PR campaign will help to spread the message to all investors.
The Chinese investor community is getting to know FIFPA and start donating to AIIA. Due to time zone differences and language barrier, they may not be present at the zoom conference last weekend, but volunteers made summaries and spread the words in multiple WeChat (a Chinese chat APP) groups. According to AIIA, there will be another conference dedicated specifically to Chinese investors with David (from AIIA) as the real time translator. We are all in this together.
My attorney supports grandfathering. He also believes that U.S Immigration Fund (https://visaeb-5.com/leadership/) is the most powerful regional center, interms of lobbying and connections with Senators, especially Lindsay Graham. And his understanding is that it was U.S Immigration Fund that blocked re-authorization through Lindsay Graham in June 2021. However, my attorney is not sure if U.S Immigration Fund will support grandfathering. If any regional center investor has invested through U.S Immigration Fund, can you ask them where they stand on FIFPA.
I foresee absolute disaster if FIFPA is not passed and USCIS begins denying petitions after waiting for a considerable period of time for any movement in EB-5 re-authorization or FIFPA.
Anyone knows what’s the rate of interest that regional centers collect from our investment? Is it like 4-5%?
Should be around like 4% of $500,000 — enough to mint as much for a free pass at everyone else’s investment at stake. But don’t worry They won’t stop. Our money will keep getting sucked by these leeches.
The chairman of U.S Immigration Fund regional center, Nicholas Mastroianni III, seems to have a colorful history of defrauding investors. Read this: https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/2020/01/29/harbourside-place-developer-nick-mastroianni-ii-faces-new-lawsuit-saying-he-defrauded-investors/112232128/
And this regional center has access to Lindsay Graham? If yes, then..I don’t even know what to say.
God!! I cannot come to terms with the idea that this Nicholas and his regional center with the background they have are deciding our fate. Deceitful.
Mastrionni is a crook. Google him and you will find out more what a sleazy guy he is.
Lets call other crooks – Jeff C from Pathwyays, Behring from Behring RC
If it’s not too much to ask , could someone summarize what the townhall with AIIA was about ? The key points I mean. I was unable to attend it but I am very curious on what the situation currently is and what is AIIA’s plan for FIFPA
They will put the video up on their YouTube channel.
In summary:
• confident on FIFPA – no congressional opposition raised in DC meetings and their lobbyist is a former congressmen who was involved in creating EB5.
• They need funding to push this bill and raise awareness.
• They see this being enacted before reauthorisation and don’t suggest litigation at this stage as it’s unlikely to work, and may trigger a mass denial of 526’s from USCIS.
From Dil:
While we wait for the YouTube video of AIIA’s public call, here are the main points:
1. Members of Congress have not even begun to seriously negotiate the reauthorization package.
2. Reauthorization (via the consensus bill) is unlikely in Feb.
3. It could happen later, but that would mean a longer wait for investors.
4. We need to push for FIFPA (even as reauthorization efforts by RCs continue).
5. AIIA is confident of getting it done, and hopefully soon, although the timeline cannot be guaranteed.
6. AIIA’s plan can be split into three phases (not sequential):
(A) Raising awareness among the public and the Congress
(B) Raising the urgency for FIFPA to be discussed by the Congress members
(C) Attaching it to a legislation and getting it passed.
These can happen somewhat in parallel.
7. The legislative vehicle is the easier part, getting it discussed and accepted is the harder part.
8. AIIA is planning to hire a public relations firm to help with this.
9. With lobbying and public relations, AIIA needs the support of everyone to ensure that FIFPA can be pushed with adequate force and passed.
10. AIIA would like to be held accountable to the donors and supports to get FIFPA passed.
Once again,
Has the FIFPA bill been added to any bills or if it’s a standalone bill which Representative is supporting it or going to introduce it?
They’ve had offers of sponsorship for the bill. They said they’re not worried about what vehicle to attach it to, they are instead focussing on building support and awareness. I think it’s to stop any opposition mustered from RC backed congresspeople.
Thanks Daniel. An they you mean AIIA I guess.
Also do you think it’s going to be attached in February
They don’t have a definitive timeline, but they’re not worried about what vehicle to attach it to. For now they need funding to continue efforts to educate members of Congress to get this passed. IMO they were quite frank in wanting to be very transparent to investors and not make false promises or timelines as they must work within the broader political landscape.
Hi, can someone help me understand, If FIFPA is passed successfully, we can get our green card, but what happens to our investment of USD 500,000/- with RC? Does AIIA has any input on that? how do we recover that if RC pilot program is discontinued for longer time? Please guide, having to pay USD 500,000/- for get green card after 5-7 years is worth if we are not going to get our investment back?
Hardcore EB5 investors care only about GC now. We will return to the question of 500k with full rage once they denied our applications. However 99% of RCs will declare bankruptcy from the day one, let’s say because of the Covid-19 and no one will get their funds back anyway.
how could they declare bankruptcy, if for example the investors in a hotel, are partners in the hotel that is finished and running? in that case the regional center could not do it, if the project is finished and working.
@Dipti Bhatt
TWO aspects of EB5- Immigration and Capital redemption. When we invested, we were more or less completely sure that IMMIGRATION will not be jeopardized, despite program being temporary as nobody expected prolonged lapse. CAPITAL REDEMPTION was the tricky part but we took a risk with that.
However CAPITAL REDEMPTION is not even on the horizon as the primary purpose of IMMIGRATION is completely jeopardized and seems impossible, the way the things are.
Please do not let regional centers ruin your money. Its better to be prepared. If you are planning to litigate against regional centers or want to look at litigation approaches to protect your future, I would recommend reaching out to Brad Banias: https://twitter.com/ImmAttyBanias/status/1481980971218055169?s=20.
You can email him at eb5delay@wasdenbanias.com
Please reach out to him to know how can investors be prepared and protect themselves through litigation.
Brad Banias is a federal court immigration litigator and former DOJ trial attorney.
If you are a Chinese EB-5 RC investor, please spread the word about what’s going on with EB-5 regional center lapse to your fellow Chinese EB-5 RC investors. Chinese investors form the major chunk of investor share in RC. Please let them know about FIFPA/Grandfathering and AIIA, and please request them to donate at least $100.
We will have to protect ourselves on our own. The false promises of the regional center industry will destroy not only our chances to get green card but also our investment.
We need our brothers and sisters in China to know about FIFPA and the need to have it passed to safeguard our future. Please ask your attorneys to reach out to EB-5 investors to support grandfathering. We need to act to protect ourselves.
Chinese investors may not be voicing their concerns and anger on this website due to language barrier, but thousands of them did join and donated to AIIA. Let’s fight this fight together.
At the beginning I was hesitant to support AIIA. But gradually I changed my mind about them and yesterday I made my first donation to support them as an investor. GO AIIA! The Force will be with you!
As a Chinese investor who started donating to AIIA from last Oct, I want to add something here. During AIIA’s visit to DC to get more senators onboard, four of the members in the leadership team got covid and was ill. They did not brag about their effort and they even payed the travel and hotel expenses during self quarantine themselves. They DID NOT use any funds from the donators. The youngest member who got sick is the volunteer David from China, and he is only 19 years old. He has been a translator for the Chinese investors since day one. I just think that we should all say “thank you” to them and appreciate their commitments. Compared to RCs, they are so responsible and honest. I will keep donating and spread good words about AIIA.
These guys are responsible for the lapse –
Mastrionni is a crook. Google him and you will find out more what a sleazy guy he is.
Lets call other crooks – Jeff C from Pathwyays, Behring from Behring RC
I would warn all EB-5 RC investors to be careful with the actions of their respective regional centers. A lot of investors are pulling their funds out, and this will lead regional centers to fudge financial records to show that the project has fallen in trouble. This is the ripe time for regional centers to indulge in fraud, financial misrepresentation and completely swallow our investments. Your EB-5 attorneys are not going to help either, as most of them receive commission from regional centers for investors who get forwarded to them by attorneys. Please stay VIGILANT.
Please DO NOT trust regional centers. Please use your due DILIGENCE at all times.
I won’t be suprised if regional centers do use this opportunity to keep our investments. And I won’t be suprised when the fraud comes out, an AVALANCHE of lawsuits from investors to bring these thugs to justice.
The suits must state that we NOT ONLY deserve the 500 000 back, but all the lawyer fees, and compensation for emotional distress and health deterioration through the years. RCs should return at least 600 000 to 700 000 accounting to all the damages they have inflicted
The lapse in EB-5 RC makes it worthless for me and my family to continue with the immigration. My children are going to age out. However when I contacted my regional center, they had a very aggressive attitude, almost as if they are challenging me. I wanted my money back because if my children age out, it won’t make much of a sense for just the parents to get green card. We were doing EB-5 for our children. I don’t understand why regional center will not refund my money. Can anyone recommend what step I should take? Are there attorneys who could file litigation against regional center…if yes can anyone recommend an attorney?
Changes a few yrs back ‘froze’ the child’s age while i526 is pending. This should increase odds of not aging out.
I have a hard time digesting that even though RC program has lapsed, the regional center mafia continues to put our investments at risk and make interest money off of our investments. Why should these regional center leeches get away with this? The fact they are sucking our money, even when the program is on hold & petitions are not getting processed. This in & of itself testifies to the corrupt & deceitful framing of the regional center law.
Me and my family are undergoing severe distress over the halt in the processing of I-485. Due to Covid, my buisness in our home country lost most of our revenue and I am left in a critical financial situation. My I-526 was appoved but I have not yet received my combo card, so I cannot work in US. My investment in regional center is at stake but i do not get any immigration benefit yet. My combo card application has been pending for 13 months now, and with the lapse there has been no movement in I-485.
I do not want to wait more because of the lapse. The lapse in RC is not my fault, nor it is the fault of investors. Its the fault of Regional centers who did not agree to re-authorization in June 2021. I want my investment back as I am not getting a fair deal.
I asked my regional center to get into an agreement to refund my money, but they did not agree and were very agressive. Me and my family are the ones who are suffering. Can someone advice me where I can find best federal litigators to get my money refunded.
There has to be a legal way. The halt in RC is due to regional centers. Congress did try hard to get the program re-authorized in June 2021 but the industry intentionally blocked it. There has to be a way through justice to get a fair deal — neither me or any of the investors stopped re-authorization. The offering document says that RC program may lapse or be eliminated, but what if the lapse is “intentional”? The more time the program stays lapsed, the more money regional centers make on interest, at the cost of investors. Justice has to be served and should take into account that industry has “intentionally” blocked attempt to re-authorize in June 2021. Otherwise the Congress made “reasonable” efforts to get the program re-authorized in June 2021.
Please provide me references for federal litigators. I want to really pursue the legal channel against regional centers and bring justice and accountability.
I will not let these thieves, these regional center mafia to kidnap my money like that and then see me getting destroyed.
@Ricardo ..in one of the comments above suggested Brad Banias (https://twitter.com/ImmAttyBanias?s=03). You might want to speak with a number of attorneys to figure out which litigator has the best record. I also have litigators that I have spoken to, but I am waiting until Feb 2022. The lawsuit will carry more weight if you wait until yet another timeline of Feb 2022 as thats the date industry has been propagating to the time when the re-authorization will take place — I personally do not think re-authorization will happen. My attorney has also told me that. So just want to wait out until Feb 2022 and then file the suit. In the meantime you can do the homework by speaking with various federal litigators to be prepared to file the suit when the time comes. Also I anticipate someone investor trying out a class action lawsuit. So you could also look out for those.
Shuan – I absolutely empathize with your situation as I’m also a fellow investor who has been stuck in limbo. I applied for my I-485, EAD and Advanced Parole in December 2020 before the RC lapse. I got my EAD and Advanced Parole end November 2021, which was unexpected given the lapse, but indication that there is processing happening for approved petitions. I just wanted to let you know that so please don’t lose hope. Regarding filing a lawsuit against your RC, while the decision is yours entirely, I personally feel it is a case of throwing good money over bad as you will have to incur high lawyers fees etc. – something to keep in mind. Just my opinion so please take it for what it’s worth. All the best!
Did your I485 approval come through prior to the lapse to get the EAD processed? I applied in Feb 2021 for I485 and EAD with advanced parole. There has been no movement.
VK – my I-485 is still pending. However, my EAD and Advanced Parole was approved and received during the lapse. All documentation was filed prior to the lapse in December 2020.
Thanks! That’s great news. I applied for the three in Feb 21. Hope they process the EAD and advanced parole so I don’t have to struggle with employment in the US in the interim from a Visa standpoint.
You were right about EAD and advanced parole. Ours is in the mail as well. So it looks like those applications are getting processed while waiting for I485 processing.
VK – congratulations! Some good news in these bleak times. I’m curious to know if your RC/lawyer has shared any information regarding what lies ahead for cases like ours?
I emailed the lawyer today. No response yet. As is norm, the lawyer for I 485 and these documents was different than the person doing I 526 filing. They are in the same firm though.
I will email RC and inquire about what’s coming. Last time he said that he doesn’t have any inside scoop.
VK – seems like a standard response. My lawyer is non committal (but hopeful) about what the future holds. My opinion is that we’re going to be applying for EAD renewals/extensions and the permanent GC won’t be a reality till the bigger EB5 issue is resolved. Again, just my opinion.
@Shaun,
I read & re-read your comment. I don’t have any references for federal litigators. However, EAD & AP are benefits offered to all I-485 applicants, even if the I-485 petition has been put into abeyance (due to visa numbers being unavailable or, as in this case, expiry of RC program) or the I-485 may eventually be denied.
You & your family should be able to get EAD/AP. It should not take 13 months. If you can demonstrate that you are facing financial difficulty, you should be able to expedite your (and family’s) EAD due to financial hardship.
@Suzanne, as I said last year, welcome to the Chaos. Blind and innocent people are everywhere. EB5 RC investors, Don’t Look up!
My attorney just told me that there has been no movement in re-authorization at the hill. As per him, its safe to assume that there will be no re-authorization atleast until October 2022.
My attorney also informed me, although he did say there was only some movement, but nowhere close to actually getting anything resolved. With just less than month left, its unlikely any reauthorization will happen in first half of 2022.
Forget about reauthorization. There will be none anytime soon. The industry will yet again come back with an excuse, stating that reauthorization did not happen on Feb 18th because Congress had “other priorities”.
Welcome to RC program: Thugs, Crooks and Pathetically Shameless.
@Garcia,RC nothing else but Thugs,Crooks and selfish that is why they are in driving seat at the cost of ordinary investors whose only fault is that they they want to invest In USA economy and legally want to immigrate to USA
I’m surprised that the founder of EB5 Marketplace does not want reauthorization. But he does want grandfathering law to protect existing investors. I’m not sure if he has any influence on EB-5 industry as well as congressional activities.
“No reauthorization doesn’t mean leaving past investors out in the cold
Existing EB-5 regional center investors are stuck in limbo right now as their applications remain frozen due to the lapse of the Regional Center Program. The U.S. government has an obligation to live up to its end of the bargain: adjudication of the petitions of investors who invested and filed in good faith. To do otherwise, would be just plain wrong and would negatively impact our immigration reputation.
Simple grandfathering legislation can protect those investors who filed their petition when the program was authorized. Take care of past regional center investors who acted in good faith and end the program with that.”
https://greencardbyinvestment.com/article/eb5-regional-center-program-should-stay-expired
I would strongly recommend AIIA contact Kurt Reuss. I’m sure he has strong connections in EB-5 industry including government agencies. He published a lot articles in EB-5.
Please connect all important people who support grandfathering law. I’m sure that they will help with ideas and their relationships.
Why is grandfathering not being pushed Feb 18?? If we paid AIIA already, aren’t they supposed to already have another visit in DC? There is not social media campaign until now? Why are they moving so slow? Banias alternative seems much more doable now
And Kurt Reuss, the writer of this article asking not to re-authorize, is a member of IIUSA. And IIUSA told investors that re-authorization will happen by Feb 18th. But so far negotiations are nowhere close to getting the program back on track. Yet another instance of IIUSA deceiving investors with a “false-possitive” hope. With almost no movement in Congress, its now clear that there will be no reauthorization by Feb 18th, and most certainly nothing in the first half of 2022. But industry jutst won’t tell you the truth, so the invedtors wont get together and ask for refund.
That is insane. Investors who are in the states need to go to his office personally and forcefully tell him to not DEFRAUD. Why isn’t AIIA not outside his home already
Regional Center reauthorization is now a lost battle. It would be wise not to pin hopes on it.
If you are an investor, please support AIIA: https://goaiia.org/ . AIIA is currently trying hard to atleast get grandfathering/FIFPA done in Congress. They have hired a lobbying company which is helping them in spreading the need for grandfathering in Congress. Please donate to AIIA, as they need monetary support to keep lobbying efforts going. Please donate atleast $200, which is a small amount compared with the investment at stake. Please spread the word about AIIA amongst other investors and encourage them to donate to AIIA.
If all investors donate only $200, AIIA will be able to get grandfathering added to an omnibus bill. But they need our support to keep up the lobbying efforts.
I encourage the call to action and supporting advocacy, but would caution to avoid promises. AIIA does not promise that they will be able to get grandfathering added to an omnibus bill. Even industry, with hundreds of thousands more dollars and more lobbyists to work with, cannot make such promises. We donate to take lobbying action to support the interests we want to support, with more support translating into more opportunity to make a noise and claim an effective role.
The “industry” is not making promises in the first place, as they are opposed to FIFPA or grandfathering. Their interest is only in serving their own interest, which is “only” future money (future investors). They are only concerned with re-authorization which may not happen anytime soon.
And btw, yes we know that the industry has good amount of money and lobbyists. But the question is: Is the industry using these resources to safeguard existing investors? or “only” safeguard their own interests? FIFPA will be done quickly if “industry” used these same resources to safeguard investors. Its the easiest thing to achieve. But is the industry really helping in that regard — i mean at the practical level — the floor of Congress, and not just lip service.
It will be easier to understand what existing investors are going through when ones own money (500k) — earned abroad, brought to US, spent countless hours doing paperwork and then got ready to wait for no time limit — is at stake and yours and your’s family lives are set upside down because you are stuck with no movement in immigration benefits and uncertainty regarding the safety of investment. Trust me, it would feel as if you have been defrauded.
Honestly, they are not really showing the efforts? Why is Feb 18 so impossible? They don’t even have a social media campain.
I do not understand if the regional center program has lapsed, and continues to be for now almost 8 months, how come they are still allowed to collect interest money from our investments by putting them at risk? Forget about being fair, this sounds plain illogical. I can’t believe such a program passed Congress in the first place.
@Dan,your observation is absolutely correct but unexpected things happen in unexpected country sometimes.
@Anil, you do not have to sugar coat your response. This debacle was not ‘Un-Expected’. Both congress and RC’s were aware of impacts this lapse will have on existing investors. They have willfully decided to not care because all the benefits have been extracted and they do not see us investors as their clients anymore. The incompetence oozing from the present congress is evident in all spheres of governance and I hang my head in shame to associate with this country. I just want to get my $$ and never look back as I am one of the investor who has withdrawn my I526 application.
@Jay did the RC return your funds? I’m contemplating to withdraw my application if there is no re-authorization/grandfathering on Feb 18th.
@Shawn.. I was up for redeployment at end of 2022. Since I have withdrawn my application, my RC has agreed to pay.
Hi Jay,
How long has your fund been with RC? Is it like 5 years maturity loan? I am also looking to get my money back.
@Dan Its called “fraud done legally”. They continue swallowing the interest money with no shame. Infact, the more time EB-5 stays lapsed, the more these regional center scavangers will dry out investor money. They want it to remain this way — the longer the better. But they will face justice. They are not getting away.
I agree. It’s like stealing. Someone using your money (LIFE savings) without authorization?
@Suzzane is it possible to summarize the discussion of Jan 15th webinar for those of us who couldnt attend
Here is a recording of the webinar from January 15th.
So its like 26 days, less than a month to go until Feb 18th. And we still have no news of any movement on re-authorization in Congress. Anyone can guess what new excuse from the industry we will be told on Feb 18th when re-authorization does not take place?
“Congress had other priorities”. This is probably everyone’s take/probably most famous one too.
Others could be: “We need more time to siphon off your investment”. This probably might be more direct, but I do not think they will say this.
What happened to the PR strategy that AIIA mas supposed to start? I do not any twitter or anything about them? Hopefully they will schuedule the next call soon
They are leeches. Busy devouring investments of existing investors. God willing these regional centers will be held accountable for their treachery.
These corrupt industry thugs obviously do not care. Why bother about it? Get ready for litigation. In America, you have to stand up for yourself otherwise the crime syndicate will take you for a long ride.
Any news on re-authorization. I filed I-526 in Dec 2019. I still no receive approval.
Nothing. Industry is “taking its time”. For what, not sure. Hopefully not to defraud our investments.
Please read this new EB-5 article on Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/andyjsemotiuk/2022/01/25/foreign-investors-need-help-from-americas-eb-5–immigrant-program/?sh=231c95db1dec
Forbes too is now giving importance to Grandfathering/FIFPA, as re-authorization now seems a distant or at least some would say simply unachievable.
AIIA should be able to use this article for their PR work.
Here comes the regional center crook. Are they paying minimum wage atleast?
Tell your employer to get ready for accountability. The pain that investors are going through — will be repaid in kind through accountability of the industry that you work for.
I donated all my income from the regional center to AIIA for their PR work and lobbying efforts. I donated to AIIA few times already and I will continue to do so.
Any articles that support grandfathering should be utilized to raise awareness in Congress.
Contribute your idea, your research and donate your money to AIIA for their work.
Only complaining and blaming here will not do any help. Take real action to support grandfathering law.
Its crooks like you working for other crooks that make investors so want to execute accountability. We will see how you are able to run your buisness if investors have to pay because of your greed.
What happenned? Employer did not give enough PTO? Or lost your money in gambling? Faithless, infectious scavenger belonging to the regional center crime network.
You guys have no idea whats in store if investors lose their patience. If existing investors are harmed, we’ll see how the “industry” is able to get away.
I asked my RC to start process of returning my capital in case I decide to cancel my existing petition.
To this RC says it is only possible if they find a new investor whose capital can be used to return my capital.
If EB5 RC program is not reauthorized, How will a new investor invest?
Why is a new investor required for my capital return?
@waitingi485 RC asking you to find an investor before they would return your capital because they think EB5 investors are helpless and nothing they could do to compromise the interest of RC
If there is no option to return our capital then the RCs can’t enjoy the interest received on it either. We should demand the interest which is being earned on our capital, that’s the least they can do after all the pain we have gone through!!
For those who may be interested in AIIA’s efforts – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS-Yo7rFs2M
Looking back at all me and my family had to go through because of the lapse in RC program, I can’t stop thinking about the regional center industry. They took our investment, they are continously making interest money on our investments by putting them at risk (even though program has lapsed & everything “immigration benefit related” has stagnated) & then…not supporting grandfathering to safeguard investors at “real risk”.
Reprehensible creatures worthy of being codemmed to the absolute eternal damnation in hell.
Current situation in the congress mentioned in the blog below.
https://www.ilw.com/immigrationdaily/
https://www.ilw.com/immigrationdaily/
Summary: RC reauthorization will likely occur in Q2/Q3 2022.
Just a news article. Why are you guys posting this?
Does it helps?
Okay then..just keep postponing reauthorization date. They had been saying Feb 2022, now it can be Q3..wow..just keep waiting and leave the investments wiith regional centers at risk. Its not going to happen that way. I am waiting until end of Feb 2022. If reauthoziation does not take place by then, I litigating against my regional center to get my money back.
No investor is now going to fall for any more baits to just keep waiting for reauthorization. They will keep postponing and expect we as investors will keep blindly waiting and fall for their antics.
Its NOT happening this way.
Lindsey Graham is responsible in part for this re-authorization mess along with EB5-IC. Follow the money trail and hold him accountable. Lobbyist for EB-IC are working overtime and corrupt congress members are hand-in-glove in this thuggery.
Q3 is October 2022. So from Feb 2022 all the way to October 2022. And industry seriously thinks investors will “again” wait until October 2022? Let them know lawsuits will begin pouring in against …NOT goverment but against regional centers. Ask them to buckle up. Because its soon going to be one hell of a ride for them. Just wait until the volcano of investor anger erupts.
In case any of you are interested in Litigation
https://www.wasdenbanias.com/eb5interest2
I am not able to understand how can regional centers continue to make interest money on our investment by putting them at risk, even if the program has lapsed? How is this even fair?
The more close to the mid-term election, the more close to zero chance for re-authorization. If you don’t withdraw to get your refund or sue against who hold your money to get back your money, sorry, you deserve for the loss.
In 2021 we’ve been told to expect reauthorization in Q3. Now it’s 2022 and the same story is to be told again – just wait Q3. Most of us investors ALREADY spent about 4-6 years listening to all kinds of excuses. Enough is enough. It’s time to get out of this sinking Titanic and try to withdraw your investment via litigation. Thanks for the attorney’s contacts waitingi485!
God Willing, these treacherous regional center rogues will be sujected to a level of retribution and accountability unparalleled in buisness. If investors can get together to ask for their rights being protected, they surely can team up to launch litigation assault on these regional center money sucking bats to pull them down to earth and paraded in the hall of justice.
For intentionally inducing suffering and pain onto investors, these abhorrent mischievious regional center devils will be shunned to a future of miserable repentence. Just wait and watch.
Honestly, if this EB5 program was only “pilot”, it had numerous “nuances”, USCIS closed multiple RC’s, it is so bad that Government is unable to find a way out in more than 6 months now,
… they should close this program in entirety and never bring it back.
ButT (with a big T in the end), make sure the investors who have invested are given proper justice based on humanitarian terms. Green Cards, Investment Amount return, or whatever deems correct. Simply ignoring or acting like “ignored” would not solve the purpose.
This can be escalated not just within US, but on a global scale now. This is simply injustice and inhumane.
That is absolutely true. The ignorance from Congress without any action is incompetent, stupid and inhumane. The Regional Centers that refuse to refund investors (if they want to withdraw the investment) are criminals.
If the congress and the government cannot manage to make the EB-5 program work their way, they should end the EB-5 Program permanently to stop abusing future investors. They also must honor previous investors.
Congress is complicit in this act. They want free dollars without any accountability. RC’s are aware of this and they are playing along. We should shame both CONGRESS and RC’s otherwise nothing is going to happen. Unfortunately lot of investors are already living in USA and they fear repercussion from government.
In the history of humanity, repurcussions can never become the driving forces for change.
If God forbid I am forced to leave the country on these inhumane grounds, I will file in the international courts of justice. Go to UN or write editorials as elaborate as possible from wherever part of the world.
And I am just one of the angry investors who is fed up of this unruled and unjust behavior.
I agree with the intent of AIIA, but their philosophy of seeking compassion from US congress does not make sense. When we invested into EB5, it was a fair trade between US government and individual investor where a ‘Promise’ was made by the government to issue green card in lieu of depositing legally sourced amount ‘at risk’ into US economy. Investor risk was associated with the financial viability of the ‘Project’ and not with program being aborted midway due to government incompetence. This deal is transactional and US government is not doing any favor to investors so stop this charade of seeking compassion. By blaming RC’s for this mess we are giving US government free ride of our money. There is no need to show compassionate stories hoping to earn false sympathy from members of congress. As I said it before, this is pure business transaction and both parties need to honor their commitment. Investors are not doing any favor to US government and neither is US government doing any favor to investor by allocating green card.
I very seldom post anything but this time I’m truly fed up with the very corrupt industry…
In this last paragraph of the IIUSA letter to USCIS, “We, along with specific investor advocates and other EB-5 stakeholders, feel assured the Regional Center Program will be reauthorized. ”
I noticed that in the last paragraph, IIUSA has silently deleted the wordings on reauthorization by February. It used to state “reauthorized by February 18.”
If even the IIUSA itself doesn’t believe in reauthorization in Q1, I really don’t know what to say or do…
https://iiusa.org/blog/iiusa-letter-to-uscis-requests-continued-hold-on-pending-petitions-to-protect-good-faith-investors/
Yes thats true. Any more reasons to trust IIUSA with their false re-authorization hopes?
This is very disheartening, let’s hope that the AIIA can get something passed in the next few days.
AIIA needs our support, help and primarily funds in order to make any progress. Hopefully folks here are realizing that and contributing whatever they can to help AIIA further our cause. They seem to be our only hope and without funds, they may be rendered helpless. Time is ticking, act now, if you do decide to contribute!
IIUSA does not lie to you. It is simply out of their control. There are three major working parties: IIUSA (they support Leahy/Grassley bill and want reauthorization), EB5-IC (does not agree with L/G bill) and AIIA (wants grandfathering law). EB5-IC already presented their own proposal few times but Leahy, Grassley do not like that. They ignored EB5-IC’s proposal again. It’s dead again. The BAD thing is that Leahy/Grassley have not made any communication or negotiation. They do not want to negotiate at all. They ignore everything around them and simply silent. They wanted their bill and that’s it. Nobody except existing investors take all the costs. They do not care.
L/G bill, EB5IC bill, grandfathering… Unfortunately it all doesn’t matter now. Past a few weeks I have tried to look for a broader picture and things don’t quite look good for us folks 😦 Please google “FY2022 spending bill February 18 news” and read all the drama that’s going on behind that bill. Most likely there will be another CR before February 18th. Then it will be another stopgap resolution funding the government until the end of FY2022. It looks like there is no legislative vehicle for EB5 RC program in sight for us 😦 And then in October 2022 all the drama will start all over again with the spending bill for FY2023. It seems we’re caught in a hopeless political loop for a post-covid era.
That’s not correct. Do not worry about vehicles. There are several vehicles to carry the bill if they all agree on the content of the bill.
Tony, i cannot agree with you. IIUSA did and does spread false hope about reauthorization. When AIIA said in November, there would be no reauthorization within 2021 according to their lobbyists, IIUSA threw AIIA under the bus and said they were not to be trusted…
So youre saying that, IIUSA, as the largest EB-5 RC organization, they didn’t have access to information that was available to AIIA? An organization newly established in 2021?
This simply doesn’t make any sense….
Everyone knows the reauthorization is out of IIUSA’s control, but please at least tell the investors the truth, at least give us a sense that we are on the same boat…
From now on i wouldn’t trust a word IIUSA says, AIIA is investors only hope….
Support AIIA if you still want to have a chance at immigration benefit. There won’t be any re-authorization anytime soon or ever.
There will no re-authorization atleast until October 2022. And when October 2022 does come, there will be again talk of negotiations. There is no guarantee re-authorization will even happen in 2022. Chances seem bleak.
Anyone wants to still believe the regional center industry and completely destroy your investments? Also remember, as more time passes regional centers still continue to make money. But on the side of investors we may be asked to redeploy our investments if the lapse exceeds time limit for investments to be at risk.
Hi. I was wondering whether EB5 RC investors of specific RCs know each other and have thier communication groups. My husband invested in EB5 Affiliate Network’s project and I would be interested in forming / participating in the social media / Whatsapp group of other investors with the same RC. I think its important for investors to coordinate and exchange information re the specific RC. It’s also a way for us to protect ourselves against the RC.
Those groups actually already exist, here are the couple of them:
EB-5 Resources & News (https://t.me/EB5VisaGroup)
EB5 neutral advocacy (https://t.me/joinchat/NWEYhY6y81AzYzlx)
Also, feel free to join AIIA (American Immigrant Investor Alliance), they have a group where people discuss the situation as well. https://www.goaiia.org
Thanks. Will look into these forums.
Best.
thanks for letting me know. I will look into them. I also do look forward to joining AIIA.
Hi I invested with this same RC, they are marketing direct EB5 projects every day and have no information about reauthorization and seem blasé about grandfathering.
Hi. Yes. It feels as EB5AN if they’ve written off the RC investors and that too extremely swiftly, in Favourite of new revenue stream.
It would be great if we can stay in touch via WhatsApp or any other forum so we can exchange notes re our RC. I have had few concerns. Let me know
Please let me know if you’d be interested in keeping in touch via Whatsapp / or any other platform, and also bring in more investors from the RC to join. I think this is a time when investors of any particular RC should be connected and be able to coordinate, discuss.
The RC has certainly not been able to maintain the balance of appearing to be concerned / allay concerns about existing investors, and pursuing new streams of revenue. As an investor in their project one does feel abandoned.
@EB5ANvestor join Eb5 resources and AIIA . Myself and another investor from EB5AN are already in contact. There’s no way to share info here on this thread.
I’m in the same RC. Join AIIA . I have and am already in contact with another investor in this same RC and same project. No way to share info here.
Your best bet is AIIA. Join and consider donating so AIIA has can hire PR firm to help in lobbying for grandfathering of investors. Here is the link: https://www.goaiia.org/
I think so too. I mean to join them now. Thanks
For those who are tracking movement subsequent to I-526 approval, I got my EAD/AP approval notice this week [I-526 approval in the middle of May 2021 and permanent visa/EAD/AP application in the middle of June 2021]. So, approximately 7.5 months to EAD/AP approval and, more importantly, USCIS has not held off on EAD/AP processing yet. Additional color: US resident, Indian national; California Processing Center (believe this is the default one).
That said, I am in the same boat as some of you here – I do not know if this is going to yield a permanent visa or not. Or, as it looks for now, just throwing time and money down the drain.
Nonetheless, doing my part and trying to keep the group updated on what I am seeing at my end!
Very similar timelines – received the EAD/AP approval this week. Eight months since filing for it (I526 approval in April 2019, 485/765/131 filing in the beginning of June). Sailing in the same boat as rest
@AWB and @PAT1. When did you file your I-526? Thank you.
I have initiated a suit against my regional center to get my funds back. The regional center declined to refund, so had to take them to court. I am not just suing for my funds back but also cost of litigation that it will take.
If you are planning to sue regional center to get your money refunded, I recommend getting into an alliance with fellow investors in the same regional center. You all can contribute and can get very good attorney for yourselves as a team suing the same regional center. Additionally speak with your attorney about how the extended period of program lapse has affected you. Regional center making money on investment by keeping them at risk during the lapse is also recommended to be highlighted in the lawsuit. But your attorney will help you in that. Just spend the extra dollar and get a good attorney. You win half the battle just by selecting good attorneys.
Good luck!
Can we get compensation for the time lost in lapse, like interest money if regional center made during lapse time. I ask this because immigration benefit were not moving for investor.
Hi Xi,
I can feel your frustration when you lost everything (time, money, opportunity cost …) to this incompetent and inhumane system. I cannot believe that a basic one-page grandfathering law still need long time lobbying efforts to raise awareness in this system. It is crystal clear. Does this system have eyes, brains and hearts? Their ignorance is unacceptable.
Best lucks to you and your family.
I am also planning to sue my regional center. I got my combo card after a wait of over 14 months, my I-526 approval took more than 3 years. And now I am still stuck even after so much waiting. My regional center too has declined to refund my money, as now with this long lapse I do not have any more reasons to immigrate to US. I still speaking with various attorneys.
But I also think we as investors also have a case in getting massive interest money which regional centers made during the extended wait time which is still currently ongoing. I do agree you need great attorneys. They may be expensive but there is a high chance your job will be done.
Can you please share your attorney’s name?
Xi, could you please share your attorney’s contact? Thanks
IIUSA was confident that re-authorization will happen by Feb 18. Now that its quite clear that re-authorization is not happening by Feb 18th, what excuse IIUSA is going to give?
My dear fellow investors, please be aware that because of extended lapse in RC program, and mostly no sign of re-authorization to ever take place, it is ripe time for regional centers to defraud you by gulping down you investment.
Please stay vigilent. Most regional centers know they no longer are going to have buisness in future with EB-5 and this makes it a good time for them to defraud investors. Keep your guards up all the time during this time. Be proactive and do not fall for any explanation that your regional center gives you.
I second that. Its quite easy for investors to forget how many ways the corrupt regional center industry can siphon off their investments, especially when all regional centers are eventually going to get shut down. In these risky times, the guard must be up all time to safeguard your investment.
Please support and donate to AIIA and get grandfathering done in near term.
Please register a free Webina about grandfathering law with attorney Carolyne Lee:
Here is the link:
tinyurl.com/4ps6km3v
Joining Carolyn Lee on our first webcast of 2022 are Shawn Gehani and Rajvir Batra, principals of the American Immigrant Investor Alliance (AIIA, https://goaiia.org/). AIIA is a single-issue advocacy group representing existing EB-5 investors and has been active in industry advocacy discussions since its foundation in 2021. Please join us to hear from an essential perspective of EB-5 advocacy today.
Thanks, i will be joining the webinar. We need grandfathering, more importantly now that its clear that IIUSA and the industry had been misleading investors regrading re-authorization taking place in Feb 2022 or early hald of 2022, which now just 2 weeks prior to the Feb 18th date is clear that its not going to happen.
Sued my regional center today. It seems it will be an interesting fight with them, but my family and law firm are ready for it. Won’t let the crooks & thugs to get away with our hard earned money. All the more because the investment my family built also had the blood and sweat of our parents, and that is SERIOUS buisness for us.
WILL NOT let the industry crooks to do away with the sacrifices of my parents. The BATTLE is on.
@Andre, please let us know the regional center and project name.
@Shawn I cannot now as my attorney informed that the matter is subjudice in court. We may even reach a settlement if our primary demand is met.
But if you are planning to also sue your regional center, I recommend getting the best attorney you can afford. Contrary to what others might say, you will have a much easier time with a good attorney than an average defensive one. Litigation of such types need aggressive attorneys. And the more experienced litigator — the better. Also note you can look into the possibility of having the regional center pay for the time during the lapse when the investments were at risk and the regional center continued to profit from it. Speak with various attorneys before selecting one. The best ones are known to everyone but they come with a price tag. But they almost always get the job done.
@Andre thanks for the advice, btw can you share your PD and if you had received your approval. In case you did receive an approval did you have kids aged out issue?
My PD was November 2018. I-526 has not been approved yet. But now I do not need it either. Its good it did not approve. Its pretty much useless after seeing so many extended lapses. I want to exit out, and if it “ever” means taking the regional center to Supreme Court, I am ready for that too. Won’t let these robbers to loot my family’s money.
Andre, can you share the name of your attorney? Thanks
I agree 100 % with you Andre. How dare they insult the blood and sweat our families insured for years- even decades. We live in an interconected world today. The battle is on
BTW what about all the promises, hopes generated by the industry last year that re-authorization will happen in Feb 2022. My regional center was quite confident last time when I spoke to them in Dec 2021. I am thinking of giving them a call on Monday to ask about their promises. Not sure whether they have any shame but it will be clear this upcoming Monday.
Hi Viet,
May I know what is your RC? Mine was very confident when I emailed them last Nov 2021
There will be another CR after Feb18, not sure how could Feb be possible for reauthorization. Indeed S831 is intact without any new markup, there won’t be any new re-auth soon in such a case. This is the fact.
@Kevin I agree with you. The regional center industry would take our investments which essentially have been kidnapped by them to eat them out completely. These poisonous weed will take the last bite out of our money before they go into extinction.
I would like to discuss litigation stratergies for bringing a lawsuit against regional center. Me and my family would not benefit from moving to US now because of the multiple extended wait times and want our money refunded. Is there a forum where EB-5 investors can share litigation options, including attorney recommendations?
Second this. We need to make a group of investors choosing litigation options. Maybe even make a subgroup of investors from the same RC
My gut feeling and sixth sense is that EB RC industry has been terminated with understanding that they will suffocate it slowly, like a Python instead of fast death like Cobra bite. Serves the RC industry to prepare against the lawsuits and blame it on the Congress/Senate which is not answerable to Alien investors anyways.
Slow death will provide time to declare bankruptcy, disappear without being traced, demoralize the investors and beat them so hard that they will not have any power to fight back.
This is all part of the plan. This is not considered unethical or immoral. This is considered “smart business”, especially when so much capital is brought into this country permanently with no expense to taxpayers. Many will celebrate and collect awards on July 4th for such patriotic acts. Don’t be surprised that mafia/dons of RC industry will get President’s medal for such acts.
Another CR coming this week. Country full of corporate Liars, Thieves and Thugs supported by incompetent government. Nobody cares for existing investors as their $’s are already committed. Potential investors, please do NOT invest in USA… If you need to move out from your country, try Portugal or Canada if you want speedy and fair immigration. my 2 cents.
agree .. dont give America this,importance
many more welcoming and beautiful countries in.the world to go to
Any talks/negotiations in congress about EB-5? Does anyone know any updates?
I heard that a short-term continuing resolution (CR) will be passed by Congress this week that extends the funding and functioning of the federal government until on or about March 11th.
Any chance for grandfathering law or short-term reauthorization?
Zero chance. the content of the CR is out. Even there is Omni, the chance to carry EB-5 re-auth is very very low. God Bless!
https://www.wasdenbanias.com/eb5interest
So…re-authorization…Feb 18th…IIUSA …?
While we wait for re-authorization (which may not even happen), crooks:thugs:liars:shameless industry creatures continue to put our money at risk — that too during risky pandemic times. Gulp that down fellow investors.
Its just 10 days left and IIUSA was confident of re-authorization by Feb 18th. Have they already come up with an excuse to provide another “false-hope” to “foreign investors” on why they “now think the re-authorization happen soon?
Has anyone seen the news from EB5AN that a draft bill was leaked including $750k new limit, etc?
That was a marketing message, not news. (The draft discussed was from last year.)
Thanks what a disgusting and heartless act.
You are referring to this: https://eb5visainvestments.com/2022/02/04/changes-to-eb-5-program-loom-large-with-leaked-eb-5-reform-bill/?mc_cid=1418fcdcae&mc_eid=UNIQID
It was a clickbait. To get future investors “excited” to start “preparing proof of funds documents”. A clickbait — ironically an appropriate metaphor to sum up what really the regional center industry is.
The loot continues on. But life is a great equalizer. The regional center mafia who has take the very life out of investors and left them high and dry at their own fate, will…suffer a fate worse than hell. You have destroyed our peace, the health of our family members — while you continue wine and dine on our money. Trust me — life will teach you how easy it is fall on the ground.
Isharat,
There is no point in cursing. If only cursing could have desired result than he world would have been a lovely place. It only helps you release some frustration but nothing else. In my opinion everyone should try to buildup a narrative in his or her own way and bring it to the notice of “Powers that be”. One of the most powerful tool in current world is social media as well as mainstream media. At least I am trying to contact as many media people as possible through mail and bring to their notice the current mess and how are the investors held at ransom. I am hoping that at least some of them will understand the situation and amplify it through their newspapers/magazines. I think it is better way than sitting idle and hoping for miracle to happen. I am not ready to be consumed by the frustration and do nothing.
Please support AIIA and spread the word amongst fellow investors to support them. All other options seem to be closing out on us.
Please support AIIA. We should push for grandfathering law ASAP.
ALSO, social media is quite effective. Investors should spread news about the inhumane ignorance from Congress and the government. Yes, they do not want you to do that. In fact, they are afraid of bad reputation spreading and sharing over social media. That will force them to take actions.
Please add to your posts.
@SenSchumer
@SenatorLeahy
@LindseyGrahamSC
@ChuckGrassley
@POTUS
@americaniia
@IIUSA
@EB5Coalition
@USCISDirector
@USCIS
AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association) – posted a letter format to urge the Congress to reauthorize EB-5 program. Everyone may copy the letter, change it a little bit and send it to Congress members.
Please help – it is the time for us to involve.
Subject: Reauthorize the EB-5 Regional Center Program
Dear [[Recipient’s Title and Name]]:
As your constituent, I urge you to reauthorize the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Regional Center Program. The EB-5 regional center program is an important job-creating program which benefits the U.S. economy and local communities by creating hundreds of thousands of American jobs and stimulating economic growth via billions of dollars in foreign direct investment.
Despite the robust economic growth and job creating benefits of the regional center program, Congress failed to reauthorize the program by June 30, 2021. As it stands, the regional center program is currently in a lapse, leaving thousands of immigrant investors who have injected billions of dollars into the U.S. economy stuck in immigration limbo.
[Draw from your personal or professional experience to further explain the need to reauthorize the EB-5 RC program, in particular sharing a story of one or more clients who have invested in the jurisdiction of your legislator and/or who have been negatively impacted by the lapse of the RC program]
In is imperative that Congress reauthorize the EB-5 regional center program as soon as possible so that the program can continue to aid our nation’s economic recovery, create jobs for U.S. workers, and ensure that the legal immigration process remains on track for those immigrant investors who have invested in good faith through the program.
Sincerely,
[ Your Full Name ]
E-mail address please?
https://aila.org/takeaction?utm_campaign=HubSpot-AILA8-02-08-2022&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=203329853&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8wM-Lgu1PBsYgGd4ixfIpIHXwOnS-ycrjTIUwHLNPOxuEPNqCvZavi49m56WCU5_LXj5ic1K0umKcAImv9w6AwmCH539oXQ-NipMEBMcgbZQ8kZFI&utm_content=203329853&utm_source=hs_email#/115…
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/eb5-brics-llc-comments-on-eb-5-investor-visa-draft-bill-proposes-regional-center-reauthorization–investment-amount-increase-to-700k-from-500k-301479017.html
ok now 7 days left for re-authorization right, IIUSA? Hello….IIUSA…where are you?
IIUSA, hello…can you hear us…by “us” we mean “investors” who got duped to put our money in the pockets of your cronies…
They do not care. They are making money by putting your money at risk. Please do not disturb them. Come back after your money is gone (and also your potential green card which never came). This is fraud…the American style..
Looks like another delay. Now 11th March?
Here is Jeff doing another “Campion”.
Didn’t this Campion guy say he was sure that re-authorization will happen by Feb 18th?
Yes he did…you see any shame in him?
No, instead i see a obnoxious little despicable weed sitting on a chair shamelessly, and acting as if he is a man of propriety.
God..just saw this Jeff Campion “update” on re-authorization. Such a remarkable thing human behavior is. This guy had been going around saying re-authorization would absolutely happen by Feb 18th, and now this snake is dancing to a completely different tune.
He must really have no shame left in him. Shame in him has just simply melted away. And we all put our hard earned money at risk to immigrate to a country that produces rogues like Jeff Campion. Infact America encourages creation of such people who thrive by defrauding innocent people.
Do we now in hindsight think we might have made a big mistake?
What a shameless liar..Infact he is pathological..he has lied so much about the regional center program that he doesn’t even recognize when he is lying anymore..
So now March 11? Ok right…and then April 11th…May 11th…right?
NO ! you missed 1st April!!!
He looks like a crocodile, with years of experience in tearing the flesh out of foreign investors.
What a disgrace? If I had known this guy was in regional center industry, I would never invested my money. He is like the at the top of the line…in the line of crooks
Anyone wants to know what’s the face of fraud..the American Style…play the video and you will see it fr yourself.
If i remember correctly, this Jeff Campion keeps posting on Telegram..I never knew this is how he looked..he sure does look like how he speaks….cheat
This is indeed the telegram cartoon. He has channels there and keeps flushing out false information. Its how he makes money — cheating. Its now in his blood so don’t worry. It won’t bother him. He just NEEDS to be made ACCOUNTABLE.
His Resume would now probably have a new section:
Defrauded EB-5 RC investor 2018 — Present
I can’t even describe what I feel looking at this fraudster.
@Lee It should be:
Defrauding EB-5 RC investors 2010 — Present
1.) Successfully defrauded ALL EB-5 RC investors investing in my regional center.
2.) Sold EB-5 to 100 foreign investors in one sitting. Ripped off ALL them eventually.
3.) Mentored several regional centers on how to EFFORTLESSLY defraud investors.
4.) Fooled EB-5 investors in believing re-authorization will happen after lapse. Successfully dragged the narrative and continuing to do so.
The way this creature is taking about Chuck Schumer is as if he is his buddy. What confidence man..Must have ripped off a number of foreigners investing to get green card..Pathetic
He probably worked as a janitor in Schumar’s house. Jeff Conman is outrightly “THE” man of lowest dignity. I hope he gets sent to jail.
“The way this creature is taking about Chuck Schumer is as if he is his buddy.”
They are.
He is a conman. He is a product of AmericanConJob. Infact his treachery will even put Italian mafia to shame. Reprehensible human.
Looking at his face makes me throw up. I now have an upset stomach listening to his poison. Lock this thug up. He deserves to be in prison.
His glasses are big. Probably because he is used to seeing big numbers — big numbers of investors getting fooled by him. But really..look at his confidence. Yes he is corrupt. Yes he is a crook. Yes he is a fraudster, as it seems everyone agrees on. But LEARN…LEARN the level of confidence he has. This is a guy who lies day in and out, but still has the courage to come up and lie even more, and that too on camera.
If nothing, at least learn the art of CONFIDENCE from this well known cheater whose ability to generate scam is significantly higher than the ability of others to detect it.
He looks like Komodo Dragon. Only difference is he prefers to drink blood of investors. A person of his level deserves all the ridicule any human can be condemned to. Can’t believe people like him get access to Congress members.
He sure has been feasting on EB-5 money…Infact he is now getting younger..new suit, probably new glasses..nice office..
Folks, calm down…Relax, close your eyes and feel the american dream.
To hell with that dream..i want my money back..what a fraudulent country
#FraudTheAmericanStyle #ComeAndInvestInAmericaAndGetDefrauded #WeAreShameless
EB-5 is how America executes trickery. The scavengers in the EB-5 industry will be punished. We will see how these condemnable reptiles are able to run their business. You will go down along with us. You are NOT getting out freely.
God willing these regional center fraudsters will be mercilessly punished by the Almighty. They are responsible for causing damage to our health and our loved ones. The curse of investors will be on these criminals. God will teach them a lesson, a lesson which will teach them how weak they actually are. Hurt the innocent and get ready to face the wrath of the Almighty.
EB-5 Regional Center is the biggest CON that America has pulled in the last 30 years. Its a simple protocol American exercises: Take the money, intentionally postpone petition processing, work with Regional Centers so they make money and then defraud investors as many as possible.
Land of Free….My A**
Just watched the video of Jeff Campion. And now after listening to him, I feel like taking a shower. I am spraying room freshner too.
Jeff Campion is saying Schumer will talk to Leahy and Grassley. Truth of the matter is Grassley has not even started participating in negotiations. There will be nothing on EB-5 front unless GRASSLEY is on board. Jeff as usual is fooling investors by giving them the pill of Schumer, as if its upto Schumer to decide the fate of EB-5. Schumer has no importance in EB-5. Congress has “in-sourced” — so to speak — the responsibility of reform in EB-5 to Grassley. If EB-5 comes back, it will require signature from Grassley. Thats the truth.
But then this profound liar who goes by the name of “Jeff Campion” is not going to say the truth but will continue to push the false narrative of re-authorization taking place soon. Re-authorization is not happening anytime soon. It will be safe to assume that it will again get postponed to NOT March 11th but October 2022. And when October comes…may be again a postponement.
The industry is buying time to make as much interest money as possible. This is the game that is being played, and this swindler Jeff Campion is a leader in it.
How about investors create an alliance to send this Jeff Campion to his righty deserved place for fraud — San Quentin Prison. We can start a GoFundMe Page to get enough support to have this rogue impostor prosecuted and held accountable for deceiving investors.
No need…Jeff’s toothpick brain will itself land him in Prison soon.
@Chugh Needless to say, we as investors probably all have now realized that this EB-5 is an Italian Job, actually no its an American Job — and by “job” i mean a conjob.
And yes — #This-Is-Fraud-The-American-Style
Ok it seems Jeff Campion has taken the blog by storm.
BTW someone rightly in the comment section made the observation that Jeff looks like a Komodo Dragon. I just searched Komodo Dragon, and they “do” share significant resemblance. We don’t have these dragons in Britain. They seem to be in Indonesia, but thats ok. Maybe a komodi dragon might have been shipped to US and mutated over time time to look like a human. Though I can’t say anything about similarities between komodo and Jeff eating habits.
For anyone wondering what komodo dragon looks like, …it looks exactly like Jeff Campion. Google komodo dragon if you choose not to believe it.
Does Jeff Campion also run a regional center?
AIIA, in partnership with @wasdenbanias, will be suing @USCIS and the @StateDept to challenge the lapse of the EB-5 Regional Center program and protect the tens of thousands of immigrants who invested in projects across the United States in good faith. Details to follow shortly.
This is in addition to our legislative efforts to protect existing investors. We have made a commitment to explore every option available and we are optimistic that we will succeed.
Also read this article and support AIIA.
https://greencardbyinvestment.com/article/aiia-khanna-eb5-grandfathering-reauthorization-separate-issues
This snake Jeff Campion has been actively acting NOT to allow grandfathering to happen for existing investors. This rogue has been expending his negative energy working alongside his fellow industry crooks to take out any form of grandfathering, so he and his business cronies can feast on all the existing flaws of the RC program.
This crook will go down..And he will go down hard. GOD WILLING
I understand and deeply sympathize with all the frustration, but the frustration needs better channels and more accurate targets. It doesn’t help to shoot the messenger. I’m closing comments on this post, and will try to find time for another post soon!
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/behring-co-files-lawsuit-against-uscis-for-wrongfully-terminating-eb-5-regional-center-program-301488054.html
Three major lawfirms filing against USCIS. I suggest everybody pay attention!
Check Joseph and Hall P. C.
Thanks for the info. Here is the link
https://www.immigrationissues.com/eb-5-2022-regional-center-litigation-faq/
led by The Galati Law Firm and the law firms that form the Impact Litigation Team, Siskind Susser, Joseph & Hall, and Kuck Baxter Immigration.
Hello all, Can someone please help. I am an anxiety patient and recently I read online that USCIS has informed EB-5 stakeholders that they wont hold petitions in abeyance. Is this true? Please let me know if this true. My life savings yave been invested and I owe financing in US for my house which I recently acquired. My father passed away 1 year ago, and I just came out of depression after months of mourning. I cannot take this anymore. My life will be set upside down if I have to exit prematurely. I only recently got a job a significant time gap, and I owe significant financing which I was going to pay as continued my job. Can someone please let me know if USCIS has told EB-5 people that will start denying pending petitions after March 11th 2022? Please let me know.. I will be grateful
Please see above. USCIS has decided to deny applications at after march 12th
Heard from my lawyer today on this.. Very disappointed. Does anyone think that litigation will help?