EB5USADirect.com is offering a [Direct EB-5 Invesment] solution to Immigrant Investors confused or leery of EB-5 Regional Center investments.
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) September 17, 2014
EB5USADirect.com (http://www.eb5usadirect.com) officially launched its Immigrant Investor / U.S. company “matchmaking” Web site on September 4, 2014, effectively linking overseas investors with American businesses looking for funding under the Federal EB-5 Visa Direct Investment program (http://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/permanent-workers/employment-based-immigration-fifth-preference-eb-5/eb-5-immigrant-investor), operated by the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). EB5USADirect.com’s niche product offering, is as an alternative resource for Immigrant Investors looking to review Direct EB-5 Investment opportunities – as opposed to possible investments in Regional Centers.
“EB5USADirect.com is offering a solution to Immigrant Investors confused or leery of EB-5 Regional Center investments,” said Robert K. Whyte, Founder of EB5USADirect.com.
The EB-5 program, now approximately 75% Regional Center-based, has come to battle a poor reputation largely due to high-profile cases of fraud at Regional Centers, which highlight risks and vulnerabilities for immigrant investors and a failure to properly regulate the promotion of the program.
Mr. Whyte added, “The majority of EB-5 Visas are currently administered through EB-5 Regional Centers, entities that pool invest¬ments. However, the original – and the only permanent – EB-5--approved program is the Direct EB-5 Investment.”
A USCIS-designated “Regional Center” is defined as any economic entity involved with the promotion of economic growth, improved regional productivity, job creation and increased domestic capital investment. “Direct” EB-5 investment involves an immigrant investor dealing directly with, and investing directly in, a singular U.S. business.
Direct EB-5 Investment – the original form of funding under the EB-5 Visa program – offers Immigrant Investors more control over their investment and quicker approvals from the USCIS, and also allows investors to work directly with qualified, American management teams. Additionally, Direct EB-5 Investments are normally smaller in dollar amount and therefore, easier to manage.
EB-5 financing has increased dramatically in recent years, as a source of funding for U.S. companies looking to get growth capital without facing major dilution, as well as a means of providing regional economic development.
Difficulties in accessing traditional domestic financing brought on by the Great Recession, along with a rise in the number of wealthy investors in developing countries, have led to the recent spike in interest in the Federal EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa program, through which immigrant investors may eventually secure permanent residency for themselves and their immediate family, by investing at least $500,000 in a U.S. business and creating or preserving 10 full-time U.S. jobs.
“We started EB5USADirect.com to simplify the investment process for overseas investors, for U.S. companies looking for funding, and for EB-5 applicant service providers. The Internet-based system allows all three to match up…investors will be able to review some high-level company information about hundreds of investment opportunities, then detailed business plans and management bios for potential investments, and then allows them to download information for review with advisors – before, and as opposed to, jumping into a pooled investment with 100 or 200 other investors,” explained Mr. Whyte.
Mr. Whyte concluded, “EB-5 financing is a smart choice for U.S. companies and it puts Americans to work, all supported by the direct investment from the Immigrant Investor.”
EB5USADirect.com is an interactive, searchable database of companies of all sizes, both in revenue and at start-up stage, plus franchise opportunities. Immigrant Investors may search through the site’s data to find the location, type of investment and management team with which they will be comfortable. Investors can review projects at no charge. Companies may register with the site for a small listing fee in order to provide information at three different levels, for investor review: The first level is basic information, levels two and three have detailed business plans, projections and management bios, viewable after a more formal introduction of the parties has been made.
USCIS administers the Immigrant Investor Program known as “EB-5”, which was created by Congress in 1990 to stimulate the U.S. economy through job creation and capital investment by foreign investors. Under a pilot immigration program first enacted in 1992 and regularly reauthorized since, certain EB-5 visas also are set aside for investors in Regional Centers designated by USCIS based on proposals for promoting economic growth.
All EB-5 investors must invest in a new commercial enterprise, which is a commercial enterprise that was either a) Established after November 29, 1990; or, b) Established on or before November 29, 1990, that is either 1) Purchased and the existing business is restructured or reorganized in such a way that a new commercial enterprise results; or, 2) Expanded through the investment so that a 40% increase in the net worth or number of employees occurs.
Requests for further information about EB5USADirect.com, or comment and interview requests, can be directed to Robert K. Whyte at 1.310.283.3939. EB5USADirect.com is headquartered at 5670 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1800, Los Angeles, California 90036.
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