How can I best attract EB5 investors?

You have to do a lot things first before you can attract EB5 investors. The most important thing is to make sure that it is in TEA area.

How you attract investors depends on how your EB-5 project is being administered, do you have your own regional center or are you working with or looking for an existing regional center that will work with you on the marketing side. Either way this is a complex question that starts with thinking about your marketing plan and the type of relationships or direct footprint you want to establish in other countries. You may want to start with speaking to corporate securities counsel, EB-5 immigration counsel and an economist to determine the feasibility and marketability of your project and then create a marketing strategy that may involve developing relationships with people and organizations in key countries.

You should engage in marketing efforts, including website and promotional materials. First would be to contact migration agents in China as the majority of the EB-5 investors come from China. Contacting immigration attorneys and attending EB-5 events is helpful to start.

To find direct investors you should contact migration agents abroad that specialize in finding investors. Under the "Rent-A-Center" model, you may submit your project to a designated regional center in NC and with their collaboration, fund the project through the regional center.

This is an open ended question. Assuming that you have a Regional Center established and an offering in place, there are various mechanisms to attract investors. However, you have to be weary that you don''t run afoul SEC regulations. As such, I would recommend you chat with a EB5 attorney to explore your options.

This is a very good question. Hopefully you have consulted an attorney with expertise in U.S. securities law and have the proper offering documents which will comply with SEC and state blue sky laws. Assuming you are compliant with SEC and state blue sky laws, there are a number of EB-5 marketing companies which can help attract investors. But you have to be careful in who you select as there are many out there who may make claims that they can guarantee investors for you or claim that they already have them available. Is your project part of an existing EB-5 Regional Center which may be able to lend its marketing strategy to you? As well, the fees payable to them are critical to consider, and should not come out of the investor''s capital contribution that is funding your project.

Many realty projects like you describe can qualify for EB-5 investors. These projects create many necessary jobs and offer a security of return on investment which is very attractive to investors. If you would like to discuss and seek assistance in the Private Placement Memorandum, please let me know.

Contact licensed agents in China.

I do not know the amount of investment for each investor and the number of investors that your project intends to recruit, but the competition for investors is fierce in China. Because the majority of EB-5 petition filings come from Chinese investors, the brokers and dealers in China charge an exorbitant amount of commissions to refer investors to U.S. pre-approved regional centers, sometimes as high as $100,000 plus future business profits for referring one investor. It might be easier for you to look into the REIT possibility inside the U.S. to find investors.

Search for registered EB-5 investor recruiters and plan to make one or more trips to China.

Personally I am very familiar with North and South Carolina EB-5 projects. Immediately we will review the Project to determine EB-5 compliance and marketability. We also will introduce you to a group who already has the investors and start a dialogue between you and the group so that you can quickly close a deal for the EB-5 funding.

The major market right now is China, so you have to go to where the investors are. You should work with a reputable agency in China (there are a few) that can assist you in setting up seminars and meetings with prospective investors. It is a long process, but it can be fruitful, if you align yourself with the right people. Otherwise, it is going to be a waste of time at best or a disaster at worst.

My initial advice would be to contract with a "migration consultant," who is a US person with offshore contacts with the procurement agents who ultimately source your EB-5 Investors. As these individuals have first hand contact with the agents "finding" EB-5 investors for projects, they are the best source for letting you know how to make your project more attractive to investors. Generally speaking, a lot of procurement agents want to market a deal to EB-5 investors in which (1) the EB-5 funds are secured with a first priority lien, (2) EB-5 funds go into escrow until the EB-5 investor''s visa application is adjudicated by USCIS, (3) the company''s management has a solid track record of success (4) the company''s business plan is solid and viable, (5) the exit strategy for a 5 year repayment is viable, (6) the EB-5 Funds will not be more than 70%-80% of the capital stack, (7) etc.

Attend international trade events, in the U.S. and abroad, and attend AILA conventions and distribute your promotional materials there.

You may do the following:

1. Attend an EB-5 symposium or roundtable organized or AILA or its local chapter.
2. Contact immigration attorneys and let them know your projects.
3. Apply regional center designation.
4. Have a website and promote your project online. Have a Chinese version in addition to your English version.
5. Establish cooperation with EB-5 marketing firms or consulting firms.

That is the Million Dollar (or $500K) question! Kidding aside, like any push for capitalization, you need to first have a solid project. Then, having a Regional Center designation for the project (or aligning with one) will make it more marketable. If you are targeting China or Korea for EB-5 Investors, you should also find and work with reputable brokers that will be able to provide you with the relationships to high-net-worth investors. Having an experienced attorney that can process the EB-5 Immigrant Petition is also a key, since that would be the main objective of the EB-5 investors.

The most important thing would be to make your offering attractive in terms of financial security and the lessening of immigration risks. Other than that, build a good network of immigration attorneys that are active in EB-5, attend industry events and consider membership with industry associations such as IIUSA, and work with established EB-5 consultants. The right team of professionals/consultants should easily have a large Rolodex that they can share with you. Just beware of EB-5 advisers that have limited or no experience and carefully diligence your EB-5 team.

Traditional marketing and international marketing firms.