I am interested in the EB-5 program and want to know more about its associated costs. What are the costs associated with opening a regional center? What are the costs associated for EB-5 immigrant investors? What do lawyers normally charge for their services to regional centers and immigrant investors?
The EB-5 costs vary. Attorney fees will be dependent on the each case and the challenges it may present. The USCIS filing fee of an I-924 application is currently $6,230. The cost will increase as you hire various professionals to assist you.
The costs vary in terms of professionals who will work on the opening of a regional center. The services of these professionals will cover a variety of issues/laws, such as immigration and securities laws, business planning and due diligence. Generally, expect to spend between $100,000 and $130,000 for setting up a regional center. Lawyers'' fees vary depending on the terms of agreement, but can be in the ballpark of well over $15,000 and all associated expenses. Work with an EB-5 attorney, and put together a good and feasible business plan before you proceed.
Every case and representation is different. The first step is to consult with an experienced EB-5 attorney and discuss your project goals, timelines, funding, and budgets. Then, fees and costs can be determined.
Attorney fees vary depending upon the situation and the individual. You should contact attorneys directly to get estimates of the costs for your particular situation.
You should retain EB-5 counsel, securities counsel, a business planner, an economist, and possibly develop a relationship with an immigration broker. Starting from scratch, you may be looking at more than $100,000 in professional fees and filing fees, but each situation is different.
The costs of opening a regional center vary depending on the professionals you hire. However, you can expect to pay anywhere from $100,000 - $150,000. About $30,000 - $50,000 of that would be used to pay an immigration/securities attorney to file the I-924 Application for Regional Center Designation. The remaining costs might include business plan writers, an economic analysis report, etc. (to name a few). The cost for an EB-5 investor would be the $500,000 investment, plus attorney fees, project administration fee, filing fees and translation fees (if applicable). There may also be some miscellaneous fees depending on each investor''s individual circumstance. I''ve recently written a blog on the cost of an EB-5 investment. Please feel free to contact me for a link.
Good questions, but they are rather general. While a worthwhile initiative, a regional center application can be a lengthy and costly endeavor. The application fee to USCIS is not significant ($6,230); however, the fees for the various professionals who will assist in the process, along with fees for other project-related expenses can be quite high. Each attorney and law firm has slightly different price structures. I recommend you consult with a few EB-5 attorneys on this point.
