How do I attract EB-5 investors?

You probably need to engage a marketing company. You must comply with SEC regulations when soliciting investors.

You will need to determine whether there is an approved regional center that is approved for the geographical area covering Savannah, GA and that is approved for the industry code(s) of your project. There is no easy way to determine this. You would have to go to the USCIS website and either contact each regional center listed for Georgia or else check the websites of each regional center listed for Georgia to determine the geographical scope and approved industry codes for each regional center. If you enter into an agreement with the regional center whereby the regional center will host or sponsor your project, either the regional center or you will undertake the marketing efforts necessary to find investors. Normally, this is done through migration agents in other countries.

There are many professional companies helping developers market their projects to foreign investors. Developers can also collaborate with the migration agents in the targeted market. In addition, working closely with immigration attorneys is another good way to find investors. For example, our firm is frequently invited to seminars organized by developers and Chinese migration companies to talk about EB-5 from a legal perspective, which is very helpful to secure investors for developers.

Attracting EB 5 investors is a long term commitment. Either you will work with an existing regional center or create your own. The challenge with shopping centers now is proof that the jobs being created by the tenants are indeed ''new'' jobs. You are also advised to seek EB 5 counsel in this matter as it can be very subtle as to results from USCIS.

You would hire an offshore broker-dealer, often referred to as a migration agent. Once we are engaged to serve as legal counsel, we can assist you.

This is a very broad question. To attract EB-5 investors, you need to have solid business plans, marketing plan, good managers, and EB5 designation for your project. Actually all these will be part of your application for EB-5 designation. You also need to structure the project in a way that is attractive to the investors and comply with SEC regulations. Investors are very sophisticated nowadays.

You should contact an attorney that specializes in EB-5 programs to assist you, or contact the regional center directly.

First, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) maintains a list of all approved regional centers by state. You can search for it on their website, www.USCIS.gov, then search for EB5 and/or Regional Centers to find additional information. Once you have a list of Regional Centers in Georgia, you will need to contact them to see which ones are authorized to raise money for projects in Savannah, in the same industry as your project. At that point, you can discuss pricing terms with the Regional Centers that qualify. If no Regional Center is properly authorized for your project, or you cannot reach an agreement on terms, you will need to form your own Regional Center. Feel free to contact me, or another EB5 service provider, to discuss your available options.

This is a questions best suited for a marketing expert: however, you should be aware of restrictions on advertising for an EB-5 so that you are not in violation of any SEC rules.

What you do is hire a ''rainmaker'' in this industry who will find an investor for a finder?s fee for your project. Regional Centers may have connections to help you with this. Most law offices specializing in business immigration matters and EB5 practice based on some kind of ethnic client base also may be a source for such assistance in finding an investor. Looking for BRIC associated law firms in US is a good starting point. Those countries supply most of the EB5 investors.

You can attract EB-5 investors through marketing and advertising.

Attracting investors comes from three major parts: 1) having a good project from a jobs and profitability point of view, 2) having good advisers to help you structure/market the project, and 3) conducting the offering under generally accepted EB-5 market practices. There are a lot of folks that claim to be EB-5 experts, but very few have actually done a significant amount of work in the industry. Therefore, you will want to carefully vet out your EB-5 team. If your project makes sense from a business perspective, the right professional should be able to easily guide you in your EB-5 offering (or just as important, to advise you if EB-5 is not something you should pursue).