What are EB-5 migration agents?

The term migration agents was created for the structure of individuals and entities finding EB-5 investors mainly in China. There are established migration agents in China, but not in other countries. On a case by case basis you may find different sources for finding investors in South America such as professionals and business groups, but they do not call themselves migration agents.

Migration agents are middlemen. In some countries, like China, an entire industry created itself, convincing foreign investors that a middleman is needed to facilitate the process between investors and their attorneys, and charging investors fees for that service.

Migration agents are licensed persons or agencies who will market EB-5 projects to a pool of pre-screened foreign EB-5 investors for a fee. They are located outside of the United States, such as China and other foreign countries.

A migration agent is usually a licensed individual or company in the foreign country. The agent has paid a bond and maintains updated contact information with the appropriate governmental agency or department in the foreign country. In a highly developed EB-5 market such as China, the use of migration agents as a source for potential investors is widespread. In emerging EB-5 markets, migration agents are less important, but they still can play a role in setting up EB-5 seminars and meetings for regional centers/developers looking for investors.

EB-5 migration agents are simply that; they are agencies that represent potential EB-5 investors. They aggregate a group of investors, provide material to them, and if they like your EB-5 project, will allow you to make a presentation to a group of their investors. Almost all of these agencies are located in the People's Republic of China.

These are agents or companies in foreign countries; they attempt to find investors for your project and will set up meetings or seminars for you to present your project. They should do the work of making sure that all participants have been screened as "accredited investors." They will charge you a fee and the amount varies.

Migration agents are immigration specialists or consultants. They play multiple roles in the EB-5 process, such as assisting investors in finding projects, putting together documentation of funds particularly to prove the source of funds is legal, and they may even serve as a go-between in the finding and appointment of an immigration attorney. In certain circumstances, both investors and developers actually start with migration agents at the beginning of their EB-5 process. In the EB-5 marketplace, it is not unusual for EB-5 attorneys to also help in finding migration agents.

In China, these are the government registered or authorized migration agents. Other countries, such as Canada/Australia, also have them. In most countries, it is still lawyers that fulfill this role.

They are agents in a foreign country that can help you sell your project in that country.

Agents that are located abroad that market for EB-5 projects and refer clients for a fee. All agents should be vetted to make sure they are accurately representing the projects and the potential clients, etc.