regional centers

Disclaimer: NOTHING CONTAINED HEREIN SHOULD BE TAKEN AS AN OFFER TO SELL SECURITIES OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO PURCHASE SECURITIES. ANY OFFER OF SECURITIES IN ANY PROJECT MAY ONLY BE MADE PURSUANT TO A WRITTEN OFFERING MEMORANDUM AND ANY SALE OF SECURITIES IN SUCH PROJECT SHALL BE EVIDENCED BY A SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT EXECUTED BY THE POTENTIAL INVESTOR. IF THE INVESTOR IS A U.S. PERSON RESIDING IN THE U.S. AT THE TIME OF THE OFFERING, THE OFFERING WILL BE MADE ONLY TO "ACCREDITED INVESTORS," AS DEFINED UNDER RULE 501(A) OF REGULATION D OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF THE U.S. IF THE INVESTOR IS NON-U.S. PERSON AT THE TIME OF OFFERING AND NOT LOCATED IN THE U.S. UNDER REGULATION S AT THE TIME OF SALE, THEN REGULATION S OF THE 1933 SECURITIES ACT SHALL APPLY. NO OFFER TO SELL OR SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY UNITS MAY BE MADE IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH, OR TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM, IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH AN OFFER OR SALE. ALL CONTENT SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. All content Copyright 2015 Golden Pacific Regional Centers / All rights reserved.

Golden Pacific

General Questions

How many EB5 visas are allotted each year?
The EB5 program allots 10,000 visas per year for aliens and family members. Five thousand immigrant (5,000) of these visas are set-aside for the regional centers.

Must I have previous business experience or education?
The investor is not required to have any prior business experience or demonstrate any minimum level of education. The only requirement for the investor is that he or she has the required net worth and capital and prove that the funds were legally earned/obtained

Do I have to speak English?
No. An investor can obtain the services of a translator (friend, attorney, family member).

What makes this program different from the L-1 (manager transfer) or E-1/2 (Treaty Trader/Investor)?
Participation in the Immigrant Investor programs yields permanent resident status. The E-1/2 Treaty Investor or Treaty Trader programs allow for non-immigrant status only. When the qualifying trade PR investment ends, the non-immigrant status ends with it. The L-1 is a non-immigrant classification. Unlike E-1/2, an L-1 alien can apply for classification as a Multi-national Executive or Manager. If approved, which is becoming more difficult due to the high number of fraudulent cases and a subsequent tightening of the review process, the alien may apply for Permanent Resident status.

 
Investment Questions

What is a limited partnership?
A limited partnership is a business organization with one or more general partners, who manage the business and assume legal debts and obligations, and one or more limited partners, who are liable only to the extent of their investments. Limited partners also enjoy rights to the partnership’s cash flow, but are not liable for company obligations.

How is my limited partner interest protected?
Even though USCIS requires all investments be considered "At Risk" and NOT Guaranteed, all best efforts are made to minimize the amount of risk by making sure that the investment is properly collateralized and that the partnership is in strong financial standing. Investments and loans made by the partnership are secured by notes and/or properly collateralized. A limited partner can contact the General Partner to request any partnership information.

What are my risks?
There are specific risk factors for each limited partnership, which are included in the offering materials for the limited partnership. Risk factors differ for each partnership but general risks include economic conditions, failure to meet job requirements and denied immigration status under the USCIS EB5 Immigrant Visa Program.

Can several investors combine or “pool” their investment capital through one limited partnership?
The regulations specifically allow for the pooling of funds by several investors to establish a limited partnership sufficient to qualify all participating investors. The only requirement is that each investor individually must qualify for the minimum at risk capital requirement and new job creation requirement.

How can I submit my subscription investment funds?
The funds can be wired directly to the designated bank account (the wire details are provided with your subscription materials). Within 48 hours of your wire transfer, we will receive a remittance confirmation for your records. A copy of the remittance confirmation is provided to you and is included as part of your I-526 petition.

If my I-526 petition is denied, will I receive my funds back?
Yes. If the petition is denied, the full investment will be returned to the account from which the funds originated.


Applying To the Project

How can a potential investor apply for the EB5 visa through your program?
A potential investor can contact our office or authorized agent and speak to one of the staff regarding their interest in the EB5 visa. We will answer all of your questions and provide program materials regarding our Project.

Can I apply if I have been rejected or terminated in the past by USCIS for an L-1, B, or other visa?
Rejection in the past does not disqualify the applicant, unless the reasons are related to immigration fraud or other major problems. It is important that all criminal, medical, or U.S. immigration history problems be disclosed in advance of your petition.

Does an investor need an immigration attorney to submit an I-526 petition?
We highly recommend that an investor obtain legal services for their immigration petition submission. The narrative and documentation needed for the petition is extensive and an attorney can assist with the petition, consulate interview and visa processing. Please note that legal fees are not included in the application and subscription fees and expenses.

What information and documentation are required?
An investor must apply to the USCIS for EB5 visa qualification through the submission of a number of required elements including: USCIS forms, business plans or geographical statistics, investor financial information and other supporting evidence. Also, the capital investment must be placed in escrow prior to submitting a petition. All documents included in the petition must be translated into English by a certified translation service. The investor must sign the English version of all agreements, government forms, and applications.

What is meant by the requirement that the investor’s assets be “lawfully gained”?
Under USCIS regulations, the investor must demonstrate that their assets were gained in a lawful manner. This requires the investor to prove their investment funds were obtained through lawful business, salary, investments, property sales, inheritance, gift, loan, or other lawful means. The Fund requires an investor to reveal where and how they received the assets used for qualifying for the program. This may be accomplished through certification by the investor’s licensed accountants, lawyers, court records, salary statements, tax statements, real estate documents, etc.

What are the obligations of the investor?
The investor must be “active” in the management of the investment by engaging in the management of the new commercial enterprise, either through day-to-day managerial control or through policy formation. However, the law does specifically allow that an investor will qualify as a “limited partner” as defined in the Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act. The Fund meets all the regulation requirements by enrolling the investor in the investment as a limited partner. This role allows the investor to continue to engage in his or her own business without needing to participate in the day-to-day management operations. However, the limited partner is required to participate in the formation of policy activities for the Partnership. The limited partnership business structure allows the investor to live where he or she pleases, and gives him or her the option to enter and exit the U.S. without any obligation to manage the daily affairs of the investment. Most importantly, the limited partner, like the corporate shareholder, is only liable to the enterprise to the extent of the agreed-upon investment. This business structure is used to protect the investor.

What is an accredited investor? And do I need to be an accredited investor to apply to the fund?
In the U.S., an individual is considered to be an accredited investor if he or she has a net worth of at least $1 million US dollars (excluding the primary residence) or has made at least $200,000 US dollars each year for the last two years ($300,000 with spouse, if married) and expects to make the same amount in the current year. Iif you are currently residing in the U.S. on a non-immigrant visa, you must qualify as an accredited investor. The investment capital that will be used for the investment can be counted towards the requirement of $1 million US dollars in assets.


Petition Process

If my I-526 petition is approved by USCIS, what is the purpose of the Consulate application and Interview?
The purpose of this application is to ensure that the investor and his or her family undergo medical, police, security and immigration history checks before the conditional permanent resident visas are issued. At the interview, the consulate officer may address these issues and information printed on the I-526 petition, including asking the investor to summarize the nature of his or her immigrant investment. If the investor and his or her family are in the United States, they may apply to adjust their status at the appropriate office of the USCIS.

After the I-526 petition approval, can members of the family have their consulate interview in different countries (i.e. children attending school in the United States and the parents are in China)?
Family members can interview in different countries. The country of origin or where the family has current ties is the standard interview site. Often one member of the family is located in another country, such as a student attending school in the U.S. The student does not have to return to the country of origin and can adjust status in the United States at the district office of the USCIS.

Once I receive my conditional green card, when do I apply for my permanent green card?
The conditional green card has an expiration date of two years from the date issued. Investors can submit their I-829 petition as early as three months prior to the expiration date. We will supply all supporting evidence regarding the limited partnership, capital investment and newly created jobs. Once the I-829 petition is filed with the USCIS, your conditional permanent residency is extended for one year. An investor should carry his or her USCIS I-829 receipt notice, along with his or her conditional green card, at all times.


Conditional and Unconditional Green Cards

What is the difference between “conditional” and “unconditional” green cards?
Under the regulations, an investor who is approved for the EB5 immigrant visa receives a “conditional” green card that is valid for two years. An “unconditional” or permanent green card has no expiration date, otherwise the two cards offer the same rights and privileges.

Who receives the permanent residency (“green card”)?
The investor, spouse and any unmarried children under the age of 21 at the time of the I-526 petition. It is possible for adopted children to be included in the family.

How long must I remain in the United States each year?
The first requirement is to enter the United States within 180 days of visa issuance. The investor must then establish residency in the United States. Evidence of intent to reside includes: opening bank accounts, obtaining a driver’s license or social security number, paying state and federal income taxes, renting or buying a home. The United States resident may work overseas, if required, based upon the nature of the business or profession. For those permanent residents living outside the U.S., we suggest the investor and family re-enter the U.S. no less than once every six months. The longer the investor and family are present in the U.S., the less likely the government is to claim that the investor “abandoned” the United States as a permanent residence, thereby endangering his green card status. In some cases, investors may seek the issuance of a “reentry permit” which allows the Investor permission to remain outside the U.S. for as long as two years without having to reenter the country to maintain permanent resident status.

What is the difference between permanent residency and citizenship?
There are two ways to become a U.S. citizen. One is by being born in the U.S. or being born to a U.S. citizen. The other way is by naturalization. The first step in becoming a U.S. citizen through naturalization is to become a Legal Permanent Resident (LPR). Being an LPR for 5 years is one of the basic requirements for qualifying for naturalization. A second requirement is being physically present in the U.S. for 30 months during the 5 years prior to the naturalization application. Once becoming a U.S. citizen, an individual is entitled to benefits including the right to vote and hold public office.

Will my children be able to remain in school in the U.S. if I leave the U.S.?
Yes. They will continue to receive all the benefits of being a permanent resident, including the education benefit of admission to state universities at resident costs (which can translate into significant savings).