Don’t Miss this Must-Attend Event in Advance of Regulatory Changes to EB-5
Have you registered for the IIUSA EB-5 Industry Forum yet? If not, what are you waiting for? As the only domestic EB-5 industry event this fall, you do not want to miss out on this important educational and business development opportunity.
This year’s Industry Forum comes at a pivotal time for the EB-5 industry as stakeholders look to chart a new path forward with the pending regulatory changes to the Program coming in November. These changes, along with on-going advocacy initiatives and evolving international market dynamics, mean industry stakeholders need quality education and networking opportunities now more so than ever.
We have carefully crafted the EB-5 Industry Forum programming to reflect these educational needs, focusing on not only what the impending changes to the Program are, but also how to adapt your business and forge ahead for continued success. Other topics include hot issues surrounding EB-5 like Opportunity Zones, redeployment, investor relations, staying competitive in the global migration market and much more.
Explore the event schedule and panel descriptions below and be sure to register today!
Full Schedule
Panel Descriptions
9th Annual IIUSA EB-5 Industry Forum – Panel Descriptions
Visa Update with Charlie Oppenheim & Roundtable Discussion
The ever-changing visa update is of critical importance to all aspects and professionals of the EB-5 industry. Hear from the U.S. State Department’s Charles Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control & Reporting Division, who will provide attendees with the most pertinent visa updates, including information on retrogression, final action dates and predictions for the coming months. IIUSA member panelists will join Mr. Oppenheim to dig deeper and analyze the information in a roundtable discussion from their industry expert perspectives.
EB-5 Legislative & Regulatory Update: What Now?
The Administration has finalized the EB-5 regulations which will go into effect on November 21, 2018. Attendees in this session will learn exactly what changes are set to occur, how IIUSA and the industry is responding and what you can do to prepare. Panelists will also discuss any legislative action that may be applicable and how this effects the pending implementation of the regulations.
Local Perspective: Seattle Area Economic Development Roundtable
Hear from local economic development professionals about not only how EB-5 has helped shaped downtown Seattle and the surrounding metro area, but also the considerations they encourage businesses to take when planning development projects. Get empirical insight for interacting with local organizations like Chambers of Commerce, EDOs and other community organization to create the best development project not just for your bottom line, but for fostering a community of culture, accessibility and sustainability.
Opportunity Zones & EB-5: An Emerging Opportunity?
EB-5 has been around since 1990; Opportunity Zones only since 2017. OZs are designated census tracts in which federal tax liabilities on real estate gains are deferred or eliminated under certain conditions, such as a holding period of seven to ten years. Even though one is an immigration program and the other a federal tax benefit program, they share many similarities. This panel will explore how the two programs can be combined to improve the viability and profitability of the underlying EB-5 development project.
Investor Relations: Communication, Transparency & Record Keeping
Taking care of your investors after “the sale”. Exceptional Investor communication is essential, for everything from meeting fiduciary responsibilities and SEC regulations, to earning investor trust and referrals. Good communication can also make the difference if things don’t go as planned. Panel discussion of tools, techniques, and regulations for achieving exceptional investor relations.
Overseas Intermediary & Agent Roundtable: Perspectives from Leading Investor Markets
Every EB-5 project relies, to some extent, on overseas intermediaries and/or agents to seek out investors. On this panel, attendees will hear from representatives from some of EB-5’s most active and mature markets, giving insight into how the market is behaving in these challenging times for the industry and what investors are seeking in their potential investment project.
USCIS Policy & Actions: Living in a World of Adjudication Backlogs, RFEs & NOIDs
Adjudication backlogs for EB-5 petitions are the longest they have ever been and the frequency of RFEs is rising as well. This panel will analyze current adjudication times for I-526, I-829 and I-924 petitions, explore the reasons behind the backlog and increase in RFEs, and identify issues that project sponsors and investors need to be aware of as they submit new projects and await adjudication to avoid RFEs and further processing delays. This panel will also explore the impact of new OMB regulations on the current backlog and USCIS’s policy for grandfathering existing petitions that have not yet been adjudicated.
Indian Investor Roundtable: What They Look for in a Project & Why They Continue to Seek EB-5
As EB-5 markets continue to mature, India has seen a unique situation develop with investors coming in despite a growing backlog. The panelists, 3 of whom are current Indian EB-5 investors, will provide insight on the Indian mindset and give their perspective on why the investment made sense for them and why they chose the EB-5 project they did. The panel will also discuss expectations of investors from Investment Issuers before and after making their investment
EB-5 in the Courts: Suing USCIS, Regional Centers & Other Litigation Cases
As the EB-5 industry continues to mature and there are more investors and more projects, the more litigation cases we continue to see around the Program. This panel will explore not only the cases involving alleged fraud and securities violations, but also look into where industry stakeholders are standing up for the rights of investors and the well-being of the industry by taking action in the courts and in some cases, have precedent-setting decisions. Learn about recent EB-5 litigation cases and what they mean for the future of the industry.
The New Normal for TEAs: What Are the Changes & How to Adapt
With new EB-5 regulations set to go into effect November 21, 2019, the industry is looking at new qualification guidelines for Targeted Employment Areas (TEA). In order for investors to invest at the lower threshold ($900,000), Regional Centers will need to take into account the new criteria for TEAs for future offerings. Learn on this panel what exactly the changes to TEA criteria are and how you or your client can adapt to keep you on the path to success.
Options for Investors in “Busted” Deals & Terminated Regional Centers
When a project falters or USCIS terminates a regional center (or when both things happen), investors can lose their investment, their immigration path, or both. But sometimes creativity and persistence can help to salvage at least some of each investor’s EB-5 dream. Also learn how the new EB-5 regulations would affect an investor’s priority date in these circumstances.
Capital Stack: Creative Financing & Leveraging Funds for the Most Successful Outcome
Rarely is EB-5 the only funding source for a project. Regional Centers and developers often use EB-5 to help leverage other funds for a complex and creative capital stack to make project goals a reality. Learn how EB-5 interacts with other traditional and non-traditional funding sources and what considerations you should take when creating your capital stack from real-world success stories.
EB-5 from the Front Lines: How to Survive in a Challenging Market & Make Projects More Competitive Globally
The days of operating and prospering in a single EB-5 market are over. Today’s EB-5 offerings must be tailored to a global market, and to fit different cultures with very different needs and concerns. What makes one project more attractive than another? What is working, and what is not. Also learn about adapting to the new EB-5 regulations, particularly increased investment amounts.
Overcoming Overseas Investigations, Alleged Discrepancies Between I-526 and DS-160 & Other Pushback from USCIS on Source of Funds
I-526 caseloads are going down, but USCIS scrutiny continues to climb. Investors face increasing USCIS pushback on sanctions, imposition of higher and higher levels of proof, the use of prior visa applications to cross-examine I-526 evidence, and more frequent overseas investigation of investor source of funds. Learn about suggested steps to be taken to prepare for and overcome these investor-related issues.
Redeployment: Structuring Deals, Informing Investors & Checking the Boxes Amongst Uncertain Guidance
Redeployment of investor funds must deliver both immigration and financial Security. In an environment where clear policy guidance from USCIS is lacking, panelists will discuss suggested best practices for redeployment, including offering document structuring and disclosures, informing investors and attaining consent, and what USCIS will look for when they begin reviewing I-829 petitions.
Emerging Investor Markets: Keeping Your Project Dreams Alive
The landscape of emerging EB-5 markets like the UAE, Africa, Brazil and others are different than the well-established ones we all know. Learn what investors in those markets value most in the projects they consider and the EB-5 professionals they interact with as well as tips for interacting with consultants and agents in these emerging markets.
