On January 20, 2012, the annual US EB-5 Investment Immigration Summit was held in Las Vegas, Nevada. Attendees included renowned immigration attorney Edward J. Carroll from Los Angeles, prominent economist Jeff Carr from the US immigration sector, and representatives from over 140 regional centers. Worldway was also invited to participate in this grand event as the only award-winning immigration agency.
On September 30, 2012, the US EB-5 pilot program is set to expire, a deadline referred to in the industry as the "September 30 Deadline." The current EB-5 regional center investment program is merely a temporary pilot program, which was extended for three years to September 30, 2012, after President Obama took office.
What will happen after the expiration is not only a concern for potential investment immigration clients but also for many regional centers and immigration agencies. Renowned immigration attorney Edward J. Carroll and prominent economist Jeff Carr shared their views on the "September 30 Deadline" at the summit and engaged in lively discussions with representatives from over 140 regional centers present.
Mr. Zhao Jiangcheng, a representative from Worldway, engaged in discussions with immigration experts at the summit.
The summit discussed three possible outcomes regarding the EB-5 program: the first possibility is that the EB-5 temporary legislation will terminate, but this seems unlikely. The second possibility is that it may be converted into a permanent program, which is possible but challenging, as it would require congressional approval. The third possibility is an extension, which appears highly likely since extensions do not require the stringent congressional process.
Whether it is an extension or a conversion to a permanent program, there is a significant possibility that the investment threshold will be raised, as the investment thresholds for immigration in Canada, Singapore, and Hong Kong have all increased significantly over the past year. Therefore, the "September 30 Deadline" is most likely to result in a higher investment threshold.
Scene from the summit
Many investors are interested in immigrating to the US, but due to the risks associated with US immigration, they are cautious in selecting US immigration projects. As the "September 30 Deadline" approaches, the time left for investors to choose projects is limited. Applicants should act quickly to obtain approval from the immigration bureau before the "September 30 Deadline."
