WHAT IS EB-5?

EB-5 is an abbreviation for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services’ 5th category of Employment Based visas, also known as the Immigrant Investor Program.

The EB-5 Program grants Green Cards to foreign nationals who make an investment that meets certain requirements set forth by the U.S.C.I.S., giving investors and their immediate families the opportunity to LIVE in the United States of America and apply for citizenship after holding a Green Card for only five years.

TEA is the U.S.C.I.S. abbreviation for Targeted Employment Area. A Targeted Employment Area is an area that has an unemployment rate of at least 150% the national average at time of investment or is a rural area that lies outside the boundary of all metropolitan statistical areas and any city or town with a population of 20,000 or greater.

WHAT IS A TEA?

WHY DO THEY MATTER?

TEAs are important because they accomplish two things:

1. They allow an investor to start their EB-5 Visa Program journey with $500,000 instead of the usual $1,000,000 dollars.
2. It helps the targeted employment area’s economy by creating jobs and tax revenue that the area wouldn’t normally generate on its own.

Most investors wanting to immigrate to the U.S. through the EB-5 visa program usually have to invest $1,000,000 dollars. However, it is possible to immigrate to the U.S. through the EB-5 program with only an investment of $500,000 dollars. The reason investors are able to do this is that the project is located within a targeted employment area, or TEA.

TEAs allow you to invest with only $500,000

EB-5 Investments must be made where the funds are at risk of loss, create 10 new American jobs for 24 months, and be from legal sources to comply with the requirements established by the United States Department of Immigration. The United States Department of Immigration requires that EB-5 investment be at least $1 million, except for in approved TEAs where the minimum amount except for in approved TEAs where the minimum amount is $500,000. This does NOT include administration and legal fees.

REQUIREMENTS & COSTS

MORE CONFIDENCE

Regional Center status removes another variable from the EB-5 process. Approved Regional Center projects have already been reviewed by the USCIS and approved for EB-5 investments, so denial of the visa only occurs if the funds cannot be verified as being from a legal source or if the applicant is a criminal or terrorist.

EB-5 TEAM

YVETTE NARANJO

Director of Business Development

Based in Miami, FL, Yvette leads the EB-5 Florida Real Estate Regional Center investment efforts targeting South America & Europe.

LEGAL TEAM

JAMES LAVIGNE

James Lavigne is the primary Immigration Counsel for EB5 Florida Real Estate Regional Center and the Founding Partner of American Lawyers International.

Mr. Lavigne is a Florida Bar Board Certified International Lawyer and is the lawyer primarily in charge of EB-5 applications through EB5 Florida Real Estate Regional Center. He has been practicing law since 1975 and specializes in international business law, immigration, contracts, joint ventures, foreign investments in the United States, and international tax advising. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Public Address and Rhetoric, with honors, from University of South Florida, a Juris Doctorate (JD) from University of Florida, and a Master of Laws (LL.M) in International Law, with honors, from Notre Dame University London Law Canter.

JOE MCFARLAND ‍

Joe McFarland is of Counsel with American Lawyers International and speaks French, German and Spanish.

He has been practicing law since 1983 and specializes in immigration, taxation, business law, and probate. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Princeton University, a Master of Arts (SAIS - School of Advanced International Studies) from Johns Hopkins University, a Juris Doctorate from New York Law School, and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation from the University of Florida.

SERGIO GONCALVES

Sergio Goncalves is of Counsel with City Center West Orange for Brazilian clients.

He is a Brazilian lawyer and has been practicing law since 1999. He specializes in business law, corporate law, international contracts, and EB-5. He earned a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) and a Master of Laws (LL.M) in Civil Litigation Law from University of Taubaté and has published several legal books in Brazil. Sergio is responsible for the City Center West Orange office in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

JASON PUGH

Jason Pugh is of Counsel with American Lawyers International and speaks Mandarin Chinese.

He has been practicing law since 2009 and specializes in immigration, litigation, business law, and real estate. He earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in International Affairs and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Communications from Florida State University and a Juris Doctorate (JD) from University of Florida.

EB-5 BROCHURES

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