TOP IMMIGRATION AT TORNEYS
BELMA DEMIROVIC CHINCHOY
EB-5 PLUS IMMIGRATION LAW | ATTORNEY
Belma Demirovic Chinchoy
par tners with investors and
companies to guide them in
successful par ticipation in
the EB-5 program. Believing
in individualized approach,
Chinchoy’s EB-5 practice is founded on an in-depth, high-
contact relationship with clients. Her comprehensive
knowledge of immigration law and years of working on
complex RFEs allow her to develop a winning strategy for
clients, easily foreseeing potential issues and effectively
yielding the law to clients’ circumstances.Chinchoy is a
frequent speaker and professional trainer on EB-5 topics
and has ser ved as a mentor to numerous at torneys
learning the EB-5 practice. She is licensed in California.
WHAT TRENDS ARE YOU SEEING
IN THE EB-5 INDUSTRY?
On the project side, it is clear one size no longer fits all.
Current USCIS adjudicators are paying more attention to
structure of projects and they question cookie-cutter, bare-
bones applications. Increased litigation indicates that
regulators are better skilled in evaluating EB-5 projects and
noticing problematic structures. On the investor side, source
and path of funds RFEs also show us that USCIS seeks more
details and questions all path of funds involving intermediaries.
Unlike before, however, we now have many EB-5 petitions with
SOF that are based on well-documented U.S. tax and wage
records. (Perhaps this will speed up processing times?!)
WHY DID YOU GET INVOLVED
IN THE EB-5 INDUSTRY?
EB-5 chose me more so than I chose it! However, I stayed
because I thrive in the multi-disciplinary nature of an EB-5
practice. I revel in the details of each EB-5 petition, from
pouring over financial documents in order to develop the
simplest yet legally sound source/path of funds strategy to
meticulously editing a regional center business plan. I enjoy
collaborating with and guiding the work of professionals
engaged in structuring an EB-5 project. My passion for the
law and common business sense come together in an EB-5
practice and allow me to effectively guide my clients toward
successful petitions.
MARK DAVIES
DAVIES & ASSOCIATES LLC | CHAIRMAN
A graduate and Salzburg
fe llow of the U nive rsi t y of
P e n n s y l va n ia L aw S c h o o l ,
Mark Davies is a dual-
licensed law yer in the U.K .
and U.S., with admission
pending in Grenada. Davies is chairman of Davies &
Associates LLC. He was recognized for his service as
chairman of the board of directors of Lawyers Without
Borders by the Bush administration. His experience in
distressed real estate finance with one of the world’s five
largest law firms, coupled with his extensive experience
of investment visas, has made him the counsel of choice
to many EB-5 investors, regional centers and developers
around the world.
WHAT TRENDS ARE YOU SEEING
IN THE EB-5 INDUSTRY?
We are seeing explosive demand for an EB-5 filing coupled
with an E-2 visa through citizenship of Grenada. This is one
of the many solutions we offer our clients, especially in
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EB5 INVESTORS M AGAZINE
India, who are facing looming retrogression delays. Davies &
Associates has established presence across India and
Grenada, as well as a team dedicated to E-2 filings and a
pending Grenadian law license. We entered the Indian
market because we foresaw India becoming a leader in EB-5
visas. We are now the first to market with a comprehensive
Grenada/E-2 offering as a cure to the future retrogression
delays.
WHY DID YOU GET INVOLVED
IN THE EB-5 INDUSTRY?
As an immigrant to the United States myself, I understand
the highs and the lows of applying for multiple U.S. visas, as
well as a green card and citizenship. I wanted to help others
in order to make that process as seamless as possible for
them. I was particularly drawn to the EB-5 visa because it
blends my two passions of immigration law and distressed
real estate finance law. My experience with distressed real
estate finance law assists us in identifying legal issues with
the way some EB-5 projects are structured.