TOP IMMIGRATION AT TORNEYS
BRANDON MEYER
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS
EB5 INVESTORS MAGAZINE
B
randon Meyer is the founder
and managing partner of
Meyer Law Group (MLG), where he
provides
quality
legal
representation to clients ranging
from EB-5 regional center operators
and individual investors to multinational corporations. Involved
in EB-5 since 1998, Meyer has seen the multiple life cycles of the
EB-5 program. Meyer received his law degree from the University
of San Diego School of Law and is a member of the Bars of
Connecticut and the District of Columbia. MLG is headquartered
in San Francisco and has offices in Los Angeles, San Diego, and
Vietnam. Meyer has authored articles in legal publications such
as Immigration Daily.
HOW DO YOU THINK THE EB-5
PROGRAM SHOULD BE REFORMED?
I expect the sunset date to not be a long-term issue. I would not
be surprised to see another series of post-June 30 temporary
program extensions before a longer-term reauthorization is
enacted.
WHAT NEW TRENDS ARE YOU SEEING
IN THE EB-5 INDUSTRY?
The main trend within the EB-5 industry is how much new activity
(new projects, capital raises, investor signups) have been in a
state of suspended animation since November 2019. COVID-19
delayed the necessary market adjustments that would have
taken place after the November 2019 regulatory changes. EB-5
was always a supply-driven industry. I expect the market to
revive once domestic and international travel become possible
once again, allowing the industry to hold events and meet
interested parties, and, thus, once again creating its own
demand.
The long-discussed "integrity measures" that are once again
part of the "Leahy-Grassley" bill should be treated as inevitable.
The industry should internalize these measures now and accept
them as a necessary cost of participation in EB-5.
ANUSREE NAIR
A
nusree (Anu) Nair is a partner
at Klasko Immigration Law
Partners and manages the investor
division of the firm's EB-5 practice.
She is responsible for the filing of
all EB-5 petitions at the firm. Her command of investor-related
issues is recognized within the industry and she is frequently
called on to review cases prepared by other firms to ensure
compliance with rigorous standards of the United States
Citizenship and Immigration Services. Anu also leads the firm’s
EB-1 practice, which can be a great option for those seeking a
green card who face long delays in other categories.
HOW DO YOU THINK THE EB-5
PROGRAM SHOULD BE REFORMED?
I am all for integrity measures being added through legislation.
What I would not like to see is the industry rallying around
legislation that would essentially make it unpalatable for future
investors. With respect to the sunset date, given how difficult it
is for anything – even something like EB-5 that has bi-partisan
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS
EB5 INVESTORS MAGAZINE
support – to pass Congress, I think it’s likely that we could see
short-term extensions of the program if the legislation does not
pass before June 30, 2021.
WHAT NEW TRENDS ARE YOU SEEING
IN THE EB-5 INDUSTRY?
I work primarily with EB-5 investors so the trends that I am seeing
include some negative and positive:
Significant delays at USCIS for adjudications of all petitions and
applications and for simple issuances of receipt notices. Delays
at the consulate, where applicants are just awaiting their
immigrant visa interviews. These delays have prevented
applicants from traveling and visiting sick family members.
As green cards were delayed and immigrant visas were not
being issued, cut-off dates in the visa bulletin moved much
faster than previously predicted. This has allowed some
investors to protect their aging out children.
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