TOP IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS
BRANDON MEYER
MEYER LAW GROUP
Brandon 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 New York , San Diego , Charlotte and Vietnam . Meyer has authored articles in legal publications such as Immigration Daily .
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE EB-5 REFORM AND INTEGRITY ACT OF 2022 ?
I believe that the new EB-5 law is a major step for investors , and is a vast improvement for investors compared to the old EB-5 law . I-526 / I-485 concurrent filing is a huge gamechanger for many investors , making EB-5 almost a no-brainer for some people .
WHAT NEW TRENDS ARE YOU SEEING IN THE EB-5 INDUSTRY ?
Strong interest globally . The $ 800,000 minimum investment is not proving prohibitive in many markets . The so-called H-1B to EB-5 market has cooled substantially given the steep drop in tech stock prices since the start of 2022 . Plus , the moderate movement in EB-2 / EB-3 priority dates has created an element of wishful thinking in the H-1B to EB-5 market , as people have convinced themselves that their still backlogged priority dates will become current imminently , then USCIS will magically approve the subsequent I-485 filing overnight . We have also seen this same dynamic with current investors declining to move forward with a concurrent I-485 filing on the fantastical hope of the triple bank shot that their EB-2 / EB-3 priority date will become current soon , followed by the superquick I-485 processing , followed by the project refunding 100 % of the capital investment upon demand . Unfortunately , disappointment will soon arise .
JOHN MEYER
FOSTER LLP
John Meyer is a partner at
Foster LLP ’ s Houston office . Recognized as a Best Lawyer in America and Chambers USA , Meyer manages the firm ’ s investor team focusing on nonimmigrant and EB-5 solutions for multinational companies and foreign investors . He helps his clients develop a strategy for setting up business and investing in the U . S . He works directly with individual investors and regional centers . He lecturers frequently on immigration topics at local and regional conferences and led the opening of four Foster locations around the globe : El Salvador , Vietnam , Beijing , and Edinburg , Texas .
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE EB-5 REFORM AND INTEGRITY ACT OF 2022 ?
I think the re-authorization of the EB-5 program is considerable , as it shows the intention to stabilize the program . The new legislation outlines new grandfathering provisions for investors who have already filed I-526 and I-829s , as well as protections for investors who encounter unscrupulous developers . Additionally , we expect the new program to generate interest in EB-5 through adjustment of status for permanent residents . The EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 imposes transparency on regional centers , developers and marketplace promoters . The new regulations constitute a robust program that produces excellent opportunities for foreign nationals interested in permanent residence status through investment .
WHAT NEW TRENDS ARE YOU SEEING IN THE EB-5 INDUSTRY ?
Due to EB-5 re-authorization , there has been a paradigm shift . Under previous regulations , investors were subject to a multi-year processing time before they could enter the U . S . Now , applicants who are legally in the U . S . can concurrently file I-526 and I-485 petitions . These new regulations create opportunities for investors interested in rapidly securing an immigration benefit . However , this requires developing a strategy that includes a non-immigrant visa to come to the U . S . Once in the U . S ., a client makes their EB-5 investment , files the immigrant petition , and concurrently files the adjustment of status .
42 EB5 INVESTORS MAGAZINE