TOP IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS
CHRISTIAN TRIANTAPHYLLIS
Attorney Foster LLP
Christian Triantaphyllis is an attorney and
EB-5 section lead with Foster LLP, a fullservice immigration law firm headquartered in Houston, Texas. The focus of his practice is on business immigration matters, particularly those related to EB-5 investments. Triantaphyllis represents foreign nationals in the preparation and filing of EB-5 cases and advises on lawful sources of investment funds. He advises businesses on establishing EB-5 projects throughout the United States and provides analysis from an immigration law perspective on funding structures. Triantaphyllis also represents clients to acquire legal status for professional employees, investors under U. S. treaties and other visa options. Triantaphyllis is a member of AILA, has authored a number of articles on the EB-5 program and is a frequent speaker on immigration issues. Triantaphyllis earned his J. D. from New York Law School and received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Southern Methodist University.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE OF THE EB-5 INDUSTRY LOOKS LIKE?
I think the future of the EB-5 program is one that will require an increased focus on oversight and compliance measures for regional centers and project developers. Regardless of the increased investment amount and types of projects that qualify under TEA rules, USCIS will increasingly monitor each regional center’ s ability to manage funds responsibly and maintain up to date records for each of its projects. USCIS has already begun to carry out this theme in its adjudication process and I anticipate that new regulations will not only codify what is already in practice, but will also increase compliance measures.
WHAT TRENDS ARE YOU SEEING IN THE EB-5 INDUSTRY?
While there are a number of trends in the EB-5 industry, a specific trend of note is the increased awareness of the EB-5 program both by foreign investors around the world, and by project developers in the United States. I am currently working with foreign investors from more countries than ever before, which demonstrates to me the globalization of the EB-5 program. I am also constantly working with businesses in the United States to develop creative strategies to blend EB-5 funding with private investment opportunities, as EB-5 investors are increasingly interested in both forms of investment.
CLETUS M. WEBER Partner Peng & Weber PLLC
Cletus M. Weber is a partner at Peng & Weber
PLLC, a Seattle-based immigration law firm internationally recognized in EB-5 and other U. S. immigration law. He represents EB-5 regional centers, projects and investors in all facets of EB-5. Weber serves on the Board of Directors of IIUSA and previously served on AILA’ s national EB-5 Committee. Weber is editor-in-chief of The EB-5 Handbook:
A Guide for Investors and Developers( EB5investors. com 2014); senior editor of Immigration Options for Investors & Entrepreneurs, 3d. Ed.( AILA 2014); and invited reviewer of the EB-5 section of Kurzban’ s Immigration Law Sourcebook, 14th & 15th Eds.( AIC 2014 & 2016). He is also listed in Who’ s Who Legal: Corporate Immigration( 2016-2018).
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE OF THE EB-5 INDUSTRY LOOKS LIKE?
The EB-5 industry faces painful backlogs for China-born investors, by far the world’ s largest market. Inevitable setasides will create strong, geographically or industrially focused demand for a year or so, followed by a return to backlogs when the set-aside lines become similarly backlogged. Eventually, Congress will return EB-5 to its roots as a powerful tool for creating jobs for U. S. workers by significantly increasing the number of EB-5 visas available. Also critical will be steps congress takes to protect good faith investors who unfortunately find themselves in failed projects.
WHY DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN THE EB-5 INDUSTRY?
EB-5 is complex, multidisciplinary, interesting and challenging. It resides at the intersection of my lifelong interests in law, business, politics, entrepreneurialism, real estate, construction, economics, finance, teamwork, world travel, culture and language. EB-5 is a natural place for me after having earned my way through business school and law school by working in construction and interning at the Securities and Exchange Commission, having previously practiced corporate and real estate law and having taught myself basic Chinese. I love the success stories of investors. I also enjoy the teamwork inherent in project-related work for regional centers and developers.
EB5INVESTORS. COM 64