Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa October/ November 2019 | Page 15

INVESTING About us Atlantic American Partners is dedicated to helping clients and their families achieve their immigration goals, while providing one of the safest investment solutions in the EB-5 industry. This, people and investment orientated, company is part of a 45-year old investment bank and private equity fund manager. It has completed over 900 investment banking transactions valued at over $40 billion and managed over $1.2 billion of institutional capital. With a history of managing capital for banks, insurance companies and pension funds, Atlantic American Partners brings an institutional quality investment option that is based on the principles of diversification and asset allocation. They have been sponsoring EB-5 investments since 2009, and mainly focus on the quality of projects rather than quantity of investors. Furthermore AAP intentionally invests in smaller and more manageable projects that have a higher probability of success and profitability and has successfully completed 32 different EB-5 projects with 100% project approvals to date, helping over 650 families with their immigration process. As an extension of a 45-year-old investment bank and private equity firm, Atlantic American Partners leverages its experience of managing capital for institutional investors (banks, insurance companies, and pension funds) to provide a more professional and institutional quality EB-5 investment. They are definitely NOT developers trying to raise money for their own projects. Atlantic American Partners are a team of real estate investors and asset managers who source only the highest quality opportunities from some of the best developers in America and then negotiate terms that benefit the investors and not the project sponsors. About the EB-5 Investor Visa The EB-5 Investor Visa has emerged as a very popular and fast path to permanent residency in the U.S. The EB-5 Visa provides a permanent green card to the applicant and their immediate family. Whether you are an entrepreneur, retiree, student and/ or and investor, with an EB-5 visa you can live and work (or not work) anywhere in the United States without restriction. Your children will have access to public or private education (primary/ high school) and be able to attend colleges and universities at a lower cost (avoiding international student tuition rates). You and your family will also receive the full benefits of any other U.S. resident, such as social security, healthcare and unemployment. You can even become a U.S. citizen if you choose and sponsor relatives (such as parents and siblings) for a green card. Atlantic American Partners is recognized as a pioneer in the EB-5 industry for developing a unique diversified fund model, where investors own a portfolio of assets – not just one. Each fund includes multiple projects in different asset classes, built by different developers, in different geographies. Much like a mutual fund, this approach diversifies investment risk and helps to prevent against loss of capital. The vast majority of EB-5 projects involve investing in a single asset investment such as; a hotel, apartment, office building or casino. This model involves a high degree of investment risk because if the project fails, the investor can lose 100% of their investment. However, once the EB-5 investment is made, Atlantic American Partners stays actively involved in every step of the process and monitors construction and spending, while helping solve any problems that may arise. Atlantic American Partners secures 50% of the board of directors’ seats and maintain control over major decisions that could affect the immigration status of investors, the value of the asset, and when projects get sold. How does it work? Created in 1990, the EB-5 Investor Visa requires making a $500,000 investment (which can be borrowed or gifted by a relative) in a U.S.-based business or real estate project that results in the creation of 10 permanent jobs for U.S. residents. While required by law to be “at risk”, the $500,000 investment is typically returned, with profits, once the visa is received. Timeline to a Green Card The EB-5 Visa is a two-part process. Once the investment is made and the initial visa application (called an I-526) has been submitted, it typically takes 20 months for approval. At that point, the EB-5 visa is considered “conditional” until the point that job creation has been proven. However, the visa still provides the full benefits of the permanent visa and 21 months later, the applicant can file the second part of the application (the I-829). Upon I-829 approval, the “conditional” status is converted to a permanent green card. (The whole process should take about 5 years - longer for China-born nationals). In addition, the applicant has the option to become a U.S. citizen 5 years after receiving the conditional green card. Benefits of the EB -5 Visa: • • • • • • • • Live and work anywhere in the U.S. No travel restrictions No language skills required No age restrictions No business or special training experience required Ability to start a business, go to school, retire Option to become a U.S. citizen after five years Ability to sponsor Green Cards for relatives The Atlantic American team has well over 100 years of combined experience and have structured, completed, managed and exited investments through multiple business and economic cycles. This team has collectively invested $1.75 billion through 21 private equity funds and completed transactions in excess of $40 billion. In addition, having successfully invested over $325 million of EB-5 capital in 32 EB-5 projects since 2009 Atlantic American Partners has significant EB-5 experience. To contact us or find out more information please visit our website www.atlanticamericanpartners.com SA Real Estate Investor Magazine OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019 13