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Kolko & Casey, P.C. is a full service immigration and naturalization law firm providing professional legal services to individuals and businesses throughout Colorado, the Rocky Mountain West, the United States, and the World. Our professional staff speaks English, Spanish, Korean, and Portuguese and we can arrange for translators in any other language.
Regional Investment Centers
Investing in a Regional Investment Center is another option which can be utilized by the E-B5 immigrant investor in order to be eligible for Permanent Residency.
A Regional Investment Center is defined as any economic unit, public or private, which is involved with the promotion of economic growth, improved regional productivity, job creation, and increased domestic capital investment.
A Regional Investment Center:
- Is an entity, organization or agency that has been approved as such by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services;
- Focuses on a specific geographic area within the United States; And
- Seeks to promote economic growth through increased export sales, improved regional productivity, creation of new jobs, and increased domestic capital investment.
Current Active List of “Regional Centers” includes:
- California Consortium for Agricultural Export
- Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation
- South Dakota International Business Institute
- The Gateway Freedom Fund/AKA: Golden Rainbow Freedom
- Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED)
- Capital Area Regional Center
- The Redevelopment Agency of the City of Vernon Regional Center
- Mayor's Office of Economic Development (New Orleans)
- Whatcom Opportunities Regional Center, Inc. (WORC, Inc.)
- Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development
- Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development Regional Center
- CMB Export LLC
- Global Century Development Group I, LP (Global Century)
- Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC)
- Alabama Center for Foreign Investment (ACFI)
Temporary Investor Visa and Status: E-1 & E-2
A foreign national who is a citizen of a country that has a specific treaty with the United States can enter and/or remain the United States to invest in a business or to engage in international trade under either an E-1 (Treaty Traders) or an E-2 (Treaty Investors) visa.
E-1 Treaty Traders
The E-1 nonimmigrant classification allows a national of a treaty country (a country with which the United States maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation) to be admitted to the United States solely to engage in international trade on his or her own behalf.
Certain employees of such a person or of a qualifying organization may also be eligible for this classification. Additionally, the spouse and children of an E-1 Treaty Trader may be eligible for E-1 Dependent status. Spouses in E-1 Dependent status are eligible to apply for an employment authorization document (EAD) in order to work in the United States. Children on E-1 Dependent Status are eligible to attend school in the United States.
E-2 Treaty Investors
The E-2 nonimmigrant classification allows a national of a treaty country (a country with which the United States maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation) to be admitted to the United States when investing a substantial amount of capital in a U.S. business.
The E-2 Investor Visa allows an individual to enter and work inside of the United States based on an investment he or she will be controlling while inside the United States. An individual’s E-2 status is must be renewed every two years, but there is no limit to how many times one can renew.
The investment must be “substantial”, and the investor must clearly demonstrate the source of the capital invested was lawfully obtained and is the investors own funds.
Certain employees of such a person or of a qualifying organization may also be eligible for this classification.
Additionally, the spouse and children of an E-2 Treaty Investor may be eligible for E-2 Dependent status. Spouses in E-2 Dependent status are eligible to apply for an employment authorization document (EAD) in order to work in the United States. Children on E-2 Dependent Status are eligible to attend school in the United States.
For more information on E-1 Treaty Traders and E-2 Treaty Investors, please contact Kolko & Casey, P.C. for a consultation.