EB5 Investors Magazine Volume 7, Issue 2 | Page 45

TOP IMMIGRATION AT TORNEYS NIMA KORPIVAARA DAVID HIRSON & PARTNERS LLP Nima Korpivaara joined David Hirson & Par tners, LLP in 2014. Korpivaara handles all t ypes of U.S . immigration , including complex mat ters associated with corporate business structure and EB-5 investor applications. Korpivaara practices in the fields of corporate, investor (E-2 and EB-5) and family immigration law, representing large and small clients within a variety of industries. This includes temporary and short-term work visas, business visas, employment-based and family- based permanent residency and naturalization. Korpivaara has successfully represented thousands of investors in receiving EB-5 green card approval, as well as dozens of regional centers in successfully receiving designation from USCIS. Another half measure by USCIS. It is disingenuous to state the regulation changes will help to protect investors, while stimulating the economies of rural areas, without tackling the actual issues that hinder the EB-5 program - increased I-526 processing times, complete inability to receive case status updates, and the multi-year visa backlog. Until these issues are resolved, we will see a continuous and steep decline in the number of I-526 filings per year. WHAT NEW TRENDS ARE YOU SEEING IN THE EB-5 INDUSTRY? Over the last two years, the national visa center (NVC) has forecasted a five to six year backlog for Indian nationals. However, with the new NVC data release, it appears that the backlog is closer to three years. I believe we will see an increase in the number of I-526 filing out of India for 2020. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE EB-5 MODERNIZATION CHANGES THAT TOOK EFFECT IN 2019 WITH THE INCREASED INVESTMENT AMOUNTS? CAROLYN LEE CAROLYN LEE PLLC Carolyn Lee is the founder of Carolyn Lee PLLC, an exclusively EB-5 immigration f i r m . Le e has re p re se n te d regional centers, developers, funds and investors for 15 years, helping U.S. project clients raise $2.5 billion in EB-5 capital. She is the chair of American Immigration Lawyers Association’s National EB-5 Committee. Lee has served as legislative counsel to Invest in USA, having authored legislative commentary since 2012. She is an advocate for EB-5 integrity reform, long-term program reauthorization, and visa capacity expansion. Lee authors leading EB-5 publications and speaks internationally on EB-5 visas. She frequently serves as EB-5 expert in litigation. WHAT NEW TRENDS ARE YOU SEEING IN THE EB-5 INDUSTRY? Industry folks, old and new, are thinking outside the box to turn up new opportunities. It’s a challenging time but also exciting, because we’re all scrappy entrepreneurs playing out the original EB-5 spirit again. I believe good things will come of it. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE EB-5 MODERNIZATION CHANGES THAT TOOK EFFECT IN 2019 WITH THE INCREASED INVESTMENT AMOUNTS? It’s a mixed bag, but on balance. They are a step in the right direction. EB5INVESTORS.COM 45