TOP EB-5 INDUSTRY RISING STARS
JESSICA DENISI
KLASKO IMMIGRATION LAW PARTNERS, LLP
Jessica De Nisi is a se nior
associate with Klasko
Immigration Law Partners, LLP.
DeNisi works with developers
and investors who seek to use
foreign capital under the EB-5 program to fund job-creating
projects as well as E-2 treaty investors. Prior to practicing
immigration law, DeNisi worked as a tax and business
attorney. She completed her undergraduate studies at Wake
Forest University and earned an M.A. in Near Eastern studies
from the University of Arizona. She received her Juris Doctor
from Tulane University Law School and a master’s degree in
taxation from the University of Washington School of Law.
WHAT TRENDS ARE YOU SEEING
IN THE EB-5 INDUSTRY?
After the effective date of the new regulations and the rush to file
petitions in November 2020, the EB-5 market has cooled.
However, investors are still looking carefully at attractive
investment opportunities, particularly those located in TEAs.
Although the number of new projects and investors has
decreased, the number of RFEs, NOIDs, and troubled projects
has increased. These trends, coupled with long waiting lists,
disillusioned investors and adjudication delays, presents a need
for viable alternatives for investors and creative strategies for
dealing with challenging circumstances. The level of complexity
in the EB-5 world is certainly increasing, but better times are
ahead.
WHY DID YOU GET INVOLVED
IN THE EB-5 INDUSTRY?
I found EB-5 through my work as a tax attorney. While my start in
the EB-5 immigration field was unplanned, I have chosen to
continue to work in the industry as it combines much of the
creativity, complexity and strategy of business or tax practice
with the human element. It is very satisfying both to know that
helping someone obtain a green card is life changing, and to be
able to see the concrete economic impact of EB-5 projects
across the country.
NATALIA POLUKHTIN
GLOBAL PRACTICE
Natalia Polukhtin, the founder
and principal at Global Practice,
s p e c i a l i ze s i n i n ve s t m e n t
immigrant and nonimmigrant
categories. She has unique
exper tise in documentation
of complex source of funds originated from former Soviet
Union states, but also assists clients from all over the
world with starting business in the U.S. and accomplishing
their immigration goals through investment, application
of professional skills and job creation. She is a member of
Georgia and Arizona State bars. Prior to her legal career,
Polukhtin obtained her Ph.D. from the Moscow State University
in Russia and continues to apply her expertise in intercultural
communication to assist foreign nationals with their
immigration needs.
WHAT TRENDS ARE YOU SEEING
IN THE EB-5 INDUSTRY?
With recent increase of investment capital amount, backlog
and legislative uncertainty of the future of EB5 program, the
markup of the investors appears to be changing. I am
noticing growing interest from investors from the parts of
the world that traditionally were considered emerging
markets in EB5 industry, such as Russia and Eastern
European countries. It appears that the citizens of the
countries not subject to the adjudication backlog started to
recognize EB-5 not only as an affordable immigration
vehicle, but also as an asset protection tool. I am seeing
interest in the projects with verified track of performance
and predictable strategies for placement of the capital that
can be incorporated into the investor’s long-term plans.
WHY DID YOU GET INVOLVED
IN THE EB-5 INDUSTRY?
With background in journalism and communication studies
supplementing my Juris Doctor, I see every immigration
case as an opportunity to communicate a personal story of
each client through his supporting documents, presentation
of profile, and immigration strategy. I found EB-5 practice
especially rewarding because of the special bond I develop
with people who rely on me for the collection of evidence on
sources of funds. Each project of this nature inevitably
emerges us into client’s history of the accumulation of
wealth through professional development, family
connections and vision of financial planning. This is the link
that is not broken even at the completion of the case and
allows me to stay in touch with almost all of my past clients
for years.
EB5INVESTORS.COM
83