2016 Las Vegas EB-5 Conference

2016 Las Vegas EB-5 Conference Recap

The 2016 Las Vegas EB-5 Conference welcomed more than 800 attendees, making it the largest domestic event in EB-5 industry history. EB5 Investors Magazine hosted the two-day event with the support of more than 60 sponsors. The event, which was held at the Bellagio on January 15^th and 16^th, welcomed a broad spectrum of industry stakeholders. The attendees included more than 100 migration agents from China, Vietnam, India, Latin America, and the Middle East. Immigration and securities attorneys, regional centers, developers, broker-dealers, economists, government officials and other EB-5 stakeholders also attended the conference.

The third annual Las Vegas conference began Friday afternoon with two specialized workshops. A due diligence workshop for migration agents provided an in-depth look at immigration compliance, project evaluation, and securities issues. The goal of the workshops was to provide foreign migration agents with the tools to better assist investors. At the same time, a beginner workshop aimed at immigration attorneys addressed source of funds issues and review of complex loan documents. Similar to the agent session, the workshop educated new immigration attorneys on the knowledge needed to ensure success for their clients at all stages of the immigration process. Friday concluded with a VIP networking event for migration agents, sponsors, and panelists, including Congressman Jared Polis.

Saturday’s all-day conference started with keynote addresses by Dr. Tony Alamo, Chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission, and John Yao, an EB-5 investor immigrant. Alamo expressed his support for the program, and the growing impact he envisions the EB-5 program having upon Nevada’s casinos and hotels. Yao captivated attendees by providing candid insight with remarkable grace and humor into the journey traveled by a family participating in the EB-5 program. While not an easy path, Yao conveyed the benefit the program has provided to his family and thanked those in attendance for supporting the program, and he recognized those in the audience that had made his American dream a reality.

Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO-2^nd District) delivered the keynote address at lunch, focusing on the current legislative status of the EB-5 program. An ardent supporter of the program, Polis pledged to continue his work with Democrats and Republicans alike to enhance integrity in the EB-5 program and endeavor to make the regional center program a permanent fixture of U.S. immigration. He laid out a pragmatic approach to grow the program while protecting investors through increased integrity measures and regional center accountability. He pledged to continue to push for legislative change that will allow for more investors to participate in the program.

Twelve panel sessions featuring an array of industry leaders provided a strong educational component to the event. Attendees heard directly from Chinese migration agents that retrogression, which potentially could now create a five or six-year delay for an investor, has not tempered interest in China for the program, but is an issue that will be monitored closely. It was also noted that the increased number of projects being marketed in China has resulted in a higher quality of product for investors. Leading securities attorneys and broker-dealers discussed the impact of recent SEC enforcement actions against immigration attorneys and other individuals acting as finders. It was unanimous that the SEC will continue to closely monitor the EB-5 program and that the industry should consider securities implications closely as they conduct EB-5 operations. Additionally, there was in-depth discussion focused on new markets such as Vietnam and Latin America. Hundreds of newcomers to EB-5 benefited from beginner panels that provided insight into how to structure projects, how to raise foreign capital, understanding TEA qualifications, and basic traps to avoid in EB-5 project planning.

The EB5 Investors Magazine series of events always serves as a leading source for important legislative discussions, and the 2016 Las Vegas EB-5 Conference was no different. With panels such as “EB-5 Program Reform & Advocacy,” in combination with Congressman Polis’ keynote address, an industry-wide effort received support with the goal of working together to make appropriate EB-5 recommendations, and to ensure that any new legislation is beneficial to the program.

The conference concluded with a networking cocktail for all attendees. The infusion of newcomers at the event provided business opportunities for many in the community. EB5 Investors looks forward to hosting more events that bring the entire EB-5 community together to foster education, networking, and community engagement.

Disclaimer: EB5Investors.com events and conferences are open to the general public and may include persons resident in the U.S. or foreign countries who may be interested in EB-5 investment opportunities. Attendees, exhibitors and speakers at our events and conferences should consult with their own legal counsel regarding compliance with securities laws for any ongoing or planned securities offerings. EB5investors.com provides no legal advice concerning compliance with securities laws by attendees, exhibitors and speakers at its conferences and events.

Conference Itinerary

All events were hosted at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza unless otherwise noted.

Sunday, August 2, 2015

11:00 AM – 3:00 PM & 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM – EARLY REGISTRATION (ALL ATTENDEES) – Location: S. Mezzanine Foyer

12:00 PM – 2:00 PM – EB-5 ATTORNEY WORKSHOP FOR BEGINNERS: I-526 PETITION FILING (Attorneys with 2 day passes only) – Location: Park Room

2:00 PM – 2:15 PM – Break for Workshop Participants

2:15 PM – 4:15 PM – EB-5 ATTORNEY WORKSHOP FOR BEGINNERS: I-829 PETITION FILING (Attorneys with 2 day passes only)

7:30 PM – 9:30 PM – COCKTAIL RECEPTION FOR SPEAKERS AND SPONSORS

Sponsored by CMB Regional Centers (Invite-Only)

Monday, August 3, 2015

6:30 AM – 8:00 AM – Sponsor Set Up – Location: CA Lounge

7:00 AM – 8:00 AM – Attendee Registration – Location: CA Lounge

8:00 AM – 8:50 AM – BREAKFAST AND KEYNOTE ADDRESS (Breakfast Provided)

Location: Los Angeles Room

Welcome: Ali Jahangiri, EB5 Investors Magazine
Welcome: Zhongjun Ma, Shenzhen Immigration and Overseas Study Intermediary Association
Congressman Bob Goodlatte’s Keynote Address

8:50 AM – 9:10 AM – Break

9:10AM – 10:10AM – PANEL 1A & 1B

PANEL 1A – ADVANCED

Location: Santa Monica Room

EB-5 Program Reauthorization: Analysis of current legislation, Potential industry effects, and Program advocacy

Charles Foster, Foster LLP
Enrique Gonzalez, Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP
Jeffery DeBoer, The Real Estate Roundtable

Moderated By: Laura Reiff, Greenberg Traurig, LLP

PANEL 1B – BEGINNER

Location: Beverly Hills Room

EB-5 Financing Basics: EB-5 program outline, Underwriting criteria, Developing an EB-5 business plan, Working with senior/bridge lenders, Escrow and fund administration

Francisco Turner, Banc of California
Phil Cohen, Strategic Element Consulting
Reid Thomas, NES Financial

Moderated By: Ignacio Donoso, I.A. Donoso & Associates, LLC

10:10 AM – 10:20 AM – Break

10:20 AM – 11:20 AM – PANEL 2A & 2B

PANEL 2A – ADVANCED

Location: Santa Monica Room

Investing Cash from Loan Proceeds: Indebtedness, “Cash is Cash”, RFE’s and NOIDs

Ira Kurzban, Kurzban Kurzban Weinger Tetzeli & Pratt
Ron Klasko, Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Susan Pilcher, Stone Grzegorek & Gonzalez LLP

Moderated By: Kate Kalmykov, Greenberg Traurig, LLP

PANEL 2B – BEGINNER

Location: Beverly Hills Room

EB-5 Deal Structures: Forming a Regional Center, Regional center partnerships, and Direct EB-5; Impacts on projects and EB-5 investors

Aaron Goforth, Wright Johnson
Belma Chinchoy, EB5 Plus Immigration Law
Osvaldo Torres, Torres Law, P.A
William Martines, One Lily Pad

Moderated By: Nima Korpivaara, David Hirson & Partners, LLP

11:20 AM – 11:30 AM – Break

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM – PANEL 3A & 3B

PANEL 3A – ADVANCED

Location: Santa Monica Room

EB-5 Securities Roundtable: Recent SEC investigations, Best practices for regional centers, and FINRA licenses

Clem Turner, Homeier & Law, P.C.
John Tishler, Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
Trevor Saliba, NMS Capital

Moderated By: Brandon Meyer, Meyer Law Group

PANEL 3B – BEGINNER

Location: Beverly Hills Room

Documents and Due Diligence Beyond the Regional Center Partnership: Regional center due diligence on the developer, Understanding operating agreements and inter-creditor agreements, and Immigration compliance considerations