Steffanie J. Lewis, a founding attorney of The International Business Law Firm PC (IBLF), also serves as the firm’s vice president and secretary. Attorney Lewis supervises all immigration work in addition to her corporate role, routinely representing clients in immigration court and various federal circuits. She focuses her practice on the areas of immigration law, aviation law and regulation, and corporate business law, with a substantial percentage of the practice devoted to litigation. She has acted as counsel for a variety of clients, from individuals with aviation and real estate contract claims, to corporations which include an international foundation, a national medical laboratory, and an international trade association. Attorney Lewis has represented clients throughout the EB-5 process, having filed multiple EB-5 immigrant visa petitions, adjustment of status applications, I-829 petitions, and also regional center representation, among other immigration matters.
Attorney Lewis is experienced in a diverse range of legal services, such as drafting and negotiating business agreements, litigating employer/employee termination issues, personal injury cases, and Constitutional issues, and she was a participant in U.S.-Russia bilateral negotiations for air transport. She has expertise in filing SEC corporate quarterly reports, drafting private placements, and preparing IPOs, and served as counsel in acquiring a $5 million city bond. Since 1999, Attorney Lewis has served as general counsel for a U.S. startup airline, Baltia Air Lines, Inc. Prior to becoming a senior attorney at IBLF, she held the position of General Counsel, Director of Legislative Affairs and Administration in the Helicopter Association International for more than five years. During her time here, she lobbied in the Department of Labor, U.S. Congress, the Department of Interior, and the Department of Transportation.
Attorney Lewis has taught several legal seminars, and has completed pro bono work in immigration and federal courts from 2003 to the present, earning the title of AILA DC Chapter Outstanding Pro Bono Representative. She has also held a variety of professional memberships which include the American Bar Association, the ABA Subcommittee on EEC ’92, and 1991 Aviation Co-Chair, Chair of the ABA Trade Association Subcommittee, American Society of Association Executives Legal Publication Trustee and Chair, and the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
Attorney Lewis is admitted to practice law in the states of Virginia and the District of Columbia. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Bethany College, graduating Summa Cum Laude, then went on to receive her M.B.A. from the University of Alaska, Anchorage. She subsequently earned her Juris Doctor from the California Western School of Law, graduating with A.B.A. and A.A.L.S. honors, and then graduated from the University of London in 1981 with her LL.M degree, where she also received the London World Affairs Council Air and Space Diploma (with merit).
Answers to EB-5 190 Questions Answered
- How does the number of pages impact EB-5 I-526E processing?
- If I register my U.S.-born child for free health insurance, how could that impact our family’s EB-5 case?
- How can I reenter the U.S. with my EB-5 I-485 pending, AP approved, and an active F-1 visa?
- How can an F-1 visa holder get married without compromising their I-485 process?
- How can we renew an Indian passport while the I-485 is pending?
- How can I change status from F-1 to F-2 while preparing for EB-5?
- How will marriage to a non-US resident impact my EB-5 I-829 processing?
- How can I stay in the U.S. with an AOS EAD but I-94 expiring?
- How should an EB-5 dependent visit the USA with no intention to reside?
- How can my foreign partner file for EB-5 through his contribution to a business purchase?
- How can I trace cash transactions as part of my EB-5 source of funds?
- How can an EB-5 applicant travel on advance parole?
- What are the rules and requirements regarding my employment in the U.S. after filing an EB-5 visa application?
- How can I stay abroad for 6 months right after filing my EB-5 I-485 and EAD in the U.S.?
- How can a sibling of a U.S. citizen apply for AOS through EB-5 while visiting on a tourist visa?
- What can I do to receive my physical green card if there are no updates for more than a month after my EB-5 I-485 approval?
- How can I get my money back if the EB-5 regional center project I invested in fails?
- How can I use a bank loan to finance my EB-5 visa investment?
- How can my son enter the U.S. to continue his studies when he is about to receive his EB-5 visa?
- How can I file for AOS as an EB-5 applicant who is planning to apply for a medical residency in the U.S.?
- How will the new public charge rule of USCIS, which goes into effect Dec. 23, impact my EB-5 application?
- How do I as a real estate developer use the EB-5 direct investment route?
- What are the alternative processes of I-290bs when the I-829 is denied?
- How can we get a stamp in our expired passport since our I-797 expires in 2 weeks?
- How will the unavailable final action dates in the January visa bulletin impact my EB-5 application?
- Can I renew my Indian passport with a pending I-765?
- What will happen if I have not received my I-829 receipt when my conditional green card expires?
- How can an EB-5 dependent apply for I-485 while the principal petitioner goes through consular processing?
- What should I do to fix the mistakes on the DS-260 form regarding my criminal background?
- How can I file a EB-2 I-140 with a pending EB-5 I-485?
- Can green card holders enter the U.S. if forced to stay abroad for an extended period of time due to COVID-19?
- Can I still enter the U.S. with my EB-5 visa in face of the Trump immigration ban？
- How can I prove the source of funds for inherited money?
- How can we add a newborn baby to our application?
- How can I use the capital from own company for EB-5 investment?
- How can we get investor consent in order to redeploy capital?
- What impact does the travel ban have on EB-5 Investors?
- If my H-1B has been denied, what is the next best immigration option for me?
- What are the chances I can return to H-1B status if my EB-5 I-829 is denied?
- What are the challenges faced by immigrants with an E-2 visa who want to apply for EB-5?
- How can two family members invest in the same project and both receive an EB-5 visa?
- How can I include my children under my EB-5 petition?
- What are the consequences of loan repayment prior to I-526 approval?
- How long is a reentry permit valid for with a pending I-829?
- How can I transition from the TN visa to the EB-5 visa?
- How can our married daughter immigrate with us through the EB-5 program?
- How does the EB-5 visa differ from an L-1 visa?
- How can an EB-5 investor change from consular processing to AOS?
- How would asylum applicants obtain conditional EB-5 green cards?
- How would an EB-5 regional center diverting funds affect an I-829 petition?
- How much of the EB-5 direct investment I can reserve for employees and rent?
- How many EB-5 investors can a non-regional center business have?
- What delays in EB-5 can a foreign-born Chinese citizen expect?
- How can we apply for EB-5 with a pending EB-2 application?
- How extensive is the EB-5 visa background check?
- How can a current student apply for the EB-5 visa?
- How will applying for citizenship elsewhere affect an EB-5 application?
- What happens if the I-829 expires when the EB-5 applicant is abroad?
- How do I establish an EB-5 business before consular processing?
- What portion of the EB-5 investment can be inventory?
- When must I have the EB-5 funds ready in my bank account?
- What are the salary requirements for EB-5 employees?
- How can we count jobs from two EB-5 companies?
- How can the EB-5 investor control the financial result of his investment?
- Which country must I list as my home on my EB-5 application?
- What are the various steps of the EB-5 process?
- What is the difference between the EB-5 and EB-3 visa?
- What does it mean if no EB-5 visa number is available?
- When will the minimum EB-5 investment amount change?
- Who is required to create the 10 EB-5 jobs?
- How will an EB-5 application affect CPT, OPT, and H-1B?
- How do I do due diligence on EB-5 regional center projects?
- When can unmarried children over 21 get a green card?
- What is the definition of EB-5 investment?
- Which employment-based petition should I submit first?
- What is the average time until consular processing post-I-526 approval?
- What documents will I need to show at a CBP internal checkpoint?
- When will our children qualify for resident tuition rates through EB-5?
- How can venture capital be used for an EB-5 investment?
- What is the expected timeline after submitting the EB-5 application?
- How much of the EB-5 investment must be spent on restructuring?
- What are the chances of my EB-5 case being rejected?
- Where can an EB-5 investor work during conditional permanent residency?
- How will entering the United States on an I visa affect an EB-5 application?
- How can a loan be used to make an EB-5 investment?
- How many family members can get EB-5 green cards?
- How can a married couple file separate EB-5 applications?
- When does an EB-5 petition affect the immigration status of a spouse?
- What are the steps of EB-5 consular processing?
- What is business owner responsible for when partnering with EB-5 investors?
- How can a business be expanded and qualify for EB-5?
- What happens after an EB-5 visa application is rejected?
- What is the quickest way to receive EB-5 application approval?
- How often can an EB-5 investor travel outside the U.S. as a permanent resident?
- How can part-time waiters in a restaurant be counted for EB-5 job creation?
- How is a personal business selected for EB-5 investment?
- What are the requirements for funds used to pay EB-5 fees?
- How can a current employee in a U.S. business obtain an EB-5 green card?
- What does a NOID mean for an I-526 petition?
- When must the family of an EB-5 investor move to the United States?
- How can a married couple make an EB-5 investment using a loan?
- What happens if a current EB-5 applicant gets married to a U.S. citizen?
- What is a “new” business when investing through direct EB-5?
- How should posted USCIS processing times for EB-5 be interpreted?
- How does an investor apply for an MBA during I-526 processing?
- When is the age of a child relevant in the EB-5 process?
- When can an EB-5 project include both regional center and direct investments?
- How can an investor oversee a U.S. business while applying for EB-5?
- What securities laws apply to EB-5 investors recruiting other applicants?
- How can the owner of an outsourced U.S. business apply for EB-5?
- What happens if the main applicant on an I-526 petition dies?
- How can I reapply for EB-5 if I already received permanent residency?
- What is the role of a RIA versus a broker-dealer in EB-5?
- How can an F-1 holder with a pending I-526 reenter the United States?
- What are the main problems that EB-5 applicants run into?
- How can income earned on previous visas be used for EB-5 investment?
- How can we prove EB-5 source of funds with transfer restrictions in place?
- How long does it generally take for a business to qualify for EB-5 funding?
- What are the differences between the L-1 and the EB-5 visa?
- How can an EB-5 investor verify his/her position in the retrogression queue?
- How can an EB-5 immigrant work in the United States?
- How do EB-5 requirements vary for different countries?
- Where must an EB-5 NCE be located for TEA purposes?
- How will EB-5 program changes affect a case with a file number?
- What should I know about EB-5 before deciding to invest?
- How will a spouse”s I-485 denial affect an EB-5 investor”s I-829?
- How will an EB-5 application affect an OPT-extension application?
- When can a sponsor sell the property of an EB-5 project?
- How can an EB-5 investor determine regional center quality?
- How can an investor reapply for EB-5 after a failed investment?
- When do EB-5 investment funds first have to be “at risk”?
- Who is allowed to gift funds for an EB-5 investment?
- What should a securities attorney know about the EB-5 program?
- What immigration application should I file after I-526 approval?
- What are the capital requirements for forming an EB-5 regional center?
- How can an admin fee for aggregating EB-5 investors be accepted?
- How can we expedite our passport approval at Guangzhou Consulate?
- How can I apply for EB-5 if I am out of status in another country?
- What are the EB-5 investment requirements for startups?
- How can an EB-5 investment be insured considering the at risk rule?
- How much does it cost to immigrate through EB-5?
- What is a NOID and how does it differ from an RFE on an EB-5 application?
- What benefits will my family have as EB-5 conditional permanent residents?
- How will retirement affect EB-5 visa eligibility?
- What qualifies as an EB-5 troubled business?
- How will a change of EB-5 business location be viewed by USCIS?
- What criminal charges preclude immigration through EB-5?
- How can I sell my business through the EB-5 program?
- What are the EB-5 at risk requirements during retrogression?
- When can relocated employees be counted towards the EB-5 requirement?
- How can my children finish school after applying for EB-5?
- Where should an investor apply for the EB-5 visa?
- How can the engaged child of an EB-5 investor still immigrate?
- What requirements are there for accounts which hold EB-5 investor funds?
- What are the advantages of a direct EB-5 investment?
- How can one EB-5 project be associated with two regional centers?
- How will previously living illegally in the United States affect my EB-5 visa eligibility?
- How does the NVC determine an EB-5 investor”s consulate?
- What are the risks of releasing funds early as requested by the regional center?
- What is the purpose of an EB-5 investor signing the Form W-8BEN?
- How will my EB-5 application be affected if I change immigration attorneys?
- Does Los Angeles qualify for the $500,000 minimum investment requirement?
- How can I apply for EB-5 if overstayed my student visa?
- How can I ensure that the business I invest in will securely handle my EB-5 investment?
- Which banks have flexible early release terms when the offering contains non-escrow investor protections for possible I-526 denial?
- How will a delay due to an EB-5 immigrant’s communist status affect I-526 and then I-829 approval?
- How can a current B1/B2 visa holder travel to the United States after applying for the EB-5 visa?
- What should be done to ensure our newborn can immigrate with us after I-485 approval?
- Why does USCIS state that EB-5 “investment capital cannot be borrowed?”
- How can an EB-5 investor invest in a non-profit project?
- What happens when you win the diversity visa lottery while participating in EB-5?
- What are the regulations governing the sale of a regional center?
- How many days can I remain in the U.S. after filing an I-526 petition?
- What is allowable when both an NCE and real property are owned by an EB-5 investor?
- How can an EB-5 investment in a direct project be completed in installments?
- When does an EB-5 investor become a U.S. taxpayer?
- How can EB-5 funds be used to pay off a traditional lender?
- What does USCIS look for when examining project documents?
- What are the rules for short-term investments in funds not related to the NCE or JCE?
- How can my child who will be studying abroad receive his green card?
- How can an F-1 visa holder apply for an H-1B and EB-5 visa?
- What are the employment restrictions for an EB-5 investor in a direct business?
- How can I verify the legitimacy of a direct investment broker?
- Under what conditions of a failed project could my green card be revoked?
- How do fired employees affect EB-5 job creation requirements?
- What do I need to prove at the I-829 stage?
- How can two regional centers share the same geography?
- How long must I stay in the United States to qualify for the I-829?
- How do I find the right business for my EB-5 investment?
- What constitutes admissibility during a U.S. consulate interview?
Verified EB-5 Investors
As of October 12, 2014
- EB5Investors.com found no public criminal record on BeenVerified.com
- Active BAR member in good standing
What does it mean to be a VERIFIED member of EB5Investors.com?
EB5Investors.com verifies attorney members before placing them on our directory. Not all professionals pass the verification process, and we are not paid by members in any way for verified badges. The entire verification process is performed by EB5Investors.com staff members based in Irvine, California.
We perform a background check on the member by using BeenVerified.com’s online background check tool. The BeenVerified.com criminal background database is compiled by pulling together public records. Misconduct, such as a proven criminal record, disqualifies the applicant from obtaining a verified badge from EB5Investors.com. For attorneys that practice law in the United States, a staff member also checks to make sure the attorney is in good standing with the BAR of the state they represent to practice bar in.
The Verified Badge does not mean or represent that the attorney has experience or specializes in immigration law. Please consult the State Bar or other government based sites for more information on a particular attorney.