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-2nd 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.
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 could create a six-year delay
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