TOP IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS
preparation of I-526 petitions. Beshara is an
active member of AILA and achieved AILA’s
highest award for Outstanding Contributions.
He serves on AILA’s Global Migration Section
Steering Committee and EB-5 Conference
Committee. He is also an active member
of IIUSA’s Best Practices Committee and
New Investor Markets Committee, and the
Investment Migration Council’s Advisory
Committee based in Geneva, Switzerland.
Beshara is an adjunct professor of
business immigration law at the
University of Florida Levin Law School.
EDWARD BESHARA
Managing Partner
Beshara PA Global Law Firm
E
dward Beshara is managing partner of
Beshara Global Migration Law Firm in
Orlando, Florida. He has been exclusively
practicing U.S. business immigration law
and offering approvable solutions since 1983.
Beshara represents corporate clients, foreign-
based and EB-5 regional center projects,
and foreign nationals in regard to their U.S.
immigration and EB -5 goals, including
WHAT DO YOU THINK
THE FUTURE OF THE EB-5
INDUSTRY LOOKS LIKE?
The residency by investment laws
are here to stay. The EB-5 program,
whether through a direct or regional
center investment, offers an effective
way for foreign investors to obtain U.S.
residency while creating U.S. jobs. The
program also allows U.S. businesses to
obtain financing for their projects. To
compete globally with other countries’
migration programs, adjudication for
the U.S. EB -5 immigration process
needs to be subs tantially quicker,
the University of Pennsylvania Law School,
where he is a fellow. Davies also holds a UK
law degree and is a solicitor of the Supreme
Court of England and Wales. Recognized
by the Bush White House for his services to
the legal industry, he was appointed as legal
advisor to foreign governments on policy
issues. Davies was also formerly Chairman
of the Board of Directors of Lawyers Without
Borders. He speaks and advises on the EB-5
program and other legal matters worldwide.
Davis’ clients include financial institutions,
governments, corporations and high net
worth individuals.
MARK I. DAVIES
Founder & Chairman
Davies & Associates LLC
M
ark I. Davies is the founder and chairman
of Davies & Associates LLC. The
company serves its clients from key locations
in North America, Australia, Asia, Europe and
South America. Davies’ experience as a General
Counsel coupled with acting for investment banks
and major financial institutions in distressed real
estate finance transactions has served him well
in his EB-5 practice. He received his J.D from
WHAT DO YOU THINK
THE FUTURE OF THE EB-5
INDUSTRY LOOKS LIKE?
As citizenship and residency by investment
gain traction globally, much commentary
surrounds how the EB-5 program is cheap
compared to other countries’ programs.
One consideration is that EB-5 requires an
“at risk” investment, while many countries’
with more expensive programs offer lower-
risk options, such as bank deposits and
direct real estate acquisitions. We may now
see increased investment requirements for
the EB-5 program. While our company have
consistent and transparent, which
will allow predictability for all parties
concerned. The EB-5 program can be the
most popular program globally if we
introduce competitive products within
the program.
WHY DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN
THE EB-5 INDUSTRY?
For 35 years, I have been helping foreign
investors obtain E-2 and L-1 visas so that
they may direct their U.S. businesses.
The cost of running these businesses
is substantial and includes business
overhead, operating costs and payroll.
The EB-5 regional center program in
comparison may not be as costly. The
EB-5 investor does not have to worry about
directing their own business but can rely
on a credible and viable U.S. business
managed by others. I began representing
EB-5 investors 27 years ago, which was
a natural, compatible progression for
providing options to clients contemplating
E-2 or L-1 visas.
lawyers specializing in different programs all
over the world, analyzing the competitive
effect of such a move compared to other
programs is not easy. Several of our clients
state that an increased EB-5 investment
requirement will drive them to explore lower-
risk, not necessarily cheaper, options
with other countries.
WHAT TRENDS ARE
YOU SEEING IN THE
EB-5 INDUSTRY?
With one of the world’s largest populations
of millionaires, India has recently become
a hot destination for the EB-5 program
and we see a lot of activity in that market.
Compared to 5 years ago, tier two and three
cities in India are seeing more interest in EB-
5. The question for the future is how much
of a chilling effect a meaningful increase
in the EB-5 investment requirement will
have in India. Direct EB-5 investments from
India may not slow as quickly if investment
requirements increase. Our firm is seeing
a significant increase in the number of
direct EB-5 cases filed.
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