EB5 Investors Magazine Volume 5, Issue 2 | Page 56

TOP IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS
ROHIT KAPURIA Attorney at Law Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP

Rohit Kapuria is an attorney at Saul

Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP . He regularly represents EB-5 lenders , borrowers , banks , regional centers , real estate developers and migration brokers . Uniquely , Kapuria ’ s legal practice is a dual hybrid of corporate securities and EB-5 immigration . He has worked on over 350 EB-5 transactions , with a combined capital development cost in excess of $ 6 billion . Over the last 5 years , he has actively worked to develop the Indian and Gulf countries ’ EB-5 markets , frequently traveling and making presentations to audiences in those regions , and he now represents a sizeable portion of the Indian EB-5 market . Kapuria is fluent in Hindi , Urdu , Punjabi and Hausa . Prior to entering the legal profession , he worked as an economist and fund manager where he , with a team of analysts , created and analyzed predictive fund models for a NGO ’ s portfolio .
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE OF THE EB-5 INDUSTRY LOOKS LIKE ?
There has and will continue to be some level of consolidation in the marketplace following a steady explosion of interest in EB-5 over the past few years . Compliance and integrity are two key issues that are increasingly getting airtime and require practical solutions to reform some of the problems we are witnessing . I have worked to develop several compliance services , a principal component of which is EB-5 loan compliance . There is an inherent need to ensure that the EB-5 loans are properly underwritten and the terms of the loan agreements comply with the original intent disclosed to EB-5 investors .
WHY DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN THE EB-5 INDUSTRY ?
It was actually by happenstance . I was directed to a meeting with Ron Klasko a few years back . Because I have a graduate degree in mathematical economics , Klasko engaged me in a number of questions on RIMS II and IMPLAN . Until that point , I was not aware of the inherent importance the economic impact analysis plays within the regional center structure . This crossover between transactional law , immigration law and economics had me hooked and so began my journey in the EB-5 world . I owe my growth and knowledge in this space to Klasko and Ronnie Fieldstone .
PARISA KARAAHMET Partner Fragomen Worldwide

Parisa Karaahmet is a partner at Fragomen

Worldwide and specializes in corporate , individual and complex immigration matters . Her areas of specialty include advising clients with respect to the EB-5 investor visa and other entrepreneurial visa options , criminal and inadmissibility grounds , employer sanctions and I-9 compliance . Karaahmet leads a team that specializes in EB-5 immigrant investor and entrepreneurial visas , and is a member of the firm ’ s Worldwide Investor Group . She has served as a member of IIUSA ’ s Editorial Committee and writes and presents extensively on EB-5 related issues . Prior to joining Fragomen , Karaahmet served as an assistant district counsel and acting deputy district counsel for the Immigration & Naturalization Service , New York District .
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE OF THE EB-5 INDUSTRY LOOKS LIKE ?
I would like to see greater consistency and efficiency in EB-5 adjudications overall , and faster review of 526 and 829 petitions . It is important not to lose sight of the value that this program offers in terms of economic development . In order to remain competitive with other global investment programs , investors need to see the light at the end of the tunnel and faster processing times are necessary in this regard . It would also be ideal to see concurrent filing of 526 petitions and adjustment of status applications , as well as priority date retention and age-out protections for investors and their family members .
WHY DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN THE EB-5 INDUSTRY ?
EB-5 is a dynamic and challenging field and provides a different perspective in terms of representing high net worth individuals in the business immigration context . Our lawyers enjoy working on EB-5 matters and interacting with the players in the industry . Overall , it is an exciting time to work in this area .
WHAT TRENDS ARE YOU SEEING IN THE EB-5 INDUSTRY ?
The trend seems to be toward a much more diversified investment pool , and I think we have already seen a shift in EB-5 interest into investor markets outside of China . In addition , the EB-5 industry overall has become more compliant and self-regulating .
55 EB5 INVESTORS MAGAZINE