Colombians are enjoying a comfortable lifestyle, thanks to
former President Uribe. While there is still general delinquency
targeting individuals in public places, the days of kidnappings
and indiscriminate killings have ceased. Colombians have
accumulated wealth in a number of different industries. The
flower industry in Colombia is the biggest exporter of flowers
in the world. Because of this, their reason for EB-5 investments
are more practical: to ensure their children’s education and
professional future in the United States.
Having two to three children paying outof-state tuition, because they do not have
a green card in the United States, adds up
and they are a very pragmatic people. They
have traditionally had strict tax laws and
their sources of funds are easier to calculate
and follow than their neighbors in South
America. Colombia has always been a
treaty and business partner of the United
States. There are no controls of transfer of
funds from Colombia.
The United States has been accustomed to receiving a large
number of immigrants from Central American countries such
as Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. In the past, mainly
working class individuals emigrated due to socioeconomic
problems (limited job opportunities, low wages and persistent
poverty). Immigrants from these countries are mainly concentrated in California, Texas and Florida, working on farms. On
the other hand, a strong upper class is sending their children
to continue their education in Ivy League
colleges in the United States. Normally,
those children would graduate and
return to their countries to work in the
family business. However, due to social
instability and drug cartels, the crime has
considerably increased in recent years.
Thus, we are starting to see an increased
number of EB-5 investors coming from
the Central American Region. The investors coming from these countries are not
as wealthy as Venezuelans, Brazilians or
Mexicans, but it is a region to watch very
Brazilians have been enjoying a very good
closely in the coming years. Since there
lifestyle the last couple of years. However,
is no control exchange in these countries,
we are starting to see a great influx of
normally the source of funds can be easily
wealthy Brazilians moving to Miami and
President of Argentina, Cristina
explained, especially as most of the invesElisabet Fernández de Kirchner
Central Florida areas, such as Orlando.
tors are entrepreneurs who have owned
That is because Florida is, and continues to
their companies for decades.
be, a top destination for Brazilians. Now they are taking advantage of the favorable exchange rate to buy properties and move
to the United States. This should not be surprising when the
current GDP in Brazil is $2.4 trillion USD, with an economic
growth of 4%, despite the worldwide economic crisis. In Brazil
— as in Mexico — there is no monetary control exchange.
Wealthy Argentineans are mainly immigrating
for fear that the current president will start
implementing more rigorous measures to
control the private wealth of their country.
Argentineans, like Venezuelans, are suffering from the government monetary control exchange. The current president of
Argentina has implemented very rigorous polices for those who
once were able to transfer funds to the United States. These
rigorous controls are distorting the economy in their country,
and Argentineans believe the country is following the path that
President Chavez implemented in Venezuela almost 15 years
ago. Thus, wealthy Argentineans are looking to immigrate to
the United States as they did over a decade ago, with the main
difference being that more wealthy individuals are now looking to move to the United States. Even though Argentineans
also suffer from high crime, that social issue is not yet at the
level of Venezuela or Mexico. Wealthy Argentineans are mainly
immigrating for fear that the current president will start implementing more rigorous measures to control the private wealth
of their country.
Lastly, we have Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador. These countries
maintain a very elite upper class, and similar to other nationals, send their children to study in the United States. These
nationals are motivated to permanently move to the United
States, mainly due to political reasons. In the case of Bolivia
and Ecuador, the upper class has felt a social instability and fear
of the current government persecutions due to their opposition
to the current governing political party. We will also see a slight
increase in investors coming from these countries, especially
from Bolivia and Ecuador.
Peruvians, however, are enjoying large economic growth,
primarily due to the coal industry. The foreign investors have
invested, not only in coal mines, but in the infrastructure that
supports those mines as well. The government has benefited
from the influx of capital and the citizens have benefited from
an increase in jobs. Peru’s economy grew by 6.92% in 2011,
compared to the 8.8% in the previous year. Peru’s gross domestic
product has grown for 28 consecutive months and has expanded
for the past 13 years. In December, Peru’s GDP expanded by
5.96%, which was higher than many economists expected.
The Latin American client places their family
above business. The comfort and happiness of
the family is extremely important.
w w w. E B 5 I n v e s to r s . c o m
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