The short answer is, no. It’s not that simple. But there are
opportunities, and EB-5 investment is possible if you do your
homework and stay compliant with the rules.
1.
Absolve themselves of any involvement in any Iranian
company, including foreign branches of any Iranian
company;
2. Rid themselves of any shares in any Iranian company;
EB-5 Investment Procedures
An Iranian investor looking to obtain a U.S. EB-5 Visa
through investment in a regional center must go through a
variety of procedures in order to utilize the EB-5 program.
First, potential investors need to determine whether their
EB-5 funds transfer falls within the Department of Treasury’s
Office of Foreign Assets Control’s (“OFAC”) General License.
They may need an opinion letter from legal counsel providing
financial institutions evidence that the transfer does not violate
the sanctions program. Restricted party screenings must also
be completed to ensure the individuals and entities involved
in the investment are not U.S. government prohibited parties.
Such parties are restricted from doing business in the United
States or with a U.S. Person (this includes U.S. businesses).
Additionally, before becoming U.S. persons, Iranian
individuals must:
3. Cease providing any remote contributions or advice to
any Iranian company; and
4. Cease collecting any salary from any Iranian company,
including foreign branches of any Iranian company.
Individuals planning to become U.S. persons should
ensure all their personal funds are transferred out of Iran at
once because, once they have become U.S. Persons, they will
need a Specific License from OFAC to move any additional
personal funds out of a sanctioned bank and into the United
States or to collec t a pension or retirement from any Iranian
company. Obtaining such a license can take 8-12 months.
Without OFAC approval, banks are not allowed to, and will
refuse to transfer Iranian funds into the United States, and
financial transfers from Iran to the U.S. must adhere to strict
procedures.
WWW.EB5INVESTORS.COM
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