EB5 Investors Magazine | Page 74

3rd Session of the U.S. Investment Immigration Forum by Winnie Ng The 3rd Session of the U.S. Investment Immigration Forum was held on March 7th & 8th 2015 at the Marco Polo Shenzhen Hotel. The conference brought together more than 60 participants from the United States and approximately 100 participants from various parts of mainland China. The organizers behind USIIF are Shenzhen Cable TV Station, Guangzhou Cable TV Station, and Beijing Cable TV Station. This session also received support from Shanghai Cable TV Station and was hosted by Shenzhen Cable HDTV “Immigration and Study Abroad” Channel and Panorama Culture Inc. David Hirson & Partners co-hosted the conference this year. Winnie Ng, David Hirson, Ma Zhongjun, Ali Jahangiri and Kate Kalmykov 72 The forum created a platform for U.S. immigration attorneys, securities attorneys, economists, regional center directors, EB-5 project representatives, and other industry professionals to connect with Chinese migration agents, immigration association presidents, source of funds experts, and potential EB-5 investors. Speakers and panelists from the United States included Keynote Speaker David Hirson, Ali Jahangiri, Kate Kalmykov, Laura Foote Reiff, Jennifer Hermansky, and Batya Goodman. All the sessions featured active translators that facilitated bilingual dialogue between speakers and attendees. Exit Entry association leaders also encouraged U.S.-based EB-5 stakeholders to work hard to permanently reauthorize the program and make petition filing more efficient. They also mentioned that the Portugal program is becoming increasingly popular among investors. Speakers and panelists from China included USIIF Committee Chairman Ma, Bill Chen, Deputy General Manager of the Investment Department at BDO (Shanghai) Consulting Limited, as well as various Chinese migration agency presidents and representatives, including Hubei Trade Association of Private Exit-Entry Services President Shoulong Zeng, Vice President of the Guangdong Entry & Exit Immigration Service Association Yanwu Shieh, Beijing Entry & Exit Immigration Service Association President Yuzhang Chen, Vice President of the Sichuan Province Exit & Entry Agent Trade Association EB5 INVESTORS MAGAZINE Continued on page 68