I just read a case of Mahnaz Khazen, who has apparently duped at least 1 EB-5 visa seeker of over USD 1 Million. See link at http://dockets.justia.com/docket/california/candce/5:2013cv03044/267784/ and a news article at http://eb5news.com/categories/9-general/posts/230-fraud-and-embezzlement-suit-filed-against-usiic for more details. This just reiterates what I've been saying for the past few years that EB-5 visa investors should avoid ALL regional centers and partnerships like the plague, as the chances of getting defrauded are quite high, and capital losses are quite common.
Just a few weeks ago, I just read this investor alert (see http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/ia_immigrant.htm)
issued by the SEC warning EB-5 visa seekers about fraud committed by
regional centers and other partnerships against EB-5 visa investors. It is common knowledge that
almost every single partnership and regional center commits securities fraud, money
laundering, securities law violations and tax fraud and other felonies.
It is also common knowledge that most EB-5 visa seekers don't get their
permanent green card if they've applied through a regional center or partnership, and
that almost every single EB-5 visa seeker has experienced capital loss
when investing in a regional center or partnership.
All EB-5 visa seekers should ask the following questions of regional centers and partnerships to detect and prevent fraud:
1)
What is the mean and median amount of capital loss experienced by EB-5
visa seekers who invest in your regional center or partnership?
This is important because
capital loss is very commonly experienced by EB-5 visa investors in
regional centers and other partnerships, while none of our clients has
experienced it, as we only offer Genuine Direct Investment Solutions to EB-5 visa seekers.
2) What is the mean and median processing time
for regional center sponsored I-526 and I-829 petitions?
This is
important as EB-5 visa petitions filed by regional centers and other
partnerships now take about twice as long as Direct Investment
businesses to get approved.
3) What is the mean and median lock
in period for capital in regional centers?
This is important as EB-5
visa investors have easy exit strategies in our recommended businesses
while they are stuck for years in regional centers.
4) What is
the mean and median annual ROI that is offered by your partnership / regional center?
This
is important as EB-5 visa investors usually earn a lot more in
businesses recommended by us than in regional centers.
5) Are there ANY regional centers around where the promoters do NOT engage in conflict of interest? Hahaha.
6)
Are the business founders, CFO and CEO willing to
offer written guarantees of FULL disclosure of material facts on an
ongoing basis as well as freedom from fraud and conflict of interest?
Avoid those who refuse to offer this guarantee in a notarised affidavit.
7) Are you offering and selling securities overseas in
full compliance of US and overseas securities laws?
Avoid those who refuse to confirm this in a notarised affidavit.
8)
What are the percentage of regional center filed I-526 and I-829
petitions that were approved by USCIS in each of the past 3 years?
This
is important information as it exposes the regional centers at their
most vulnerable point in the argument, and proves conclusively why EB-5
visa investors should avoid them.
The above are questions that
illustrate in objective and easy to understand numbers just why it is
unsafe for EB-5 visa investors to use regional centers to apply for
their green card.
It is quite common for honest and diligent RE
brokers to offer a guarantee of freedom from conflict of interest and
fraud, while crooks who try to lure EB-5 visa investors into investing
in worthless regional center securities / partnerships / third rate
franchises will always refuse to offer the following safeguards to EB-5
visa investors:
1) A written guarantee by the top 5 officers of
the regional center / partnership firm AND the marketer, confirming that
they will clearly disclose all material information at the very onset
and on an ongoing basis. In the US, failure to disclose material
information by sellers of securities is classified as SECURITIES FRAUD.
2)
A written guarantee that the marketer and regional center / partnership
officers will NOT engage in conflict of interest, and will procure
goods / services and hire employees in a transparent and competitive
manner.
3) A written guarantee that they will fully refund an
investor's fees in case the investor's petition is rejected due to the
fault of the regional center.
4) A full disclosure of what is the
amount of capital that the firm's founders and investors have invested
and what is the percentage of ownership stake and profits that they will
get.
EB-5 visa investors need to remember that Direct Investment
Businesses that choose blue chip franchises (such as BK, 5 Guys, KFC,
etc.) wholly owned and controlled by the EB-5 visa investor usually
offer a safer, faster and very profitable way to get the EB-5 visa, and
those who opt for regional centers or partnerships or third rate
franchises will usually end up with delayed processing, capital lossess
and low (or no) ROI caused due to extensive fraud, nepotism &
conflict of interest, terrible exit strategies and high rate of denial
of I-829.
Our EB-5 investor clients who opted to start Direct
Investment Businesses in quality franchises such as 5 guys, KFC,
McDonalds, etc. as opposed to regional centers / partnerships / bottom
tier franchises such as Voodoo or Marcos offered by our unscrupulous
competitors, usually find that they have the following advantages:
1)
Great annual profits, averaging 22% annually, and usually ranging from
20% to 30% annually. The lowest amount any of our clients has ever
earned is 15% annual profit, and that was a special case.
2) Capital
gains: Our recommended businesses usually appreciate while Marcos pizza
locations or other third rate franchises will usually sell for a massive
capital loss. In 10 years, none of my clients have had a capital loss,
and most investors in regional centers have suffered full or partial
capital loss.
3) Easy exit strategy: You will find more buyers for 5
guys / KFC restaurants in comparison to Voodoo BBQ offered by Joe
Sloboda or Marcos Pizza or any regional center.
4) Easy approval with
USCIS and with banks: Bank underwriters are very picky, and they won't
approve Voodoo BBQ locations easily, but will easily approve premium
franchises such as 5 Guys / KFC / etc. because of their track record and
market reputation. USCIS will also easily approve known and reputed
brands with solid track records, while they won't do so with our
competitors.
5) Full disclosure of material facts: Unlike David
Tashroudian or the Voodoo promoters Joe Sloboda & Fred Burgess or
Regional Center promoters, we clearly and fully disclose material facts
to our clients, which is why we confidently offer written guarantees of
full and clear disclosure of material facts.
6) Fee refund guarantee:
We know that we do a thorough job, and therefore confidently guarantee
our work, while our competitors refuse to stand behind their work. This
shows EB-5 visa investors who is a professional and who is not.
7) Full control of the investment and invested funds: As our EB-5
visa seeker clients own and control their own business, they are also in
full control of their business. On the other hand, B-5 visa seekers who
invested in regional centers usually find themselves at the mercy of
unscrupulous regional center promoters.
If you're an EB-5 visa seeker interested in getting your EB-5 visa
in a quick, safe and usually profitable manner, please call us.
Yours truly
Mohammed Shaikh, MBA, CFE, Licensed Business & RE Broker (CA & FL)
Online: http://www.smartbusinessbroker.com
Phone: +1 407 535 0616
No comments:
Post a Comment