EB5USADirect.com, Matchmaking Web Site for EB-5 Immigrant Investors and U.S. Companies, Officially Launches

EB5USADirect.com has officially launched its Immigrant Investor / U.S. company “matchmaking” Web site, linking overseas investors with domestic businesses looking for funding under the Federal EB-5 Visa Direct Investment program (http://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/permanent-workers/employment-based-immigration-fifth-preference-eb-5/eb-5-immigrant-investor), operated by the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

EB5USADirect.com will serve as a “one-stop shop” for Immigrant Investors and U.S. companies looking to utilize the EB-5 Direct Investment program, which will ultimately lead to granting the investor an immigrant visa in return for their investment in a U.S. business. EB5USADirect.com will provide investors and U.S. businesses with all of the pertinent information needed for participation in the EB-5 investment program; the site will list professional services from all over the USA, such as lawyers, CPAs and other professionals involved in providing niche services to the EB-5 investor and receiving company.

The Federal EB-5 Investment Program has generated more than $6 billion in funding for U.S. companies since the program’s initial launch, in 1990, including a total of approximately $1.8 billion generated over the past 12 months.

“Direct EB-5 Investment was the original form of funding under the EB-5 program – today, Direct Investment only makes up about 20% of the total Immigrant Investor EB-5 funding. Most EB-5 funds are now applied towards EB-5 Regional Centers,” said Robert K. Whyte, Founder of EB5USADirect.com.

A USCIS-designated “Regional Center” is defined as any economic entity involved with the promotion of economic growth, improved regional productivity, job creation and increased domestic capital investment. “Direct” EB-5 investment involves an immigrant investor dealing directly with, and investing directly in, a singular U.S. business.

Mr. Whyte continued, “Investors are becoming increasingly savvy, and more are moving towards Direct EB-5 Investments as they have quicker approvals from the USCIS, more control over the actual investment, and allow the investor to work alongside U.S. management teams as they, and their families, immigrate to the States.”

Mr. Whyte saw the practical need for a one-stop site such as EB5USADirect.com, after initiating the EB-5 funding process for his own enterprise. Seeing the influx of immigrant investors that are opting for Direct EB-5 Investments, Whyte also realized the need for such a site that could be viewed in multiple languages.

“We funded our own venture with Direct EB-5 monies. It was the smartest move we, as a start-up, could have made. We needed the capital and the employees, but no angel investor, venture fund or private equity group would give us a fair deal. Plus, the banks would not talk to us and the SBA’s SBIC told us we were too early for their program. We raised a few million dollars through the EB-5 program, and we have great partners from China,” explained Mr. Whyte, who added, “But the experience made me see the need for a service that matched investors, service providers and companies to Direct EB-5 projects. So we began work on EB5USADirect.com.”

EB5USADirect.com is an interactive, searchable database of companies of all sizes, both in revenue and at start-up stage, plus franchise opportunities. Immigrant Investors can search through the site’s data to find the location, type of investment and management team with which they will be comfortable. Investors can review projects at no charge. Companies can register with the site for a small listing fee in order to provide information at three different levels, for investor review: The first level is basic information, levels two and three have detailed business plans, projections and management bios, viewable after a more formal introduction of the parties has been made.

Mr. Whyte concludes, “Had a service such as EB5USADirect.com been available when we procured our EB-5 Investor, the process would have been much faster and much easier.”

USCIS administers the Immigrant Investor Program known as “EB-5”, which was created by Congress in 1990 to stimulate the U.S. economy through job creation and capital investment by foreign investors. Under a pilot immigration program first enacted in 1992 and regularly reauthorized since, certain EB-5 visas also are set aside for investors in Regional Centers designated by USCIS based on proposals for promoting economic growth.

All EB-5 investors must invest in a new commercial enterprise, which is a commercial enterprise that was either a) Established after November 29, 1990; or, b) Established on or before November 29, 1990, that is either 1) Purchased and the existing business is restructured or reorganized in such a way that a new commercial enterprise results; or, 2) Expanded through the investment so that a 40% increase in the net worth or number of employees occurs.

For more news and updates, assistance with your visa needs or for a Free Assessment of your profile for Immigration or Work Visa’s just visit www.y-axis.com