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Program Offering Wealthy Foreigners US Residency Poses Compliance Risks

By Colby Adams

Inadequate supervision over a U.S. immigration program through which wealthy foreigners can more easily obtain residency visas in exchange for investments could expose banks and brokers to legal and regulatory scrutiny, say analysts. Under the EB-5 program, foreign nationals who invest $500,000 directly into American commercial enterprises or into pooled funds managed by one of 781 regional centers approved by the U.S. Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS) increase their chances of being offered temporary residency, and permanent residency if their investment creates at least 10 jobs. Recent investigations of the EB-5 regional centers, which are generally U.S.-based companies authorized to...

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