WARNING: New Telephone Immigration Scam

Read the warning below outlining the new scam that is taking place inside the EB-5 community.

(Source: Robert A. Kravitz, Esq. Law Offices of Kravitz & Guerra P.A., posted 7/20/2012)

 

The Law Offices of Kravitz & Guerra, PA has received reports of a new telephone scam potentially victimizing foreign national clients.

According to one of several such reports, the foreign national will receive a call purporting to be from a USCIS (Immigration Service) officer, who will have certain correct information about the individual, including the individual's name and address.

The caller will state that there is some discrepancy in USCIS records, and ask for confirmation of data, such as an I-94 number, an "A" number, or a visa control number. The caller will then tell the individual that there is a penalty or payment due for clearing up the discrepancy, and that the individual is to send a sum of money via Western Union, to an address the caller provides.

Be aware that you may be receiving such calls. If you do, you may wish to report them to appropriate law enforcement authorities, such as the FBI, and to the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Consumer Protection, whose Consumer Sentinel database is accessed by criminal and civil law enforcement authorities worldwide.

Please understand that USCIS rarely -- if ever -- calls "customers" directly. If you receive what you believe is a real call from a USCIS employee, politely ask them to call your Immigration Lawyer. If it is a scam, we will know. If not, we are always in the best position to answer any immigration-related question for you! 

Message from Robert A. Kravitz, Esq.

Law Offices of Kravitz & Guerra P.A.

About Robert A. Kravitz, Esq.,

USCIS Director Mayorkas Announces the Creation of a New EB5 Office

USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas has announced today the formation of a new office specifically designed to address and oversee issues related to the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa program. Below is his announcement:

To view announcement in .PDF form, go here - New EB-5 Program Office - Message from Director

Dear Stakeholder,

I am pleased to announce that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will be creating a new office to oversee our administration of the EB-5 Immigrant Investor program.

The EB-5 program has spurred the creation of tens of thousands of new jobs and the injection of billions of dollars into the U.S. economy since Congress created the program in 1990. Interest in the EB-5 program has grown exponentially in recent years, both from domestic project developers seeking capital and foreign investors who have the capital that can fuel economic growth. USCIS has met this unprecedented growth and interest with a corresponding dedication of resources. USCIS has approved more than 3,100 Form I-526 petitions in Fiscal Year 2012 to date, more than triple the number approved in all of Fiscal Year 2009.

Since 2009, we have quadrupled the size of the EB-5 adjudications team and brought on board eight expert economists dedicated to the EB-5 program to ensure that EB-5 cases are handled expeditiously and with appropriate expertise. In the next month, two full-time attorneys with substantial transactional experience will enter on duty as new additions to the USCIS EB-5 program team. And by the end of July, a special Review Board consisting of two Supervisory Immigration Services Officers and one economist will review every pending application for regional center designation for which a denial has been recommended, with applicants receiving the opportunity to discuss their cases in-person before any final adverse decision is rendered.

By now creating a dedicated program office, we will build on these steps toward ensuring that this important and complex program is appropriately resourced and managed under a single leadership structure.  

I am also excited to announce that the new office will be led by a new Chief of Immigrant Investor Programs, and that an advertisement for this new leadership position will be posting today. Our new program chief will have significant experience in the business world and will assume responsibility for ensuring that the program is administered efficiently, with integrity, with predictability, and with an understanding of today’s business realities.

We understand that more work needs to be done to further improve our administration of the EB-5 program. We are committed to this work. USCIS welcomes and appreciates your input as we stand up our new EB-5 Program Office.

Thank you.
 
Alejandro N. Mayorkas
Director
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Stewart International Airport - Growth and Expansion

The Stewart International Airport is located approximately 60 miles (100km) north of New York City and less than 45 minutes from the Rock Hill Town Center site. The airport can give great support and travel accommodations for the Rock Hill Town Center visitors. The NY/NJ Port Authority has engaged in a 500 million dollar plan to overhaul the entire airport. 

The plan includes major renovations, the addition of a new terminal, and further expanding the cargo facilities.  FedEx maintains a large distribution center near the airport and the USDA has an inspection facility that processes the products of importers.  The Port Authority intends on utilizing the Stewart InternationalAirport as a relief airport for the three main New York area airports (Newark, LaGuardia, and JFK).  They estimate that they can currently handle five times its present passenger volume.  The Port Authority plans to invest approximately $500 million through 2016 to upgrade and expand the airport.

Check this short video for the Stewart International Airport - 

 

MORE INFORMATION: Rock Hill Regional Center Contact

Sullivan County Diagnostic Center (“Center for Discovery”) - Inspiration for All

The Center for Discovery  located in Harris, Sullivan County, NY is remarkable for its more than 60 years of service to children and adults with severe disabilities. The Center for Discovery is an institution that offers individuals with a range of disabilities and medical frailties - and their families -innovative educational, clinical, residential and social and creative arts experiences designed to enrich their lives through personal accomplishment. The Center features universally designed facilities specifically built to meet the physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and creative needs of children and adults it serves. They currently employee over 1,400 individuals and expect to add another 1000 new jobs over the course of the next 3 years with multiple projects such as a High-Risk Assessment Clinic. The Center for Discovery responsible for $184 million in economic impact, including more than $134 million in Sullivan County. The Rock Hill Town Center is within a 10 mile radius of the Center.

The video below is an uplifting story that is one of many that makes the Center for Discovery such a special place. Patrick Dollard talks about the Center for Discovery and how the organization uses food and farming to benefit individuals with a broad range of disabilities. 

(Video courtesy of Sundance Channel: Grain of Change Series)

MORE INFORMATION: Rock Hill Regional Center Contact

What are the benefits of an EB5 Green Card?

 To learn about the exciting investing opportunity for Rock Hill Town Center:

Contact Us-
Tel: (866) 763-6515 

or

ROCK HILL WEBSITE or  EMAIL ROCK HILL

 

 

Every individual desires a permanent residence in the US for a different reason. A Green Card with the EB-5 Investor program provides many benefits that accomplishes these goals:

• Legal permanent residents under the EB-5 Investor Program enjoy many of the same benefits as United States citizens.
  
• The U.S. is a safe harbor for your family, as well as your personal and business investments.
• Any member of a family with an EB5 Green Card can enter the U.S. at any time and stay as long as he/she wishes.
  
• Investors have constant and easy access to the United States for personal, trade and business purposes.
  
• Permanent residents travel to the U.S. without the need of a Visa.
• Investors may work, live or own their own proprietary business anywhere in the United States.
  
• The U.S. has internationally recognized colleges and universities for basic education and graduate study. As a resident, the immigrant investor can benefit from lower college tuition costs, as well.
  
• The cost of living in the U.S. is lower than most large industrial nations. Consumer goods, services and housing are significantly less expensive than comparable services and goods in most other countries.
  
• Students may work in the U.S. while they attend college and continue to work thereafter. This enables the student to pay part of their education while completing graduate and postgraduate studies.
  
• The U.S. provides many financial, social and education entitlements: public schools, health and medical attention, social security and higher education.
  
• The immigration investor has the ability to bring other family members to the United States after proper applications and can obtain U.S. citizenship after 5 years.
• Permanent residency requires no renewal or re-application, except for a processing fee.

 To learn about the exciting investing opportunity for Rock Hill Town Center:

Contact Us-
Tel: (866) 763-6515 

or

ROCK HILL WEBSITE or  EMAIL ROCK HILL

 

 

NYS DOT I-86 Highway Project and Rock Hill Town Center

Empire State EB5 (Rock Hill Regional Center) recently met with Artisan Business Group and the Rock Hill Town Center (RHTC) project developers at the Rock Hill Town Center future site in Rock Hill, NY. We walked the location with all accompanying parties, great discussions, and determined our next plan of action. The Rock Hill Town Center is a ground up development project funded with EB-5 investment through the Rock Hill Regional Center. Located in Rock Hill, NY, Sullivan County, this will be the largest project of its kind ever in the area. The area is seeing dramatic economic growth and foresees more growth and demand to increase in the surrounding areas.  One major point to note is the huge highway construction project that is happening as we speak. NYS DOT (New York State Department of Transportation) is spending over $100 million dollars to improve the  I-86 project as well as exit 107 - 109 at Rock Hill.

Here are a few highlights of the highway conversion of Route17 and Interstate 86 in Sullivan County, New York.

1. On the drawing board for almost 20 years, NYS DOT has ramped up construction due to site development and other county drivers.
2. Interstate 86 will be elevated over 60 feet near the base of RHTC site
3. A dangerous curve is being removed to improve the flow traffic
4. The interchange will revamp Rock Hill Town Center site visibility and awareness.

More information on RT 17/I-86 project visit - NYS DOT WEBSITE HERE

For more Rock Hill information & pictures visit - ROCK HILL REGIONAL CENTER HERE

Bethel Woods Center of Arts: Attracting & Entertaining for all

Bethel Woods Center of Arts is located in town of Bethel, Sullivan County, New York, less than 25 minutes west of the Rock Hill TownCenter. The town received worldwide fame after it became the host of the 1969 Woodstock Festival. Bethel Woods opened its doors at the end of 2006 and has already secured its place as a world ranked attraction. Bethel Woods Center of Arts is a cultural center and a top ranked outdoor concert venue. It explores the unique experience of the Woodstock festival, its significance as a culminating event of a decade of radical cultural transformation, and the legacy of the Sixties and Woodstock today. The museum and grounds are amazing things to see and experience. In 2011, Bethel Woods drew more than 185,000 people to its shows, exhibits, and educational programs. A great deal of its success can be attributed to some of the headlining acts that have graced their stage including the New York Philharmonic, Janet Jackson, Elton John, Phish and Kid Rock to name a few. At a cost of over $100 Million, the amphitheater 2011 rank was 15th most attended amphitheater worldwide, up from 38th in 2010. As Bethel Woods continues its rise in the rankings, it will be able sign major headliners on a more frequent basis drawing even more tourists into the community. Below are some of the exciting opportunities and attractions available while at Bethel Woods.

• Main Exhibit Gallery - Permanent interactive multimedia exhibit
• Museum Theater - State-of-the-art, 1080p high-definition video projection, multi-channel sound theater with seating for 132
• Museum Shop - Features museum-themed specialty products
• Muse Café - Delicious light dining and beverages, and you may pre-order a picnic basket 
• Events Gallery - A beautiful wood, glass and stone room that can be used for performances, educational purposes as well as meetings and receptions
• Terrace Stage - A 1,000 seat outdoor theater
• Classrooms - Two classrooms are located on the lower level
• Special Exhibit Gallery - Enjoy a variety of special exhibits throughout the season