Econometrics, EB-5 Regional Centers, and Job Creation[VERY POOR AUDIO]

Folks, this second attempt at a video blog was shot in my Miata on the morning commute.  While I'm okay with the video (having come to terms with what I actually look like at 48 as opposed to what I THINK I look like) the audio is horrific.  I still posted it because there are a few p...

Jose E. Latour Nov 05, 2009

Great Article from Fragomen re ICE Petitioner Site Visits

I wrote a few days ago about the sudden surge in unexpected site visits for small and medium sized companies which have been petitioning for non-immigrant workers.  In researching this, I found a GREAT article which was recently published by brilliant folks at Fragomen.  I encourage you to...

Jose E. Latour Nov 04, 2009

Thank you, thank you…

...for having the courtesy to comment on the video blog via my personal email as opposed to trackbacks.  All the suggestions regarding audio, camera placement, liposuction and Botox are being taken under consideration.Perhaps after you are all over the Jose the Vidiot part of this, I will actua...

Jose E. Latour Nov 04, 2009

Immigration Insider Goes Video – An EB-5 Investor Visa Update

Jose E. Latour Nov 04, 2009

Signs of Old Age…

Okay, so this is how you realize you've been doing something for a loooooooooong time:You are trying to find the answer to a cryptic question you think you once had figured out.You search on Google.You promptly find a long-winded article you wrote on the subject 3 years ago as the 4th link on y...

Jose E. Latour Nov 04, 2009

Your Enforcement Dollars at Work

Listen up: recent chatter on AILA InfoNet as well as recent reports suggest a new targeted effort aimed at small company NIV petitioners.  Not only have there been recent adjudications which seem to ignore all prior policy on H-1Bs issued by companies in which the petitioner has an interes...

Jose E. Latour Oct 27, 2009

EB-5 Jeebies- Regional Center Investment Misinformation Abounds

Look, I'm TRYING HARD here, guys.  I'm not really interested in naming names or getting people angry but I'll tell you what: if some of the more BALONEY-laden EB-5 Regional Centers and lawyers don't get a grip on the nonsense they spreading, I'm going to start blogging about them.  Ho...

Jose E. Latour Oct 26, 2009

Not All EB-5 Regional Centers are Created Equal

In the past few months, I've had the opportunity to meet with a lot of folks with approved Regional Centers.  In the process, I've asked a lot of questions and spoken to some of the most sophisticated real estate developers, portfolio managers, and financial minds in the country. ...

Jose E. Latour Oct 23, 2009

Taxation Without Representation

I've been representing foreign investors in the U.S. for 18 years.  So have many of my colleagues.  So why is it that the notion of "tax planning" is such a conundrum for most immigration attorneys?  The truth is that we, as immigration counsel, are "programmed&quo...

Jose E. Latour Oct 21, 2009

To “L” in a Handbasket

A formidable number of weak L-1A visas were filed in Venezuela in the past decade, and it is small wonder the U.S. Nonimmigrant Visa team in Caracas casts a wary eye upon Intracompany Visa applications involving:a new U.S. enterprise with low job creation numbersa comparatively small Venezuelan pare...

Jose E. Latour Oct 20, 2009