EB-5 Extended Without Changes Until January 19,2018

Folks, just a quick note: as I was en route back from Asia wondering if the US Government was going to shut down on Friday due to the end of the temporary funding provisions, I learned they managed another short-term extension through January 19, 2018.  Since the reforms are slated to be implemented...

Jose E. Latour Dec 23, 2017

IRS Requires Electronic FBAR Filings Beginning July 1, 2013

The U.S. Internal Revenue Service has announced that its form for reporting foreign bank and financial accounts will only be accepted for electronic filing beginning Monday.  The so-called "FBAR" - which stands for "Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts" -- requires anyone who is subject to ...

Jose E. Latour Jul 17, 2017

Simplified Home Office Deduction

Okay, I know, I know...I've lost it when I start sharing IRS YouTube videos, right?  Humor me on this one: I know tons of people who really DO use their home office for business but steer clear of the complexity of declaring it (me, for one.) Here's a cool and simple new rule which actually can put ...

Jose E. Latour Jul 17, 2017

New York Bar: Foreign Migration Brokers CANNOT Be Paid EB-5 Referral Fees

After railing for the last few years about how Big EB-5 cheats via census tract "gerrymandering" in order to falsely qualify as a TEA, this has been a pretty great month for us here at AVSEB-5 and for the handful of TRUE TEA and rural projects having to compete against six page color spreads in glos...

Jose E. Latour May 31, 2017

The New “Fiduciary Rule” and What it Means for the EB-5 Industry

After months of uncertainty, and expectation that President Trump might kill the regulation, the so-called “Fiduciary Rule” is now scheduled to go into effect June 9.  The idea behind the fiduciary rule is to create a requirement that requirement that investment and financial advisers to act only in...

Jose E. Latour May 31, 2017

The AVS EB-5 Way: One Family at a Time

This, my 55th year on earth, after more adventures, time zones, and miles than I can possibly remember, I can sincerely say that today, I truly love my job as the owner of American Venture Solutions Regional Center.  I mean I really, really, REALLY love my job. I was 12 when I got my first job, spen...

Jose E. Latour Mar 08, 2017

Reassuring Words from U.S. Consulate Ho Chi Minh

Dear AVS Investors and Friends in Vietnam: The Honorable Mark McGovern, Consular Section Chief of the U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh, was interviewed last week on Vietnam television and officially confirmed what I’ve been saying since President Trump’s series of immigration orders have triggered conf...

Jose E. Latour Feb 23, 2017

Migration Agents Fraudulently Collecting EB-5 Funds from Investors?

IMPORTANT NOTE FROM AVS: AVS EB-5 has learned from USG sources that online ads marketing AVS EB-5 projects have appeared in foreign online media, posted by parties purporting to represent American Venture Solutions EB-5.  Some of these have been posted by parties with which AVS has never had a relat...

Jose E. Latour Feb 21, 2017

Overseas EB-5 “Commissions”: The SEC Elephant in the Room

Over the course of the six years since the USCIS graciously approved American Ventures Solutions as an EB-5 Regional Center, I’ve witnessed competitors raise more EB-5 money in a single trip to China than I can raise in six months of globetrotting.  So why?  Are their EB-5 projects better than mine?...

Jose E. Latour Feb 20, 2017