The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program continues to be a cornerstone of U.S. economic development, offering foreign investors a pathway to residency while fueling job creation. CanAm Enterprises, with its over 20-year track record in EB-5, stands at the forefront of this industry. In a recent video, Nick Buonagurio, Senior Vice President at CanAm Investor Services, shared valuable insights into the program, CanAm’s leadership, and the impact EB-5 investments have on both investors and the U.S. economy.
The Evolution of EB-5 and Regional Centers’ Role
“The EB-5 program was started by Congress in the 1990s to stimulate the U.S. economy through U.S. job creation via foreign investment,” Buonagurio explained. A core requirement of EB-5 is that investors create at least ten full-time jobs for U.S. workers through a qualifying investment. Over the past two decades, the program has undergone significant changes, primarily through the establishment of regional centers like CanAm, which pool investor funds to support large-scale developments and businesses.
Since 2000, EB-5 investments have brought in over $50 billion to the U.S. economy and created more than 1.3 million full-time jobs. “Over 130,000 EB-5 investors and their families have obtained legal permanent residency, primarily through regional centers,” Buonagurio noted, highlighting the program’s far-reaching impact.
The Expanding Scope of EB-5 Investments
While many associate EB-5 investments with real estate, Buonagurio emphasized the program’s diversification across industries. “People traditionally think about EB-5 investments in real estate projects like housing, office buildings, and hospitality. But EB-5 is also used in a much broader range of industries, including manufacturing, infrastructure, energy production, telecommunications, and even shipbuilding.”
He also pointed out that EB-5 investors do much more than meet their investment requirements. “They work high-paying, skilled jobs, start businesses, and pay substantial U.S. taxes. They make additional personal investments in U.S. real estate and financial markets, making EB-5 a powerful economic stimulus.”
A Program with Bipartisan Support and Nationwide Impact
Buonagurio highlighted that EB-5 has consistently received bipartisan support in Congress due to its job-creating potential and self-sustaining nature. “EB-5 costs U.S. taxpayers nothing because it is fully funded by fees paid by both regional centers and investors. It creates hundreds of thousands of jobs and injects billions of dollars into the U.S. economy.”
One area of debate in past years was the concentration of EB-5 projects in major metropolitan areas. “Politicians from states not receiving EB-5 funding felt this was not in the spirit of the program,” Buonagurio explained. The 2022 Reform and Integrity Act addressed this issue by prioritizing investments in targeted employment areas (TEAs), which include high-unemployment and rural locations. These changes ensure that EB-5 investments are benefiting communities across the country, from coastal cities to the heartland.
Read More: The EB-5 Program in a New Political Era: Insights from Industry Experts
CanAm’s Industry Leadership
CanAm has established itself as a leader in the EB-5 industry, with over 6,000 investor families securing conditional residency and nearly 3,000 families obtaining permanent green cards through its projects. “With their spouses and children, that represents over 16,000 visas issued through CanAm investments,” Buonagurio shared.
Just as notably, CanAm leads the industry in capital repayment, having returned over $2 billion to investors. “We have more repayments scheduled next year, and we’re on track to reach the $2.5 billion repayment milestone. We cannot wait to celebrate this industry-leading achievement with our clients.”
Buonagurio emphasized that CanAm’s success is no accident. “It is a result of our commitment to quality and integrity. Our rigorous due diligence process ensures that investments meet immigration requirements while prioritizing investor security.” CanAm evaluates over 100 projects annually but selects only three to four that align with its high standards.
A Higher Standard of Compliance and Investor Support
CanAm was the first regional center to establish an in-house FINRA-registered broker-dealer, ensuring the highest regulatory and compliance standards. “An EB-5 investment is a security, just like a stock, bond, or ETF,” Buonagurio noted. “Most regional centers use third-party vendors, but CanAm took the extra step of building its own broker-dealer to ensure full transparency and regulatory compliance.”
Beyond investment selection, CanAm provides unmatched investor support throughout the five- to seven-year EB-5 journey. “We have a dedicated investor relations team whose sole focus is to assist our clients—from regular project updates to tax document guidance and interest payments,” he said. CanAm also offers an online portal for investors to securely access their investment details and key documents.
Choosing the Right EB-5 Partner for Investor Success
“Like any meaningful decision, choosing the right EB-5 partner is crucial,” Buonagurio concluded. CanAm’s experience, leadership in capital repayment, commitment to compliance, and investor-focused approach set it apart in the industry.
For investors seeking a trusted partner in their EB-5 journey, CanAm continues to exemplify excellence in every aspect of the program. As Buonagurio emphasized, “The service we provide our clients is second to none.”
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