Milwaukee EB-5 Visa Program

Chinese Translation
中文

Program Overview

Investor Benefits

How to Seek Status as an Immigrant Investor

Recommended Banks & Attorneys

Investment Opportunities

U.S. Visas Offered to Foreign Investors

Program Overview

The Milwaukee Region has been formally designated a Regional Center for the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa Program by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The Milwaukee Region consists of Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Waukesha, Washington and Walworth counties. 

The Immigrant Investor Visa Program offers green cards to qualifying foreign investors and their families who invest a minimum of $1 million (or $500,000 in targeted employment areas) in businesses that create at least ten full-time permanent jobs for U.S. workers. Provided that the investment is maintained and achieves the job requirements of the program, permanent green cards will be issued after two years. Targeted employment areas that qualify for the $500,000 investment level include designated areas of Milwaukee (see map), all of Walworth County and the City of Racine.

 
Investor Benefits

• Qualified investors and their families (spouse and any unmarried children under age 21) are eligible for green cards after approval of their applications
   
• Although investment must occur within a regional center's territory, the investor and his/her family may live and work anywhere in the United States
   
• No minimum requirements as to the investor’s age, business training and experience or language skills
   
• Ability to travel outside of the United States and return to the United States without a visa
  
  
• Education benefits of permanent residents, including admission to state universities at resident costs
  
  
• Eligible to become a U.S. citizen once a permanent resident for more than five years
  

How to Seek Status as an Immigrant Investor

To apply for status as an immigrant investor, you must file CIS Form I-526, Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur. The Form I-526 must be filed with supporting documentation which clearly demonstrates that the individual investor meets all requirements, such as:

• Establishing a new commercial enterprise by creating a new business, purchasing an existing business, expanding an existing business or by retaining all existing jobs in a troubled business
  
  
• Investing the requisite capital amount
  
  
• Proving the investment comes from a lawful source of funds
  
  
• Creating full-time jobs, directly or indirectly, for at least ten employees, or preserving existing direct jobs in a troubled business
  
  
• Demonstrating that the investor is actively participating in the business
  
  
• Creating employment within a targeted employment area, where applicable
  

For more information on the Milwaukee Immigrant Investment Zone, contact Peter Beitzel at (414) 287.4140 or pbeitzel@mmac.org.

For more information about the U.S. Immigrant Investor Program, please visit the
USCIS website on "Green Card through Investment."

Recommended Banks & Attorneys

The following local banks are recommended for financing and are listed in the region's approved application from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. A major international bank may also be used.

Chase Bank
Mr. Richard Bennett
Phone: 262-717-7536
Email: richard.b.bennett@chase.com

Marshall & Ilsley Bank
Ms. Tasha Spransy
Phone: 414-298-2994
Email: tasha.spransy@micorp.com

The following attorneys are recommended for program petitions:

Mr. Ira Azulay
AzulaySeiden Law Group
Phone: 312-832-9200, ext. 145
Email: iazulay@azulayseiden.com

Mr. Thomas Gehl
Clark Hill PLC
Phone: 312-985-5526
Email: tgehl@clarkhill.com

Mr. Jerome Grzeca
Grzeca Law Group, S.C.
Phone: 414-342-3000
Email: clients@grzecalaw.com

Ms. Julie Lee (Zhu)
Foley & Lardner LLP (Counsel for Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce Regional Center, LLC, program administrator)
Phone: 414-271-2400
Email: zlee@foley.com

Mr. Jeffrey Mawicke
Mawicke & Goisman, S.C.
Phone: 414-224-0600
Email: jmawicke@dmgr.com

Mr. L. Steven Siy (emphasis in immigration law)
Phone: 414-774-4700
Email: lssiylaw@yahoo.com

Mr. Lincoln Stone
Stone & Grzegorek LLP
Phone: 213-627-8997
Email: lincoln@lskglaw.com

Ms. Heather Tiltmann
Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C.
Phone: 414-978-5302
Email: htiltmann@whdlaw.com

Mr. Stephen Yale-Loehr
Miller Mayer, LLP
Phone: 607-273-4200, ext. 318
Email: swy1@cornell.edu

Investment Opportunities

The Milwaukee Regional Center is administered by the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce Regional Center, LLC, Inc. While MMAC-LLC and its affiliates (collectively, "MMACRC") generally welcome investment in the Milwaukee Regional Center area, MMACRC does not have sufficient information about the investment opportunities identified below to be able to recommend, nor does it endorse, any particular investment opportunity.

Investment opportunities available in the Milwaukee Region:

FirstPathway Citizenship Fund
This fund invests in properties that qualify for EB-5 status. Each property is reviewed for its ability to generate the necessary direct and indirect jobs. Once this requirement has been established, the Fund analyzes the potential return on investment (ROI) and security of the overall project.

Contact:
FirstPathway Partners
Robert Kraft, Chairman & CEO
311 E. Chicago St., Suite 510
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Phone: 888-560-3688
China Office: 862161498274
Email: bkraft@rcifpp.com
Website: www.firstpathway.com

New Life Senior Wellness Center
New Life Senior Wellness Center plans to convert and construct a mid-sized assisted living facility in the Lake Geneva region to provide senior care services, including memory care, assisted living care and adult day care. The facility aims to meet strong demand for senior care and is to be managed by a local management company specializing in senior care.

The Professional Center
The Professional Center consists of a brand-new office building located within Milwaukee’s large, historical redevelopment district. The Professional Center will cater to young professionals and entrepreneurs in the city. The Professional Center consists of approximately 62,500 square feet of office space.

Contact:
Thomas Gehl
Blue Ribbon Management
633 W. Wisconsin Ave., Suite 533
Milwaukee, WI 53202
414-630-9988

Brew House (closed with 30 investors)
Building on Milwaukee’s proud beer brewing heritage, this former brewery site in downtown Milwaukee is moving forward with redevelopment plans. The Brew House consists of two historic buildings located within the city's large, historical redevelopment district.

Geneva Ridge (closed with 40 investors)
For generations, Lake Geneva in southern Wisconsin lake country has drawn thousands of visitors from across the U.S. Midwest. From sparkling beaches to shopping, dining and entertainment, this thriving lake community is home to concerts, festivals, boutiques, galleries and boat races. This condominium hotel is enjoying its $100 million+ redevelopment, thanks in part to funds invested through the Milwaukee Regional Center.