Report from China: EB-5 Regional Centers at Risk in China

As many US EB-5 Regional Centers are receiving calls or emails from migration brokers and consulting firms from China on a regular basis, the questions are whether they could be trusted since most of them would claim that they have offices around the country or/and they would be able to sell your projects quickly if they were granted exclusive marketing rights. There are over 500 licensed migration brokers in China, and numerous consulting firms owned by Chinese and/or Westerners are also involved in EB-5 marketing to Chinese investors.  Before you sign up any Chinese brokers or non-licensed marketing consultants, you need to double check their background and reputation, sometimes even the most reputable migration agencies may mislead their Chinese customers by making false statements because they want the project sold and collect their finders fees. As an EB-5 Regional Center principal, you have the obligation and responsibilities to ensure your Chinese brokers comply with Chinese outbound migration regulations. Conducting on-going due diligence and monitoring your Chinese partners are key to success in China.  Here are some incidents:

• An unlicensed consultancy ran a classified migration service ad with a Nanjing newspaper, two days later local police officers raided the business owned by a Westerner as the company was not licensed to conduct international migration services. 
• Two Chinese consulting firms that promoted US investment and educational programs in Shenzhen were raided by local police department as they received complaints from Chinese customers.
• Another unlicensed foreign firm was promoting an immigration investment program with Chinese banks around the country, migration trade association filed complaints with the State Entry/Exit Administration. The foreign firm was publicized and labeled as a "black broker" (illegal broker) by the public and received massive negative media coverage.
• A Chinese individual that claimed his representation of a southern EB-5 regional center and posted various messages on Chinese Internet bulletin boards offering cash to referrals, we contact the Regional Center who informed us that they had no relationship with the individual.

Illinois based Artisan Business Group, Inc. and its EB-5 China Marketing and Field Support Center specialize in dealing with such situations, we send "undercover" agents to attend EB-5 marketing seminars and workshops around the country, we can assist you in monitoring and reviewing your partners' promotional activities, online campaigns, and marketing events, we also team up with US licensed immigration attorneys and business attorneys based in Greater China region, if you ever need any assistance,  please contact us to find out how we can protect your Regional Center reputation and program integrity in China.