When an EB-5 Regional Center decides to promote its EB-5 project in
Mainland China, it needs to contact an EB-5 Agency in China. In this section,
we will explain why that is necessary.
Basically, an EB-5 Regional Center has two options. It may either establish a
local branch company in Mainland China, or it may partner with an existing
Agency in China. The question is, “Which provides the better chances for
success?”
First, it's important to note that China is a very large country. There are more
than 2,000 Agencies in the EB-5 visa and U.S. Green Cards business. They are
located in nearly every major city in Mainland China. Promoting an EB-5
project through an existing Chinese Agency has certain advantages. An existing
Agency can help you to reach the target customers effectively because of their
inherent understanding of and connections throughout the country.
Many Agencies have resources in multiple cities in Mainland China. Such
existing networks can expose your EB-5 project to a greater number of
potential customers from the very beginning. As a rule, the first EB-5
Regional Center or project that is presented to the most clients has an
advantage.
If your priority is to promote your EB-5 project quickly, then finding an
existing reputable Agency in Mainland China is the best route to take, as it is
likely to have a clientel of HNWIs waiting for the right project.
Should you wish to operate directly in Mainland China, you will need to go
through the licensing process required at different levels of Chinese
government. It is reasonable to expect that it may take from several months
to a year for the licensing and documentation to be completed. (We will
discuss this in more detail in later chapters.) If time is of the essence with
your project and, unless you already have a business resource in China and
a good relationship with the Chinese government, finding an established
Agency may be the most efficient and cost-effective option.
Partnering with a good Chinese Agency also helps to establish customer
confidence, because the staff at the Agency understands the Chinese people,
what motivates them, and what might unintentionally offend them.
Gaining the trust of Chinese people is best achieved with the help of an
Agency that has several years of service in Mainland China. A good Agency
will promote your EB-5 project and handle the required paperwork. This
enables you to concentrate on developing EB-5 projects that will be
attractive to new investors. The better the provable profit forecasts are for
your project, the more likely it is that the Agency will be able to find the right
investors.
Partnering with an EB-5 Agency in Mainland China can be instrumental to
your success. The benefits of having an alliance with an Agency in Mainland
China include:
An established relationship with the Chinese government and the
U.S. embassy
Familiarity with the entire EB-5 visa process
Existing connections with HNWIs in Mainland China
The most important thing is not finding any Agency. It is finding the most
reliable and the most beneficial Agency for you and your business.