On March 7-8, 2015 Greenberg Traurig, LLP served as co-hosts of the third annual U.S. Investment Immigration Forum (USIIF) in Shenzhen, China.  The event brought together over 70 migration agents, regional centers and attorneys to discuss the latest updates in EB-5 including the issues in source of funds processing for Chinese nationals, status of the Regional Center Pilot Program reauthorization on Capitol Hill, as well as a report from migration agents regarding the Chinese investment climate.  Kate Kalmykov delivered a keynote address on the topic of EB-5 visa retrogression which discussed the impending backlog, the process for pending cases when retrogression is imposed, and alternative solutions for eligible Chinese applicants to process for their immigrant visa.  Immigration attorneys Laura Reiff, Jennifer Hermansky and Kate Kalmykov also served as panelists over the course of the two days on various panels related to hot topics in EB-5.  Securities attorney Batya Goodman participated on the securities law panels and discussed the importance of proper disclosure in the drafting of EB-5 project-related private placement memorandums, broker/ dealer issues, and due diligence concerns.  The event was co-hosted by the Shenzhen Cable TV company and was televised to millions of viewers across China.

image001
Greenberg Traurig attorneys Jennifer Hermansky, Batya Goodman and Kate Kalmykov at the USIIF 2015 Conference in Shenzhen. Hermansky, Goodman and Kalmykov presented on various EB-5 topics throughout the day.

Greenberg Traurig attorneys Kate Kalmykov, Laura Reiff and Jennifer Hermansky preparing to present to the USIIF guests. Kalmykov was a keynote speaker addressing Chinese retrogression, priority dates and I-526 petition approval notices
Greenberg Traurig attorneys Kate Kalmykov, Laura Reiff and Jennifer Hermansky preparing to present to the USIIF guests. Kalmykov was a keynote speaker addressing Chinese retrogression, priority dates and I-526 petition approval notices. See the related blog post here (Chinese version here).
Greenberg Traurig attorneys Jennifer Hermansky, Kate Kalmykov and Laura Reiff discuss the components of successful EB-5 petitions, lawful sources of funds standards and direct investment vs. regional center along with co-panelists David Hirson, Xuejie Wong and Bill Chen.
Greenberg Traurig attorneys Jennifer Hermansky (with microphone), Kate Kalmykov  (far right) and Laura Reiff (not pictured) discuss the components of successful EB-5 petitions, lawful sources of funds standards and direct investment vs. regional center along with co-panelists David Hirson, Xuejie Wong and Bill Chen.
Greenberg Traurig - USIIF Panel
Greenberg Traurig attorneys Batya Goodman (with microphone), Kate Kalmykov (far left) and Laura Reiff (far right) take the stage with co-presenters David Hirson and Ali Jahangiri as they discuss SEC regulations, recent actions and their impact on EB-5’s future development, impact of EB-5 investments of U.S. economy, American’s opinion about EB-5 investments, the direction of the U. S. Immigration Reform and trends they are seeing in the EB-5 industry.
Tags: Chinese nationals, EB-5, EB-5 retrogression, Greenberg Traurig, gtlaw, gt_law, U.S. Investment Immigration Forum
Print:
Email this postTweet this postLike this postShare this post on LinkedIn
Photo of Kate Kalmykov Kate Kalmykov

Kate Kalmykov is based in our New York and New Jersey offices and has over two decades of experience in business immigration matters. Kate currently Co-Chairs the Global Immigration & Compliance Practice at Greenberg Traurig. In this role, she works with employers of

…

Kate Kalmykov is based in our New York and New Jersey offices and has over two decades of experience in business immigration matters. Kate currently Co-Chairs the Global Immigration & Compliance Practice at Greenberg Traurig. In this role, she works with employers of all sizes across a variety of industries in understanding and complying with the immigration laws relating to the hiring and retention of foreign talent. Specifically, her practice focuses on supporting clients and advising them on temporary and permanent residency immigration options for multi-national executive, business, scientific, and information technology personnel. In addition, her practice provides support to companies in the global transfer of personnel. Known by her clients for her out-of-the-box thinking, responsiveness and hands-on approach, Kate is often called upon to assist in developing immigration options and strategies in the most unique circumstances and to respond to complex Requests for Evidence (RFEs), Notices of Intent to Deny (NOIDs) or to appeal denied cases. Likewise, she has also been instrumental in developing employer compliance programs for DOL related filings including H-1Bs and PERMs, as well as for I-9 employment eligibility verification. To this end, she develops and conducts nationwide I-9 compliance trainings and policy manuals for human resources personnel, advises on best practices for E-Verify employers, provides guidance on avoiding immigration-related unfair employment practices claims and has defended and minimized penalties in immigration-related government audits. Kate regularly works with professionals from the firm’s labor, employment, tax and benefits groups, to provide strategic planning on immigration issues within a cross-border framework.

Kate also has deep experience working on all aspects of the EB-5 immigrant investor program. Kate has worked with real estate developers, private equity funds, and other organizations on applications to designate new EB-5 Regional Centers, applications for pre-approval of EB-5 projects; having projects adopted by existing EB-5 Regional Centers; structuring projects to be EB-5 compliant, the sale of existing EB-5 Regional Centers, preparing template I-526 petitions and advice on structuring direct EB-5 projects. Pursuant to the requirements introduced under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act, Kate works with EB-5 Regional Centers, EB-5 Projects, Overseas Migration Agents and Broker/ Dealers to develop internal programs for ongoing compliance and to prepare USCIS I-956, I-956F, I-956,G, I-956H, I-956K submissions. Kate has represented thousands of investors in obtaining their green cards through EB-5 regional center projects, as well as direct EB-5 investment opportunities. She also represented and structured the largest EB-5 offering in the Program’s history and has over the course of her career structured over $12 billion in EB-5 deals.

Within the field of immigration law, Kate is a well-known speaker and author. She is often called upon by various media outlets to comment on topics of business immigration law including the Real Deal, the Wall Street Journal, and Law360. Kate has appeared on numerous TV programs related to immigration law including CNN, the Stoler Report, Vietface TV, and China Business Network. Kate is also a prolific writer on the topic of immigration and has been published in immigration practice handbooks for the American Bar Association, American Immigration Lawyers Association, ILW, and in news periodicals that include the New Jersey Lawyer, the New York Law Journal, the New Jersey Law Journal, USA Today, GlobeSt.com, and the Commercial Observer. At the request of the American Bar Association, Kate co-authored the book “What Every Lawyer Needs to Know About Immigration Law,” a guide for non-lawyers on immigration law practice. She has sat on numerous bar association related committees including the American Immigration Lawyers Association EB-5 Practice Committee, the New Jersey Business Immigration Coalition and has chaired the American Bar Association’s, Committee on Immigration and Naturalization, Section of Administrative Law since 2011. Kate has been recognized in various legal surveys including Chambers Global, New York Super Lawyers, the New Jersey Law Journal who ranked as her as a “New Leader of the Bar,” (formerly 40 under 40) in 2012, NJBIZ “Best 50 Women in Business,” 2019, National Law Review, “Go-To Thought Leader: Immigration Law,” 2022, and Lawdragon 500, Leading U.S. Corporate Employment Lawyers, 2020-2022.

Kate is devoted to pro bono matters and has spent extensive time helping clients fleeing conflict and persecution with asylum applications, applying for and obtaining Temporary Protected Status and Humanitarian Parole.

Read more about Kate Kalmykov
Show more Show less
Related Posts
LM 422
April 22 EVENT | SISIA U.S. Investment Immigration Forum
May 7, 2026
JH KK 420
April 20 WEBINAR: Read the May 2026 Visa Bulletin Like an Immigration Lawyer
April 17, 2026
Kalmykov Jan 26
Jan. 29 EVENT | Technology, AI, and the Current State of Global Mobility
January 21, 2026