Issue: USCIS requests employment records from 10+ years ago.

Tips: If the investor owns their own company, we can provide:

  • Evidence of company registration.
  • Evidence in the form of leases, property records, etc. of business establishment.
  • Letters from the bank showing that banking records are not available.
  • Letters from relevant tax authorities that records are not available.

If the investor works (or used to work) for a company, we can provide:

  • If the business is closed, documentation to show the business is no longer registered or operating.
  • Affidavits from former co-workers attesting to investor’s work at the company.
  • Evidence from relevant tax authorities that records are not available.

Issue: Investor transacts mainly in cash.

Tips:

  • If a business transacts in cash, we can show copies of contracts, letters from customers, an accountant’s letter, etc.
  • If a home was sold and the investor received cash, the contract should discuss this, and then show the cash being deposited into the bank by the investor around the time of the sale, along with an affidavit from the investor.
  • Obtain an affidavit or letter from the seller regarding the transaction, if possible.
  • Evidence of a gold purchase, if applicable.

Issue: Funds should touch the bank account of the investor at some point prior to the transfer to escrow.

Tips: It may be possible for a 3rd party to transfer the funds to escrow on behalf of the investor; however, it is important to make sure the funds touch the investor’s account at some time prior to the transfer into escrow.

  • It is always possible to use a money transfer agent to get the money into escrow; we like to document the agreement with the money transfer agent or get a letter that the agent helped transfer the money for the investor.
  • If a company helps transfer money to escrow, we can document:
    • Investor → Company in Vietnam
    • Same company in 3rd country → escrow account on behalf of investor
    • Letter from the company showing that the company helped transfer the money for the investor.
    • Provide copies of the transfer to the company in Vietnam, and if possible, also obtain copies of the transfer from the company in the 3rd country to the escrow.
  • If an individual helps transfer money to escrow, we can document:
    • Investor → individual in Vietnam
    • Same individual in 3rd Country → escrow account on behalf of investor
    • Letter from the individual that the individual helped transfer the money for the investor.
    • Provide copies of the transfer to the individual in Vietnam, and if possible, also obtain copies of the transfer from the individual in the 3rd country to the escrow.
  • Keep in mind that if the bank rejects the transfer, the funds will be returned to the account from which they came.
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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.

Photo of Jennifer Hermansky Jennifer Hermansky

Jennifer Hermansky focuses her immigration practice on employment-based immigration. Jennifer has experience serving health care, pharmaceutical and real estate industries, as well as entrepreneurs, scientists and researchers in scientific communities for a wide range of temporary visa options and permanent residence solutions.