Investors & Entrepreneurs

The Investor & Entrepreneur Group at SGG is a fully-diversified practice group that serves both immigrant investors and entrepreneurs on the one hand as well as US-based enterprises that raise EB-5 capital on the other hand. While the SGG experience in this practice area is unique in terms of depth, volume, breadth and span of time, SGG is a cutting-edge industry practice leader focused on the rigors of immigration compliance, professional responsibility and Best Practices.

We provide our investor clients with detailed guidance and checklists based on our experience of having successfully represented over 4,000 families in the EB-5 application process, and countless others in pursuing non-immigrant visa options such as the E-2 visa. Capital-raising groups benefit tremendously from our thorough, systematized due diligence review of EB-5 eligibility drawn from years of hard-won experience represents clients that have raised over $5 billion in EB-5 capital. Perhaps more importantly, those groups find our guidance invaluable not only in developing approvable templates and exemplars, but in navigating challenging issues in the era of re-deployment, visa backlogs, and changed business circumstances

Lincoln
Stone

Lincoln Stone is a Certified Specialist in Immigration and Nationality Law as recognized by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.

Elsie Hui
Arias

Elsie Hui Arias is a partner at Stone Grzegorek & Gonzalez LLP. She has been certified as a specialist in immigration and nationality law by the State Bar of California Board.

Michele
Franchett

Michele Franchett is a partner at Stone Grzegorek & Gonzalez LLP. She is admitted to the California Bar, and is a Certified Specialist in the practice of Immigration and Nationality Law.

Recent Articles

New Rule for EB-5 Targeted Employment Areas Significantly Impacts the EB-5 Industry https://www.sggimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/pexels-photo-288477.jpeg 4608 3456 Michele Franchett Michele Franchett https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/47fc3e82a0b841fd3a0b2971cf378e7f?s=96&d=mm&r=g December 17, 2019 December 17, 2019

Michele Franchett
December 17, 2019

New Rule for EB-5 Targeted Employment Areas Significantly Impacts the EB-5 Industry

A new USCIS regulation went into effect November 21, 2019, and brings with it significant changes impacting the EB-5 industry. The regulation eliminates the authority of states to designate high unemployment areas for purposes of targeted employment area (“TEA”) eligibility, significantly narrows the definition of a TEA based on high unemployment, and increases the minimum…

The Travel Ban Waiver: A Real Adjudication or Mere Window Dressing?

In a February decision, a judge of the US District Court (Northern District of California) decided that a lawsuit filed on behalf of litigants challenging the “Travel Ban” could proceed over the government’s objection. The case, Emami v. Nielsen, is filed as a class action that could have far-ranging impacts. The Travel Ban, first issued…

Increase in Number of I-9 Audits by ICE

At a recent meeting with Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in connection with a client’s I-9 audit, SGG attorneys asked the agent why there seemed to be a rash of audits targeting smaller employers. The agent’s response to us was that ICE wants employers to know any employer can be audited…