US Immigration Podcast

Interviews with Leaders in Immigration

Archives for August 2014

Heather Poole: LGBT Immigration Rights (Ep 22)

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In this episode we talk to immigration attorney Heather Poole about the strike down of the Defense of Marriage Act and the impact on Immigration.

Heather PooleHeather is an experienced U.S. immigration attorney with 14 years of exclusively immigration law work, representing executives, professionals, individuals and families all over the world. She is frequent lecturer and trainer on immigration issues to national and regional bar associations, non-profit agencies, and private legal education providers. She is a published national author and attorney trainer on complex family and marriage-based immigration issues, holds a national liaison position for American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and is current Chair of the American Immigration Lawyers Association Southern California Chapter… which is the 3rd largest group of immigration attorneys in the US.

In this episode you will hear:

  • What was DOMA and how has the recent change in marriage equality impacted immigration
  • How this change affects LGBT rights with respect to immigration
  • Why it is importation to get the correct derivative US visa if in an LGBT relationship
  • How training and implementation may be different at United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Customs and Border Protection and Foreign Consulates
  • How to protect your rights and actions to take domestically and abroad if you feel your LGBT Immigration issue is not being handled appropriately.

 

Heather also shares with us:

  • Best Business Advice: Find your niche and do what you love
  • Personal Success Habits: Very positive and optimistic, yet very organized.  Outlook Junkie!
  • Parting Thoughts: Ensure you seek a competent attorney and all forms are signed by an attorney

Heather has also worked with us to provide a brief document entitled: Know Your Options at the Border: Tips for Working with CBP at Entry.  You can get your copy at the link below.

Know Your Options at the Border

 

Michael Gibson: Helping Immigration Attorneys And Their Clients Pick The Best EB-5 Investment (Ep. 21)

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In this episode we talk to Michael Gibson on how he helps immigration attorneys and their clients sort out and pick the best EB-5 investment

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Michael GibsonMichael Gibson has been the Managing Director of USAdvisors for almost 9 years. His firm provides due diligence, research and risk analysis on EB-5 visa projects for investors as well as assist developers raise funds through the EB-5 visa program. He has a degree in Economics and his previous work experience was with Citicorp where he worked in the Capital Markets and Investment Banking divisions as a, securities, foreign exchange, derivatives, money market, credit & debt analyst and portfolio risk manager.

 

Michael answers this listener submitted question:  “(what) advice for us as lawyers in helping clients choose among the many EB-5 Regional Centers out there.”

In this episode you will hear:

  • What an investor’s counsel can and cannot do.
  • The SEC’s take on giving advice on the Purchase of a security.
  • How an EB-5 Immigration success could still be an investment failure.
  • Which is better: Indirect or direct job creation.
  • Guidelines on how lawyers and investors can review projects themselves.

Natasha Bell: Special Immigration Concerns for Private Placement Memorandums (Ep. 20)

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In this episode we talk to business attorney Natasha Bell about Special Immigration Concerns for Private Placement Memorandums.

 

 

Natasha BellNatasha is a graduate of Emory University and Duke University School of Law, Natasha is a partner of 360 Venture Law (Shmalo Turner), LLP, a specialized corporate law firm working with emerging growth companies, along with start-up and fast-growing entrepreneurial companies and their investors.  Before joining 360 Venture Law, Natasha was the founding member of The Bell Firm, LLC and an attorney with Morris, Manning, and Martin.  Prior to her legal career, Natasha was on the staff of a local government official.

In this episode you will hear:

  • What is a Private Placement Memorandum and why they are used?
  • What does it mean to offer a private security (either through debt or equity)?
  • Why do you need at least one exception to offer a  debt or equity security privately?
  • What is a material disclosure?
  • Why are disclosures of risk factors important?
  • Various SEC 506 regulations relevant to Immigration:
    • Regulation D: Domestic offer
    • Regulation S: International offer
    • Regulation C: Advertisement of offerings

 

Natasha also shares with us:

  • Best Business Advice: Just Start, you will figure out the rest as you go.  “Leap and the net will appear”
  • Personal Success Habits:  Big read, great listener
  • Tool:  WiFi.  Tech Savvy firm loves to be digitally connected
  • Parting Thoughts: If you are in the exciting place in your business development where you need funds, congratulations.  She also offers her firm’s help.

Carmenza Gonzalez: Business Development Consulting for Immigrating Companies (Ep. 19)

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In this episode we talk to business import consultant Carmenza Gonzalez on business development consulting for companies inbound to the US market

Carmenza GonzalezCZA Inc., a Global Business Development Consulting firm headquartered in Winter Park, Florida, specializing in assisting foreign companies interested in entering the USA market. Also helps Florida companies export their products and services globally. She is a Certified Export Trade Specialist, a graduate of Leadership Orlando Class 60. She received her Executive MBA Certificate a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Affairs from Rollins College. She travels abroad promoting her services, resulting on current projects in different industries such as software development, life sciences, aviation, and simulation.

In this episode you will hear:

  • What is Business development consulting
  • Market Research inbound
  • Hand holding – invites
  • Points of failure, don’t execute before you engage
  • Team members for success
    • Business Development Consultant
    • Immigration Attorney
    • Certified Public Accountant or International Taxation Attorney
    • A Banker that understand import/export transactions

 

Rebecca also shares with us:

  • Best Business Advice: Always do the right thing. Be very honest, be clear and be specific.
  • Personal Success Habits: Love what you do. Be organized. Balance personal life.
  • Most Vital tool to business: Phone for personal conversations.
  • Parting Thoughts: Build a team before you start marching