EB5 Could See Investment Thresholds Rise

The United States EB5 program could potentially see a rise in its investment thresholds, especially now that there has been new legislation introduced in the US House of Representatives. 

This is important news for anyone who is involved in EB 5 extension, such as Hirson Immigration attorneys and experts who are involved in business and investment immigration law. Continue reading to learn more about this rise in investment thresholds. 

The American Job Creation & Investment Promotion Reform Act

The well known American Job Creation and Investment Promotion Reform Act has now called for a variety of changes to be pushed through into law. 

These changes include raising the current threshold all the way to $800,000 or even $1.2 million. The actual amount that it will be raised to will depend upon the class of the investment.

The current thresholds are only $500,000 for investments that are made in targeted employment areas or in regional centers. 

The threshold, however, is up to $1 million for those investments made in general areas of business. 

In return for these valuable investments, the program will grant conditional permanent residence to immigrants who can provide a minimum of 10 newly created jobs to citizens living in the country. 

The Problems Involved with EB5

Currently, EB5 is quite controversial throughout the United States, particularly because there have been quite a few cases of fraud that have been linked with the investments that have been made under this program. 

Therefore, this new legislation would also be aimed at calling for a few new ways to combat that fraud.

Additional power would be given to the United States Department of Homeland Security, also known as DHS. The DHS would be able to deny any applications that have been linked to crime, including fraud. 

On top of that, the DHS would be able to conduct audits, and they would be able to investigate fraud and conduct important background checks on individuals working on projects.

Finally, there would be vetting for projects prior to any money changing hands. Conflicts of interest and risks would also need to be disclosed to any investors prior to striking any deal. 

The Benefits of the EB5 Program

Despite having its flaws, the EB5 program has also done some great things throughout the country, so there are many people who support the investment threshold rising. 

In 2015, for example, this visa was able to generate roughly $5 billion in investments, and those investments have helped to regenerate some of the country’s largest cities. An example is downtown Dallas, which was rebuilt with the help of EB5 funds. 

Therefore, there are many lawmakers who support the expansion and extension of the program. They want to continue seeing urban areas in America benefit from the billions of dollars that are invested in those areas by immigrants.

Overall, the idea seems to be to raise the threshold while providing more protection against fraud, and it seems that a lot of immigrants and citizens are looking forward to the new investments that can be made throughout the country in order to generate new businesses and job opportunities.

Off To College: 5 Things To Look For In A New Laptop For School

To succeed these days in college, you certainly need a computer. Many classes, in fact, can’t be completed without them since many course materials are only made available online. 

The best computer for school is probably a laptop because it’s portable and user friendly. It’s both portable and functional. However, which laptop should you choose with so many options? Here are five things to look for.

Avoid Chromebooks

Chromebooks may seem like a good choice due to the cost savings. They are certainly cheaper than other laptops. 

However, Chromebooks are designed primarily to run Google Chrome, the web browser. They are not the best choice for productivity, which is what you should be looking for as a student. 

Instead, get a machine that runs a more productivity oriented operating system like Windows or Mac OS.

Look for a Free Virus and Malware Scanner

According to statistics, 32 percent of the world’s computers are infected by either viruses or malware. The stakes are high when you need your computer for school work. 

Malware may even attempt to steal your identity. Make sure the laptop you purchase comes bundled with a subscription for a decent virus and malware scanner.

Consider a “Two in One” Laptop

As everyone very well knows, smart phones and tablets have saturated the market. While these devices and the apps loaded on them are certainly popular, they aren’t the best devices for doing school work that should be performed on applications like word processors that require a lot of typing. 

Thankfully, there are laptops on the market with detachable keyboards that allow users to switch between laptop and tablet functionality at will.

Consider Tech Support Options

As is the case with computers in general, you may eventually run into serious technical problems that require an expert to fix. 

Paying for tech support separately can be quite expensive. Look for laptops that do come bundled with some kind of tech support service. 

Make sure the support service purchased is available in your area without the need to have your computer shipped off to a faraway location. 

You want to make sure that you look into a lot of different tech support services because after you graduate, knowing good IT companies such as Ottawa IT support can really come in handy.

RAM

Random access memory, or RAM for short, is what gives your computer the ability to run multiple programs at once. 

According to Laptop Mag, you should have at least 4 GB for a student laptop. Also remember that some laptops have upgradable memory.

Overall, think about productivity most when looking for a laptop as a student. 

While laptops can certainly be used to do many things like play video games or watch movies, your primary concern should be finding a machine that will help you complete your school work.

5 Ways a Business Lawyer Can Save Your Company Money

Running a business involves a lot of legalities that have to be fulfilled. The opening of a business requires one to have the documentation right from the get-go. 

There are different forms to be filled that satisfy the local authorities in order to obtain a permit to run the business. 

Tax return forms also need to be filled in accordance with the law.

Keeping up with all this in addition to trying to run a profitable business can be daunting. A business lawyer comes in handy in situations like these. 

The lawyer will fulfill the legal requirements on your behalf and makes sure that your business is running on the legit. 

Below are five ways in which a lawyer can save your company.

1. They take the cases out of your hands

Sometimes, some cases crop up in your workplace; for instance, theft or a robbery. 

The reporting and investigations can take up much of your time and energy, leaving you drained during a disaster. 

Your core business suffers as a result, and it could also cost a lot when you are not sure about the procedures to be followed. 

It is much cheaper to have a lawyer who has the experience to represent the company and ensure that your claims get settled on time.

2. Follow-up with the insurers

Insurers will always tell you that you should not admit liability. Sometimes, however, it is hard to get them to pay your claims on time. 

You end up wasting a lot of time and valuable resources following on issues that can easily be sorted by your lawyer.

3. Opening accounts and company registrations

As a business owner, you might wish to open other new ventures or merge with the existing ones. 

To be able to do this, one has to have extensive knowledge of agreements and be able to read through clauses that bring the two companies together. 

Having a business lawyer from a firm like Strauss Troy can be of great help, as they will lead you out of the murky waters of the legal jargon.

4. Business resolutions

If your company is a large corporation that often requires that resolutions are made and revised, it is an excellent idea to use the services of a lawyer. 

Apart from the fact that they are experts, they act as third parties and can see things from a different perspective, and hence advise accordingly.

5. When you are sued

As a business person, you can be sued for compliance or other issues. You could be handling products that are not up to standard or your employees are claiming for compensations. 

All these are distractions costing you money and valuable time. A lawyer comes in handy to save your business, as well as make sure your business is up to par on standards in the first place.

Having a business lawyer is quite beneficial to business. You can always refer any legal issue to their office without delay, and it will get handled before it grows out of hand. 

They are cheap in the long run; a lawyer could save you over 100 dollars annually when calculated regarding real cash and time saved.

Is Getting an MBA at 50 a Good Idea?

If you’re over 50 and still feel like you have a way to go before you’re ready to retire, going back to college in order to further your career might be something worth considering. 

More and more mature students in their 50’s and even older individuals are returning to education in order to learn more about the things that they are passionate about and give their career a huge boost in the last decade or so before retirement. 

But, is it a wise idea to get an MBA at 50?

Relaxed Entry Requirements

One of the best things about pursuing an MBA when you’re over the age of 50 is that the entry requirements are likely going to be relaxed for you. 

This is because whilst many colleges demand that applicants have already achieved an undergraduate college degree when applying for an MBA program, many will also take life experience into account for mature students. 

So, if you’ve never been to college but have worked in management, or even owned your own small business, you may be accepted onto an MBA course because of that. 

Flexible Study

With quality MBA courses in high demand from students as the qualification becomes more desirable in the corporate world, one of the biggest advantages of studying for an MBA today is that it can be done entirely online. 

Studying for a masters in business administration online can be done either full- or part-time, with a flexible and self-led approach that often suits mature students who have work and family commitments to fulfil along with their education. 

Online MBA programs are available from a range of business schools, some of which are amongst the most respected in the U.S. 

Learn Valuable Skills

Whether you’re hoping to be promoted in your workplace in order to be able to put more money towards your retirement or are planning to start a business in order to earn a passive income to fund it, taking an MBA after 50 can be a great way of achieving this. 

When you study for an MBA, you’ll learn valuable skills and knowledge, which can help you to achieve almost any business or related career goal that you have in mind. 

Networking

If you’re over 50 and are considering taking an MBA as an entrepreneur or in the hope of starting your own business, this course can be an excellent source of networking opportunities. 

Even if you decide to study online, your college will provide you with information about networking events that you can attend, and you may be able to network electronically with people such as tutors and speakers from your college. 

Good networking is essential to running a business and this course will give you the opportunity to meet with people who could influence and help your business ideas to grow.

No matter what age you are, an MBA is still one of the most respected and sought after qualifications in the business world. 

Studying for an MBA can definitely be a great step towards a comfortable retirement.