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Borrow $800,000 for an EB-5 investment, and USCIS calls it capital. But if you borrowed the exact same amount for Canada’s old immigrant investor program, it barely counted as money at all. The same debt with two different outcomes.  In this episode, Mona and Rebecca dig into the collapse of the Canadian Immigrant Investor Program, showing how a structure built on interest-free government loans and zero investment risk quietly hollowed out its own economic case, leading to the central question: what actually makes borrowed money legitimate capital? Listeners may remember the Zhang litigation from the 2015 EB-5 era. The years-long fight over whether loan proceeds could qualify as valid capital or should instead be treated as “indebtedness,” and how the fungibility of cash became one of the most contested issues in EB-5 source-of-funds review. Tune in to find out more.

Two years is the number every EB-5 investor fixates on when thinking about the return of capital. But is this timeline fact or fantasy? In this episode, Mona brings back guest Manuel Ortiz, Vice President of Global Business Development at First Pathway Partners to dissect the regulatory timeline from the real world timeline. Manuel is put in the hot seat and does not sugarcoat reality. For most projects, two-year exits are rare; take it from someone with 13 years of experience in the industry. Most projects require 24 months to break ground, let alone stabilize. So, what is an honest timeline for return of capital? Manuel reveals the realistic timeframe and explains how rushing an exit could turn an EB-5 investment into a high-risk short-term loan in disguise. The current debate around rural versus urban projects gets its time in the spotlight too, with Mona and Manuel looking at where the market is heading and what investors should keep in mind before committing capital. Their conclusion is clear. Whilst the two-year rule may be the law, a realistic return of capital usually depends on the project, the asset, the stage of construction and the strength of the exit plan The insights shared on Global Investment Voice are for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal or investment advice. Please seek tailored legal, financial, or investment advice where needed.

Think that filing before September 30, 2026, guarantees smooth sailing to your green card? Not so fast. In this week’s episode of Global Investment Voice, hosts Mona and Rebecca sit down to debunk the myths surrounding EB-5’s grandfathering clause. The provision was born out of the chaos of 2021, when the regional center program lapsed overnight, leaving 32,000 investors and their families hanging with $15 billion in committed capital at stake. There are multiple dates circulating and here is what people are mixing up. September 30, 2026, is not when the program expires; that’s 2027 and there is a separate clock ticking to lock in the current investment threshold. Most of all, grandfathering itself does not promise a green card. It promises adjudication. We walk through each myth one by one explaining exactly who the clause protects, and which investors don’t even enter the conversation. The most important thing to remember amid the rush to the deadline is that one thing matters above all: A qualifying petition. If you have deadline anxiety or all the dates are running together, tune in as we separate fact from myth.

Mexico City may be enjoying its moment in the World Cup spotlight, but another story is unfolding beyond football. A steady stream of Americans are packing their bags for Tulum, Merida and Guanajuato. In today’s episode, Mona speaks with Juan Felipe Sanchez of Mexico Business Lawyers about why Mexico has become such an attractive destination for Americans to relocate and invest. Having practised Mexican residency, real estate, and business law since 2007, Juan Felipe explains the real reasons behind the southern migration, including how remote work has changed the game and how 350k can buy you a foothold on the Mexican coast. Most importantly, he reveals the truth behind Mexico’s property myths (no, you don’t need to be Mexican to own beachfront real estate!). For anybody planning their retirement, weighing up a second home or looking for the practical guide to temporary and permanent residency south of the American border, this episode offers a first-hand briefing from someone who’s lived and practiced it for nearly two decades.

Think Portugal lost its shine when they scrapped the real estate route? Think again. In this episode of Global Investment Voice, Mona Shah and Rebecca Singh bring back immigration expert Tiago Gali Macedo to discuss Portugal’s Golden Visa Program. They dig into the route, which is stealing the spotlight, the cultural heritage donation. At a price tag of €200,000- €250,000 for Portuguese residency it’s less than half the cost of the popular €500k fund route and buys you the exact same residence permit. The same Schengen residence, right to live, work and study, but a smaller check. However, before you book your flights there are some questions worth answering. What safeguards exist to ensure cultural projects are vetted? Where does your money go? And, with no return of capital, is the cultural route simply the most expensive option in disguise? Tiago breaks it all down for you including why an investors position is more protected than expected. There is also a hint at something new on the horizon, can you keep the secret? If you are weighing up residency options and exploring routes to Europe or trying to get the most out of your money, we deliver the answers to make your decision easier.

In a previous episode, we said that rural EB-5 projects trade safety for speed; and that did not go down well with everyone.  In this episode, We put the hard questions to Dr. Vish, a developer with over 43 years of experience who is actively building in rural America, with projects spanning from Chicago to Hawaii.  Yes, it’s true that rural projects are moving with processing times spanning six to eight months whilst urban TEA projects sit in queues stretching to eighteen months. But does faster necessarily mean riskier? Dr. Vish makes the compelling case that the urban / rural framing is the wrong lens entirely. The questions and factors that genuinely matter, he argues, surround capital stack depth, developer track record and market strength.  Whether it’s financing myths or developer misconceptions, this episode covers the most persistent assumptions in EB-5 due diligence. Merely stamping a project as “rural” or “urban” tells you little about whether your capital is properly protected. The simple fact we keep returning to is that processing speed is just one input you should consider when choosing a project, not a substitute for the full picture.  For investors, advisors, and anybody exploring EB-5 projects requiring sharper due diligence methods: This episode is one to bookmark.

Just before Americans fired up for their Memorial Day weekend, USCIS dropped a policy memo that sent the immigration world into a panic. With lawyers, investors, and visa holders alike scrambling to analyse their message. So, what does it actually mean? And more importantly, should EB-5 investors be worried? In this episode of Global Investment Voice, Mona Shah is joined by immigration attorney Abdul Arif and paralegal Doris Chakra to cut through the chaos and deliver what really matters. Whilst the law hasn't changed, the posture has. Discretion has always existed in adjustment of status decisions, and this memo is less of a revolution and more a reminder of what officers could already do. Crucially for EB-5 investors, the Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 has your back. The right to concurrent filing under Section 245N is baked into statute. No policy memo can override an Act of Congress. But that doesn't mean you should be complacent. The trio dig into what this means for applicants from higher-scrutiny countries, what "extraordinary circumstances" actually means (spoiler: nobody knows yet), and why a well-prepared file with strong counsel is your best defence right now. If you're navigating EB-5, adjustment of status, or US investment immigration, this is the episode you need to hear before your next filing. For those in EB-5 or the adjustment of status process, this is the episode for you

Your next passport could cost less than a luxury car and take you farther!  Until now, you may have never heard of Nauru, a small island nation in the Pacific, with a population of just 12,000 and a landmass you could cross in half an hour. Nauru has launched one of the most disruptive citizenship-by-investment programs yet. With a price tag of $90k, only a 3-4-month waiting time, and zero residency requirement, this one is hard to beat. In today’s episode, Mona Shah is joined by Edward Clark, CEO of the Nauru Program Office, to unveil the program, which is turning heads and issuing passports at a staggering rate. We cover geopolitical anxieties that are driving demand for Nauru citizenship, including fears of military conscription, political uncertainty, and instability in the Middle East. Then there is the family-friendly structure, which lets you bring siblings, adult children, and even your mother-in-law for minimal extra cost! Nauru has 86 visa free destinations to offer, including Singapore, Hong-Kong and the UAE, at a price tag which undercuts Caribbean programs by upwards of $60k. So, whether you need a plan B for your family, want to travel politically neutrally, or are simply intrigued by the CBI markets' newest disruptor, tune in for your introduction to Nauru. Second passports are no longer exclusive to the ultra-wealthy, and Nauru is proof.

Following their article exploring the rural bias built into EB-5’s DNA, Mona Shah and Rebecca Singh further delve into the processing-time gap between rural and urban I-956F applications. Rural projects are sailing through USCIS review in around 8 months whilst urban projects wait significantly longer. This is no administrative accident, but rather congressional intent embedded in the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022. But what does this mean for developers and investors today? The pair condense the most pressing queries they are hearing from clients into six main questions. Is the processing gap unlawful discrimination? Does choosing a rural or urban project affect EAD and advance parole time? And, what happens if investors file before the September deadline, but the project is not approved until 2027? However, amongst the uncertainty, one thing is clear. Processing speed is merely a single factor for projects, not the whole picture. The project's resilience, exit strategy and likelihood of capital return matter just as much as a speedy approval. As the September 2026 deadline swiftly approaches, this episode is essential for investors and develops seeking clarity in the EB-5 programs complexity.

Wondering where your next global mobility move could take you? Mona sits down with Frank Cheang of Elysium 8 Holdings, a firm describing itself as more than a brokerage but a strategic gateway. They discuss three countries: Japan, Portugal, and Greece, including where investors are going wrong. Our discussion begins with Japanese real estate, and the numbers alone are worth listening to. Foreign investors are claiming mortgage rates of 3-5%, whilst citizens can borrow at 1% with 100% LTV. Almost 250 episodes into Global Investment Voice, and we are only just landing in Japan… We should have booked this trip sooner. From there, we move on to the better-known programs along the Mediterranean, with benefits that are harder to put a price on. Freedom to move, work, and outstanding education options. Portugal’s Golden Visa has raised over six billion euros and offers the fastest route to citizenship in Europe, five years. Whilst Greece takes seven years, they have zero minimum stay requirements, excellent for global investors. Japan, Portugal, and Greece all have something different to offer, whether you’re a seasoned investor diversifying or a family weighing up your long-term options. This episode brings all three together to make your choice easier.

Never mind stocks and bonds, the savviest investors in today’s market are now diversifying with citizenship! In this episode of Global Investment Voice, Mona and Rebecca are joined with Tatiana Muntean from Global Freedom Capital to unveil one of the best kept secrets in the citizenship by investment community. São Tomé and Príncipe. With Trump’s travel bans and pauses shaking up the immigration world and Caribbean CBI programs pricing out everyday investors, São Tomé and Príncipe has quietly entered the market, and it could be the smartest move for your global mobility. With a price tag of just $90,000 (roughly one bitcoin), this small country, located just off the coast of western Africa, offers a fully remote and fast application process. Think of an overlooked pathway to citizenship in Portugal and Brazil, and the kind of privacy that doesn’t make Trump’s list. One passport is no longer enough. Is this the best citizenship buy of 2026?

Global instability does not wait for anybody! With conflict in the Middle East altering international markets, individuals worldwide are rushing to secure a Plan B for themselves and their families. The U.S. EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program is a top choice. Sam Hussain from BLS Global joins our hosts Mona and Rebecca to ask the burning EB-5 questions his clients keep coming back to, and the answers may just surprise you. Can you still file if your project is already built? And as the September 30th grandfathering deadline approaches swiftly, waiting until summer may already be a costly mistake. We unpack the issues investors must understand before filing, such as source of funds challenges, partial investment strategies, and rural versus TEA considerations. Are you considering EB-5? This episode is a masterclass in what sophisticated investors should know before they consider wiring a single dollar.

EB-5 visa applicants from 75 countries woke up to their worst nightmare on January 14th, 2026. Trump announced an executive order indefinitely pausing immigrant visa processing for nationals of certain countries. Investors who have spent months, even years, on their applications and planning are suddenly in limbo. The reasoning behind the indefinite pause is questionable. The government wants to screen out potential public charges, people who might end up on welfare or food stamps. However, remember that we're discussing investors who must invest between $800,000 and $1 million to obtain an EB-5 visa. How are these people a risk for public assistance? Host Mona Shah sits down with Jill Jones, General Counsel of Institutional Client Services USA for JTC Group to explore what's happening. They talk through the questions everyone in EB-5 is asking, such as whether the panic is justified. Should investors continue with their applications or explore alternative options, such as E-2 visas? Some lawyers are even suggesting clients enter on tourist visas and apply for adjustment of status once they're in the country for ninety days, but that comes with real risks. If you're an immigration attorney trying to advise worried clients, or an investor wondering what to do next, this conversation cuts through the confusion and gets to what actually matters.

Recorded on March 2nd 2026 This week’s episode starts off quite unlike one we have experienced before in the 10 years of this podcast series! We speak again with our guest, Sam Bayat, who joins us from Dubai, a city that, just merely hours ago, was under missile alerts and explosions. Sam talks about his experience of a weekend of regional conflicts, and the city’s poise in the face of a disaster.   But the question, of course, comes up: in today’s world, when does a second passport stop being a luxury and become a necessity? We talk about the UAE’s golden visa, how the Government of Dubai managed to maintain order and the implications of this situation for investor confidence in the region. How is Sam’s second office in Tehran managing? Which countries are open for Iranian people? Sam stresses the point that if you only have a passport of one country, you’re always at the mercy of things beyond your control. This is a first-person account of the Gulf’s conflict, and a direct discussion about the implications of passport diversification in 2026.

Very few know about Jesse Jackson’s contributions to the EB-5 Industry. In this special tribute episode, we remember his words and honor his life and legacy . He was a civil rights activist and presidential candidate but above all, a towering moral voice who saw investment not merely as economics but as a pathway to justice. Nine years after he joined us on our podcast, we revisit his powerful words on the Rainbow Push coalition, the Wall Street Project, and the regenerative potential of the EB-5 programme. He described economic access as the “fourth stage” of the civil rights movement and reminded us that “Inclusion is the key to growth, when there’s growth, everybody wins.” As we reflect on his life and legacy, we allow his words to speak his vision, a vision of fair opportunity and capital flowing into underserved communities. Rest well, Reverend Jackson.