Mark I. Davies, Esq., J.D., University of Pennsylvania Law School, licensed by the SRA (SRA ID: 384468) in the UK, and a member of The Law Society of England & Wales, MBA, Wharton School of Business. Top 10 Investment Visa Lawyer. Licensed in the USA. Georgia State Bar member. AILA member.
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Live Update — 19 May 2026
Latest Miami EB-5 work featured on this page: a Mumbai entrepreneur whose L-1 visa was previously denied multiple times went on to build a Miami logistics business from under USD 50,000 of starting capital to 25 US employees and over USD 1 million of inventory, then secured permanent residence through parallel EB-1C and Direct EB-5 filings. Watch the client video & read the case study →
The EB-5 Senior Law Firm Partner Commitment
EB-5 is no longer just an investment; it is a complex multi-jurisdictional legal maneuver involving immigration law, project finance, and international taxation. Our Client Charter mandates that every Miami investor has direct access to a Senior EB-5 Partner. Your Senior Partner will manage a bespoke team specializing in source-of-funds forensic accounting, project finance due diligence, and cross-border tax exposure.
Our Managing Partner, Mark Davies, is personally available to all Miami clients. Mark has been recognized as a Top 25 EB-5 Immigration Attorney by EB5 Investors Magazine for six consecutive years.
Table of Contents
- ► 2026 EB-5 Updates Miami Investors Need to Know
- ► Who This Page Is For
- ► How Our Miami EB-5 Lawyers Support Clients
- ► Our EB-5 Process for Miami Clients
- ► Source of Funds for Miami EB-5 Applicants
- ► Consular Processing vs. Adjustment of Status
- ► E-2 to EB-5 in Miami
- ► Case Study: Brickell Restaurant (E-2 to EB-5)
- ► Case Study: Mumbai-to-Miami Logistics (L-1 → EB-5, with client video)
- ► Why Investors Choose Miami for EB-5
- ► Choosing the Right EB-5 Lawyer in Miami
- ► South Florida Areas We Serve
- ► Frequently Asked Questions
- ► Our Miami Office
2026 EB-5 Updates Miami Investors Need to Know
Three developments in 2026 directly affect how Miami-based and Miami-bound investors should approach EB-5. Our Miami EB-5 lawyers are advising clients on these in real time.
30 September 2026 · Grandfathering Deadline
EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act Grandfathering Deadline
Petitions filed on or before 30 September 2026 are generally understood to qualify for statutory grandfathering protection, locking in current rules and investment amounts (USD 800,000 for TEA projects, USD 1,050,000 standard). The Regional Center Program itself is currently authorized through 30 September 2027, but the grandfathering protection is what investors want to capture. Because source-of-funds work for Latin American clients typically takes 3 to 6 months, cases starting after mid-2026 risk missing this safeguard. Please confirm current rules with counsel as they may change.
30 March 2026 · USCIS Policy Shift
New USCIS Inventory Management Model for I-526 / I-526E
USCIS reviews Form I-526E petitions in coordination with the associated Form I-956F project application and prioritises rural petitions in a separate FIFO queue. For Miami investors, that means project selection now drives timing as much as priority dates: a project that already has I-956F approval can move significantly faster. Rural projects are likely to be the fastest path to adjudication. Our Miami EB-5 lawyers review I-956F status before recommending any project.
May 2026 · Visa Bulletin
USCIS expected to shift to Final Action Dates for adjustment of status
From May 2026, USCIS is expected to accept employment-based adjustment of status filings only on the Final Action Dates chart. For Miami applicants this matters mainly if you are already in the United States in another nonimmigrant status (E-2, L-1, F-1, H-1B, O-1) and considering Form I-485 adjustment, rather than consular processing abroad.
Speak to our EB-5 lawyers in Miami now
We can meet at our Miami office at 80 SW 8th Street near Brickell, over the phone, or online via Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Google Meet. Atendemos en español e em português.
+1 305 423 7163 Make an enquiry📖 Read Our Guide to the EB-5 Investor Visa
Who This Page Is For
This page is designed for investors who are based in, or planning to relocate to, the Miami area, including:
- Foreign nationals investing USD 800,000 or USD 1,050,000 in the United States under EB-5
- Existing Miami E-2 visa holders looking to convert to a green card
- L-1A new-office and L-1A holders building toward EB-1C and/or Direct EB-5
- Latin American investors needing source-of-funds documentation through currency-control or parallel-market regimes
- Italian, Spanish, and other European investors with a US South Florida operating business
- Indian, Brazilian, and other non-treaty-country investors using EB-5 because E-2 is unavailable to them
How Our Miami EB-5 Lawyers Support Clients
Applying for an EB-5 visa from Miami (or from abroad with Miami as the intended US destination) involves coordination between the investor, the financial documentation, an accountant or external counsel where relevant, and US immigration counsel.
From a Miami perspective, the process typically includes:
- Initial assessment of the EB-5 strategy — Regional Center vs Direct EB-5, TEA vs standard, rural set-aside considerations
- Analysing the source and path of funds against USCIS evidentiary expectations
- Project diligence and I-956F status review under the 2026 USCIS Inventory Management Model
- Preparing the I-526E petition and supporting legal submission
- Coordinating adjustment of status at the USCIS Miami Field Office, or consular processing abroad
- Supporting later-stage filings, including Form I-829 to remove conditions
Most Miami-based applicants benefit from working with a firm that has both a Miami office for in-person meetings and a substantial US filing infrastructure. All EB-5 petitions are filed with USCIS in the United States.
Our EB-5 Process for Miami Clients (Regional Center)
| Stage | Description | Responsible Party | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Initial Source of Funds Summary | Client provides a short written overview of how funds were accumulated. | Client | 1–3 days |
| 2. Bespoke Source of Funds Checklist | Our Miami SOF team prepares a tailored document request based on the client’s financial profile and country of origin. | D&A Miami SOF Team | 2–4 days |
| 3. Project Review and Structuring | Project review team advises on project selection, reviews I-956F status under the 2026 Inventory Management Model. | D&A Project Review Team | 1–2 weeks |
| 4. Source of Funds Clearance | Full review and clearance of the source of funds package before the investment proceeds. | D&A Complex EB-5 Team | 2–8 weeks (longer for currency-control jurisdictions) |
| 5. Project Selection and Investment | The client proceeds with the selected EB-5 regional center investment. | Client, supported by D&A Miami | 1–2 weeks |
| 6. I-526E Petition Preparation | Preparation of the EB-5 petition and supporting documentation. | D&A Miami EB-5 Team | 2–4 weeks |
| 7. Quality Control Review | Petition reviewed by our complex EB-5 team independent of the file lawyers. | D&A Complex EB-5 Team | 3–7 days |
| 8. Filing and Intake | Petition is printed, collated and filed with USCIS by our Los Angeles filing team; receipts tracked from New York. | D&A Filing Team (LA) & NY Intake | Filing: 1 day | Receipt: 2–4 weeks |
| 9. I-526E Approval | Approval received from USCIS. | USCIS & D&A | USCIS processing time |
| 10a. Adjustment of Status (if in the US) | Form I-485 concurrently or after I-526E approval, with interview at USCIS Miami Field Office (8801 NW 7th Avenue) for Miami-Dade residents. | D&A Miami EB-5 Team | I-485: typically 8–18 months |
| 10b. Consular Processing (if abroad) | Case transferred to NVC, DS-260 filed, immigrant visa interview at the relevant US embassy (São Paulo, Buenos Aires, Bogotá, Mexico City, Lima, Santiago, Rome, London). | D&A Miami EB-5 Team & NVC | NVC: 2–6 months |
| 11. Conditional Permanent Residence | Investor and qualifying family members receive conditional green cards. | USCIS & Client | — |
| 12. I-829 Petition (Removal of Conditions) | Filed in the 90-day window before the second anniversary of admission as a conditional permanent resident. | D&A Miami EB-5 Team | ~2 years after entry |
Source of Funds for Miami EB-5 Applicants
Source of funds is the single most scrutinised element of any EB-5 petition. For Miami, the client base is unusually international, which means the practical SOF challenges vary significantly by country of origin. Our Miami practice handles all of the patterns below as routine work; for any of them, the goal is a clean, reconciled audit trail from origin to the US EB-5 escrow account.
Latin American Source of Funds
- Argentina — historical currency-control regimes, MULC, blue-rate exchange, AFIP tax compliance; the most common SOF refusal ground for Argentine investors
- Brazil — BACEN cross-border transfer documentation, Receita Federal tax records, IOF compliance
- Venezuela — documentation through historical CADIVI / SICAD / DICOM regimes and US OFAC compliance
- Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Chile — sale-of-business and sale-of-property tracing through respective central bank and tax authority documentation
European Source of Funds
- Italy — brand-licensing value, business sale proceeds, family-business retained earnings; coordination with our Milan and Florence offices
- United Kingdom — HMRC and Companies House documentation, director’s loan accounts; coordination with our London EB-5 solicitors via our UK practice
Indian Source of Funds
RBI/FEMA Liberalised Remittance Scheme compliance, ODI for corporate investors, TDS, inheritance and gift documentation. Coordinated through our India offices in Mumbai, Bangalore, and New Delhi; see our Indian EB-5 practice page.
Consular Processing vs. Adjustment of Status for Miami EB-5 Investors
The choice between consular processing and adjustment of status often hinges on where the investor is at the time the I-526E is filed and approved, and where a visa number is available.
Adjustment of Status (Form I-485)
For investors already in the United States in a valid nonimmigrant status (E-2, L-1, F-1, H-1B, O-1, etc.), Form I-485 allows the investor to obtain conditional permanent residence without leaving the United States. Miami-Dade County applicants typically interview at the USCIS Miami Field Office at 8801 NW 7th Avenue. Broward applicants are typically scheduled at Oakland Park; Palm Beach applicants at West Palm Beach.
Consular Processing (Form DS-260)
For investors outside the United States, the case proceeds through the National Visa Center to a designated US embassy. The most common posts for our Miami client base are São Paulo, Buenos Aires, Bogotá, Mexico City, Lima, Santiago, Rome, and London.
E-2 to EB-5 in Miami — From Treaty Visa to Green Card
This is the most common pathway our Miami office handles. South Florida has one of the largest E-2 treaty investor populations in the United States. Many of our Miami EB-5 clients are existing E-2 Treaty Investor visa holders who have built operating Florida businesses and now want permanent residence.
The E-2 visa does not lead to a green card on its own
The E-2 is a non-immigrant treaty visa. It can be renewed indefinitely as long as the underlying US business continues to operate, but it does not, by itself, produce a green card. It also requires the holder to maintain non-immigrant intent. For E-2 holders whose Miami business has succeeded and whose family is settled in Florida, that legal posture becomes increasingly unrealistic.
EB-5 is one of the most direct routes for converting an E-2 business strategy into permanent residence.
Two routes from E-2 to EB-5 in Miami
Route 1: Direct EB-5 leveraging the existing E-2 Miami business. Where a Miami E-2 business already employs 10 or more qualifying full-time US workers and the cumulative qualifying investment is at or above the applicable EB-5 threshold, the existing business can often form the basis of a Direct EB-5 petition. If the business is in a qualifying TEA, the reduced USD 800,000 threshold may apply.
Route 2: Regional Center investment alongside the E-2 business. Where the E-2 business is too small to support Direct EB-5, the E-2 holder makes a separate USD 800,000 EB-5 investment in a USCIS-approved Regional Center project. The E-2 business continues to operate; the EB-5 investment is the immigration basis.
Both routes are filed with USCIS while the investor remains in lawful E-2 status. For broader treatment of the conversion mechanics, see our E-2 to EB-5 guide.
Direct EB-5 Case Study: Brickell Restaurant Group — Argentine E-2 Holder Converting to EB-5
The following case study is anonymized. Identifying details have been changed; the legal and structural facts are accurate. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Case Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Client | Argentine national, E-2 treaty investor |
| Original Visa | E-2 Treaty Investor (issued at the US Embassy in Buenos Aires) |
| Business | Argentine-style parrilla restaurant group, two Miami-Dade locations (Brickell and Coral Gables) |
| Initial E-2 Investment | USD 310,000 |
| Cumulative Qualifying Investment at EB-5 Stage | USD 840,000 |
| Direct W-2 Jobs at EB-5 Stage | 22 |
| Green Card Route | Direct EB-5, TEA threshold (USD 800,000), with adjustment of status |
| Outcome | I-526E approved without RFE; adjustment-of-status interview at USCIS Miami Field Office; conditional green cards for investor, spouse, two children |
Background
The client first obtained an E-2 Treaty Investor visa via the US Embassy in Buenos Aires, opening an Argentine parrilla concept in Brickell. The original E-2 investment of approximately USD 310,000 covered build-out, equipment, initial inventory, and working capital. Over the following years, the operation expanded into a second Coral Gables location, both stabilised, and headcount grew steadily.
Why E-2 was no longer enough
By the time the family approached EB-5, the children were approaching college age, the spouse wanted independent work authorisation, and the family had no intention of returning to Argentina. The E-2 non-immigrant intent requirement was no longer aligned with their actual plans.
Why this E-2 business qualified for Direct EB-5
By the time the case was prepared, the two Miami-Dade locations together employed 22 full-time W-2 workers (well above the 10-job EB-5 minimum) and the cumulative qualifying investment in the operating business had grown to approximately USD 840,000 — comfortably above the USD 800,000 TEA threshold for the Brickell location. The work was not building a new investment story; it was documenting the existing business to EB-5 standards.
Investment at the EB-5 Stage
| Investment Component | Amount (USD) |
|---|---|
| Original E-2 capital (still at risk) | 310,000 |
| Retained earnings reinvested in expansion and equipment | 340,000 |
| Additional capital injected for Coral Gables build-out | 190,000 |
| Total Qualifying Investment | 840,000 |
Job Creation at the EB-5 Stage
| Role | Number |
|---|---|
| General Managers | 2 |
| Sous Chefs / Parrilleros | 3 |
| Line Cooks | 5 |
| Servers | 7 |
| Bartenders | 2 |
| Hosts / Front of House | 2 |
| Bookkeeper / Office Manager | 1 |
| Total Full-Time W-2 Positions | 22 |
Our Role
Documenting the Argentine source of funds back through the original E-2 capital and onward through reinvested earnings; preparing the legal cover letter and Direct EB-5 business plan to Matter of Ho standards; coordinating the I-526E filing, premium processing considerations, and concurrent Form I-485 adjustment of status; and representing the family at the USCIS Miami Field Office interview.
Outcome
In this matter, the I-526E petition was approved by USCIS without an RFE. Adjustment of status was approved following the family’s interview at the USCIS Miami Field Office at 8801 NW 7th Avenue. The client, spouse, and two children received conditional green cards. The Brickell and Coral Gables locations continued to trade, and the family proceeded toward the I-829 removal-of-conditions stage. This outcome depended on the specific facts, documentation, job-creation evidence, visa availability, and adjudication record in that case.
Why This Case Matters
- A successful E-2 business that has grown over years often already meets EB-5 standards. The work is documenting it that way, not building something new.
- Retained earnings and asset basis count. EB-5 qualifying investment is not limited to the cash put in on day one — it includes everything legitimately deployed at risk in the enterprise, properly documented.
- The transition can be done without leaving the United States. I-526E approval + concurrent I-485 = green card without a consular trip back to Argentina.
Direct EB-5 Case Study: Mumbai-to-Miami Logistics — L-1 to Dual-Track EB-1C and EB-5
The following case study is anonymized. The video below is a real client testimonial originally published on our India Practice page. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Case Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Client Location | Indian national, originally from Mumbai; relocated to Miami |
| Initial Issue | Multiple L-1 visa denials filed by another firm |
| Industry | Logistics — import, warehousing, and US distribution |
| US Business Location | Miami-Dade County (Doral / Airport West corridor) |
| Strategy | New L-1A New Office filing for the client’s spouse as principal applicant |
| Initial US Capital | Under USD 50,000 |
| US Employees at Filing | 2 |
| US Employees at EB-5 Stage | 25 |
| Inventory and Operating Assets at EB-5 Stage | Over USD 1,000,000 |
| Green Card Route | Dual filing — EB-1C multinational manager and Direct EB-5 |
| Outcome | Permanent residence via dual-track filing |
Background
The client first approached Davies & Associates after several unsuccessful L-1 visa filings handled by another firm. The earlier petitions had been denied repeatedly because the filings did not clearly establish the qualifying corporate relationship between the Indian parent and the proposed US entity, did not articulate a credible managerial role, and did not present the US business operationally in a way that satisfied 8 CFR § 214.2(l).
Rather than refiling essentially the same petition and rebuilding the same record of denials, our team recommended a structural rethink. The family’s actual commercial objective was to set up and run a logistics and US distribution operation in South Florida — importing into Miami, warehousing locally, and distributing across the southeastern United States and the Caribbean. With that in view, we restructured the filing strategy around the client’s spouse as the L-1A principal, with a clean petitioner record and a properly documented Indian parent entity.
Why Miami and Why a Small Warehouse Start
Miami’s logistics economy is built around two infrastructure assets that few other US metros match in combination: PortMiami, Florida’s leading container port for trade with Latin America and the Caribbean, and Miami International Airport, the leading US airport for international cargo by volume. Both sit inside Foreign-Trade Zone #281, which permits duty deferral, reduction, or elimination on imported goods held inside the zone. For a small import-distribution business with Indian-origin inventory targeting US retail and Caribbean re-export, that combination materially improves working-capital economics from the first shipment onward.
The decision to start small was deliberate. New-office L-1A petitions are heavily scrutinised by USCIS, and consular officers expect the projected first-year operation to be realistic, not aspirational. A small warehouse footprint in the Doral / Airport West corridor, under USD 50,000 of initial committed capital, and two employees in the first quarter is the right-sized story for a new-office L-1A on first filing. Over-promising at the L-1A stage is one of the most common reasons new-office cases fail.
Client Video Testimonial
The client later recorded a video describing the experience, including the earlier denials, the strategic pivot, and how the Miami logistics business developed over time:
Davies & Associates client describes how an L-1 visa strategy supported the growth of a Miami logistics business toward US permanent residence.
The Strategic Pivot — L-1A New Office, Spouse as Principal
- Spouse as principal applicant with a clean adjudication history and a documented operational role inside the Indian parent business in the relevant functional area
- Qualifying corporate relationship rebuilt from scratch to satisfy 8 CFR § 214.2(l)(1)(ii)(G), supported by share registers, board resolutions, and audited Indian financials
- Operational US footprint at filing — Florida LLC formed via Sunbiz, EIN issued, Miami-Dade business tax receipt obtained, warehouse lease signed, and certificate of use issued before the L-1A consular submission
- One-year operational milestones in the business plan drafted in-house to Matter of Ho standards from day one, so the same plan would later support EB-5 without a rewrite
How the Business Grew — From Two Employees to Twenty-Five
Over the following years the US business expanded from a single small-bay warehouse to a substantially larger Miami-Dade footprint. Inventory grew from the initial sub-USD 50,000 starting position to over USD 1,000,000 of operating inventory and equipment. The headcount expanded from two to twenty-five full-time employees across warehouse operations, inbound and outbound logistics, customer service, and back-office finance. Importantly, the growth was real growth backed by real revenue — which is what makes the eventual EB-5 case defensible.
Investment and Asset Position at the EB-5 Stage
| Component | Approximate Amount (USD) |
|---|---|
| Original L-1A new-office capital (initial) | Under 50,000 |
| Retained earnings reinvested in inventory and warehouse build-out | Significant; documented from audited US financials |
| Operating inventory at the EB-5 stage (independently valued) | Over 1,000,000 |
| Warehouse equipment, racking, MHE, IT systems | Documented at cost and independently appraised |
| Qualifying EB-5 threshold for a Doral / Airport West TEA project | 800,000 |
Job Creation at the EB-5 Stage
| Role | Number |
|---|---|
| Operations Manager | 1 |
| Warehouse Supervisors | 2 |
| Warehouse Associates / Pickers / Packers | 10 |
| Inbound Receiving / Customs Documentation | 2 |
| Outbound Shipping / Carrier Coordination | 2 |
| Drivers / Local Distribution | 3 |
| Customer Service / Account Management | 2 |
| Bookkeeper / Office Manager | 2 |
| Sales and Business Development | 1 |
| Total Full-time US Jobs | 25 |
All positions documented with offer letters, I-9 verification, W-2s, Florida quarterly wage reports (RT-6), and federal payroll tax filings (Form 941). At 25 full-time qualifying positions, the operation was comfortably above the 10-job Direct EB-5 minimum.
The Dual-Filing Strategy — EB-1C and Direct EB-5
By the time the family was ready to convert to permanent residence, the US business was both a mature multinational operation (relevant to EB-1C multinational manager) and a substantial active enterprise with documented job creation (relevant to Direct EB-5). Rather than file one route and hope, our team filed both in parallel:
- EB-1C multinational manager. Built on the qualifying relationship between the Indian parent and the Miami subsidiary, the spouse’s ongoing role as a US executive, and the Indian parent’s continued operation. EB-1C does not require a labor certification and historically has shorter processing times than EB-2 or EB-3.
- Direct EB-5. Built on the cumulative qualifying investment at risk in the Miami operating business, the 25 documented full-time US jobs, and a Targeted Employment Area location. The EB-5 also brought a separate priority date in case EB-1C adjudication slowed.
For Indian-origin clients in particular, this kind of optionality is especially valuable given EB-1 and EB-5 visa-bulletin movement.
Our Role
- Restructuring the immigration strategy after the prior firm’s repeated L-1 denials, including the decision to file with the spouse as principal applicant
- Rebuilding the qualifying corporate relationship between the Indian parent and the Florida subsidiary to 8 CFR § 214.2(l) standards
- Coordinating Florida entity formation, Sunbiz registration, EIN, Miami-Dade business tax receipt, warehouse lease, and certificate of use prior to consular submission
- Drafting the L-1A new-office business plan in-house to Matter of Ho standards from day one
- RBI / FEMA source-of-funds work with our Mumbai and Bangalore offices for both the original L-1A capital and the subsequent EB-5 investment
- Monitoring US business growth and headcount against the EB-5 conversion timeline
- Preparing the EB-1C I-140 petition and the Direct EB-5 I-526 petition with consolidated source-of-funds, qualifying-investment, and job-creation evidence
- Adjustment of status (Form I-485) coordination once a visa number was current
Why This Case Matters
- A history of denials at another firm is not the end of the strategy. Recasting the case — including, where appropriate, changing the principal applicant — is often the difference between a refused file and an approved one.
- L-1A new-office and Direct EB-5 share more DNA than they look like. A business plan drafted to Matter of Ho standards from day one supports both.
- Miami logistics is one of the strongest sector fits for the L-1A → EB-5 path. PortMiami, MIA cargo, FTZ #281, the Doral / Airport West corridor, and TEA designations across parts of Miami-Dade make the story coherent for both adjudicators and operators.
- Dual filing EB-1C and EB-5 is often the fastest, most resilient path to the green card. Each route has its own priority date and adjudication timeline. Filing both removes single-point-of-failure risk.
Why Investors Choose Miami for EB-5
- Proximity to the USCIS Miami Field Office at 8801 NW 7th Avenue — the adjudication point for most Miami-Dade adjustment-of-status interviews
- High concentration of South Florida regional center projects — Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties host a substantial share of US regional center activity, particularly in hospitality, real estate development, and infrastructure
- Florida tax environment — no state income tax, favourable corporate tax structure
- Gateway to Latin America — PortMiami, MIA, Spanish and Portuguese commercial fluency, established Latin American communities in Brickell, Coral Gables, Aventura, Sunny Isles
- Established Italian, British, and other European commercial communities, with dedicated consulates in Miami
- Florida-favourable TEA designations across multiple Miami-Dade census tracts
- Direct flights to virtually every major source country our EB-5 clients come from
Choosing the Right EB-5 Lawyer in Miami
Not all immigration lawyers have direct experience with EB-5 cases. When selecting between EB-5 attorneys in Miami, consider:
- Direct experience with EB-5 investor applications from your country of origin
- Familiarity with Latin American currency-control documentation, or your specific source-of-funds pattern
- Ability to handle E-2 to EB-5 conversions and L-1 to EB-1C / EB-5 dual filings on the same file team
- Clear communication and structured process, with transparent timelines and fees
- Independent industry recognition (e.g. EB5 Investors Magazine rankings)
- Familiarity with the 30 September 2026 grandfathering deadline and the 30 March 2026 USCIS Inventory Management Model
- Spanish, Portuguese, and other relevant-language client service if needed
📖 How to Choose the Right EB-5 Lawyer
South Florida Areas We Serve
Our Miami office serves EB-5 investors across South Florida and the wider state. We regularly act for investors located in:
- Miami / Brickell
- Coral Gables
- Coconut Grove
- Aventura
- Sunny Isles Beach
- Doral
- Pinecrest
- Key Biscayne
- Fort Lauderdale
- Boca Raton
- West Palm Beach
- Naples & SW Florida
Initial consultations are available in person at our Miami office at 80 SW 8th Street, by telephone, or by video conference.
Speak to an EB-5 Lawyer in Miami
If you are considering the EB-5 visa, early legal guidance is critical. Whether you are an E-2 holder converting to EB-5, an L-1 holder building toward dual-track EB-1C and EB-5, or an overseas investor entering the Miami market, we can help structure your application correctly from the outset.
FAQs About EB-5 Lawyers in Miami
Do I need an EB-5 lawyer in Miami to apply for the EB-5 visa?
Yes. Working with an experienced EB-5 immigration lawyer is strongly recommended because the EB-5 process involves complex requirements around source of funds, project due diligence, and job creation. Many Regional Centers will only accept you as an investor if you are represented by an EB-5 lawyer known to be competent.
Can my E-2 visa be converted into a green card through EB-5?
Yes — this is one of the most common pathways our Miami office handles. The E-2 visa is non-immigrant and does not lead to a green card on its own, but an E-2 holder can make a qualifying EB-5 investment (USD 800,000 in a TEA or Regional Center project, or USD 1,050,000 standard) and obtain a green card on that basis. There are two routes: (1) Direct EB-5 leveraging the existing E-2 business if it already employs 10 or more full-time qualifying workers and has cumulative investment at or above USD 800,000; or (2) a Regional Center investment alongside the continuing E-2 business. For details, see our Miami E-2 Visa Lawyers page.
Should I file for adjustment of status in Miami or consular processing abroad?
If you are already in the United States in a valid nonimmigrant status (such as E-2, L-1, F-1, H-1B, or O-1), you may file Form I-485 for adjustment of status concurrently with or after I-526E approval. Interviews for Miami-Dade-resident applicants are conducted at the USCIS Miami Field Office at 8801 NW 7th Avenue. If you are outside the United States, your case proceeds through the National Visa Center and you attend an immigrant visa interview at a US embassy abroad — commonly São Paulo, Buenos Aires, Bogotá, Mexico City, Lima, Santiago, Rome, or London for our Miami client base.
What is the September 30, 2026 EB-5 grandfathering deadline?
Under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act, regional center investors should distinguish between two dates: the Regional Center Program is currently authorized through 30 September 2027, but statutory grandfathering protection is generally understood to apply to qualifying petitions filed on or before 30 September 2026. Source-of-funds work, project review, and petition preparation typically take several months — and longer for Latin American clients with currency-control documentation — so investors who want the benefit of grandfathering should plan well in advance. Please confirm current rules with counsel as they may change.
What is considered a qualifying EB-5 investment amount?
The standard minimum EB-5 investment is USD 1,050,000. For investments in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA) — rural areas or areas of high unemployment — the minimum drops to USD 800,000. The investment must be at risk and must result in the creation of at least 10 full-time qualifying jobs.
How does the USCIS Inventory Management Model affect Miami EB-5 investors?
USCIS has adopted an inventory management approach under which Form I-526E petitions are reviewed in coordination with the associated Form I-956F project application, with rural petitions placed in a separate priority queue. For Miami investors, project selection now drives timing as much as priority dates. Rural projects are generally the most speed-sensitive EB-5 strategy. Our Miami EB-5 lawyers review the I-956F status of every project we recommend.
Where are EB-5 adjustment of status interviews held in South Florida?
EB-5 adjustment-of-status interviews for applicants residing in Miami-Dade County are conducted at the USCIS Miami Field Office at 8801 NW 7th Avenue, Miami, FL 33150. Broward County applicants typically interview at the Oakland Park Field Office, and Palm Beach County applicants at the West Palm Beach Field Office.
Can an EB-5 lawyer in Miami help with source of funds for Latin American investors?
Yes — this is a core area of our Miami practice. Our team has deep experience documenting source of funds traced through Argentine, Venezuelan, Brazilian, Colombian, Mexican, Peruvian, and Chilean banking and tax systems, including funds that have moved through historical currency-control regimes, parallel-market exchange, and sanctions-affected jurisdictions. Spanish and Portuguese client service is available throughout the process.
I am from a non-treaty country (Brazil, China, India, Vietnam) — can I still use Miami as my US base for EB-5?
Yes. EB-5 has no treaty-country requirement at all (unlike E-2), so nationals of any country can apply. If you want to combine EB-5 with the option of getting to the US faster on a treaty visa, Davies & Associates is a licensed Marketing Agent for the Grenada Citizenship-by-Investment Program — Grenadian citizens qualify for E-2 and Grenada is approximately 4 to 5 hours from Miami.
What is the difference between EB-5 Regional Center and Direct EB-5?
Regional Center EB-5 allows passive investment in a USCIS-approved project where job creation can be counted indirectly through economic modelling. Direct EB-5 requires the investor to invest in and actively manage their own US business, with direct W-2 job creation. Regional Center is the more common route for foreign investors entering the Miami market; Direct EB-5 is more common for E-2 holders converting an existing Miami business to EB-5.
What languages does the Miami EB-5 team work in?
English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian are routinely available on Miami case teams. Most engagement and document work can be conducted in the client’s first language; the formal USCIS adjustment interview is conducted in English (or with USCIS-arranged interpretation) regardless of the lawyer’s language.
Speak to our EB-5 lawyers in Miami now
We can discuss your EB-5 visa requirements with you at our Miami office, over the phone, or online via Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Google Meet.
+1 305 423 7163 Make an enquiryOur Miami Office for EB-5 Investors
Davies & Associates’ Miami office serves as the firm’s southeastern US headquarters and the primary point of contact for our Latin American and South Florida-based EB-5 clients. Our Miami lawyers work closely with our New York and Atlanta US teams, our Los Angeles EB-5 filing team, and our overseas offices in Mumbai, Bangalore, Milan, São Paulo, Buenos Aires, and London to deliver coordinated cross-border EB-5 support.
Miami Office: 80 SW 8th Street
80 S.W. 8th Street, Suite 2000, Miami, FL 33130
Phone: +1 305 423 7163
Our Miami office near the Brickell financial district. Home to our Miami EB-5 attorneys, Latin American source-of-funds team, and E-2 to EB-5 conversion specialists. Atendemos en español e em português.
EB-5 Lawyers for Latin American Investors in Miami
Miami is the natural US base for our Latin American EB-5 practice. We work daily with Argentine, Brazilian, Colombian, Mexican, Venezuelan, Peruvian, and Chilean clients on EB-5 source-of-funds documentation, project review, and adjustment of status through the USCIS Miami Field Office.
Spanish and Portuguese client service is available throughout the engagement. Many Latin American investors are E-2 treaty investors converting to EB-5; for the E-2 visa itself, see our Miami E-2 Visa Lawyers page. For country-specific EB-5 practice pages, see our Brazilian EB-5 practice and our Argentine, Colombian, Mexican, and other Latin American practice pages.
EB-5 Lawyers for Indian Investors in Miami
Our Miami office works closely with our India practice (Mumbai, Bangalore, New Delhi) on Indian-origin EB-5 cases, including the Mumbai-to-Miami logistics case study featured on this page. For RBI / FEMA source-of-funds work, LRS compliance, and India-specific case strategy, see our India Practice page and our EB-5 for Indian investors page.
About the Authors
Mark I. Davies, Esq.
Chairman of Davies & Associates; focused on E visa strategy and complex consular filings.
EB-5 from Other Countries
We advise EB-5 investors from around the world. If you are based outside the Miami area, our country-specific EB-5 pages may be relevant to you:
EB-5 Visa Solutions by Country of Nationality or Residency
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Looking to acquire an EB-5 Visa?
We are known for our creative solutions that obtain "impossible" visas. We solve the most complex immigration problems for businesses, investors, individuals, and families.
EB-5 Visa Immigration lawyer near meSeveral lawyers told me I would not be able to get a TN visa. Two weeks after contacting Davies & Associates I was working in New York, visa in hand.
Individual seeking 'Impossible' TN VisaD&A was very detail-oriented and very thorough in what they did. They worked on my case 24/7 and were very patient in answering all my questions.
E-2 Visa ClientMy case felt complex but D&A managed the whole process carefully and helped me move seamlessly from one stage to the next.
E2 + CBI ClientD&A was my guiding light through the entire EB-5 process.
EB-5 Visa ClientI would definitely be a big advocate for the rest of my life for anyone wanting to explore the Grenada Citizenship by Investment Programme leading to the E-2 visa. The most important thing is a good team behind you. With Davies & Associates, you're in safe hands... you need someone who can support you on the ground and, again, you are well taken care of by D&A. The people are really warm, very helpful and quite open-minded when it comes to business... Not to mention as a passport it's great from a travel perspective... It's just 4 to 5 hours from New York.
Grenada CBI + E2 Visa ClientThe entire process of getting an EB-5 visa is handled in a professional way by Mark Davies and his team. EB-5 is a wonderful option for anyone considering moving to the United States if you have the means. I was hoping to use the H-1B route for my children, but it became unreliable and so I looked to the EB-5 visa instead. It is great for anyone who has the resources. Mark gives you the first meetings himself which gives you great comfort. Both Mark and Sanjay are abundantly available and I even had the pleasure of hosting them at my house.
Parent of 2 EB-5 visa holdersI'm in the process of extending my L-1 visa. I submitted a few questions regarding my case, and he contacted me back almost immediately, both by email and telephone. Unlike other attorneys I met before, he gave me the impression of knowing off the top of his head what kind of visa I have, and what actions had to be taken to extend it. He is very thorough and clear regarding the process and what to expect in terms of timelines and issues that may arise. He is constantly in contact, so you definitely know he's working on your case.
L-1B Visa HolderMark Davies is a joy to work with. His extensive knowledge, speedy response and attentive service took away all my fears of dealing with immigration and visa applications. He is very generous with his time in explaining every step along the way and I have already and will in the future recommend him to anybody who is looking for an immigration lawyer.
E2 Visa for Small Professional Business With International OfficesDavies & Associates assisted us with an immigration emergency involving my brother's fiancée who was outside the United States. They assisted us in a highly professional manner, working with the relevant US embassy, US immigration and the governments of two other countries. As a result of their efforts the individual involved is now working in the United States. While their knowledge of the law is exemplary what really distinguishes this firm and attorney Davies from any other firm we have worked with is their dedication to customer service and their unrivaled level of professionalism.
Complex Fiancée Visa Need Involving Multiple International JurisdictionsSeveral lawyers told me I would not be able to get a TN visa. Two weeks after contacting Davies & Associates I was working in New York, visa in hand. I have recommended this firm to several friends and colleagues, they do an excellent job every time.
Individual Seeking 'Impossible' TN VisaI was qualified as a physician in a foreign country. Being on a J1 visa I was facing having to leave the United States and return to my home country. Davies & Associates secured one of only 30 J1 visa waivers available in my State, allowing me to work for a US hospital and remain in the United States.
Doctor Seeking J1 Visa WaiverI am very satisfied with the services Mark Davies has provided me. He has a very extensive knowledge in immigration laws and has a thorough approach to any case.
U Visa Applicant, A Victim of CrimeLooking to relocate or having trouble with a visa application?
We are known for our creative solutions that obtain "impossible" visas. We solve the most complex immigration problems for business, investors, individuals and families.
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+91 720 856 4057
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Unit 107, AIC Burgundy Empire Tower, ADB Ave. cor Garnet and Sapphire Streets, Ortigas Center, Pasig City 1605, Metro Manila, Philippines
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Davies & Associates LLC, Level 1, 12 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000, Australia
+61 2 9156 1032
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160 Robinson Road, #14-04, Singapore Business Federation Centre, Singapore 068914
+65-9615-0528
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