Miami, FL -- (ReleaseWire) -- 03/12/2014 --Thousands of international investors, economic development professionals, immigration attorneys and Regional Center industry leaders, including American Regional Center Group LLC or ARGC of Miami, Florida, took part in a regional conference for potential foreign investors interested in EB-5 investment opportunities in the United States. This kind of investment includes a way to obtain permanent residency in the United States.

Gonzalo Lopez Jordan and Santiago Steed, co-founding partners of CAERC and ARGC took part in the 3rd Annual EB-5 International Investment & Economic Development Forum. The tradeshow event took place at The Mirage Hotel & Casino, located at 3400 South Las Vegas Boulevard, in Las Vegas, Nevada from June 19th to the 21st, 2013.

“The conference was educational and connected ARCG with industry leaders and advocates,” said Gonzalo Lopez Jordan, who is also the CEO of Patagonia Financial Holdings, a private equity firm based in Florida, with a special focus on structuring value-oriented investments.

The event brings together international investment and economic professionals from all over the world to share the latest information in the EB-5 program, includes analysis from an interdisciplinary set of expert speakers about U.S. Regional economic development, and provides industry members a platform for business development through networking and business and social events.

EB-5 Regional Center Principals, Foreign Migration Advisors, Brokers, Dealers, Financial Advisors and Planners, Investors, Attorneys, Consultants, Entrepreneurs, Investor Representatives, Investment Advisors, Accountants, Business Analysts, Real Estate Professionals and Bankers were among those in attendance.

The economic impact of the EB-5 Regional Center Program took center stage as session speakers gave the latest information about the topic and spoke about best practices in the Regional Center industry.

The EB-5 immigrant visa program has been around since 1990, when Congress created a way for foreign investors to obtain a U.S. visa. Here’s how it works: an investor seeking an EB-5 immigrant visa through a designated regional center must make a qualifying investment of $1 million dollars. Investors must demonstrate that at least 10 jobs were directly or indirectly created through the investment. In rural or areas of high unemployment, called TEAs or Targeted Employment Areas, the initial amount required for foreigners to invest is $500,000. A targeted employment area is an area that has 1.5 times the national unemployment rate or a population under 20,000.

Qualified investors receive a conditional green card for two years. After that, and upon approval of the I-829 petition, the green card becomes permanent for the investor and his or her immediate family members. The investor, spouse and unmarried children under age 21 at the time of petition, can then apply for permanent U.S. residence based on the investment.

“The EB-5 program is one of the most unique programs the U.S. has to offer foreign investors,” said Santiago Steed, Manager of ARGC and CFO of Patagonia Financial Holdings. “We are thrilled to be able to be a part of seeing the American dream come true,” he concluded.

About American Regional Center Group
American Regional Center Group LLC (ARCG) provides sound and reliable EB-5 investment opportunities for foreign investors and their families who wish to obtain permanent residency in the United States.

ARCG was founded in partnership with Patagonia Financial Holdings LLC (PFH), a private equity firm based in Florida, with a special focus on structuring value-oriented investments. PFH’s knowledge and expertise provides extensive sourcing capabilities to ARCG. PFH’s management team has invested more than $500 million and possesses more than 100 years of cumulative experience in the United States and Latin America.

American Regional Center Group manages an expanding portfolio of Regional Centers focused on meeting the increasingly rigorous demands of the EB-5 investor. ARGC is headquartered at 1200 Brickell Avenue, Suite 1950, in the heart of Miami’s Financial District. For more information, please visit www.americanrcg.com.

About Gonzalo Lopez Jordan
Gonzalo Lopez Jordan is a manager and co-founding partner of California Alternative Energy Regional Center or CAERC. Prior to founding CAERC, Mr. Lopez Jordan co-founded Geothermal Regional Center LLC (GRC). GRC received its regional center designation on September 8, 2011. GRC’s capital investment project, which was approved by the USCIS at the same time, has successfully raised its targeted funds. Building on these achievements, Mr. Lopez Jordan is now pursuing designation to fund additional projects in the alternative energy sectors.

Gonzalo Lopez Jordan is also CEO and founding partner of Patagonia Financial Holdings, a value-oriented, Private Equity Firm with exposure to different sectors. He has fifteen years of senior management experience in asset management, private banking, securities trading and alternative Investments. Prior to founding Patagonia Financial Holdings, Mr. Lopez Jordan was First Vice President-Senior Investment Management Specialist at Smith Barney Inc. From 1995 to 1999, Mr. Lopez Jordan was a Vice President for the private bank, Banco Santander International Miami, where he provided financial planning assistance and portfolio optimization for clients in multiple jurisdictions. Mr. López Jordan holds a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from Facolta di Giurisprudenza Universita di Pisa-Italy and another J.D. from Facultad de Derecho de Oviedo-Spain and M.B.A. from Instituto Universitario de la Empresa Universidad de Oviedo-Spain.