LIGTT Names Fragomen Preferred Immigration Provider of EB-5 Services

Fragomen, the world’s leading corporate immigration law firm, has been named preferred immigration provider for EB-5 services by the Louisiana International Gulf Transfer Terminal (LIGTT), which is projected to become the largest transshipment facility in the United States.

“Fragomen has no equal in the immigration space, and the firm has been closely involved with the EB-5 program since its inception in 1990,” said Patrick Harvey, LIGTT founder and managing member. “LIGTT’s international investors will benefit enormously from Fragomen’s depth of focus, in-depth understanding of the law and ability to guide them through the application process smoothly and efficiently.”

Formally known as the EB-5 Immigration Investor Visa Program, the U.S. government-authorized policy was established to encourage investment of foreign capital in the United States to stimulate economic growth and job creation. Fragomen, which has offices throughout the world and has long been one of the legal profession’s most visible thought leaders, is widely recognized for its ability to guide clients through the complex processes associated with immigration compliance in the United States and abroad. The firm has established a website (http://fragomeneb5.com/ligtt/) specifically for international investors interested in learning more about its EB-5 services and LIGTT.

“The EB-5 program offers an array of benefits to qualified international investors, including the right to live and retire anywhere in the United States,” said Austin Fragomen, Chairman of the firm’s Executive Committee. “We are honored that the LIGTT has recognized our experience and ability in this field.”

The LIGTT, located at the mouth of the Mississippi off Louisiana’s Gulf Coast, is designed to improve trade, increase shipping demand and strengthen America’s economic competitiveness. The huge infrastructure project is intended to open a new supply chain via the Mississippi River and its tributaries, generating jobs and reducing environmental concerns associated with the transportation industry.

In November 2013, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) designated LIGTT a “Regional Center", a legal entity established to coordinate foreign investments within a specific geographic region in compliance with EB-5 guidelines. This designation required LIGTT to demonstrate how it would promote economic growth through increased expert sales, regional productivity, job creation and domestic capital investment. Gaining Regional Center designation reduces the financial investment necessary to qualify for the EB-5 visa, increasing its attractiveness to international investors.

Bechtel, the global engineering and construction company that has been selected to provide management services for pre-construction of the terminal, has already begun pre-construction work for the deep-water port. The company will oversee the design and permitting of the facility, as well as prepare for early procurement and terminal operator integration.