FDI firm targets HNIs to raise $125mn for US-bound Indian citizens

The capital is being raised for investments in key real estate projects across the United States as part of the EB-5 visa program which facilitates foreign investors to obtain a U.S. visa for them and their family. Funds raised from investors will be deployed in various current and upcoming commercial and residential real estate projects by leading developers and backed by prominent senior lenders. Previous USIF projects have been backed by major financial institutions including Blackrock, Wells Fargo and JP Morgan. 

SIF and The Chopras expect to secure 200 investors through 2018 having seen significant demand since the launch of the partnership in late September 2017. USIF has been actively working in the market since the beginning of 2017 and expects to raise $50mn by year-end. EB-5 visas for Indians have steadily increased over the last few years with 76 Indian EB-5 visas issued in 2012 to 149 visas issued in 2016. 

Chairman and CEO of US Immigration Fund, Nicholas A Mastroianni II said, “Our partnership with the Chopras has allowed us to grow exponentially over the last six weeks and gives us the confidence to move forward and set clear milestones for ourselves for the next 12-15 months. Our intent is to gain majority market share in EB-5 capital raised from India and we strongly believe this can be accomplished as the market is expected to grow significantly. The Chopras’ credibility is an asset for us and truly provides assurances and comfort to our EB-5 investor families as they embark on what could otherwise be a very complex and difficult journey. The Chopras’ impeccable reputation, breadth and depth of service offerings, and longstanding history throughout India will allow us to reach families across the country enabling us to better assist them with immigration aspirations for themselves and their children.” 

The Chopras have supported USIF in building a large platform for EB-5 and establishing a dedicated infrastructure for the offering across all their 26 offices in major cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Ludhiana. These operations will include Investor Relations and backend operations to support and educate investors through the entire EB-5 process. To date, investor interest and investment has primarily come from Delhi and Mumbai. However, following direct outreach and investor education programs undertaken by The Chopras and USIF, strong interest from regions like Punjab, Bengaluru, Pune and Hyderabad has surfaced.