Feldman Feldman & Associates PC

EB-5 Investor Visas

The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, enacted in 1992, allows foreign nationals to obtain U.S. permanent residency by investing in a qualifying U.S. commercial enterprise that creates at least ten full-time jobs. FFA advises clients on minimum investment requirements ($1,050,000 standard, or $800,000 in a Targeted Employment Area or rural area), business-structure eligibility, job-creation and job-preservation rules, and the trade-offs between direct investment and investing through a USCIS-approved Regional Center. FFA attorneys help clients evaluate Regional Centers and structure qualifying investments.

• Standard investment: $1,050,000
• Reduced investment: $800,000 in a TEA or rural area
• Must create or preserve 10 U.S. jobs within two years of obtaining conditional permanent residency
• Direct investment or Regional Center investment
• Spouse and unmarried minor children may also obtain green cards

Employment-Based Green Cards

Behind family-based green cards, employment-based green cards are the most popular route to U.S. permanent residency. FFA handles all five EB preference categories, including EB-1 (extraordinary ability, multinational executives, outstanding researchers), EB-2 (including National Interest Waivers and PERM-based advanced-degree cases), EB-3 (skilled and professional workers), and EB-5 (investors). Approved EB visa holders may apply for Employment Authorization Documents for spouses and have their minor children attend U.S. schools.

• EB-1 extraordinary ability and outstanding researcher petitions
• EB-2 National Interest Waivers
• PERM Labor Certification
• EB-3 skilled and professional workers
• Spouse EADs and dependent school access

Citizenship, Naturalization & Family-Based Immigration

FFA assists lawful permanent residents in becoming U.S. citizens and helps families reunite through marriage-based petitions, parent/child petitions, sibling petitions, fiancé visas, and consular processing. The firm handles citizenship applications, including cases where eligibility is being challenged, and represents clients in adjustment of status interviews.

• Naturalization (Form N-400)
• Marriage-based green cards
• Fiancé (K-1) visas
• Parent, child, and sibling petitions
• Consular processing abroad

Lynne Feldman — Co-Founder & Partner

Lynne Feldman has practiced immigration law for more than 35 years with substantial experience in family, business, and investment-based immigration. She previously taught immigration law at the University of Illinois and has authored several articles on the subject. She earned her JD from the University of California Hastings College of the Law and her BA from Mills College. She is an AILA member since 1989 (Chicago Chapter, then San Diego Chapter from 2009, Healthcare Committee) and a multiple-time National Contract Bridge Champion.

Jason Feldman — Co-Founder & Partner

Jason Feldman concentrates his practice on business and investment-based immigration, including EB-5 investor visas, extraordinary ability cases, labor certification (PERM), and non-immigrant visas (H-1B, L-1, E-2, TN). He has spoken at conferences around the world on employment and investment-based immigration options and has presented on immigration options for foreign physicians at the American Medical Association's annual conference. He earned his JD from the University of San Diego School of Law and his BA from the Claremont Colleges (Pitzer). He is a World and National Contract Bridge Champion and has represented the United States in international bridge competitions.

Mark Hertel — Partner

Mark Hertel serves the legal needs of foreign nationals pursuing their career, business, and family goals in the United States, as well as the needs of their employers and the companies where they invest. A Columbia Law School graduate, he began his career representing financial institutions at a large Manhattan law firm. He represents clients seeking permanent residence through the EB-5 program, businesses seeking EB-5 investment, and foreign nationals of extraordinary ability across performing arts, health care, public health, engineering, athletics, and the sciences.

Fabiola Navarro — Attorney

Fabiola Navarro is an experienced immigration attorney focused on family-based immigration, humanitarian relief, consular processing, and naturalization. She is licensed to practice law in California (since 2012) and Chile (since 2002) and earned her LL.M. from the University of Valparaíso in Chile. Before joining FFA, she ran her own practice for more than 10 years and served immigrant communities in San Diego as an immigration attorney with the Employee Rights Center. She is fluent in English and Spanish.