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ATLANTA – Peachtree Group (Peachtree) has received its I-956F approval from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the government agency that oversees the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, for The Scoundrel, a Tribute Portfolio by Marriott hotel currently under construction in Gatlinburg, Tenn.

The I-956F approval marks a crucial step in Peachtree’s ongoing efforts to facilitate investment opportunities through the EB-5 program, which is designed to promote economic growth and job creation in the United States.

“Receiving USCIS approval for The Scoundrel represents another key milestone for our EB-5 platform,” said Adam Greene, executive vice president of EB-5 at Peachtree. “It reflects our commitment to structuring investments that create meaningful economic impact, support job growth and deliver lasting value for our investors and the communities we serve.”

Peachtree engaged an independent third-party to conduct a jobs study, which determined the development is expected to create 842 eligible jobs for EB-5 purposes, 1.68 times the 500 jobs required under the estimated investment amount, under scoring the project’s significant economic contribution to the region.

“Peachtree’s participation in the EB-5 program underscores our entrepreneurial grit and commitment to advancing initiatives that create a flywheel effect across our lending platform,” said Greg Friedman, managing principal and CEO of Peachtree. “We’ve helped institutionalize these investments within a program that drives economic growth and expands opportunities for meaningful, job-creating immigration.”

Peachtree originated $40 million in floating-rate construction financing over a four-year term for the development of The Scoundrel. The 133-room hotel will be ideally situated on one of Gatlinburg’s main commercial corridors, adjacent to the Gatlinburg Convention Center and steps from premier dining, shopping and entertainment. Located on the northwestern edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited national park in the United States, the property offers convenient access to a region that attracts millions of visitors each year.

The hotel is expected to be completed by mid-2027.

This is the fourth hotel development for which Peachtree has received I-956F approval,having previously secured it for its SpringHill Suites by Marriott in Bryce Canyon, Utah; Home2 Suites by Hilton in Boone, N.C.; and TownePlace Suites by Marriott in Palmdale, Calif. Peachtree also received I-956F approval for its loan for the construction of a multi-family apartment project in Bradenton, Fla.

“With its proximity to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg is one of the most supply-constrained markets in the country,” said Greene. “High barriers to entry, including strict height and density limits and scarce developable land, make new construction rare. That dynamic, combined with sustained demand from millions of annual visitors, positions well-located, newly built hotels to significantly outperform the broader market.”

Peachtree launched its EB-5 program in 2023 as a key financing tool to support job-creating projects nationwide. The firm remains committed to delivering high-quality investment and development opportunities through its expanding portfolio of EB-5 projects.

The EB-5 visa program allows foreign investors to obtain a green card in exchange for making a significant investment in a new commercial enterprise that creates jobs in the United States. Under the program, foreign nationals who invest a minimum of $800,000 in a U.S.-based project that creates or preserves at least 10 full-time jobs for U.S. workers are eligible to apply for permanent residency.

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At a recent panel discussion at the IIUSA East Asia Conference titled “The Impact of President Trump’s Immigration Policies on the EB-5 Regional Center Program,” Adam Greene, Executive Vice President of EB-5 at Peachtree Group, offered a clear and reassuring perspective for investors and industry professionals navigating the evolving U.S. immigration environment.

Greene, who also serves as Secretary and Treasurer of IIUSA, began by emphasizing Peachtree’s track record as a leading private equity real estate firm with a history of over $12 billion in transactions and 800 investments across the U.S. He noted that Peachtree entered the EB-5 market to bring institutional discipline, transparency, and security to investors—focusing exclusively on senior secured debt positions that prioritize capital protection while driving U.S. job creation.

Discussing the Trump Administration’s new “Gold Card” program, Greene reminded the audience that it remains an idea, not an implemented program. “The Gold Card doesn’t exist today,” he said, explaining that even if enacted, it would need to operate within the framework of existing U.S. immigration laws. Importantly for EB-5, those laws require investment in a for-profit enterprise that creates American jobs—making it unlikely the Gold Card could directly substitute or compete with EB-5. “EB-5 exists today and is backed by established law,” Greene added. “The Gold Card does not.”

Greene positioned EB-5 as the form of legal immigration that fits squarely within the Trump Administration’s priorities. “EB-5 is exactly the kind of immigration that makes sense in the ‘America First’ world—it’s legal, it’s job-creating, and it’s self-funding,” he explained. With the perception that illegal immigration is increasingly under control, he said the political focus is turning toward immigration that strengthens the U.S. economy.

He also highlighted IIUSA’s ongoing advocacy in Washington, D.C., which has helped lawmakers better understand EB-5’s impact on American job creation and development. “When we meet with congressional offices now, they no longer ask, ‘What is EB-5?’” Greene said. “They know it’s a program that works and creates results.”

In closing, Greene urged agents and investors alike to focus on working with credible partners who combine experience with integrity. “Track record matters,” he said. “What ultimately protects investors are good people and sound structures.”

As immigration policy evolves, Greene’s message was consistent and confident: EB-5 remains a proven, law-backed path to U.S. residency that continues to deliver value for investors and communities alike.

새로운 트럼프 골드 카드 프로그램은 9월 19일 금요일 백악관 행정 명령 (이하 “EO”) 에 의해 시행되었으며 트럼프 카드 웹 사이트에 추가로 공개되었습니다 (www.trumpcard.gov) 몇 개월의 준비 후.

골드 프로그램은 EB-5 비자와는 다른 미국 거주 경로를 제공합니다.신청자가 몇 년 내에 돌려받을 수 있는 일자리 창출 프로젝트에 투자를 요구하는 대신, 개인은 다음을 통해 자격을 얻을 수 있습니다. 1백만 달러 기부 (또는 회사가 후원하는 경우 2백만 달러), 그들은 결코 돌아오지 않습니다.

신규 일자리 창출 및 지역 센터 투자와 관련된 EB-5와 달리 골드 카드는 기존 카드에 묶여 있습니다. EB-1 또는 EB-2 카테고리EB-5와 같은 할당량 한도도 있고 기존 백로그도 있습니다.골드 카드 유리한 세금 혜택을 제공하지 않음, 신청자는 비용을 지불해야 합니다 추가 처리 수수료 및 추가 심사를 거칩니다..또한 그렇습니다 파생가족 구성원 여부 불분명 1백만 달러의 단일 기부금에 포함되거나 각각 별도로 기부해야 하는 경우

요점: EB-5 투자이민 비자를 기반으로 미국 이민을 고려하는 사람들은 지금 신청해야 합니다.

이것이 EB-5 비자 신청자에게 미치는 의미

트럼프의 행정 명령에 따라 정부는 발행 후 90일 이내에, 즉 2025년 12월 18일까지 골드 카드를 시행해야 합니다.EO에는 정부가 “EB-5 비자 신청자에게 골드 카드 프로그램을 확대하는 것을 고려할 것”이라는 모호한 언급이 포함되어 있지만, 의회의 법안 통과가 아닌 행정 명령으로 어떻게 이런 일이 일어날 수 있는지는 확실하지 않습니다.현행법에 따르면 2026년 9월 30일 이전에 청원서를 제출하는 모든 EB-5 청원자는 기존 규정에 따라 판결을 받게 됩니다.

EB-5를 고려하는 사람들에게 가장 보수적인 접근법은 골드 카드 발급 마감일인 2025년 12월 18일 이전에 신청하는 것입니다.

EB-5와 트럼프 골드 카드 비교:

플래티넘 골드 카드는 어때요?

트럼프 카드 웹사이트에서는 또한 플래티넘 카드를 “곧 출시 예정”이라고 하는데, 이 카드에는 5백만 달러의 기부금이 필요합니다. 수취인은 미국 외 소득에 대해 미국 소득세를 면제하고 수취인은 최대 270일을 미국에서 보낼 수 있습니다.참고로 플래티넘 카드는 아직 구현되지 않았습니다.

EB-5 비자에 대한 궁금증

투자 비자에 의한 EB-5 이민을 고려하고 있다면, 연락처 피치트리 그룹 프로세스에 대해 자세히 알아보십시오.

추가 리소스:

• EB-5 비자에 대한 간소화된 가이드
• EB-5 비자 유형 설명
• F-1 학생 비자에서 영주권까지: EB-5 대안에 대한 이해
• H-1B 비자를 EB-5 비자로 전환: 영주권을 향한 길
• EB-5 투자자를 위한 동시 신고