Join us for a timely look at two dates set to shape EB-5 planning through 2026 and into 2027. We’ll walk through the September 30, 2026 filing date referenced in the Reform and Integrity Act of 2022, and the program’s first scheduled investment threshold adjustment, set to take effect January 1, 2027 — including what current law says about each, how petitions filed before versus after these dates may be treated differently, and general timelines to keep in mind when thinking through next steps.
Panelists:
- Brian Zirulnikoff, Homefed
- Chad Ellsworth, Fragomen
- Braxton Bartlett, EB5LA
- Evelyn Moon, Evelyn Moon Law PC
Bios
Brian Zirulnikoff, who has been with HomeFed Corporation since 2025, is the Director EB-5 Marketing and Sales. Zirulnikoff spent his early years at an EB-5 law firm preparing EB-5 investor and regional center cases, sourcing and helping EB-5 investors with their EB-5 petitions’ source of funds, marketing, compliance and risk mitigation. Currently he’s managing HomeFed’s EB-5 footprint globally and helping to grow its infrastructure. Zirulnikoff earned a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Florida International University, and a Master of Business Administration with a specialization in Marketing from Florida Atlantic University.
Evelyn Moon is the Founder and Principal Attorney of Evelyn Moon Law PC, bringing nearly 20 years of experience in the immigration field, with a practice focused on EB-5 investor immigration and business immigration matters. Drawing on her extensive experience at major law firms and her leadership as the founder of her own practice, she provides sophisticated, strategic, and business-focused counsel to investors, entrepreneurs, and employers navigating complex U.S. immigration matters. Her practice includes immigration solutions for investors, entrepreneurs, executives, and employers, including EB-5 and E-2 investor cases, H-1B visas, L-1A and EB-1C petitions, employment-based green card strategies, and Form I-9 compliance and audit defense.
A frequent speaker at AILA, EB-5, and other business conferences, Evelyn regularly presents on investment immigration, EB-5 program developments, workforce immigration planning, and immigration strategies for global investors, entrepreneurs, and U.S. employers. She is licensed to practice law in California and the District of Columbia and is fluent in English and Korean.
Chad Ellsworth is a Partner at Fragomen’s New York office. He has been with the firm for more than 20 years. Chad advises high net worth individuals in their immigration related investments and liaises with private clients to address their global entrepreneurial or investor citizenship or residency immigration needs. Chad also advises clients on a variety of global immigration matters with an emphasis on the establishment and improvement of compliant global mobility programs, including in jurisdictions with less formalized immigration processes and procedures. Chad is a member of the firm’s Corporate Compliance and Private Client Practice Groups and a regular speaker at national and international immigration conferences. He has been named among the Top 25 Immigration Attorneys by EB5 Investors Magazine.
Chad earned his Juris Doctor from Tulane University School of Law and Bachelor of Arts from University of Southern California.
Braxton Bartlett is a former collegiate and professional basketball player turned real-estate investor, developer, and operator. He founded Paladin Capital, a development and management fund focused on residential assets with over 30 million in assets under management. He serves as managing partner of The Bartlett & Waskas Group, a growing commercial real-estate fund. A recent addition to EB5 Lending Alliance Sales team, Bartlett brings practical, on-the-ground real-estate experience to the EB-5 arena. His style pairs disciplined underwriting and crisp execution with brand-conscious operations—powered by a competitor’s drive and a team-first mindset shaped by high-level athletics. Bartlett concentrates on resilient, cash-flowing properties and long-term partnerships with lenders, operators, and investors both domestically and abroad. Across both residential and commercial projects. For the EB5 world he works in deal analysis, sales, and overall project fluidity.