The EB-5 landscape has been evolving — and understanding today’s dynamics can help you make smarter decisions. In this webinar, our panel will cover: how to evaluate project risk, what’s happening with processing times, and why rural projects are gaining attention among investors looking for faster pathways.
Whether you’re just starting your EB-5 research or already reviewing projects, this session may provide helpful context for navigating today’s landscape.
Panelist:
- Francisco Vicente-Vidal, Vidal Law Firm
- Kripa Upadhyay, Co-Chair Immigration & Global Mobility Practice Buchalter, LLP
- Claudia Ortega, EB5LA
Bios
Kripa Upadhyay’s practice intersects Immigration, Foreign Direct Investment, and International Trade Compliance.
She has expertise in guiding corporate clients and individual investors through the complex web of laws and regulations related to immigration to the United States. She has been actively involved in representing clients secure EB-5 visas since 2010, and has successfully guided numerous clients through the lifecycle of their EB-5 journey (I-526 and I-829 applications) as investors.
EB-5 Specific
- Member: AILA National EB-5 Committee, 2019 – Present
- Top 10 Rising Stars by EB5 Investors Magazine, 2023
Awards and Honors
- Best Lawyers in America, 2026
- Chambers USA, Immigration Law, 2024 & 2025
- Washington State Bar Association’s (WSBA) Community Service Award, 2011
- Rising Star by Super Lawyers magazine for Immigration Law, 2014 – 2018
Francisco Vicente-Vidal is a licensed attorney in California and Texas and the Founder & Managing Attorney of Vidal Law Firm, PC, a boutique business and investment immigration law firm he established in 2017. With over 10 years of experience, Francisco specializes in representing investors, entrepreneurs, and companies from Mexico, Latin America, and Europe looking to do business in the United States. His practice covers a broad range of visa categories — including E-2, E-1, EB-5, EB-2 NIW, L-1, H-1B, TN, O-1, and P-1 — serving multinational corporations, U.S. businesses, and renowned artists, athletes, and professionals with extraordinary abilities.
Francisco holds a J.D. from Thomas Jefferson School of Law and an MBA from the University of Texas at San Antonio. In 2021, he was recognized by UGlobal Immigration Magazine as one of the Top 25 Immigration Attorneys in the United States. Bicultural and bilingual, he is a sought-after speaker at investment and immigration forums across Latin America and Europe. Outside the office, Francisco enjoys life in The Woodlands, Texas with his wife and two daughters, and finds balance through travel, tennis, soccer, surfing, and live music.
Claudia I. Ortega is a seasoned real estate and investment professional with more than 20 years of experience spanning residential and commercial real estate, mortgage lending, investor advisory, and strategic market positioning. Her career has been deeply rooted in guiding sophisticated buyers, sellers, and business owners through complex real estate transactions, capital structuring, and market-driven decision-making across multiple U.S. markets.
As a licensed real estate broker and former mortgage company owner, Ortega has overseen transactions involving residential portfolios, commercial properties, and development-oriented assets, with a strong command of underwriting standards, capital stacks, regulatory compliance, and risk mitigation. Her background includes structuring and reviewing conventional, government-backed, and alternative financing solutions, experience that aligns directly with the financial and asset-backed fundamentals of EB-5 investment projects.
Ortega is also recognized for her leadership in public policy advocacy and consumer protection. She has actively participated in congressional meetings in Washington, D.C., lobbying for consumer rights in housing and lending, and working alongside federal agencies, financial institutions, and elected officials to advance responsible homeownership and transparency in real estate finance. This policy-facing experience provides her with a nuanced understanding of regulatory frameworks and investor protections which are critical components of the EB-5 ecosystem.
Ortega has led large-scale public education initiatives and media campaigns, serving as a spokesperson across television, radio, print, and digital platforms. She is known for her ability to translate complex financial and real estate concepts into clear, investor-focused narratives, bridging the gap between technical detail and strategic vision.
