With the September 30, 2026, grandfathering deadline approaching, many investors and professionals are closely evaluating their EB-5 options under the current regulatory framework. This informational session explores how rural EB-5 projects and priority processing provisions may factor into timing considerations, including the availability of the 20% rural visa set-aside.
Join this webinar for a high-level discussion on how EB-5 projects are commonly structured, the role of job creation in the EB-5 process, and general legal considerations under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act (RIA). The panel will also outline practical considerations for filing strategies in light of potential future legislative or policy changes.
The discussion is designed for H-1B professionals interested in understanding concurrent filing options, as well as international investors seeking to better evaluate EB-5 as a long-term immigration pathway.
Panelists:
- Oliver Yang, REID & WISE, LLC
- Brian Zirulnikoff, Homefed
- Claudia Ortega, EB5LA
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Oliver Yang is the chair of Reid & Wise LLC’s immigration department. Yang advises individuals, investors, entrepreneurs, high net worth individuals, and businesses on all areas of U.S. immigration law, with a focus on investment-based and employment-based immigration.
Yang represents both individuals and corporations in a wide range of immigrant and non-immigrant matters, including EB-5, E-2, L-1/EB-1C, EB-1A, NIW, H-1B, PERM, TN, family immigration, mandamus litigation, consular processing, and adjustment of status. Yang has substantial experience in all stages throughout the EB-5 process, including the preparation and filing of I-526 petitions, filing a response to requests for evidence, preparing clients for consular processing interviews, filing I-829 condition removal petitions, and filing appeals of complex denials.
Yang received his LL.B. from Renmin University of China School of Law, and his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law
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.
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.
