Foreign Investment & Immigration

• EB-5 Attorney – immigrant investment petitions
• I-956 Regional Center applications & amendments
• Petitions to acquire work-authorization for foreign national professional employees
• Immigration compliance in accordance with USCIS, Customs & Border Protection, and the Department of State
• Advises project developers on establishing EB-5 projects throughout the United States

• The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), Real Estate Law, 2023-2026
• Texas Rising Star, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2022
• Top 25 Immigration Attorneys, EB5 Investors Magazine, 2017-2025
• Top 5 EB-5 Rising Star, EB5 Investors Magazine, 2016
• Top 50 EB5 Visa Lawyer/Attorneys, Visa Franchise, 2024
• New York Law School Public Interest Fellowship Award

• Author, “President Trump Launches “Trump Gold Card” Residency Program, Unveils Sweeping Immigration Overhaul,” Jackson Walker Insights (September 2025)
• Featured Speaker, “Trump’s $5M Gold Card: Competitor, complement or game changer for EB-5?” EB-5 & Global Immigration Expo (August 2025)
• Contributing Author, “The First 100 Days: Practical Implementations of President Trump’s Executive Orders On Immigration,” The Houston Lawyer (June 2025)
• Contributing Author, “A Summary of President Trump’s Immigration-Related Executive Orders,” Jackson Walker Insights (January 2025)
• Speaker at the Global Mobility & Investment Summit by EB5 Investors Magazine in Miami, Fla. (August 2024)
• Speaker, “Green Card by Investment: A Deep Dive into the EB-5 Visa with Leading Attorneys,” Golden Gate Global (June 2024)
• Guest, “Interview to Immigration lawyer Christian Triantaphyllis about EB-5 Program and Re-entry permit,” BAI Capital (June 2024)
• Speaker, “A Brave New World: Advising New EB-5 Investors,” AILA Investors and Entrepreneurs Conference and Webcast (February 2024)
• Speaker, “Expanding U.S. Based Employment Opportunities for International Students,” LCR Capital Partners (April 2023)
• Guest, “Understanding the new EB-5 rural and set-aside visas, with Christian Triantaphyllis,” EB5 Investors Podcast (October 2022)
  
• Speaker at the 2022 EB-5 and Global Immigration Expo India by Uglobal Immigration Magazine/EB5 Investors Magazine in Mumbai, India (November 2022)
• Speaker, “Obtain a U.S. Green Card With an $800K EB-5 Investment – Houston,” EB5 Affiliate Network (August 2022)
• Speaker at the EB-5 & Global Immigration Expo United States by Uglobal Immigration Magazine/EB5 Investors Magazine in Miami, FL (April 2022)
• Speaker, “How to Evaluate an EB-5 Direct Investment,” LCR Capital Partners (November 2021)
• Speaker, “Direct EB-5: A Temporary Fix or an Emerging Solution?,” IIUSA Virtual EB-5 Industry Forum (November 2021)
• Contributing Author, “EB-5 DIRECT: An Alternative Approach to EB-5 Financing for Regional Centers” IIUSA Regional Center Business Journal, Fall 2021
• Speaker, “Direct EB-5 Investment at $500K with Top Immigration Attorneys – What Investors Should Know for Direct EB-5 Investment” (July 2021)
• Quoted, “USCIS reinstates deference policy to speed up EB-5 and other petition adjudications,” EB5 Investors (April 2021)
• Speaker, “Navigating the E-2 and EB-5 Immigration Process Under Today’s Immigration Bans and COVID-19,” FirstPathway Partners (June 2020)
• Guest, “Immigration Issues to Consider During the Coronavirus Epidemic,” Jackson Walker Fast Takes podcast (April 2020)
  
• Guest Commentator, “Changes To Investor Visa Program May Affect Houston Development,” NPR / Houston Public Media (November 2019)
• Speaker on Regional Center Compliance Reviews, Invest in the USA (IIUSA) Conference in Washington DC (May 2019)
• Quoted, “H-1B petitions rise reflects renewed interest in US, but rejection rate stays high,” Moneycontrol.com (April 23, 2019)
• Co-Author, “How to Estimate EB-5 Visa Wait Times” EB5 Affiliate Network, 2019
• Author, “Business Growth Through Immigration Programs,” Texas Lawyer, 2019
• Author, “Managing EB-5 Client Expectations as an Immigration Attorney” Immigration Options for Investors and Entrepreneurs, 4th Ed., 2019
• Speaker on Hot Topics in EB-5 Investment Funds, Investment Immigration Expo in Beijing, China (May 18, 2017)
• Speaker on EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, University of Houston in Houston, TX, (April 8, 2017)
• Speaker on EB-5 Investment and Innovation, NES Financial Conference in Miami, FL (February 6, 2017)
• Speaker on EB-5 Investment Project Due Diligence Issues, EB-5 Investment Conference in Las Vegas, NV (January 14, 2017)
• Speaker on Direct EB-5 Investment, 2015 AILA EB-5 Investors Summit in Washington DC (October 24, 2016)
• Speaker on Investment and Start-Up Company Immigration Options, Harvard Business School in Cambridge, MA (October 17, 2016)
• Speaker on EB-5 Investment Hot Topics, 2016 AILA Rocky Mountain Chapter in Denver, CO (October 12, 2016)
• Guest Lecturer on EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, South Texas Law School in Houston, TX, (September 21, 2016)
• Speaker on Real Estate Investments and EB-5, Think Realty Investment Conference in San Francisco, CA (August 12, 2016)
• Speaker on EB-5 Investment Hot Topics – Advanced Issues, EB-5 Investment Conference in New York, NY (July 18, 2016)
• Speaker on EB-5 Investment Project Underwriting, Investment Immigration Expo in Shanghai, China (May 9, 2016)
• Speaker on EB-5 Project Due Diligence, Overseas Investment & Wealth Management Forum in Beijing, China (May 6, 2016)
• Speaker on Immigration Law and EB5, Houston Association of Realtors in Houston, TX (April 28, 2016)
• Speaker on EB-5 Program Updates and Hot Topics, 2016 AILA Texas Chapter in Austin, TX (April 16, 2016)
• Speaker on U.S. As An Option for Immigrant Investors, Immigration Investment Summit in Dubai, UAE (March 8, 2016)
• Speaker on EB-5 Draft Legislation, NES Financial Conference in San Francisco, CA (February 9, 2016)
• Speaker on Enhanced Role of the SEC in Immigrant Investments: An analysis of investigations in 2015, EB-5 Investment Conference in Las Vegas, NV (January 16, 2016)
• Co-Author, “Permissible and Impermissible Guarantees in EB-5” EB5 Investors Magazine, 2016
• Author, “Prevailing Against the Notice of Intent to Terminate,” EB5 Investors Magazine, 2016
• Author, “What is an O-1/O-2 Visa,” EB5 Investors Website, April 2016
• Speaker on Lawful Source of Funds for Latin America, AILA EB-5 Investors Summit in Las Vegas, NV (August 27, 2015)
• Speaker on EB-5 Investment Funds, ILW EB-5 Summit for Attorneys & Developers in Washington DC (June 17, 2015)
• Speaker on EB-5 Investment Program, Become an American Investor in Sao Paulo, Brazil (December 15, 2015)
• Co-Author, “Impact of Visa Retrogression on Project Choice” EB5 Investors Magazine, 2015
• Co-Author, “Evaluating an EB-5 Investor from a Regional Center’s Perspective,” ABA Section of International Law, Immigration & Naturalization Committee Newsletter 2015, Second Issue
• Co-Author, “Immigrant Investor Visas: Emergent Trends Around the World,” ABA International Law News, Vol. 43, No. 4, Fall 2014
• Speaker on EB-5 Immigration for Mexican Investors, Mexican Investor Summit in McAllen, TX (May 9, 2014)
• Co-Author, “A Report on Source of Funds: Perils of the Administrative Fee,” EB5 Investors Magazine, Spring 2014
• Author, “Top Five Issues in Analyzing I-924 Requests for Evidence,” National Law Review, June 17, 2014
• Co-Author, “Evolving Escrow: Navigating Delayed USCIS Processing Times,” EB5 Investors Magazine, Winter 2014
• Co-Author, “My Regional Center is Approved! Now What?” EB5 Investors Magazine, January 8, 2014
• Speaker on ILW EB-5 Summit for Attorneys & Developers in Houston, TX (November 12, 2013)
• Co-Author, “Recent Revocations and Enforcement May Change the EB-5 Landscape,” Association to Invest in the USA, June 2013
• Co-Author, “Twenty Mechanisms for Addressing Torture in Health Care,” Soros Foundation, Open Society Institute, June 2012
• Author, “Transitional Justice: Are Truth and Reconciliation Committees Worth It?” University of Brazil Law Students’ Review, 10th ed., 2011

• American Immigration Lawyers Association
  • EB-5 Investor Committee, Member
  • EB-5 Investor Program, Mentor
  • Texas Chapter, Member
  • Bangkok Chapter, Member and Annual Conference 2017 Conference Committee Member
• Invest in the USA (IIUSA), Board of Directors, 2024
• Greater Houston Partnership
  • Immigration Advisory Committee
  • International Trade Development Committee
  • Business Resource Group–Business Beyond Borders
• Houston Bar Association, Member
• American Bar Association, Member
  • Immigration Litigation Committee, News Editor, 2012-2013
• National Inter-Faith Foundation for increasing affordable housing supply, creating jobs, and providing social services, Board Member
• National Peace Corps Association, Member

Christian Triantaphyllis Presents “EB-5 Adjudication Trends and Critical Filing Deadlines

Jackson Walker partner  Christian A. Triantaphyllis will participate in a webinar panel discussing trends in EB-5 adjudication from 2025, and the critical filing and compliance deadlines coming in 2026. Christian will be joined by fellow panelist and founder of EB-5 Support, Irina Rostova.

Speaking Engagements • February 2, 2026

Christian Triantaphyllis and Catharine Yen Recognized as Top Immigration Attorneys by ‘EB5 Investors Magazine’

Jackson Walker is pleased to announce EB5 Investors Magazine’s list of the Top EB-5 Professionals of 2025 includes Christian A. Triantaphyllis as one of the “Top 25 Immigration Attorneys” for an eighth consecutive year, and recognizes Catharine Yen among the “Top 10 Rising Stars” for the second consecutive year.

Attorney News • December 29, 2025

Planning International Travel on a U.S. Work Visa – What You Need to Know

By Kelly Cobb, Sang M. Shin, and Christian Triantaphyllis

As year-end travel approaches, employers and visa holders should take note of important considerations before leaving the United States. Heightened visa processing times and evolving consular requirements can create unexpected delays that impact business operations.

Insights • December 11, 2025

President Trump Launches “Trump Gold Card” Residency Program, Unveils Sweeping Immigration Overhaul

By Christian A. Triantaphyllis

On Friday, September 19, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing a new “Trump Gold Card” residency program, marking a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy. The program offers a pathway to U.S. residency for individuals and corporations willing to make substantial financial contributions, with the stated goal of raising over $100 billion for the U.S. Treasury to support future tax cuts.

Insights • September 24, 2025

Christian Triantaphyllis Joins Panel at EB-5 & Global Immigration Expo

Jackson Walker partner Christian A. Triantaphyllis will be a featured speaker at the EB-5 & Global Immigration Expo, scheduled for August 27-28 at The Ritz-Carlton in Miami, Florida.

Speaking Engagements • August 22, 2025

‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Features 350 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2026 Edition, Including 10 “Lawyers of the Year” and 106 “Ones to Watch”

The Best Lawyers in America, a widely regarded guide to legal excellence, has recognized 350 Jackson Walker attorneys across 87 specialty practice areas in its 2026 edition, including 10 Lawyers of the Year and 106 Ones to Watch.

Attorney News • August 21, 2025

The First 100 Days: Practical Implementations of President Trump’s Executive Orders On Immigration | The Houston Lawyer

Sang M. Shin, Christian A. Triantaphyllis, and Kelly D. Cobb were featured in the latest issue of The Houston Lawyer, offering timely insights into the practical implementation of President Trump’s executive orders on immigration.

Insights • June 30, 2025

JW Belonging & Inclusion Newsletter – May 2025

View Jackson Walker’s May 2025 Belonging & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.

Newsletters • May 30, 2025

A Summary of President Trump’s Immigration-Related Executive Orders

By Phillip Pullig, Yenmi Tang, Sang M. Shin, and Christian A. Triantaphyllis

On January 20 and 21, 2025, President Trump declared a national emergency and issued several executive orders on immigration. The Declaration and Executive Orders address “enhanced vetting” of visa applicants, birthright citizenship, border security, the U.S.‑Mexico-Canada Agreement, asylum, and refugee program.

Insights • January 24, 2025

Christian Triantaphyllis and Catharine Yen Recognized as Top Immigration Attorneys by ‘EB5 Investors Magazine’

Please join in celebrating Christian A. Triantaphyllis and Catharine Yen for their well-deserved recognition in EB5 Investors Magazine! Christian was named among the “Top 25 Immigration Attorneys” for the seventh year, reflecting his unparalleled expertise in EB-5, E-2, and L-1 visas. Catharine earned a spot as one of the “Top 10 Rising Stars,” recognizing her exceptional work with immigrant investors and regional centers.

Attorney News • December 19, 2024

‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Features 306 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2025 Edition, Including 9 “Lawyers of the Year” and 75 “Ones to Watch”

The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 306 Jackson Walker attorneys across 81 specialty practice areas in its 2025 edition, including 9 Lawyers of the Year and 75 Ones to Watch. In this year’s guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (75 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (55 attorneys) and the addition of 27 attorneys as Best Lawyers.

Attorney News • August 15, 2024

Business Immigration & Compliance Partners Kelly Cobb and Sang Shin Recognized in Chambers USA Guide

Jackson Walker proudly announces the first-time ranking of the Business Immigration & Compliance practice in the Chambers USA Guide for 2024. In addition, Kelly Cobb and Sang Shin were recognized among the top attorneys in Texas in this area.

Spotlight • June 6, 2024

Christian Triantaphyllis Joins Three Leadership Positions in Immigration Advocacy

Attorney News • May 28, 2024

JW Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter – December 2023

View Jackson Walker’s December 2023 Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.

Newsletters • December 4, 2023

Christian Triantaphyllis Named to ‘EB5 Investors’ List of “Top 25 Immigration Attorneys” for Sixth Consecutive Year

In EB5 Investors Magazine’s listing of the “Top 25 Immigration Attorneys” of 2023, Christian Triantaphyllis was featured among the industry’s most distinguished EB-5 attorneys for the sixth consecutive year.

Attorney News • October 18, 2023

‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 287 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2024 Edition, Including 12 “Lawyers of the Year” and 80 “Ones to Watch”

The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 287 Jackson Walker attorneys across 5 offices and 82 specialty practice areas in its 2024 edition, including 12 Lawyers of the Year and 80 Ones to Watch. In this year’s guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (66 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (60 attorneys) and the addition of 35 attorneys as Best Lawyers.

Attorney News • August 17, 2023

‘EB5 Investors’ Quotes Christian Triantaphyllis on USCIS Extending the Validity of Permanent Resident Cards

On January 23, 2023, USCIS announced an extension of the validity of permanent resident cards (“green cards”) to accommodate current processing times for forms I-829 and I-751. In an EB5 Investors article discussing the extension, Jackson Walker partner Christian Triantaphyllis shared insights on how the updated policy may ease previous challenges EB-5 investors and dependents encountered.

Mentions • February 3, 2023

Conditional Permanent Residents Take Note: USCIS Has Extended Validity of Permanent Resident Cards

On January 23, 2023, USCIS announced an extension of the validity of permanent resident cards (“green cards”) to accommodate current processing times for forms I-829 and I-751. As a result, new receipt notices will be issued to petitioners who properly filed either form extending their green card’s validity for 48 months beyond the card’s expiration date.

By Christian Triantaphyllis

Insights • January 25, 2023

Understanding the New EB-5 Rural and Set-Aside Visas, With Christian Triantaphyllis | EB-5 Investors Podcast

The USCIS in 2022 reserved 20% of EB-5 visas for investors that put their money into rural areas, 10% for investing in projects in high-unemployment areas, and 2% towards infrastructure projects. In The Voice of EB5 podcast, partner Christian Triantaphyllis, chair of Jackson Walker’s Business Immigration & Compliance practice, provides an in-depth review of the changes to the EB-5 visa categories.

Mentions • December 12, 2022

Christian Triantaphyllis Named to ‘EB5 Investors’ List of “Top 25 Immigration Attorneys” for Fifth Consecutive Year

In EB5 Investors Magazine’s listing of the “Top 25 Immigration Attorneys” of 2022, Christian Triantaphyllis was featured among the industry’s most distinguished EB-5 attorneys for the fifth consecutive year.

Attorney News • November 4, 2022

‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 214 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2023 Edition, Including 11 “Lawyers of the Year” and 41 “Ones to Watch”

The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 214 Jackson Walker attorneys across 6 offices and 79 specialty practice areas in its 2023 edition, including 11 Lawyers of the Year and 41 Ones to Watch. Best Lawyers listings are based on an exhaustive peer review survey of thousands of attorneys who vote on the legal abilities of others in their practice areas.

Attorney News • August 18, 2022

EB-5 Regional Centers Temporarily Regain Authorization

By Christian Triantaphyllis

Thanks to a recent decision by a California federal judge, previously authorized regional centers are allowed to continue operations while litigation is pending, “or until the agency engages in a reasoned decision-making process regarding how to treat these centers under the Integrity Act.”

Insights • July 5, 2022

USCIS Requires Form I-956 for Regional Center Designation

By Christian Triantaphyllis | On April 29, 2022, USCIS held its EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 Listening Session and clarified that entities seeking to be designated as a regional center are required to file Form I-956, Application for Regional Center Designation.

Insights • April 29, 2022

Labor & Employment Dispatch: April 2022

View the April 2022 edition of the Labor & Employment Dispatch.

Newsletters • March 30, 2022

Jackson Walker Congratulates Its 2022 Texas Rising Stars

Jackson Walker is pleased to announce the selection of 51 attorneys to Thomson Reuters’ 2022 “Super Lawyers – Rising Stars” list, which recognizes only 2.5% of Texas attorneys who either are 40 years of age or younger or have been in practice for 10 years or less.

Attorney News • March 22, 2022

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