Spanish investor counsel for Colombia
Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. provides US legal counsel to Spanish-speaking investors from Colombia who are entering the US market. The firm, founded in 1997, is a US law firm with an international clientele. Mr. Sris, the firm’s founder and managing attorney, is admitted to practice in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. For Colombia-law aspects of a cross-border investment, the firm collaborates with Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel, who is licensed in Colombia and not admitted in any US state bar; his role is limited to Colombia-law matters in collaboration with the firm’s US-admitted attorneys.
What This Cross-Border Practice Area Covers
Spanish investor counsel for Colombia encompasses the US legal services a Colombian investor needs when entering the US market—from choosing the right visa to structuring a US business entity and complying with US tax and securities laws. The firm advises on the full lifecycle of a cross-border investment: pre-immigration planning, entity formation, regulatory compliance, and ongoing corporate governance. Because the investor’s home jurisdiction is Colombia, the engagement often requires coordination between US counsel and Colombia-admitted counsel on matters such as Colombian foreign-exchange regulations, corporate formalities, and the tax treatment of cross-border flows. The firm’s US-admitted attorneys handle all US-law aspects; for Colombia-law questions, the firm works with Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel, who is licensed in Colombia and not admitted in any US state bar.
On the US side, the practice draws on several areas of federal law. The Immigration and Nationality Act governs the visa categories most relevant to investors, including the EB-5 immigrant investor program and the L-1 intracompany transferee classification. The firm also assists with business formation under state law—typically a Delaware limited liability company or corporation—and with federal tax structuring under the Internal Revenue Code. Securities compliance, anti-money-laundering obligations, and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act may also be relevant when the investment involves US-regulated industries or publicly traded entities.
How Mr. Sris and His Of Counsel Network Handle These Matters
Mr. Sris serves as the responsible US attorney on every engagement, while Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel, provides Colombia-law support and serves as a liaison for Spanish-speaking clients. The division of labor is designed to respect the jurisdictional limits of each attorney’s license. Mr. Sris, admitted in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York, handles all US-law work: preparing and filing visa petitions with USCIS, forming US entities, negotiating transaction documents, and advising on US regulatory compliance. Eric Duport Jaramillo, who is licensed in Colombia and not admitted in any US state bar, addresses Colombia-law issues such as the repatriation of capital, Colombian corporate authorizations, and the interaction of the investment with Colombian tax and exchange-control rules. The two sides collaborate as needed, but each attorney practices only in the jurisdiction where they are admitted.
This structure gives the investor a single point of contact—Mr. Sris—while ensuring that Colombia-specific legal questions are answered by a Colombia-admitted professional. The firm’s location in Pereira, Colombia (by appointment only) facilitates in-person meetings when the investor is in Colombia, though all US legal advice is delivered by the firm’s US-admitted attorneys.
About Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel Network
Mr. Sris, the founder and managing attorney of Law Offices of SRIS, P.C., is a former prosecutor with over 25 years of experience in US litigation and transactional matters. He is admitted to practice in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. Mr. Sris testified before the Virginia House Courts of Justice Committee in support of 2019 HB 635 (chief patron Del. David Bulova), the bill that became the 2019 revision to Va. Code § 20-107.3(g).
The firm’s Of Counsel network includes Eric Duport Jaramillo, who is licensed in Colombia and not admitted in any US state bar. Mr. Duport Jaramillo’s practice with the firm is limited to Colombia-law matters and to serving as a liaison for Spanish-speaking clients. Mr. Sris and his Of Counsel bring over 120 years of combined legal experience. The firm’s US locations serve clients in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York, while the Pereira, Colombia location (by appointment only) supports the firm’s Colombia-focused practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the EB-5 immigrant investor visa?
The EB-5 visa is a US permanent residence category for foreign nationals who invest a qualifying amount of capital in a new commercial enterprise that creates at least ten full-time jobs for US workers. The program is administered by USCIS under the Immigration and Nationality Act. A Colombian investor may invest directly in a US business or through a USCIS-designated regional center. The required minimum investment amount depends on whether the project is in a targeted employment area. The investor must also demonstrate that the investment funds were lawfully obtained. The firm assists with the preparation and filing of Form I-526, Immigrant Petition by Alien Investor, and, once the petition is approved, with adjustment of status or consular processing.
How does the L-1 visa work for Colombian executives?
The L-1 visa allows a Colombian company to transfer an executive, manager, or specialized-knowledge employee to a related US entity. The US and Colombian entities must have a qualifying relationship—parent, subsidiary, affiliate, or branch. The employee must have worked for the Colombian entity for at least one continuous year within the three years preceding the transfer. The firm prepares and files Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, with supporting documentation. L-1A (executive/manager) status can be a stepping stone to permanent residence through the EB-1C category. Because the L-1 process involves both US and Colombian corporate formalities, the firm coordinates with Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel, who is licensed in Colombia and not admitted in any US state bar, for the Colombia-side documentation.
Do I need both a US lawyer and a Colombian lawyer?
Yes—a cross-border investment typically requires both a US-admitted attorney and a Colombia-admitted attorney because the legal issues span two sovereign legal systems. The US attorney handles US immigration, corporate, tax, and regulatory matters. The Colombia attorney addresses Colombian corporate authorizations, foreign-exchange regulations, and the tax treatment of the investment under Colombian law. Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. provides the US-law representation through Mr. Sris and the firm’s US-admitted attorneys, and collaborates with Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel, who is licensed in Colombia and not admitted in any US state bar, for the Colombia-law side. This arrangement ensures that each aspect of the matter is handled by a professional licensed in the relevant jurisdiction.
What are the tax implications of investing in the US?
A Colombian investor who becomes a US tax resident is generally subject to US federal income tax on worldwide income, while a non-resident investor is taxed only on US-source income and certain US-situs assets. The distinction turns on the substantial presence test under the Internal Revenue Code. The firm works with US tax professionals to structure the investment in a tax-efficient manner, considering entity choice, treaty benefits (if any), and the interaction with Colombian tax law. Because the US and Colombia do not have a comprehensive income tax treaty, careful planning is essential to avoid double taxation. The firm’s Colombia Of Counsel, Eric Duport Jaramillo, who is licensed in Colombia and not admitted in any US state bar, advises on the Colombian tax treatment of the cross-border structure.
How do I form a US company as a Colombian investor?
A Colombian investor can form a US company by filing articles of organization or incorporation with the secretary of state of the chosen state, typically Delaware, and then obtaining a federal employer identification number from the IRS. The most common entity for a foreign-owned US business is a limited liability company (LLC) because it offers pass-through taxation and operational flexibility. The firm drafts the operating agreement, handles the state filing, and advises on the US regulatory obligations that attach to foreign ownership, such as the Corporate Transparency Act beneficial-ownership reporting. For Colombia-side formalities—such as registering the US investment with the Banco de la República—the firm collaborates with Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel, who is licensed in Colombia and not admitted in any US state bar.
What is the process for obtaining a US investor visa?
The process begins with selecting the appropriate visa category—typically EB-5 for permanent residence or L-1 for an intracompany transfer—and then preparing a petition with supporting evidence of the investment, the source of funds, and the qualifying relationship between the US and Colombian entities. The firm guides the investor through each step: gathering documentation, preparing the petition, responding to any USCIS requests for evidence, and, once the petition is approved, coordinating consular processing at the US embassy in Bogotá or adjustment of status if the investor is already in the US. Throughout the process, the firm’s US-admitted attorneys handle all US-law aspects, while Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel, who is licensed in Colombia and not admitted in any US state bar, assists with Colombia-side documentation and serves as a Spanish-language liaison.