Lucid Professional Writing offers writing and consulting service, with a specialty in business plans for immigration purposes. Principal Suzanne Lazicki works personally with clients to prepare strategic business plans customized for EB-5, E-2, and L-1 applications. She brings deep knowledge of legal requirements, a wealth of business resources, fifteen years of experience with business immigration, and a track record spanning over 400 business plans.
Services
E-2 Business Plans
E-2 is a non-immigrant visa category available to citizens of treaty countries who are investing a substantial amount of capital in bona fide enterprise in the United States. The visa applicant may seek entry to the U.S. in order to develop and direct the enterprise, or to work in the enterprise as an executive, supervisor, or skilled employee. A business plan assists the case that the E-2 enterprise is more than marginal, and that the E-2 investment is active, substantial, and at-risk.
Sample E-2 Business Plan Outline
- Executive Summary: Summarize business type, structure, development status, and potential to generate income and create jobs.
- Business Structure: Explain the structure and ownership of the E-2 enterprise, highlighting owner nationality and operational control.
- Business Description: Describe a commercial or entrepreneurial undertaking that produces goods or services for a profit.
- Development and Operations: Identify development milestones accomplished, commitments made, facilities secured, activities undertaken, and the timeline to commence operations. Foresee the five-year growth plan. Discuss applicable legal requirements, and the status of licenses and permits.
- Management and Personnel: Describe the personnel required to operate the business, including anticipated duties, wages and hiring schedule. Define the manager or essential employee role to be filled by the E-2 principal, if applicable.
- Market Analysis: With reference to verifiable data, profile the target industry, target market, and competitive market. Define the market opportunity and marketing strategy, and address the feasibility of sales goals.
- Costs and Capitalization: Provide a detailed breakdown of the total cost to purchase or establish the business, with reference to expenditure evidence and industry standards. Identify capital sources and commitments, and provide a current balance sheet.
- Financial Projections: Provide a detailed five-year profit and loss forecast, explaining the assumptions behind the forecast and referencing industry standards.
L-1 Business Plans
The L-1 nonimmigrant visa classification enables a U.S. employer that is part of an international organization to temporarily transfer employees from one of its related foreign offices to an office in the United States. L-1A applies to intracompany transfers of managers and executives. If the U.S. employer is a new office, the L-1A petition should describe the proposed nature of the business and the size of the U.S. investment, and should establish that the proposed enterprise will support an executive or managerial position within one year of the approval of the petition.
Sample L-1A New Office Business Plan Outline
- Executive Summary: Summarize a one-year plan to develop a new U.S. office to the point of supporting a qualifying managerial or executive-level position.
- Business Structure: Explain the structure and ownership of the new U.S. office, highlighting the qualifying relationship with the foreign employer.
- Business Description: Describe the nature and scope of the business, its products and services, and what functions and operations the new office will perform.
- Management and Personnel: Explain who will be responsible to perform the functions identified in the business description. Identify operational duties associated with each function, and include these duties in detailed job descriptions for operational employees. Identify executive and management positions. Provide job descriptions that explain specifically how managers will engage in planning, organizing, directing and controlling the business and employees previously identified. Provide an organizational structure chart for the new office.
- Development Schedule: Provide a detailed business development schedule for the new office in Year 1. Identify milestones accomplished, including physical premises secured and funding committed. Discuss monthly goals in Year 1, and specific steps for accomplishing these goals. Provide a hiring timeline.
- Market Analysis: With reference to supporting evidence and verifiable data, profile the target industry, target market, and competitive market. Define the market opportunity and marketing strategy, and address the feasibility of growth targets and sales goals.
- Costs and Capitalization: Define startup costs required to accomplish the growth plan, and reference evidence of capital commitments.
- Financial Projections: Define financials goals. Provide a monthly profit and loss forecast and cash flow forecast for Year 1. Explain financial assumptions, and reference industry benchmarks.
EB-5 Plans
EB-5 is an immigrant investor visa program. Investors are eligible to apply for lawful permanent residence if they invest in a commercial enterprise in the United States with a plan to create or preserve at least 10 permanent full-time jobs for qualified U.S. workers. An investor may invest individually in a business that directly hires employees (“direct EB-5”) or through a regional center designated by USCIS. A business plan for direct EB-5 investment will be about 40 pages long, heavily documented, and designed for compliance with INA §203(b)(5) and the EB-5 precedent decision Matter of Ho.
Sample Direct EB-5 Business Plan Outline
- Executive Summary: Summarize the plan for investment in a new commercial enterprise that creates jobs.
- Business Description: Describe the business, its products and services, and objectives. Identify the business location, and describe the existing facility or proposed development.
- Development Plan: Identify development milestones accomplished, and provide a timeline to commence operations. Discuss applicable legal requirements, and the status of licenses and permits.
- Structure and Management: Explain the structure and ownership of the enterprise, and provide an organizational chart. Discuss management experience, and the EB-5 investor’s role in management or policy formation.
- Operations Plan: As applicable, describe the manufacturing process, materials required, supply sources, distribution channels, intellectual property, franchise affiliation, hours of operation, and other operational factors.
- Personnel Plan: Explain the staffing requirements of the business, and provide a hiring schedule and detailed job descriptions.
- Market Analysis: With reference to verifiable data, profile the target industry, target market, and competitive market. Define the market opportunity and marketing strategy.
- Costs and Capitalization: Provide a detailed breakdown of the total cost to launch the business, with reference to expenditure evidence and industry standards. Identify capital sources and commitments.
- Financial Projections: Provide financial statements and projections as appropriate to explain working capital needs and show potential to support job creation and a profitable exit strategy. This may include a sales forecast, pro forma income statement, cash flow projections, payroll analysis, return analysis, and schedules detailing financial assumptions. Support projections with reference to market analysis and industry standards.
Custom Market Reports
We can offer detailed, citation-rich market reports using data from federal, state, and local government sources, as well as industry associations. These customized reports highlight key demographic, economic, and industry trends relevant to the feasibility of a specific business in a particular location. Deliverables can include market reports, feasibility studies, site analyses, whitepapers, or content tailored for broader business plans.
EB-5 Research and Litigation Support
As the author of blog.lucidtext.com, Suzanne Lazicki has been tracking EB-5 developments since 2010. Her resource library includes EB-5 policy and guidance updates, stakeholder meetings, legislative proposals, USCIS and DOS data, and non-precedent decisions. Suzanne offers EB-5 research support to attorneys, and has served as an expert witness in EB-5 litigation.
EB-5 Timing Analysis
We track and analyze government data for EB-5 petition processing times and visa availability. Individualized timing consultations are available to address prospective wait times for EB-5 investors based on country of origin, priority date, TEA category, and other factors. This analysis helps clients plan ahead and set expectations for their EB-5 investment and immigration timelines.
Let’s Connect
Lucid Professional Writing
Suzanne Lazicki, President
Ogden, Utah 84401
(626) 660-4030
About
Suzanne Lazicki founded Lucid Professional Writing in 2010, and has written hundreds of business plans for use in EB-5, E-2, and L-1A visa applications. Her experience extends to market studies, site analysis, and consulting. Suzanne is known for combining business expertise with comprehensive and current grasp of immigration policy and practice.
Suzanne is the author of blog.lucidtext.com, a leading source of information and analysis for immigrant investment since 2010. She was a contributing editor for Immigration Options for Investors & Entrepreneurs, 4th Ed., published by AILA, and authored the collection’s article on EB-5 business plans. She was profiled in the Regional Center Business Journal in 2024.
Suzanne holds an MBA from the Goddard School of Business at Weber State University, and received her B.A. summa cum laude in English from Seattle Pacific University.
Service and Recognitions
- Advisory Board Member for the American Immigrant Investors Association 2022 to the present
- Member of the IIUSA Public Policy Committee in 2019 to 2020 and 2022 to the present
- Member of the IIUSA Editorial Board for the Regional Center Business Journal from 2013 to 2017
- Member of the EB5 Investors Magazine Writers Council
- Associate Editor of Immigration Options for Investors & Entrepreneurs, 4th Ed. published by the American Immigration Lawyers Association
- Top 5 Business Plan Writer 2016 to 2023 EB-5 Investors Magazine
Education and Certifications
- Master of Business Administration, Weber State University, Ogden, Utah
- Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst Certification, Corporate Finance Institute
- Bachelor of Arts, English Literature, summa cum laude, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, Washington
- Chinese Proficiency Test HSK Intermediate A Level Certificate (Band 8), Beijing Language and Culture University HSK Center
Select Presentations
- Li, L., C. Chen, S. Lazicki, & B. Meyer (2024, October 2). Post-RIA I-526/E Data Trends – Filings, Adjudications, and Processing Times. IIUSA EB-5 Expert Webinar Series, Webinar.
- Lee, C. & S. Lazicki (2023, October 13). EB-5 RIA: October Visa Bulletin FY 2024. Carolyn Lee PLLC, Webinar.
- Lee, C., S. Lazicki, & J. Pratt (2024, July 11). EB-5 Visa Numbers State of Play: Looking Ahead to FY 2025. Carolyn Lee PLLC, Webinar.
- Lee, C. & S. Lazicki (2024, May 15). I-956F Elements: Matter of Ho Business Plan. Carolyn Lee PLLC, Webinar.
- Lazicki, S. & D. Tristani (2023, November). Pre RIA Visa Wait Time Analysis. AIIA, Webinar.
- Li, L., S. Lazicki, & B. Meyer (2023, July 12). Data Talks: EB-5 Backlog, Visa Allocations, and Wait Times. IIUSA EB-5 Expert Webinar Series, Webinar.
- Chen, C., S. Lazicki, L. Lee, & K. Walker (2023, May 22). Session 8: The Waiting Game: Processing Times, Visa Availability, and Set Asides. IIUSA Industry Forum, San Diego, California.
- Grau, A., D. Morris, G. Sheehan, L. Gordon, S. Strnisha, & S. Lazicki (2023, April 25). The April 25, 2023 USCIS EB-5 Stakeholder Engagement – What Did We Learn? Carolyn Lee PLLC, Webinar.
- Lazicki, S., C. Oppenheim, H. Chavez, & J. Barnett (2023, April). I-526E Inventory data for Visa Backlog Assessment (Post RIA investors). AIIA, Webinar.
- Galati, M., I. Khanna, & S. Lazicki (2022, April 12). Matt Galati, Ishaan Khanna, and Suzanne Lazicki on the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act. Mobility Standard, Podcast.
- Lee, C., S. Lazicki, & D. Morris (2021, December 15). EB-5 2021 Retrospective. Carolyn Lee PLLC, Webinar.
- Lazicki, S., D. Huang, R. Klasko, & B. Wolfsdorf (2021, May 12). Australian Outback – Scorcher Topics in the World of EB-5. AILA Asia-Pacific Chapter (APAC) Annual Conference, Sydney, Australia.
- Lazicki, S., R. Thomas, J. Jones, G. Sweeney, & D. Lundy (2021, March 31). Preparing for the New EB-5 Era Together. JTC / NES Financial, Webinar.
- Lee, C. & S. Lazicki (2021, January 6). EB-5 Outlook 2021. Carolyn Lee PLLC, Webinar.
- Lazicki, S., I. Rostova, J. Barnett, R. Thomas, & O. Torres (2020, April 21). USCIS & EB-5 Visa Availability Processing, Redeployment & Other Policy Issues. IIUSA EB-5 Advocacy Webinar Series, Webinar.
- Lazicki, S., P. Cohen, E. Orenstein, S. Silverman, & J. Law (2018, July 23). The Right Fit: How Current and Future EB-5 Projects are Changing with the Market. EB5 Investors Magazine Annual Convention, Los Angeles, California.
- Lazicki, S., S. Udani, & M. Katzoff (2018, April 7). Update on EB-5 “Invest” Requirements: The latest USCIS IPO and AAO Interpretations and Federal Court. ILW EB-5 Roundtable, Webinar.
- Lazicki, S. & M. Shah (2018, January 19). Clear, Credible & Consistent Business Plans for EB-5 with Suzanne Lazicki – Episode 52. M. Shah Law Podcast, Podcast.
- Lazicki, S., R. Divine, J. Jones, & C. Foster (2016, September). EB-5 reform legislation: what happens now? NES Financial EB-5 Innovation Summit 2016: Navigating a Changing Sector, San Francisco, California.
- Lazicki, S. (2015, March 25). EB-5 Evidence Tips. ILW EB-5 Roundtable, Webinar.
- Lazicki, S., M. Lawler, P. Cohen, & M. Lessard (2015, February 24). What Goes into an EB-5 Business Plan. EB5 Diligence, Webinar.
- Lazicki, S., D. Hirson, & J. McCarthy (2013, June 20). Analysis of USCIS EB-5 Training & Guidance for Adjudicators: What is Really New & What’s Left Undone. Annual IIUSA EB-5 International Investment & Economic Development Forum, Las Vegas, Nevada.
- Lazicki, S., K. Atteberry, & D. Andersson (2012, April 30). Feasible, Reasonable, & Reproducible: EB-5 Compliant Business Plans & Economic Analyses. Annual IIUSA EB-5 International Investment & Economic Development Forum, Laguna Hills, California.
- Lazicki, S. (2012, March 30). EB-5 Business Plans. The EB-5 Institute Annual Conference, Portland, Oregon.
- Lazicki, S. (2012, February 11). Understanding EB-5 Business Plans. Still the Gold Mountain: EB-5 Strategies and Recent Developments (Los Angeles County Bar Association), Los Angeles, California.
- Lazicki, S. (2011, February 19). EB-5 Business Plans in 2011. The EB-5 Institute EB-5 One-Day Seminar: Regional Center development, management & project creation, Las Vegas, Nevada.
- Lazicki, S. & L. Lau (2010, March 20). Engaging a winning team to plan the EB-5 case. Los Angeles County Bar Association EB-5 Employment Creation Today Seminar, Arcadia, California.
Select Publications
- Lazicki, S. (2024). EB-5 investment timelines: how long will my investment actually take? In EB-5 Investor Due Diligence: Finding the Right Project for Immigration Success. White paper from JTC and CanAm Enterprises.
- Lazicki, S. (2024). EB-5 Visa Allocation Questions and Answers. CanAm Enterprises Website.
- Lazicki, S. (2024, March 11). Why We’re Optimistic about the Future of EB-5 Processing Times. Houston EB5 EB-5 Blog.
- Lazicki, S. (2023, December 28). EB-5 Questions and Answers (updated by USCIS December 2023). IIUSA Blog.
- Lazicki, S. (2023, September 22). EB-5 Visa Status Report for 2023/2024. IIUSA Blog
- Lazicki, S. (2023, May 12). RIA Implementation Status, One Year Later. IIUSA Blog
- Lazicki, S. (2023). EB-5 Form Processing Status and Developments. In Conference Handbook AILA Asia-Pacific Chapter 2023 Annual Conference.
- Lazicki, S. (2023, April 26). April 25, 2023 USCIS EB-5 Stakeholder Engagement. IIUSA Blog.
- Lazicki, S. (2023, March 3). Integrity Fund FAQ, with Notes on Regional Center Status and Investment Period. IIUSA Blog.
- Lazicki, S. (2023, January 17). Analysis of Forthcoming Changes to EB-5 Fees. IIUSA Blog.
- Lazicki, S. (2022). Evaluating EB-5 Process Timing. In Conference Handbook AILA Asia-Pacific Chapter 2022 Annual Conference.
- Lazicki, S. & D. Hirson (2021). Step 4: Which EB-5 Service Providers Can Help Me Prepare. In EB5 Investors Magazine EB-5 Guide.
- Lazicki, S. (2021). Strategies for I-526 RFE business plan updates. EB5 Investors Magazine 8(1).
- Lazicki, S. (2020, June 24). How EB-5 Visa Numbers Will Increase in FY2021. LCR Capital Partners Blog.
- Lazicki, S. (2020, May 27). Interpreting the USCIS processing times report. LCR Capital Partners Blog.
- Lazicki, S. (2019). Preparing a Matter of Ho-Compliant Comprehensive Business Plan for EB-5 Petitions. In L. Stone, E. Arias, S. Lazicki et al. (eds.), Immigration Options for Investors & Entrepreneurs, 4th ed. Washington, D.C.: AILA, pp. 479-488.
- Lazicki, S. (2017, August 4). Analysis of USCIS IPO Employment Visa Engagement in San Jose. IIUSA Blog.
- Lazicki, S. (2014). Selected Issues in EB-5 Cases: The Comprehensive Business Plan. In L. Stone, E.J. Carroll, et al. (eds.) Immigration Options for Investors & Entrepreneurs, 3rd ed. Washington, D.C.: AILA, pp. 361-369.
- Lazicki, S. (2014). 2014 USCIS EB-5 Adjudicator Training Materials. Regional Center Business Journal 2(4): 36-37.
- Lazicki, S. (2014). 2013 Regional Center Approval Letters. Regional Center Business Journal 2(4): 29-30.
- Lazicki, S. & L. Li (2014). New I-526 Data by Country Illuminates EB-5 Investor Demand Trends. Regional Center Business Journal 2(1): 16-19.
- Lazicki, S. (2013). USCIS EB-5 Training Materials 2008 to 2011. In IIUSA 2013 Forum Handbook. Washington, D.C.: IIUSA, pp. 28-37.

























