OFAC Compliance
for Immigration and
Investment Programs
Protect Your Immigration Operations
from Sanctions-Related Risks
Sanctions compliance is now an essential part of global immigration and investment. The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) enforces restrictions on dealings with certain countries, sectors, and individuals. These rules can directly affect visa sponsors, investors, universities, recruiters, and financial intermediaries handling immigration-linked funds or partnerships. At Kameli Law, we help organizations integrate sanctions controls into immigration and investment workflows — preventing delays, denials, or costly violations.
Why Sanctions Compliance Matters
OFAC lists — such as the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list — are updated frequently and without warning. Engaging in transactions with a restricted party, even unintentionally, can trigger serious legal and reputational consequences. Our goal is to help you identify and block potential exposure early, ensuring every investor, client, or partner in your immigration programs has been properly vetted.
Effective OFAC compliance helps you avoid:
- Accepting funds from or partnering with a sanctioned person or entity
- Facilitating immigration filings tied to restricted jurisdictions
- Frozen transactions or blocked accounts
- Delays in EB-5 or E-2 processing due to unverified fund sources
Our OFAC Compliance & Sanctions Services
Kameli Law provides end-to-end solutions tailored for immigration-focused organizations and investment entities.
Screening & Due Diligence
We integrate SDN, Consolidated List, and beneficial ownership screening into every stage — from investor onboarding to payment verification.
We identify your exposure based on geography, intermediaries, and funding flows, and then rank risks to guide your next steps.
Risk Assessment & Gap Analysis
Policy & Internal Control Design
We create or refine written policies: escalation procedures, documentation standards, recordkeeping, and event-driven rechecks.
Customized training for admissions, finance, and compliance staff with real-world red-flag examples.
Training & Awareness
Ongoing Monitoring & Alerts
Establishing re-screening schedules (monthly, quarterly, or event-driven) aligned with OFAC’s unpredictable update cycle.
If a potential match arises, we provide playbooks for verification, escalation, and voluntary self-disclosure to limit liability.
Investigation & Self-Disclosure Guidance
Vendor & Partner Compliance
We audit and enhance partner controls — including recruiters, escrow managers, and fund administrators — to prevent downstream violations.
Who Should
Consider OFAC Review
Consequences of Non-Compliance
- Civil fines under a strict liability standard — even for accidental violations
- Criminal penalties in aggravated cases
- Delays, frozen payments, or terminated banking relationships
- Suspension of EB-5 or E-2 operations
- Significant reputational damage and regulatory scrutiny
Frequently Asked Questions
How often are sanctions lists updated?
There’s no set schedule — updates can occur weekly or even daily.
Is one-time screening enough?
No. Ongoing monitoring and event-based re-checks are essential to maintain compliance.
What should I do if a match appears?
Gather additional identifiers (date of birth, address, nationality), verify accuracy, document findings, and consult counsel before acting.
Why screen beneficial owners?
Even if a company name isn’t listed, ownership or control by a sanctioned person can create liability.
How does this affect immigration programs like EB-5?
Sanctions screening complements source-of-funds reviews, ensuring that investment capital and participants comply with U.S. regulations.
Work with Experienced Immigration Compliance Counsel
OFAC compliance is not only about avoiding penalties — it’s about protecting your organization’s reputation, investors, and future immigration opportunities.