EB-5 Investor Visa Program

EB-5 Investor Visa Program is a program which was created by United States of America government for generating employment by developing economy. It gives the opportunity of permanent residency and working permit by giving a Green Card for the foreign investor.

The annual quota of the program is 10.000 investor visa and it is legislated by Immigration and Nationality Act section 203(b)(5)

EB-5 Immigrant Investor (USCIS)

You may have the opportunity of having a permanent residency permit (Green Card) and even USA citizenship if you want, after a 5 year period together with your spouse and unmarried children by investing $500,000 to a real estate project in USA.

EB-5 Investor Program is the easiest and shortest way of obtaining a Green Card in America. Once the application is done, the first process will be done within 10 to 14 months and the investor and their family (their spouse and children younger than age 21 will be given their Green Cards.

IMPORTANT CHANGES TO EB-5 PROGRAM EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 21, 2019

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a FINAL RULE  that will raise the minimum investment requirement under the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, from $ 500,000 to $900,000 U.S. effective on November 21st, 2019. The vast majority of foreign investors choose this route usually involving an approved regional center project where the funds are placed in a commercial project for a period of about five years. The change will mean that foreign investors will need to adjust to the higher $900,000 amount.

Investors that would like to take advantage of the $500,000 investment have time until November 21st to apply for the EB-5 before the new rule takes effect.

Key changes in the new rule include the following:

• The investment amount for regional centers will increase from $500,000 to $900,000.
• The direct EB-5  investment amount will increase from $1 million to $1.8 million.
• In order to eliminate gerrymandering, states will no longer be able to designate regional centers; that will be reviewed and determined by DHS.
• To improve the adjudication process and provide flexibility, certain derivative family members will have to file independently of the principal investor to remove conditions on their permanent residences. To help with priority date issues, in certain circumstances, petitioners will be able to retain priority dates from previously approved EB-5 petitions.

Path to Citizenship

EB-5 Visa Program will provide an openly defined process of permanent residency permit (Green Card) and eventually a right of obtaining citizenship in USA to the investor, their spouse and children younger than age 21.

Advantages of Green Card

Green Card owners will have the right of living, working, starting a business, investing and retiring in anywhere they choose in USA. The other advantages of Green Card are listed below:

• Right of applying for USA citizenship
• Having the right of travelling and working at other countries as long as the residency in USA continues
• Being a sponsor for their relatives’ Green Card applications
• Being able to apply for federal financial aid for education and discount on intrastate state university fees
• Being able to work and establish a business without getting additional permit from USA Citizenship and Immigration Services