Immigrant program allows immigrants to “Invest” in a Visa.
Invest over $500,000, get a green card!
The EB-5 is a special program designed to allow people to invest money
toward their green card. Instead of waiting years and jumping through
several hoops to earn and EB-5, international investors can take a different
route to U.S. citizenship by investing in a U.S.-based business. Here,
we have broken down the basics of the EB-5 Visa to help you better understand
the process and its requirements.
Qualifying for the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program
The United States Congress created the “EB-5” Immigrant Investor
Program in 1990. The program is administered by the United States Citizen
and Immigration Services (USCIS). Through the program, a certain number
of EB-5 Visas were set aside for investors with proposals for projects
that will stimulate the U.S. economy and promote economic growth. To qualify
for an EB-5, you must:
Be an Investor in a U.S. Business
International investors seeking to immigrate to the U.S. via this program
need to invest in a new for-profit business established after November
29 of 1990. Business types include sole proprietorships, partnerships,
holding companies, joint ventures, corporations and publicly or privately
held business trusts.
Are you involved with a U.S.-based business that was established before
November 29, 1990? You can still be considered for an EB-5 Visa if your
business was expanded or restructured after the aforementioned date.
Create jobs for U.S. Citizens
Businesses that qualify for consideration for an EB-5 Visa must also create
jobs, as this is an important part of stimulating the economy. The program
requires that a business owned by a foreign investor seeking an EB-5 Visa
employ at least 10 U.S. citizens on a full-time basis to qualify. These
jobs can be created within two years of the immigrant investor’s
admission to the U.S. The jobs need to be created in a growing business
or protected in a distressed business.
Invest capital in a U.S. Business
Capital can be cash, equipment, inventory, other tangible property you
own and are personally liable for. The capital amount expected to qualify
for an EB-5 Visa is $500,000.
While the EB-5 isn’t for everyone, this method of obtaining entry
into the U.S. as a permanent conditional citizen can be an excellent option
for international investors.
Have questions? Call our immigration lawyers in West Palm Beach!
The skilled and experienced professionals at Sarah Rama and Associates
can help you determine whether you qualify for an EB-5 Visa.
Contact our team to learn more and ask us questions. We are here to help distill complicated
legal terms and concepts, putting them into plain terms for you!