Eb-5 Investor Visa Program
What is EB-5 Visa Program?
If you are an investor looking for great investment opportunities offering multiple additional benefits, you may want to take a look at the EB-5 program offered by the United States. This program was created by the U.S. Congress in 1990 after the Immigration and Nationality Act was passed. It offers an opportunity to foreign investors to invest in the United States and fast track their application for a U.S. green card and citizenship.
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Foreign investors have the option of directly investing either $1 million to create 10 direct full-time jobs for Americans, or just $500,000 in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA) through a regional center and create 10 direct or indirect full-time jobs.
This is why the full form of EB-5 Visa is Employment-Based Fifth Preference Visa
How Does the EB-5 Green Card Benefit Foreign Investor?
Basic Steps In the EB-5 Investor Visa Application Process
STEP 1
Express interest in an available EB-5 business project offered by Starz Investment, Inc. We currently offer a New York Studio Building Development project for EB-5/ EB6 L1 investors.
STEP 4
Filing form I-526. This is one of the first forms an Investor will fill as part of applying for an EB-5 visa. The form will be submitted to USCIS with the help of EB-5 attorney.
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STEP 2
Prove financial capability. The investor has to prove that they have sufficient capital investment to invest in the project and this investment should be from lawful sources.
STEP 3
Transfer money into an escrow account. The foreign investor has to invest a minimum of US$ 1 million (or US$ 500,000 in a rural area or an area with high unemployment rate)
STEP 5
2-year Conditional Permanent Residency. Upon approval of the I-526 form, if the immigrant investor has already arrived in the United States, they are allowed to change their residency status to 2 conditional permanent residency.
STEP 6
Filing I-829 petition for permanent residency. After 2 years while filling this form an investor has to prove that the investment has created 10 direct full-time jobs of U.S. citizens.
The EB5 program spurs the U.S. economy by creating jobs throughout USA. For the foreign investors, it offers multiple significant benefits, like:
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Get a U.S. Green Card without waiting
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Fast track naturalization process that leads to U.S. citizenship after just 5 years
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Travel in and out of the United States without visa restrictions
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No sponsorship requirement
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The investor, spouse and all children under the age of 21 are eligible for U.S. Green Card
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Freedom to live in any part of the United States
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The investor and family enjoys all rights and benefits imparted to U.S. citizens
Since there is no waiting list for getting EB-5 Green Card, the moment the investor is approved by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the investor and the immediate family receive the Green Card, allowing them access to all services that any US citizen is eligible for
Requirements for EB-5 Investment Visa
The immigrant investor necessarily has to invest capital to start a for-profit business in the United States. Depending on the type of investment project the investor participates in, the minimum capital investment can be $1 million or just $500,000.
If the investor wants to start a business as an individual, he or she needs to invest $1 million and ensure the investment creates 10 direct, full-time jobs for Americans. Here, indirect jobs created by setting up the business are not taken into consideration.
On the other hand, investors can approach a regional center approved by the U.S. government and be a part of the investment opportunities the center has. In this case, the immigrant investor has to invest $500,000 in a Targeted Employment Area. This is an area where the unemployment rate is high; the rate has to be at least 150 percent of the national average and the area should have a minimum population of 20,000. The investment again needs to create 10 full-time jobs for Americans, but here they can be direct or indirect jobs.