EB-5 Visa Requirements
The EB-5 visa is established by the USCIS for foreign investors. Through foreigners investing in the United States, foreign citizens can obtain green cards. The purpose is to attract foreign funds for the establishment of new commercial enterprises or reorganization of existing enterprises and to provide new employment opportunities for the United States and promote the development of the US economy. Investors can invest by themselves, or through the Regional Investment Center (Regional Center, RC). The U.S. immigration law does not have any requirements on the academic qualifications, work background, language, age, etc. of foreign investors of this category. Investment immigration belongs to the fifth category of professional immigration (EB-5).
Can I get a green card if I buy a house in the USA? No. You can’t get a green card simply by buying a house in the U.S. In fact, owning real estate doesn’t ordinarily give you any visa or other immigration benefits. … Another possible option is the EB-5 Immigrant Investor program. Sep 26, 2013
How much money do you need to invest to get a green card?
Applicants for a green card through investment (Employment Fifth Preference or EB-5) must not only invest $1.8 million in a new, restructured, or expanded U.S. business (or $900,000 if it’s in an economically disadvantaged, “targeted unemployment” area), they must take an active role in that business.
How do you qualify for EB-5?
EB-5 Visa Eligibility Create a new business, Take over an existing, troubled business (a business that has lost 20% of its total net worth) and retain all existing jobs, Take over and grow an existing business (growth defined as 140% increase in either net worth or jobs) or Invest in an existing, approved Regional Center.
The investor’s spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 can apply for investment immigration along with the investor
If the investor himself does not intend to immigrate, he can also donate the investment funds to his adult children (over 18 years of age), whose adult children apply as applicants. In the case that other immigration application channels (relative immigration, other occupational immigration) are not easy to achieve, this type of application undoubtedly provides a convenient way for wealthy people with better economic conditions to immigrate to the United States.
Tips: Approximately 10,000 visa quotas are allocated to EB-5 immigrants in the United States each year. The number of visas for each country is limited to 7% of the total EB-5 quota (approximately 700 visas). In 2009, the number of applications for investment immigration from China surpassed that of South Korea, ranking first.
How long does it take to get a green card through EB-5?
The government usually issues a permanent green card around 6 months after the I-829 has been submitted. The EB-5 Visa is also fast! The average processing time for the EB5 Visa is six months, and the initial application and petition are usually approved within 60 days from the date of filing.
How much does an EB-5 visa cost?
If an EB5 project is in a Targeted Employment Area (“TEA”) the qualifying investment amount is currently $900,000.
EB-5 Visa Cost & Requirements. Admin Fees $65,000 – $90,000
Investment immigration EB5, the applicant is outside the United States, the procedure when applying for a green card is as follows:
1. Investors select investment projects that meet legal requirements and invest in regional centers or their own investment management;
2. The investor submits an immigration application I-526 to the immigration office;
3. After approval by the Immigration Bureau, the investor will go to the U.S. Embassy for a DS-260 visa;
4. After the visa is approved, the investor enters the United States with an investment immigrant visa and obtains a two-year conditional green card;
5. Two years later (from one year and nine months), the investor submits an application to the Immigration Department, requesting that the conditional green card be removed and converted to a permanent green card I-829.
The First Step is to Apply for I-526:
Submit I-526 (Foreign Entrepreneur Investment Immigration Application) to the Immigration Department and attach supporting documents. These documents include business plans, investment capital certification, legal capital certification, loan documents, etc. Generally, it takes 2-4 times, and the Immigration Bureau will process the application. The focus of the Immigration Bureau’s review is whether the investor has actually invested the amount of investment required by the law and has brought at least 10 direct or indirect employment opportunities to the United States.
Step 2 Immigrant Visa DS-260:
Once approved and the scheduled time is up, the investor immigrant applicant can begin to apply for a “temporary green card”, and then queue up for an interview at the local US consulate. After passing the visa, the family can land in the US to obtain a temporary green card. The applicant’s spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 can follow to apply for a green card, and the process usually takes six months to one year.
Step 3: Apply for a Permanent Green Card
Within three months of holding a temporary green card for two years, the U.S. investment immigrant applicant must submit an I-829 application to the Immigration Service. If the I-829 is passed, a permanent green card can be obtained.
After obtaining a 10-year green card, you can apply for a re-entry permit, and you can apply to become a citizen after 5 years. If you do not apply for citizenship, you can also renew a 10-year green card.