Foreign investment is nothing new for the savvy investor, but did you know investing in a United States business entity can earn you permanent residency in the United States? It is not an easy or cheap process, but it can be done, especially for the shrewd investor. With the help of a qualified immigration lawyer in U.S., you could be on your way to an investor’s green card soon enough. Are you looking to make an investment in the U.S.? Let’s get started today.
How can our U.S. immigration law firm help? Let’s start with talking about the EB-5 program and process. The application process is long and complicated, and it is very important to understand the nature of your investment. Remember that your green card is contingent on its success. An experienced immigration lawyer can help you.
The EB-5 Investor Visa
The EB-5 visa program came about around 1990 and was developed as a way to attract foreign investment from aspiring immigrants into the U.S. economy. Since then, we have seen billions of dollars and many new permanent residents to the United States. About 10,000 EB-5 visas are available every year. With the help of a good immigration lawyer in the U.S., you could be one of the recipients. The EB-5 application process comes with many hurdles, but nothing you cannot overcome with the help of a good U.S. immigration law firm. What hurdles you face along the way will be worth the investment, though. The EB-5 program is a very attractive option for foreign investors and aspiring immigrants.
With the EB-5 investor program, the processing times for green cards are substantially higher for certain selected countries. You might be facing a wait time of three to six years. However, you will be able to apply for a green card for your family members, including unmarried children under 21 and your spouse. An immigration lawyer in the U.S. can assist you in that regard.
Your investment will be subject to several economic criteria evaluated by USCIS. It must, for example, create at least ten jobs over two years for qualifying U.S. workers. A qualifying U.S. worker is a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylum recipient. A “U.S. worker” may not include the investors or a member of their family. With the help of an established U.S. immigration law firm like CFUIS that knows how to handle these types of investments, you can determine if your investment is appropriate.
How Does Your Investment Qualify?
The EB-5 investor program includes investments in for-profit activity which meets one of the following criteria:
- An investment of $800,000 for targeted employment area (TEA) or $1.05mil for non-targeted area in capital;
- In a new commercial enterprise;
- Which creates at least 10 jobs.
In order to qualify for the EB-5 visa, you will be required to make a substantial minimum investment. The good news is, eventually, your money will come back to you along with lawful permanent residency in the United States. Some recent changes in the EB-5 investor program have recently increased those minimum required investment . However, the threshold can be significantly smaller if you invest in a TEA.
Targeted Employment Areas
A targeted employment area, defined by USCIS, usually means a sector in the American economy that is struggling. It includes businesses that operate within the locality of rural areas or areas with an unemployment rate 50% higher or more than the national average.
TEA investments are a common option pursued by an aspiring EB-5 investor. You may want to consult a U.S. immigration law firm to determine if your investment fits into a TEA classification. Fortunately, our team can help. You can schedule a consultation with us today.
Investing in EB-5 Regional Centers
Many aspiring U.S. immigrants and investors will choose to invest in EB-5-immigrant investor pilot programs, an attractive option for many due to various factors. By going through a regional center, you can find the program that works for you as you struggle to find new investment opportunities in the country.
It is important to note that regional centers, as defined by USCIS, do not mean local geographical areas. Rather, it refers to an actual business entity or organization that connects investors with valid EB-5 opportunities. The regional center does not have jurisdiction over its location but works with business needs in the region.
Regional centers have grown substantially over time. Thousands of regional centers have been established throughout the country due to the growing demand for EB-5 investment. In 2007 only 26% of EB-5 visa recipients invested in these programs, but that increased substantially to 85%, while today, those numbers are closer to 95%. However, investors must beware of entities or individuals who promote projects. Some have collected money from investors and disappeared into thin air. As a U.S. immigration law firm, we are not part of any regional centers and we do not promote any particular project. We, however, do help investors screen projects and guide them based on available information on the projects. For example, there are over 600 regional centers promoting EB-5 projects.
It is hard for the innocent investor to know which of the regional centers is viable or not viable. Working closely with our resource providers, we are able to conduct due diligence on projects and guide our clients appropriately.
Applying for the EB-5 Investor Visa
The EB-5 visa is the fifth employment-based preference immigrant visa category. Applying for the program is anything but easy. It is important that you solicit the assistance of an experienced immigration attorney who can help you navigate through the process. Depending on whether you are in the U.S., after approval of your petition, you will receive your green card by going through consular processing or adjustment of status. One of the advantages is that EB-5 investors do NOT require any labor certification.
Get Started with an Immigration Lawyer in the U.S.
If you are in the process of or considering an investment in the U.S. for immigration purposes, you need to be aware of the long road ahead. Although the U.S. wants to attract foreign investment, you could still end up spending months or years on the process. It will not be easy, but with the help of a good immigration lawyer in the U.S., you can make it happen.
If you are an investor with substantial funds but not up to the above stated funds, we can evaluate you for employment-based investment option which could complement your skills.
Consider our team of dedicated professionals. Every immigration lawyer we employ has years of experience and is personally committed to your success. With decades of combined experience, our U.S. immigration law firm can assure you that we are here to help.
Call 800-403-8117 today for a consultation or get in touch with one of our team members. We will get you as a foreign investor on the path to U.S. immigration success. We hope to get started with you soon!
