USA (EB-5)

The United States, the “land of opportunities” has the most technologically advanced economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $63,051. US firms are at or near the forefront in technological advances, especially in computers, pharmaceuticals, and medical, aerospace, and military equipment. Based on a comparison of GDP measured at purchasing power parity conversion rates, the U.S. economy in 2014, having stood as the largest in the world for more than a century, slipped into second place behind China, which has more than tripled the U.S. growth rate for each year of the past four decades.

The United States, needless to say, is an immigration favorite. So, it’s only natural that they offer one of the most popular residency programs in the world, the U.S. EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program wish allows investors to enjoy the best of what the U.S. has to offer.

The USA is a multicultural nation that boasts a robust economy and a wide range of opportunities. It also offers an extremely high standard of living. Here are a few more reasons why the USA EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program is worth it.

• There are no minimum requirements with regard to educational qualifications or language skills.
• There are no minimum requirements with regard to managerial or business experience.
• Applicants are not required to live in the country after investing.
• No restrictions on the source of investment capital. The money can be sourced via inheritance, business, or even as a gift. The only condition is that it must have been acquired legally.
• Applicants gain the opportunity to work, study, and live in the United States. They also enjoy lower tuition fees.
• Children below 21 are included as dependents.

Apart from fulfilling the investment options, applicants are required to meet the following criteria:

• They must be 21 or older.
• They must prove that their funds have been sourced legally.

For citizenship, the criteria are as follows:

• Minimum 18 years of age.
• Must have resided in the US or held a Legal Permanent Resident Status (Green Card) for a minimum of 5 years before applying for citizenship.
• Must have been present in the US for at least 30 months out of a total 60 months, before applying for citizenship.
• Must have lived in the US continuously from the time the application for naturalization was submitted to the actual time of naturalization.
• Must be proficient in English (written and spoken) and possess a knowledge of American History and Civics.
• Must display good moral character and be willing to abide by the rule of law.

In general, participation in the EB-5 program is feasible through two main methods:

• Regional Centers

Regional Centers are companies which are authorized to develop a specific area. These companies aggregate investors’ funds and allocate them to their projects. Should an investor manage to acquire a permanent green card, the Regional Centers will return the investor’s investment funds in cash or by offering them share in the ownership of the company, an issue which hinges on the terms of the agreement. As part of this option, an applicant must invest a min US$1.8 million* into the approved project.

• Direct Investment

In the direct investment method, investors launch a business, whether alone or together with fellow-investors in compliance with EB-5 requirements including the investment of sufficient funds, min US$1.8 million* and the creation of the required 10 US jobs. Individuals initially transfer their funds to their business account in the United States and thereafter, the investment capital will be devoted to their own business.

The most important element of the EB-5 program is the necessity of the investment amount of US$800,000* (at minimum) being at risk.

*Amount of min US$800,000 is possible for projects/businesses that are located within a Targeted Employment Area (TEA). This includes areas with an unemployment rate that is 150% of the overall national rate or any rural location.

• Can I apply for EB-5 while on H1b?

An H1-b visa holder can apply for an EB-5 visa while working in the United States and remain in valid status. If the I-526 petition is approved and a visa number is available when the H-1b visa holder is legally working in the U.S., an I-485 petition can be filed to adjust the applicant’s status to become a conditional permanent resident.

• Can I work with EB-5 visa?

An EB-5 investor is eligible to work for any U.S. employees after becoming a conditional permanent resident or obtaining work authorizations. Investors do not need to work for the regional center through which they make the investment. If investors or dependents want to work for the very EB-5 business they invest in, they should be aware that their positions may not be used to fulfill the job creation criteria.

• How long does it take for EB-5 to work?

EB-5 processing times are case-specific. USCIS’ website publishes the estimated processing times of various EB-5 forms at different service centers. For an investor from a country without visa backlogs, once the I-526 is approved, he or she can either file a DS-260 and obtain an EB-5 visa to enter the U.S., or proceed with an I-485 application to adjust status while in the U.S. Upon approval, the investor can live and work without restrictions and start to enjoy the benefits of EB-5.

• Who is eligible for EB-5?

To be eligible for the EB-5 program, investors need to be able to make the required investment in a U.S. business and create jobs. Potential investors must also be able to prove the legal source of funds for their investment to qualify. Unlike investment immigration programs from some other countries that have strict criteria on the applicants’ net worth, the EB-5 program does not impose such requirements on applicants. Investors also don’t need to show that they are accredited investors, as demanded by SEC for other types of securities offerings.

Make United States your second home 

Visa-Free Countries

328,239,523
POPULATION
US$63,051
GDP nominal (per capita)
US$20.807 trillion
GDP (purchasing power parity)

CAPITAL CITY
Washington D.C.
TIME ZONE
UTC−4 to −12, +10, +11
TOTAL AREA
9,833,520 km2
LANGUAGES
English
CURRENCY
USD $
MAIN INDUSTRY
Aerospace, Agriculture, Chemical, Computer, Real Estate

KEY ADVANTAGES

• The largest consumer market on earth with GDP over $19 trillion and 325 million people
• Nexus of Innovation: recognized leader in research and development (R&D)
• Opportunity to live, work and study anywhere in the U.S. and benefit from lower tuition fees

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Disclaimer
The materials contained in this page are provided for general information purposes only and are not intended to provide legal or other professional advice. Processing times and costs will vary depending on a number of factors. CitizenMatch is not responsible for any changes to the time and cost estimates; we can provide specific time and cost estimates on an individual basis. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer
The materials contained in this page are provided for general information purposes only and are not intended to provide legal or other professional advice. Processing times and costs will vary depending on a number of factors. CitizenMatch is not responsible for any changes to the time and cost estimates; we can provide specific information on an individual basis. All rights reserved.