Foreign Investors Immigrate With An EB-5 Visa

Would you like to live and work in the United State? Since 9/11, the political and economic climate has made it increasingly difficult for foreigners trying to gain permanent resident status in the U.S. The usual pathways to getting that all-important green card have become long, arduous processes that, more often than not, end in disappointment. Of course, it’s an ill wind that does no good, and while the economy crunch may be hard for the average Joe trying to live out the American dream, it’s created a serious need for cash ready investors. And that’s a win-win situation for any foreign investor who dreams of starting or running a business on American soil.

How It Works

The EB-5 investor visa was instigated by the U.S. government in the Immigration Act of 1990- the same Act that also created the immigrant lottery program, which grants a certain number of random U.S. visas per year. Unlike the game show-like lottery program, however, the EB-5 visa requires immigrants to meet rigidly policed parameters, and entails a significant outlay of both time and money. With minimum investment requirements set at between $500,000 and $1 million, and a stipulation that the business or enterprise supported by that investment creates a minimum number of sustainable jobs for American workers, the EB-5 isn’t for everyone. But for those who dream of coming to America and starting or running their own business, it’s a smart two-for-one package of dream come true and permanent resident status for both the investor and his or her immediate family.

Eligibility

The requirements for getting a visa through the EB-5 program are deceptively simple, but scratch below the surface and you’ll find a whole lot of work going on. Essentially, foreign investors are eligible for permanent residence status through the EB-5 visa if they:

*Establish an original, American based commercial business or enterprise – or—expand a pre-existing American business or enterprise by increasing the net worth or job capacity by 140%.

*Invest a minimum of between $500,000 and $1 million, dependent on program requirements relating to specific business types.

*Positively impact the U.S. economy by creating and maintaining a minimum of ten full-time positions for American workers.


Upon acceptance into the program, foreign investors receive a conditional visa for themselves and their immediate family, valid for a period of up to two years. During this time, investors are required to fulfill and maintain the EB-5 eligibility terms, file masses of paperwork documenting the process, and apply for unconditional permanent resident status on a strictly scheduled deadline. Most successful candidates find that hiring an experienced EB-5 consultant is the way to go. The American dream isn’t dead, but it is suffering from inflation. Like everything else, from the price of a cup of coffee to a loaf of bread, the cost of immigrating to America and starting a business has increased exponentially since the old pioneer days, but for a person with the right resources and mindset, the beacon on Liberty Island still shines.