Navigating the EB-5 Application Process – A Comprehensive Guide
There are a few crucial measures to use EB-5 to immigrate to the United States. Whether you’re a first-time investor or have had an EB-5 denial before, knowing your options is essential.
The EB-5 program requires a minimum $800,000 investment in a new business in a targeted employment area (TEA). It also involves the creation of 10 jobs for qualified US citizens.
Find a Qualifying Project or Business
By making a qualifying capital investment, investors can permanently become citizens of the United States under the EB-5 Visa program. In return, USCIS will issue the investor a “conditional” green card for two years, when they can live, work, and study in the United States.
The EB5 program is one of the most flexible ways to gain permanent resident status, allowing you and your family to live anywhere in the United States. It is because the EB-5 visa is not dependent on a visa sponsor like H-1B or F-1 visas.
Instead, an EB-5 investor invests in a regional center, which funds a job-creating enterprise. This new business must then create ten jobs (both direct and indirect) to qualify as an EB-5 investment.
Filing Your Petition
The EB5 application process is very complex. It involves many documents; you will need an attorney to navigate this.
The first step is to find a qualifying project or business and create a comprehensive business plan. Depending on the type of EB-5 you are applying for, this can take several months to a year or more.
Once you have found a qualified business or project, filing your petition is time. You must provide much information and evidence to USCIS, including your business plan, investment funds, personal financials, and other relevant information.
Additionally, you will need to demonstrate that you are a lawful investor, which indicates that the source of your investment capital is legitimate. This can be a salary, an investment in a legal business, the sale of lawfully obtained assets, a gift or inheritance, or a loan.
The EB-5 program is designed to stimulate the economy of the United States by providing foreign investors with the opportunity to obtain a green card through investment. The program mandates that applicants invest a minimum of $900,000 or $1,800,000 in a business in a targeted employment area (TEA), a region of low economic growth, or outside of the site, and generate a minimum of 10 jobs for qualified workers.
Create a Business Plan
To obtain funding from EB-5 investors, business owners must submit an EB-5 business plan. The project’s compliance with the EB5 investment plan and the likelihood that it will secure the necessary licenses and permits to do legal business in the United States must be shown in the program.
A strong EB-5 business plan will include detailed sales, cost, and income projections. An independent third party should draft these financial projections.
While creating a business plan can seem daunting, it can be a highly effective tool for any company looking to raise capital or improve its bottom line. The key is to focus on the purpose of your plan — if you are writing the program to attract investment, for example, be clear about why you want to raise this money and how it will benefit your business.
A business plan is a guide for achieving financial success and a map for the future. It should be customized for your target market and contain essential information like your mission statement, short- and long-term goals, and financial projections. It is a critical document that can be shared with new employees, potential partners, and investors to help them understand what your company does, how it works, and where you’re headed.
Invest Your Funds
The EB-5 program is a federally-authorized visa category that encourages foreign investment in job-creating U.S. projects or businesses in exchange for a green card. Currently, the minimum investment is $1 million.
After investing the required funds, investors receive a conditional green card for two years. During this time, they must create ten jobs in the United States.
Once the two-year conditional green card period ends, the investor may apply for permanent residency (green card). This process takes, on average, 13 months.
One of the best tools for economic growth to boost the economy and give American firms the funding they require is the EB-5 visa program. However, it is also subject to legislative and regulatory changes that could impact its success. This makes it crucial for those involved in EB-5 investments to act quickly and adapt their business models to achieve their goals.
Remove Conditions on Permanent Residency
If you started the relationship in good faith and have a green card based on marriage, you can be eligible for conditional permanent resident status. This is typically granted for two years and can be removed by filing Form I-751, the petition to remove conditions on permanent residency.
The EB-5 immigrant investor program was created in 1990 to stimulate the United States economy through foreign investment and create jobs for U.S. workers.
Investing in a new commercial enterprise or business in the United States that will create at least ten full-time jobs for US workers is the primary requirement for the EB-5 visa. Applicants can invest individually or through a “regional center” project.
The EB-5 application process can be challenging, so hiring a qualified lawyer and accountant is essential. The processing time for your EB-5 petition can range from 10 to 12 months, depending on how accurately your package is finished and the volume of work handled by the USCIS office where you file.