The EB-5 “Investor Green Card” is a permanent residency U.S. visa designed to allow permanent U.S. residency to foreign investors who are willing to invest significant capital in American companies.
The conditions require:
- An investment of $1.8 million or more (or at least $900,000 in certain rural areas or regions with high unemployment);
- And that the company will employ at least ten full-time positions for either American citizens or legal permanent residents.
EB-5 visa applications have become much more popular in recent years after the USCIS relaxed the requirements and increased the consistency of granting EB-5 applications.
Benefits of an EB-5 Green Card
- This Green Card is often granted faster, both for the petitioner and any family members.
- It does not require a job offer in place or labor certification.
- You do not have to disclose your net worth.
- The applicant is not required to be highly involved in the application process.
Criteria for Investing in a New Business
- The investor must be investing at least US $1.8 million (or at least $900,000 if in a designated targeted employment area).
The targeted employment area is a rural area or area that has experienced a high unemployment rate of at least 150% of the national average. - The investment must be shown to benefit the U.S. economy, usually by providing goods or services to domestic markets.
- The new business must — directly or indirectly — create at least ten full-time positions for U.S. workers.
– May include citizens, Green Card holders, and others allowed to work in the U.S.
– May not include the EB-5 petitioner or their family members. - The capital investment does not have to be all cash but may also comprise:
– Cash equivalents or indebtedness are secured by the investor’s assets and for which they are liable.
– Equipment, stock, or other tangible property. - The EB-5 petitioner may be involved directly in a management capacity or as a limited partner.
