If you wish to obtain permanent residency in the US, you need the Business Investor Visa USA.
The EB-5 Visa is a version of a golden visa in the United States. The holder of this visa can live, work, pursue higher education, or even retire in the country without feeling the need to find an employer. If you are willing to get an EB-5 Visa, you are required to make a significant investment in the United States. Thus, this visa is appropriate for affluent individuals having their eye on a Green Card or US citizenship.
About Business Investor Visa USA
Gaining a legal status to reside and work in the US is not a walk in the park. So to say neither is it a very exhausting task. All you need to do is to get acquainted with the process for obtaining a US Green Card. One of the finest routes to acquiring it is the EB-5 Business Investor Visa USA.
This visa opens the doorway to PR in the US for those individuals who are willing to make an investment in government-approved projects. Introduced by the United States Congress in 1990, the program targets EB-5 visa consultants to give a boost to the economy through capital investment and job creation. Foreign investors may possibly qualify for the EB-5 by investing through regional centers. It is the 5th preference of US employment-based visas.
Here are four different tiers of EB-5 visas:
- C5 Visa: This tier is for investments outside target areas
- T5 Visa: This tier is for investments in areas facing a higher unemployment rate
- R5 Visa: This tier is for individuals participating in the Investor Pilot Program who are not engaged in target areas
- I5 Visa: This tier is for participants of the Investor Pilot Program
Requirements for EB-5 Business Investor Visa USA
EB-5 Visa is an investor’s, Green Card. To apply for EB-5 Business Investor Visa USA, here are the requirements you must consider:
- Must invest $1.05 million in a qualifying commercial enterprise
- The investment made must prove beneficial for the US economy by providing goods or services to the domestic marketsA minimum investment of $800,000 in a TEA (Targeted Employment Area) needs to be
- made with the assurance of creating no less than 10 full-time jobs in the country for its citizens for two years
Here is a list of things you do not require to apply for an EB-5 Business Investor Visa USA:
- There is no need to have a job offer lined up or a labor certification
- It is not compulsory to disclose your net worth
- There is no need to be highly involved during the process, unlike E2 Treaty Investor Visa Program which requires you to run the business
Documents Required to apply for an EB-5 Business Investor Visa USA
Here is a list of documents you require to file for an EB-5 Business Investor Visa:
- To begin with, file Form I-526, Immigrant Petition by alien investor
- Once the form is approved, file DS-260, Applicant for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration, with the U.S. Department of State for obtaining an EB-5 visa abroad.
- File Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Resident or Adjust Status, with USCIS for adjusting status to a provisional permanent resident within the US
- In addition, you are required to submit evidence that you have made an investment in, or are actively in the process of investing in, a “for-profit” new commercial enterprise.
- Demonstrate that you are, or will be, dealing with the new commercial enterprise
- Submit proof that the new commercial enterprise will create no less than ten full-time positions for qualifying employees
- Submit proof that the number of existing employees is, or will be, maintained at no less than the pre-investment level for no less than 2 years
Benefits of EB-5 Business Investor Visa USA
The following are some of the key benefits of the EB-5 Investment Route:
Access to Social Security
As you live and work in the United States, you pay taxes as well, and this makes you eligible for social security credits. Keep in mind that you need to work in the country for a decade to be able to qualify for these services. Furthermore, these benefits consist of retirement payments, disability benefits, and survivors’ benefits.
Access to Medicare
Once you have received your EB-5 Business Investor Visa USA, you obtain legal permanent resident status. Thus, you get access to Medicare in the US. However, it is intended for those individuals who are above 65 years of age with certain qualifying disabilities.
Permanent Status
After 2 years of keeping an eye on their investment in the EB-5 Business Investor Visa USA, the investors can apply for full permanent residency by filing the I-829 application. If it is approved, you, your spouse, and the children can stay and work in the United States permanently. In addition, you have the option to obtain US citizenship by investment.
Freedom to Live and Work Anywhere
While other types of visas, which allow you to live and work in the US have more stringent requirements as to where you choose to reside and work, and if you are unable to meet them you can lose your status, the EB-5 Visa Program provides numerous investors with a great opportunity to stay and work anywhere they want in the USA.
Access to World-Class Education System
Global children can enjoy the benefits of the world-class education system in the US through the EB-5 visa program. Also, you can attend colleges and universities at reduced tuition rates as available to residents of the United States.
Child Care Services
Obtaining an EB-5 Visa allows you to avail yourself of childcare services. Also, it makes you eligible for foster care and adoption assistance. For example, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is great for those children who do not qualify for Medicaid.
Investment Routes for EB-5 Program
Here are the investment routes you need to consider when applying for the EB-5 Business Investor Visa USA:
Investment through Regional Centers
The Regional Centers are economic development-promoting bodies that are attached to USCIS (short for United States Citizenship and Immigration Services). These centers target the economic stimulation in the TEAs by pooling the EB-5 investments.
Applicants for the EB-5 Investor Visa usually prefer making an investment through the Regional Centers. That is because their top priority is to immigrate to the United States than gain profit from the investment.
Direct Investment
This option requires you to establish your own business in the country or acquire an already existing company. You are required to create no less than 10 direct jobs for US citizens. Since this type of investment is made outside the TEAs where investment is much needed as well as encouraged, the required minimum amount to be invested is pretty higher.
How to Apply for an EB-5 Business Investor Visa USA?
Once you have settled your investment, the process of applying for an EB-5 Visa is mentioned below:
- Apply to the USCIS using Form I-526. It is basically the application form for an Investment Visa. The USCIS may possibly update the address to which you should submit the form. Make sure you check their website.
- The USCIS evaluates the application and then sends it to the NVC (National Visa Center)
- The NVC gets in touch with you asking for relevant fee payment and submission of the required documents. They will inform you how and where to pay the fee.
- Now you apply for an immigrant visa and appear for an interview at the US Embassy. The NVC will inform you when and where the interview will take place, and what documents you are required to bring.
- If everything goes appropriately, the Embassy of the United States issues your Immigrant Investor Visa (i.e. the 2-year Green Card).
- If you are already in the US, you have to file for adjustment of status (Form I-485) with the USCIS before applying at the US Embassy.
The United States of America remains one of the most desired destinations when it comes to making an investment. The US EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program offers a highly effective route to obtaining permanent residency (a Green Card) in a comparatively short period of time.
