US EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program
The United States (US) offers foreign investors and their families the opportunity to obtain a permanent residence permit (green card) and even US citizenship through the Immigrant Investor Program, also known as the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. The EB-5 program is considered the fastest and easiest way to obtain permanent residency and citizenship in the US, but it requires a specific investment.
To apply for the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, the required investment amounts are as follows:
- Invest $500,000 in designated regional centers in the US, or
- Invest $1,000,000 in a new enterprise in the desired state in the US.
New commercial enterprises participating in the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program must meet the following criteria:
- The company must have been established after November 29, 1990, or
- If the company was established before November 29, 1990:
- It must be restructured or expanded to qualify as a new commercial enterprise, or
- The investment must lead to at least a 40% increase in net worth or employment.
Commercial enterprises that are accepted under the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program include:
- Sole proprietorship
- Limited or general partnership
- Holding company
- Joint venture
- Corporation
- Business trust or other entities
The investor's spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 can also apply for the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. The US government has designated regional centers in Alabama, California, Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Vermont, South Dakota, South Carolina, Texas, Washington, Virginia, and Wisconsin. These centers support various sectors, such as Alternative Energy, Infrastructure Investments, Health Sector, Industrial Investments, Urban Renewal Projects, Agriculture, and Mass Housing Investments.
EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program applications generally take between 12 to 18 months to process. Once the investor and family members enter the US with the EB-5 immigrant visa, they go through a "Conditional Green Card" period that lasts for 5 years. After 2 years for those with Conditional Green Cards or 3 years for those with regular Green Cards, they can apply for US citizenship.
Benefits of the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program include:
- Investors and their families have the right to travel, live, and study in the US.
- After completing certain requirements, they can apply for US citizenship.
- With a US passport, they can travel visa-free to approximately 172 countries.
There is no requirement for continuous presence in the US to maintain the Green Card.