EB-5 Green Cards
Program Overview:
EB-5 immigrant visa program was created in 1990 for indivuals who are willing to invest and create at least 10 full-time jobs. Although the minimum investment amount is $1.000.000 USD, this amount is lower ($500.000) if the investment is made into ‘targeted employment area’ (a rural area or an area with unemployment of 150% of the national average.)
There are two ways of acquiring the Green Card within this program. An investor can make an individual business investment or invest through a regional centre into a project which is approved by USCIS. For the individual business investments, the responsibility of 10 jobs creation belongs to the investor and is calculated by direct employment. In contrast, the calculation of employment for the regional centre projects is based on the economic models which includes direct and indirect employment.
There are various Regional Centre projects in different areas of USA. Some of them are paying higher returns than the others. As it is supposed to be there is a risk-return relation. The annual interest rate changes from 0.25% to 4% (sometimes even higher) depending on the project. Due to the default risk of the projects, investors should be very careful about project selection. Additionally, equity structure of the projects and the total employment created are the significant factors for project selection.
The process usually takes up to 16 months to 24 months. In first place, the investor receives a green card for two years, and after the verification of minimum 10 employments criteria, the investor has a right to acquire a permanent Green Card. At the end of 5 year residency, the investor can apply for US citizenship. For more information and questions please contact us.
Green Card: Alien registration card issued by the US
immigration authorities to non-US citizens permitted to live and work in the US
for an indefinite period. It was printed on green paper.
USCIS: United States Citizenship and Immigration Services