EB-5 Direct3 min read

Visa Business: EB-5, the ‘Green Card’ Investor (2024)

The EB-5 is a green card based on jobs that allows foreigners to invest money in business that will create at least 10 jobs for full-time investor.

EB-5

Written by

Visa Franchise

Published on

25 Feb 2022

EB-5 Visa is a green card based on jobs that allow foreigners to invest money in projects or businesses. These must create at least 10 jobs for full-time investors.

Regional centers have multiplied over the years, but the trend as the investment is business investment, called Direct Investment. Direct investments are where anyone can touch their own business or buy an existing business or a franchise, and have a management function and operation of this business.

E-B5 Visa, by Steve Maggi, Immigration Lawyer 

The financial facet of the EB-5 visa experienced substantial transformation with the enactment of the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act. Previously, the minimum investment stood at $1,000,000, with targeted employment areas necessitating $500,000. Post-update, the minimum investment now stands at $1,050,000, while targeted employment areas require $800,000.

There is another option, the E-2 Visa. A non-immigrant Visa that allows those who want a green card with an investment of substantial value, but usually with a less substantial value.

Who Applies for the EB-5 Investor Visa

The E-2 applies to those who come from about 80 countries that have a treaty with the US. As most of the world’s population lives in a few countries, mainly in the countries of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, Indonesia, India, China, and South Africa), and none of these countries have an E-2 treaty with the US, many of EB-5 investors come from these countries.

EB-5 also allows those who already have seen E-2, to convert their visas to green cards. Especially if they can reach the limit for investment.

Can show that it will create or have already created 10 or more full-time jobs through its investment. It provides citizens with E-2 that are already in the US. But that does not have the $500,000 or $1,000,000, opportunity to start a business and get an E-2 Visa. And eventually to become an EB-5 green card for themselves and any dependent members of their families. Spouses and children up to 21 years, provided that the required amount invested.

About Citizens From Non-Treaty Countries

For all who are not eligible for E-2 because they do not have citizenship of any country treated, the EB-5 Visa is one of the few options you have.

If you want to play your own business, you need to invest at least the required amount of  $500,000 in a business model which ensures the creation of several places of required jobs.

This path is presented as an extension of the E-2. He encourages entrepreneurship to a higher price range, but no nationality restrictions. All you need is capital and pursue a business model that guarantees jobs.

If this capital is not available, then you can start a business in their home country and after a year creates a subsidiary in the US and apply for an L-1 Visa, which can usually be used as a platform for the green card.