U.S. EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program

Investment required: from US$900,000

To qualify for an EB-5 Visa, an investor must finance an enterprise, including a new business entity (provided the investor undertakes to create jobs), an existing troubled business, or an expanding company.

The capital for investment through a regional center ranges from U.S. $900,000 for rural areas and areas with high unemployment, to U.S. $1.8 million as a standard requirement. The investor must guarantee that he/she will use these funds to hire or retain at least 10 qualified workers for a minimum of two years. Potential employees include U.S. nationals and legal refugees, but not the investor’s family members.

Status: Temporary residence.

Description: Launched in 1990, the EB-5 program was created to spur the economy by attracting foreign investment. International entrepreneurs were supposed to create jobs for U.S. residents while subsidizing and invigorating unprofitable or failing businesses.

Benefits for EB-5 visa holders:

Once the investor complies to all the requirements, he/she is entitled to multiple benefits, including:

• The investor and his/her spouse and unmarried children under 21 years of age are eligible for the ‘Green Card’;
• The investor may live and work in any part of the United States;
• The investor is free to enter and leave the country at any time;
• Access to public schools and lower cost in-state tuition at public colleges and universities (primarily, in the investor’s state of residence).

Benefits for passport holders: The applicant enjoys all the rights conferred by U.S. citizenship, including visa-free and visa-on-arrival access to 184 countries and territories, public education, medical services, and more. 

Time allowed outside the country: There are no requirements regarding permanent residence, but the investor must come to the USA not less than once a year.

Website: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.