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Obtaining the EB-5 Visa
The Process to Obtaining the EB-5 Visa
The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program offers permanent residence in America. Applicants are required to invest in this program. Through the program, the Applicant contributes to the American Economy by investing in a business venture that creates employment opportunities. They are then offered access to an American Green Card, which provides lawful permanent residence.
While the process is relatively simple, the adherence to the U.S. immigration law is rigorous. This step-by-step EB-5 visa process puts the process into easy, manageable steps, so you’ll get an idea of what it will take to realize your dream of U.S. residency.
EB-5 Visa Process Overview:
- Check Eligibility and Review Documents
- Make a Direct or Regional Center Investment Decision
- Choose an EB-5 Project
- Prepare Source-of-Funds Report
- Sign Subscription Agreement
- Transfer Investment Funds
- Submit the I-526E Petition for a Temporary Green Card
- Consulate Interview or Adjustment of Status
- Submit the I-829 Petition for Permanent Green Card
Fill in the assessment form to check your eligibility.
Step 1: Confirm Eligibility & Review Documents
Begin by determining whether you are a candidate for the EB-5 program. The first thing is to get in touch with an EB-5 advisor or an immigration attorney in an attempt to determine if your investment is eligible under the program.
Some of the things to do include:
- Filling out an eligibility questionnaire.
- Screening of investment documents under a non-disclosure agreement.
- Being aware of all program details to make an informed decision.
Step 2: Choose Between Direct or Regional Center Investment
You can invest directly in a company or via an approved EB-5 Regional Center. Each has its own advantages:
- Direct Investment: Needs active management and entails higher risk. Investors must manage the business directly, which can mean more control but also more effort.
- Regional Center Investment: Tends to have less direct involvement but is less risky. These projects are pre-approved by USCIS and meet job creation requirements by counting both direct and indirect jobs, making it easier to meet the EB-5 requirements.
Most investors opt for regional center investments since they are predictable and less involved.
Step 3: Select an EB-5 Project
Once you decide on the kind of investment, the second is to choose a project. You‘ll have to invest in a USCIS-approved EB-5 project. The minimum investment is:
- $1,050,000 for non-targeted regions.
- $800,000 for projects in Targeted Employment Areas (TEAs), which could be rural or high-unemployment regions.
One should opt for a secure and quality project. Ensure the project has the backing of a reputed Regional Center and qualifies for the generation of jobs and financial safety.
Step 4: Prepare a Source-of-Funds Report
You must show that the investment funds come from legitimate sources. The report must trace the origin of the capital, which could be personal savings, business revenues, loans, or gifts from relatives. Common documents utilized are:
- Bank statements
- Tax returns
- Business records
Step 5: Complete the Subscription Agreement
After you’ve selected the project, you‘ll need to complete a subscription agreement to confirm your participation. This includes signing an automatic subscription booklet and agreeing that you understand the investment terms. This affirms your commitment to the project.
Step 6: Transfer Investment Funds
After the completion of your subscription, you transfer your investment funds to the project’s escrow account. Ensure all fees (professional, filing, and administrative fees) are prepaid for:
- Regional Center fee: Approximately $50,000 to $70,000.
- Investment amount: $1,050,000 (or $800,000 in a TEA).
Money is typically put in escrow until the project complies with all the requirements.
Step 7: File the I-526E Petition for a Temporary Green Card
Form I-526E is your initial petition for U.S. residency. It‘s submitted to the USCIS and establishes that your investment satisfies the job creation and financial requirements of the EB-5 program. Upon submission, USCIS will provide a priority date for your application, which determines your position in the queue for a Green Card.
Step 8: Consulate Interview or Adjustment of Status
Once your I-526E petition is approved, the following is what happens to you based on your current location:
- In the United States on a Nonimmigrant Visa: You may file Form I-485 adjustment of status, which will result in a two-year conditional Green Card.
- Outside the U.S.: You will have to go through consular processing by filing at a U.S. consulate in your country of residence on Form DS-260.
Approved investors receive a two-year conditional Green Card.
What are the most important forms and expected expenses of the EB-5 Visa Program?
To complete the EB-5 process, EB-5 investors in the United States investing through a regional center must file three separate petitions with USCIS:
- Form I-526E (Immigrant Petition by Regional Center Investor)
- Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status)
- Form I-829 (Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status)
Form I-526E:
The Form I-526E filing should contain information on the intended project and evidence that the investment capital was legally raised. The petition should demonstrate that the project will satisfy the requirements of the EB-5 program, such as stimulating economic growth and creating 10 full-time positions that will be maintained for a minimum of two years.
- Initial investment capital for TEA or infrastructure projects: $800,000
- USCIS processing fee: $11,160
- EB-5 integrity fund fee: $1,000
- Extra fees: Attorney‘s fees, report writing fees, and transfer fees.
Estimated Total: $812,160 (plus attorney’s fees and administrative fees).
Form I-485:
If you are living in the U.S. on a non-immigrant visa such as an H-1B, you can submit Form I-485 along with your I-526E petition. Form I-485 allows you to update your immigration status to “pending,” stay in the U.S. while your I-526E petition is being processed, and request work and travel authorization.
- USCIS processing fees:
- For family members over age 14: $1,440
- For immediate relatives younger than 14 years: $950
- Other fees: Lawyer’s fee, money transfer costs.
Form I-829:
The final form, Form I-829, must contain documentation that the 10 required jobs have been created by the investment and that the investment remained at risk as required.
- USCIS processing fee: $9,525
- Other fees: Lawyer’s fee, processing cost, and money transfer cost.
Fill in the assessment form to check your eligibility.
Work with trusted experts
Managing EB-5 investments is complex, but you don’t have to do it by yourself. Dealing with experienced professionals—immigration attorneys, financial advisors, and registered regional centers—can make it a reassuring experience and reduce the possibility of costly mistakes.
Ready to invest in EB-5 wisely?
Whether you’re new to EB-5 or down to your last few project possibilities, we’re here to help. Call to schedule a consultation.