The EB-5 visa is an immigrant investor visa program created by the United States government in 1990 to stimulate the U.S. economy through job creation and capital investment by foreign investors. The program is designed to attract wealthy individuals who are willing to invest a significant amount of money in a new commercial enterprise in the United States.
To qualify for an EB-5 visa, an investor must meet certain requirements, including:
Investment Amount: The investor must invest a minimum amount of capital in a new commercial enterprise. The minimum investment amount varies depending on whether the investment is made in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA) or a non-TEA. As of my last update, the minimum investment is $1.8 million for a standard investment and $900,000 for investments in TEAs.
Job Creation: The investment must create or preserve at least 10 full-time jobs for qualifying U.S. workers within two years of the investor’s admission to the United States as a Conditional Permanent Resident.
At Risk Investment: The investor’s capital must be at risk for the purpose of generating a return on the investment, and the investment cannot be a passive investment such as purchasing stocks or bonds.
If the investor meets all the requirements of the EB-5 program, they and their immediate family members are eligible to obtain conditional permanent residency in the United States for a period of two years. After two years, the investor can apply to have the conditions removed and obtain permanent residency status, also known as a green card, if they can demonstrate that the investment has created the required jobs and that the investment capital has been maintained.
The EB-5 program has been popular among wealthy individuals seeking to immigrate to the United States, particularly from countries like China, Vietnam, and India. However, it has also faced criticism and scrutiny over issues such as fraud, abuse, and the allocation of investments to wealthy urban areas rather than economically distressed areas where job creation is most needed.