The U.S. immigrant investor program is called an EB-5 visa, also known as the Employment Based 5th Preference Visa. An EB-5 visa is a permanent U.S. visa based upon an immigrant investment that creates American employment, specifically ten American jobs per investment. Among other requirements, the requisite investment capital is $1 Million USD, and in some targeted economic areas, is reduced to $500,000 USD.
EB-5 Investments are broken into two categories: a direct investment into a business, or an investment into a federally approved Regional Center. A Regional Center is a designation granted to a entity that has completed an application process with the USCIS, and helps expedite the receipt of a permanent visa for immigrant investors. With both a direct investment and Regional Center, the investment must be “at risk” – guarantees of return and redemption agreements are prohibited.
Qualified EB-5 investors will initially receive a conditional visa for themselves and their family, which will be made permanent after: two years of U.S. residency have passed, the original investment requirements have been met and maintained, and American jobs have been produced.
