Are you interested in immigrating to the United States of America? Do you have something to contribute economically to the country? If so, you may be eligible for a fast-track option: the EB-5 Immigrant Investors Program. The EB-5 Immigrant Investors Program, which was established in 1992, allows immigrants to obtain a visa through Regional Center investments. This option is good for immigrants who are interested in living and working in the United States of America, as well as immigrants who would like to immigrate sooner rather than later. If this applies to you, keep reading!
Table of Contents
WHAT IS EB-5?
The EB-5 Immigrant Investors Program is a way for immigrants to obtain fast-track access to a green card. Also known as the Direct Investment Immigration Program, all this program requires is that you will be able to contribute financially to the United States of America in some way. The requirements are simple; basically, all that is required is that you create jobs (for at least ten full-time workers!), invest in a business, and invest at least five hundred thousand to a million dollars in said business. This investment doesn’t need to only be money–it can include equipment, property, or any other physical apparatus that would make the running of any business just a little bit smoother. Basically, the investment needs to be five hundred thousand to a million in cash, assets, or any combination of the two.
Radvision World Another aspect of the EB-5 Immigration Investor Program is the Regional Center Investment Immigration Program, which focuses on areas of the United States with an unemployment rate at least 1.5 times higher than the national average. This part of the program is essentially the same as the regular EB-5 Immigration Investor Program; the only difference being that you are not guaranteed a return on your investment. There are some positives to using the Regional Center Investment Immigration Program, however; there is a certain level of independence that is difficult to find anywhere else, and this is the situation in which you would only have to invest five hundred thousand dollars. You can live and work anywhere in the United States of America, and, as well as this, you don’t need to worry yourself with day-to-day management. The best part? You can be retired.
EB-5 VISA PROCESS
So, you’ve decided that you want to give the EB-5 Immigrant Investors Program a chance. How do you go about obtaining the EB-5 Visa? Lucky for you, it’s a simple process. First, you need to make sure that you have your investment adviser and immigration attorney finalized, and that you’ve started the investment process. This is a big part of the EB-5 Immigrant InvestorsProgram, so it is something that needs to be done first. After that, you can begin filling out forms. The application you’re going to need is the Form I-526 petition, and this will need to be worked on with the United States Citizenship Immigration Services, or USCIS.
Radvision World Once you’ve been approved through Form I-526, you’ll need to apply for a conditional two-year permanent residence. This will be for yourself, as well as any dependents you may have–a spouse, children, et cetera. After this, you’ll need to fill out another form–this one will be Form I-829, which will remove the ‘conditional’ part of your application. This needs to be filed within ninety days of when your conditional two-year residence expires, so be sure to keep an eye on that! The acceptance of this application depends thoroughly on whether the requirements, both concerning capital investment and job creation, have been met. If they have and you are accepted–congratulations, you and any of your dependents are now a permanent resident of the United States! Please be aware that buying a house to live in or any other personal real estate purchase does not count as a qualifying investment.
EB-5 VISA REQUIREMENTS
As mentioned, there are few requirements for the EB-5 Immigrant Investors Program. First, you need to invest anywhere between five hundred thousand and one million dollars in a new business, and you will need to create at least ten new full-time jobs for citizens of the United States. There are only ten thousand EB-5 Visas allowed each year, and as of November 21, 2019, the US Green Card Investment will be increased from five hundred thousand to nine hundred thousand dollars. As well as this, the Reserve Bank of India, or RBI, has changed the remittance limit to two hundred and fifty thousand dollars a year under the Liberalized Remittance Scheme, or LRS. Be sure to keep all of these things in mind as you consider the EB-5 Immigrant Investors Program!
Radvision World ADVANTAGES AND BENEFITS FOR INDIANS
Indians are, at this point, are the second-largest immigration group in the United States of America. With so many paths to choose from, why choose the EB-5 Immigration Investor Program, especially as an Indian?
First of all, if you successfully meet all of the requirements, you are guaranteed a permanent residency in the United States of America. There is no guesswork or worry–you hold up your end of the deal, the United States will hold up theirs. The United States is a large country, with a lot of very beautiful and interesting places to live–with the EB-5 Immigration Investor Program, you can travel and see them all. There are no limits on where you can go and where you can live within the United States of America. As well as this, the program is focused on career and business: you are coming here with a job.
Your children will also have advantages: as permanent residents of the United States, they will be able to study in some of the most advanced schools in the world, without having to worry about foreign restrictions. They’ll be able to pay the same tuition as any other United States citizen and enjoy the same scholarship opportunities. When it’s time for them to start looking for jobs, they won’t have to worry about work permits or visas–they will be a citizen and will be able to get a job just as easily as any other citizen. Your spouse will enjoy many of the same benefits. All of you will be able to enjoy a more hassle-free travel experience with visa-free travel privileges that a green card holder has.
Worried about losing your Indian roots? There’s no need for that–you can always apply for an Overseas Citizen of India status. It’s truly the best of both worlds.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the EB-5 Immigration Investor Program is a fantastic opportunity for the hard-working Indian that wants to invest in some good, home-grown American business. With only three simple requirements, you can become a permanent resident of the United States of America, and enjoy all of the benefits that entail–and so will your family.
About Vandana Gupta
Vandana Gupta is an executive administrator at Radvision World Consultancy Services LLP. Experienced executive administrator with a demonstrated history of working in the human resources industry. Skilled in Customer Service, Management, Business Development, Business Strategy, and Public Speaking. Strong information technology professional with an M.com focused in Business/Commerce, General from Mahatma Jyotiba Phule (MJP) Rohilkhand University.
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