What are the total costs of an EB-5 visa?
Here's a breakdown of roughly the total costs of an EB-5 visa:
- The cost of the capital investment into the new commercial enterprise $500,000 (or $1,000,000)
- Regional center administration fees $40,000-$50,000
- Immigration attorney fees $10,000-$15,000
- I-526 Petition filing fee $3,675
- I-485 Petition filing fee $1,140
- I-829 Petition filing fee $3,750
Why to choose an EB-5 visa?
These are the 5 major advantages of the EB-5 visa: Includes a family-sized bundle of visas. Spouses and all unmarried children under the age of 21 years all qualify for visas under the principal EB-5 investor's application. World-class education opportunities for the same rate that citizens pay. ... No restrictions on where to live, work, or travel because EB-5 can be a passive investment. ... More items...
How can I get an EB-5 visa?
What is the Process of Getting an EB-5 Visa?
- Hire an Immigration Attorney. The first step in the EB-5 process is to hire an immigration attorney with experience handling EB-5 cases.
- Select an Investment. Select an EB-5 investment that you are comfortable with (after doing a lot of due diligence). ...
- Invest Your Funds. ...
- File Form I-526. ...
- Adjustment of Status/Visa Processing. ...
- File Form I-829. ...
Who qualifies for an EB-5 visa?
The EB-5 visa is an immigrant visa for investors, entrepreneurs, and anyone who is looking to start a business in the USA. To qualify for an EB-5 visa, you are required to invest a minimum of $1,800,000 in a US business.
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How much money do you need for EB-5?
The required standard minimum investment amount of $1 million and the minimum investment amount for investment in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA) of $500,000; Permitting state designations of high unemployment TEAs; and. Prior USCIS procedures for the removal of conditions on permanent residence.
How long does it take to get an EB 5 visa?
six monthsThe average processing time for the EB-5 Visa is six months, and the initial application and petition are usually approved within 60 days from the date of filing. You will, however, have to also wait for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) and Department of State to schedule an interview.
Is EB-5 green card worth it?
Among high-profile scams, stringent eligibility requirements, and exceedingly long processing times, investors are left wondering whether petitioning for an EB5 visa is still worth it. For many, the simple answer is yes, the EB5 visa is still the golden ticket to the American Dream it has always been portrayed to be.
How many EB-5 visas are issued each year?
10,000 newThe EB-5 visa program has an annual maximum of approximately 10,000 new visas issued per year. At least 3,000 of these visas are reserved for new I-526 visa petitions filed based on investments in projects sponsored by a Regional Center.
Do you get your money back in EB-5?
Some regional centers have hold-back provisions such that 10-20% of investor EB-5 funding remain in escrow until all investors have been approved. Other regional centers provide a 'guarantee' that funds will be returned to investors in case of denial.
Can I take a loan for EB-5 visa?
So, yes, you may take out a loan for your EB5 investment capital. However, a loan is trickier to handle than a gift. If secured by personal assets, be prepared to show a promissory note listing the personal security that secures the loan. The USCIS permits unsecured loans for the EB-5 program.
Can you buy a Green Card legally?
Apply for a Green Card Find out if you're eligible. If you are eligible, file Form I-485 - Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status with USCIS, including all supporting documents and fees. USCIS will review your application and schedule an interview with you.
What happens if EB-5 project fails?
If the project fails, your removal of condition will be denied. You could make another investment and re-apply but unless the company can show that the jobs were created and are still present at the time of your removal of conditions, there is not much that can be done to save your status.
Can I buy existing business for EB-5?
Yes, EB-5 investors can investor in existing businesses.
Are EB visas permanent?
Foreign workers can permanently immigrate to the United States with an Employment-Based Immigrant Visa (EB Visa). Approximately 140,000 employment based visas are made available to immigrant workers each year by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
How long does EB-5 last?
two yearsThis status is good for two years. The investor and his or her family members can live and work in the U.S. During the 2-year conditional residency period, the EB-5 visa investor will be required to fulfill physical presence requirements, and cannot remain outside of the United States for more than one year.
How do you expedite EB-5?
This process involves submitting a request to the USCIS to expedite an EB-5-related petition or application, including Forms I-924 Application for Regional Center, I-526 Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur, and the I-829 Petition by Entrepreneur to Remove Conditions.
How can I get EB-5 visa in USA?
EB-5 Visa in a nutshell:To receive this visa, you must invest at least $900,000 in a US enterprise and create at least 10 American jobs.If you are eligible for the EB-5 Visa, you receive a Green Card and you are allowed to live in the US.You can include your dependent family members in the application.More items...
How do I check my EB-5 status?
You can write to [email protected] to:Check the status of an EB-5 application or petition that is outside published processing times (for cases within the published processing times, visit Case Status Online);Change the contact or attorney information on an EB-5 application or petition;More items...•
How do EB 5 investors get their money back / repayment?
EB 5 investors should expect to get their money back if the borrower/developer successfully develops and executes on the development project that t...
Can an EB-5 investor take a loan to make an EB 5 investment be more affordable?
Yes, an EB 5 Investor can take a loan to make an EB 5 investment if certain USCIS requirements are met. See more EB-5 Information.
Does EB 5 Really Work?
Yes EB-5 can certainly work for you so long as you meet the two major requirements of EB 5, first the investment must be ‘at risk’ and second the i...
What is the average range for rate of return on investment should be expected?
On average, investments that tend to be more secure give 1% to 3% rate on return.
What proof will suffice as source of funds to invest and remit into an EB-5 project?
You will need required documents to prove the source of funds for EB5 investment amount to be legit. Source of funds, i.e., how the money to be inv...
Does an investor needs to open up a US Bank Account?
A US Bank Account is preferred to be opened so that funds can be sent into that account help by the investor. After that, monies are transferred in...
How much does it cost to get an EB5 visa?
The EB5 investment is the sum you are required to invest to qualify for an EB5 visa. The current minimum investment amount to qualify for an EB5 visa is $1,800,000. However, if you invest in a business that is located in a targeted employment area (TEA), you may qualify to invest a reduced amount of $900,000. An area can qualify as a TEA if it is a rural area or an area of high unemployment.
How to get an EB5 visa?
To get an EB5 visa, there are 6 basic requirements: 1 You must invest in a new commercial enterprise 2 You must make an investment of $1,800,000 (or $900,000 if the investment is located in a targeted employment area) 3 Your investment must lead to the creation of 10 full-time jobs for US workers 4 The investment funds must be put at risk (meaning that the funds cannot just sit in the business bank account, they must actually be spent) 5 The investment funds must have been obtained lawfully 6 You must engage in the management of the business
How long does an EB5 visa last?
Conditional Permanent Residency: Once enter the US with your EB5 visa, or your adjustment of status petition is approved, you are classified as a conditional permanent resident for a 2-year period. As a conditional permanent resident, you have all of the same rights as a permanent resident with the exception that your status as a permanent resident only lasts for a 2-year period. During this time, you are required to keep your EB5 investment funds at risk and you are also required to create the 10 full-time jobs for US workers.
What is the form to file for an EB5 visa?
2. Form I-526: Once the funds are invested, you can then file the Form I-526. The I-526 is the initial form you are required to file for your EB5 visa. Once the I-526 is approved, you can then apply for your immigrant visa or apply to adjust status if you are in the US.
How much does it cost to file an I-526?
To process your Form I-526, USCIS charges a fee. The current filing fee required for the Form I-526 is $3,675. You are only required to pay this fee once, for you and all dependents included in your EB5 visa case.
What documents are needed for an EB5 visa?
These documents include your birth certificate, foreign bank statements, and many others. All documents in any language other than English must be translated to English by a certified translator before they are submitted to USCIS. To do this, you will need to work with a certified document translation company. The fees they charge will vary depending on the company you choose and how fast you need the translations completed.
How much does it cost to get a visa outside the US?
To apply for an immigrant visa, you must file a Form DS-260 with the Department of State. The filing fee for the DS-260 is currently $345 per person. In addition to filing the DS-260, you will also be required to attend a visa interview.
How much does an EB-5 visa cost?
At the second step in the EB-5 process, the immigrant visa and adjustment of status legal fees can range up to $5,000 per applicant. These fees are generally based on the number of dependents because, unlike an I-526 petition or I-829 petition, each person is required to file their own application.
How much does it cost to get an EB-5?
This cost can range from $2,500 to $10,000, or more, depending upon the nature of the business. Additionally, each business plan should be supported by independent, objective, and verifiable market research regarding the industry of the business. Obtaining a market research report is likely an additional cost.
How Much Should I Invest in EB-5: TEA or non-TEA?
If an investment is located in a TEA, the minimum investment amount is $900,000. If an investment is not located in a TEA, the minimum EB-5 capital needed to invest is $1.8 million.
What is an off the shelf EB-5?
An off-the-shelf direct EB-5 investment can be defined as a non-regional center investment (i.e. direct) that is pre-structured for an investment. These scenarios are similar to regional center EB-5 investment in that a business opportunity is typically brought to an investor with a ready-made structure that requires or permits little or no changes. Generally, the investor will be able to make the investment and will permit another party to manage the investment, with the investor as a passive investor. However, there may be opportunities for a more active investor.
How much does it cost to file an I-829?
The final step in the process is to remove conditions on residence by filing the I-829 petition. The filing fee for the I-829 petition is $3,750. This fee is for the investor and all dependents who file with the investor. If the investor has a dependent who enters the U.S. or adjusts status later than the investor, the dependent may have to file their own I-829 petition, which would require another filing fee.
How much does an immigration attorney charge for an EB-5?
The immigration attorney’s fee for the I-526 petition can range from up to and more than $50,000. A direct EB-5 may require the legal advice of other attorneys.
What is regional center EB-5?
A regional center EB-5 investment is the most common type of EB-5 investment. Generally speaking, an investor will invest in a pre-prepared investment structure where a regional center or developer has established a new commercial enterprise ready to accept investors.
What is an EB-5?
The EB-5 is a very prestigious green card that is a little bit different than other green cards that begin with “EB”. Even though that stands for “employment based”, the EB-5 is actually based on an investment made by the beneficiary. There are two major paths to this green card: the Basic Program and the Regional Center Pilot Program.
What is an EB-5 regional center?
Rather than have you be responsible for the creation of a new enterprise and the jobs that need to come from that, you can choose to invest your money in a Regional Center, which is essentially a company that is dedicated to economic and job market growth. These entities tend to work mostly through the capital granted by EB-5 investors, creating projects through the EB-5 program.
Why do lawyers help with EB-5?
How Our EB-5 Lawyers Can Help. Because the EB-5 represents such a major investment and because so much money is at stake, it literally pays to be prepared and to do this right the first time. The immigration process is fraught with opportunities to make simple errors and mistakes that can cost both time and money.
Does the green card acquisition process have fees?
The green card acquisition process has its own fees regardless of which type you get, but we’ll go over what you can expect for the EB-5.
Is an EB-5 a good investment?
Visas and green cards represent significant investments made on the part of the beneficiary. However, the EB-5 green card is even more of an investment. Understandably, if you are interesting in pursuing this visa, you may want to know all of the details about the process, including how much the green card will cost you. Here, we’ll go over the EB-5 cost and what you can expect from a financial perspective.
Do you have to prove you earned money to invest in EB-5?
The invested money must be yours and must have been acquired legally, but you do not need to prove that you earned the money (e.g. it was a gift or inheritance). However, this capital is less of an EB-5 cost, as the idea of an investment is for it to grow and for you to receive a return on your investment.
Can an enterprise be brand new?
The amount of that investment will depend on where the enterprise is located, which we will go into more later on. Your enterprise can either be brand new or it can have already existed. However, it must be something that has the potential to generate 10 future jobs for U.S. citizens.
What is the EB-5 visa?
This program is known as EB-5 for the name of the employment-based fifth preference visa that participants receive.
What is the minimum investment amount for EB-5?
While USCIS considers this decision, we will apply the EB-5 regulations that were in effect before the rule was finalized on Nov. 21, 2019, including: The required standard minimum investment amount of $1 million and the minimum investment amount for investment in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA) of $500,000;
Why is the EB-5 program called the EB-5?
This program is known as EB-5 for the name of the employment-based fifth preference visa that participants receive. Congress created the EB-5 Program in 1990 to stimulate the U.S. economy through job creation and capital investment by foreign investors.
When will the EB-5 be finalized?
While USCIS considers this decision, we will apply the EB-5 regulations that were in effect before the rule was finalized on Nov. 21, 2019. Under the vacated rule published by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, several changes to the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program that went into effect Nov. 21, 2019 are no longer in effect.
When was the EB-5 program created?
In 1992 , Congress created the Immigrant Investor Program, also known as the Regional Center Program, which sets aside EB-5 visas for participants who invest in commercial enterprises associated with regional centers approved by USCIS based on proposals for promoting economic growth.
When did the EB-5 expire?
Alert: Statutory authorization related to the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Regional Center Program expired at midnight on June 30, 2021. This lapse in authorization does not affect EB-5 petitions filed by investors who are not seeking a visa under the Regional Center Program. Due to the lapse in authorization related to the Regional Center Program, ...
When will I-526 be accepted?
In addition, we again will accept the April 15, 2019 , version of Form I-526, Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur, because the Nov. 21, 2019, version of the form reflects updates from the now-vacated rule. Alert: Statutory authorization related to the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Regional Center Program expired at midnight on June 30, 2021.
