What is the EB 5 Visa (And Other Questions You Wanted to Ask)

The EB 5 visa program is one of the most lucrative visa options for foreign investors to settle per month in the USA. We at Stratix immigration consultants in Dubai try to answer every possible question that you wanted to ask about it. Take a look!

What is the EB 5 visa?

The EB 5 Visa is Employment-based 5th category visa established in 1990. It encourages foreigner investors to invest in the USA and create American jobs in exchange for a U.S. green card.

What are the benefits of the EB 5 visa?

  • Approval rate for the EB-5 program is almost 100%
  • Green card validation remains intact for 3 years for recipients
  • Access to health care, premier education, grants, real estate opportunities etc.

Who is Eligible for an EB-5 Visa?

There are two ways to get an EB-5 visa.

  • Invest in a Regional Center – Needs minimum investment of $500,000
  • Invest in Your Own Business – Needs minimum investment of $1 million

How Does the EB-5 Program Work?

Currently, the EB-5 program is the only visa program that allows foreign investors to gain permanent residence in the United States. It requires a minimum investment of $500,000 or $1 million. In the case of the former, the investment should be in a rural or targeted high unemployment area and result in the creation of at least 10 jobs.

Once your initial application is approved, you can proceed to apply for conditional residence in the country. This lasts for two years post approval, after which, you need to apply once more to get the conditions removed and aim for permanent residency. However, this is only when your investment has led to the creation of 10 permanent jobs.

How to apply for the EB 5 visa?

  • Confirm the eligibility as an “accredited investor”
  • Choose the most feasible investment option in which Stratix immigration consultants will guide you
  • Hire an immigration attorney
  • Prepare the petition for visa
  • File the visa petition
  • Wait for approval
  • Confirm the visa responsibilities
  • Complete the investment

How to Get an EB-5 Visa Through Direct Investment?

You can get an EB-5 visa by direct investment in your business. The investment should be a minimum of $1 million, create a new US business or restructure/expand an already existing one.

What are EB – 5 Visa Job Creation Requirements?

The USCIS require 10 full-time jobs created for the U.S. workers within 2 years of the investor receiving the conditional permanent residency. If the investment was made in a regional center, then the investor may only show 10 full-time indirect or induced jobs.

How Much Time is Needed to Process EB-5 Visa?

Once you post the application, it will wait at the USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) for about 8-18 months. You can consider the average processing time to be 15 months per USCIS.

How Long Does It Take to Get Conditional Green Card?

An EB 5 applicant can get a conditional green card in about one to one and a half years.

What are EB 5 Visa Regional Centers?

EB-5 regional centers are economic entities, public or private, that promotes economic growth, regional productivity, job creation, and capital investment. These are designated and approved by the USCIS. When you select such a center, make sure that it delivers on its promise to handle the USCIS requirements that can get you the unconditional green card.

What is the New EB 5 Reform Act?

The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa and Regional Center Program Comprehensive Reform Act (the “EB-5 Reform Act”) draft was released on March 8, 2018. If passed, this Act will authorize the EB-5 Regional Center Program – currently set to expire on May 23, 2018  until September 30, 2023.

What will the EB-5 Reform Act Change?

One of the main changes that the EB – 5 Reform Act will bring about is an increase the minimum investment amount from to $925,000 and $1,025,000.

Need assistance from the best immigration consultants in Dubai who can help you file an EB-5 visa application? We at Stratix are there to help with our team of expert professionals who will make the experience hassle-free for you.