The EB-5 immigration program allows up to 10,000 immigrants per year to move to the United States and receive their conditional green cards. The EB-5 immigrant may apply to have conditions removed from his or her green card after two years, and may apply for U.S. citizenship after an additional three years. Participation in the program requires a minimum investment of $500,000.
Regional Center Versus Start-Up
Immigrants under the EB-5 program have the option of investing $500,000 in one of over 100 EB-5 regional centers or investing $1 million in a start-up business that is expected to add at least 10 full-time jobs for U.S. workers (not including the EB-5 immigrant and his or her family). Many people choose to invest in an
EB5 regional center because of the lower investment requirement, and because these centers have already shown how they plan to add the required number of new jobs to their operations.
What the EB5 Regional Center Application Assesses
The
EB5 regional center application
has to show how the regional center will promote local economic growth and how jobs will be created through an EB5 immigrant's investment. An enterprise seeking regional center status has to submit an application to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and receive USCIS approval before EB5 immigrants may invest in the regional center.
An EB5 Regional Center for Every Interest
Today there are regional centers in every region of the United States, and they cover a broad range of business interests. EB5 investors may choose to be closely involved with the regional center they choose, or they may choose to have a more passive role. The regional center option provides EB5 investor immigrants with great flexibility and the opportunity to live where they want and participate in an industry they have interest or experience in.
How to Find Out More
EB5 immigration is complex, but fortunately there are EB5 consultants who know the program comprehensively and are able to guide investors interested in EB5 immigration to help make their dream of moving to the U.S. come true. EB5 represents a tremendous opportunity for both investor-immigrants and workers in the U.S.
