Examples of EB5 Green Card Program Investments

Up to 10,000 investors from countries worldwide participate in the EB5 green card immigration program, which allows people to invest in U.S. enterprises in order to receive a two-year conditional green card. Assuming all program requirements are met, these immigrants can have conditions removed from their green cards after two years, and after a further three years may pursue U.S. citizenship.

Investors from Iran

Since 2006, the country with the fifth greatest number of EB5 investors has been Iran. In 2011, Iran accounted for over 3% of the EB5 visas granted. Whenever an EB5 investor immigrates to the U.S., at least $500,000 is injected into a local economy. With the number of projects in which EB5 investors may participate growing steadily, enterprises are increasingly reaching out to Iranians as potential investors.

Investors from China

Around 70% of EB5 investors come from China. Representatives from U.S. EB5-eligible projects travel to China regularly to appeal to Chinese nationals interested in coming to the U.S. under the EB5 program. Two U.S. regions that have benefited greatly from EB5 investment from Chinese immigrants are the states of Vermont and Florida. An organic shrimp farm in the small Florida town of Fellsmere is appealing to Chinese EB5 immigrants as are resort and biotech projects in Vermont.

Investors from Ireland

Irish nationals sometimes choose EB5 investment as a way to retire in the U.S. or to send their children or stepchildren to U.S. colleges and universities. One reason the EB5 program appeals to older immigrants is that investors can choose their investment to suit the level of day-to-day involvement they want. Investors may be active and hands-on, or they may operate more as a silent partner and leave the hands-on operation to others.

Investors from Vietnam

Vietnam has experienced healthy economic growth over the past 20 years or so, and one result has been an increase in the number of wealthy Vietnamese. Increasing numbers of these Vietnamese nationalists are looking to the EB5 program in order to take advantage of entrepreneurial projects in the United States. Many of them also choose to move to the U.S. in order to educate children at U.S. colleges and universities.