I’ve got good news for you! You’re about to learn how to invest in EB-5 projects and “fast track” your path to the American Dream. Welcome to the complete newbie’s guide to securing EB-5 Investments and funding, a helpful guide for anyone new to the EB-5 process. This guide will help you learn how to find funding, what your options are with reaching the program’s current allocation, whether or not this is right for you, and just what steps are involved in getting started.
Here’s everything you need to know!
What Is an EB-5 Visa?
An EB-5 visa is a nonimmigrant visa that allows foreign investors to live and work in the United States. It’s also known as an investor visa because it’s available only to people who invest at least $1,050,000 in a U.S.-based commercial enterprise or $800,000 in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA) employing at least ten people in the process.
How Can I Become Eligible?
To become eligible for an EB-5 visa, you must meet two key requirements:
You must live outside of the United States at the time of your application (you cannot apply from within the U.S.).
You must have met the minimum investment required over the past two years into either a new commercial enterprise or an existing one that creates ten new full-time jobs for U.S. workers employed before your investment.
How To Make an EB-5 Investment
So you’re convinced that the investment route is the way to go and want the right set of information you’ll need to invest in EB-5 visa projects? Here’s how you can make it happen.
Step 1: Find Out About the EB-5 Program
This process is vital because it will allow you to understand how the law works and whether or not your project meets all of its requirements. If you don’t know what an EB-5 investment is, you should take a look at our What is an E-5 investment article?
Step 2: Outline How To Find Funding for Your EB-5 Project
After researching the program, it’s time to outline how you will find funding for your EB-5 project. You can use any number of sources to find funding for your EB-5 project. The most common are family offices, venture capital funds, angel investors, and real estate investors.
Step 3: Contact a Reputable Consultant To Get Started
The next thing to do is start looking for an immigration attorney. It’s the best way to find out about all the different immigration opportunities available and ensure that you are applying for the right type of visa.
Step 4: Find EB-5 Investment
In much the same way as there are important factors to consider when buying a property, the next step in getting your EB-5 investment approved is finding a project that meets the requirements of the EB-5 program.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) maintains an official list of approved online here. Once you’ve located your project, check it against the list to determine if it’s eligible for the EB-5 program.
Step 5: Get EB-5 Application Approved
Approval takes time, so you should plan ahead. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has a lengthy application process that can take months or years to complete. However, if you want to invest sooner rather than later, you can get help from an immigration attorney or other professional specializing in EB-5 applications.
How Long Will It Take for My Visa To Be Approved?
The answer to this is not as simple as you might think. The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has a process to determine whether your EB-5 investment project is genuine and, if so, how long it will take for your visa to be approved.
The final decision on whether or not your project is legitimate and eligible for an EB-5 investment visa can take anywhere from a few months to several years. You may also have to wait for up to 5 years before you become eligible for US citizenship via this naturalization route.
Conclusion
EB-5 visa laws are a bit tricky, so don’t be surprised if you come across a few situations that aren’t covered by this post. If that happens, don’t be afraid to research the topic further or consult an immigration lawyer. The American Dream is alive and well, and there’s no better way to get on the ladder than with an EB-5 immigrant investor visa.
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