The purpose of the EB-5 visa program is to stimulate regional economic development through job creation. It is primarily aimed at investing in economically depressed areas of the country. It benefits the workers in these communities and those who live outside. It provides permanent residence to foreign investors willing to invest in a commercial enterprise.

Congress Created The EB-5 Visa Program In 1990

Congress created the EB-5 visa program to attract new investment capital into the United States and create jobs for Americans. The program offers a conditional green card to investors who invest in qualifying U.S. businesses and create at least 10 new jobs. It has significant investment and timing rules, and violating them can mean the difference between an investor’s green card and a denial of their application.

The program has been fraught with controversy. A 2015 government report concluded that the USCIS needs to improve its oversight of the EB-5 program and increase its ability to detect fraud. This is due to the difficulty in verifying whether funds are obtained lawfully and if they are from fraudulent investment schemes. The report has prompted lawmakers to seek reforms to the program. 

It Provides Permanent Residence To Foreign Investors.

The EB-5 visa program offers permanent residence to foreign investors who invest in the U.S. economy. Unlike the traditional green card process, the EB-5 visa has several advantages. In the U.S., the program requires investors to put up at least USD 500,000 in a business. This investment amount is lower than in other countries but still higher than most other investment programs. The minimum investment amount has increased from USD 600,000 to USD 900,000 in certain Targeted Employment Areas. The USCIS also announced that it would periodically review the prices of the EB-5 visa program. The EB-5 visa program can also be obtained through direct investment in a new business. Investors need to invest at least $800,000 in a new business to qualify for permanent residence. Moreover, they must invest in a targeted employment area or an area with a high unemployment rate.  

It Stimulates The U.S. Economy Through Job Creation.

The EB-5 visa program helps foreign investors invest in American businesses. They may invest up to $900,000 in each project. This investment boosts the U.S. economy through job creation without costing taxpayers a single cent. Approximately 10,000 EB-5 investor visas are granted each fiscal year. Investors must create at least 10 full-time American jobs in their new business to qualify. While the EB-5 visa program has many benefits, it could use some reforms to make it even more effective. In particular, a more robust data collection system would verify that visa holders meet the program requirements and produce more accurate data about the program’s economic impact. Enhanced data collection could also increase job creation and investment totals. In addition, all EB-5 program data should be made publicly available. 

It Requires Investment In A Commercial Enterprise.

The EB-5 visa program requires an applicant to invest in a new commercial enterprise in the United States. The enterprise must create jobs and is a for-profit business. It may take various forms, including a corporation, a limited or general partnership, a sole proprietorship, or a business trust. The new commercial enterprise may be privately owned or publicly traded. The applicant invests in the enterprise through a regional center, which then lends the investment to the job-creating entity. An EB-5 visa applicant must invest a minimum of $800,000 in a commercial enterprise in qualifying. They must also establish the new business in a targeted employment area with high unemployment. Moreover, the business should be capable of hiring at least 10 full-time employees, including U.S. citizens.

Fraud Risks

The EB-5 visa program carries fraud risks. You should ensure that the regional center you’re investing with is legitimate. If they don’t have USCIS approval, don’t put your life savings at risk. In many cases, these regional centers last only a short time. If you’ve invested in an EB-5 project with a regional center that’s not legitimate, you risk losing your money or having your immigration petition denied. Despite EB-5’s excellent reputation, investors must be wary of fraud schemes. Federal enforcement agencies have been inundated with reports of bogus EB-5 projects. In 2013, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) alerted investors to beware of EB-5 scams.