USA EB-5 Visa program

EB-5 Visa, also known as USA Immigrant Investors Visa is an option available for wealthy individuals, which allows the overseas nationals to acquire permanent resident status. Foreign nationals, who invest money in United States, can acquire a Green card through the EB-5 Visa program.

Eligibility for EB-5 Visa

Individuals under EB-5 Visa have to invest $1,000,000 or a minimum of $500,000 into a Targeted Employment Area that would create a minimum of 10 jobs for U.S people, exclusive of the investor and his/her immediate family.

Initial requirement of the foreign investor under EB-5 program is to start a new commercial enterprise.

In this context, the new commercial enterprise means an enterprise

• That was established after 29th November, 1990
• Established on 29th November, 1990 or prior to that date  that was bought and the business in existence has been organized again in a manner that has resulted in a new commercial enterprise.
• Extended the business, due to which the business has resulted in an increase of 40 percent in the number of employees or net worth of the business.

Commercial Enterprise under EB-5 program means any activity that would result in a profit and contribute to the growth of the US economy which includes:

• An individual proprietorship
• Partnership which is either general or limited
• Corporation
• Joint venture
• Holding company
• Other entity or business trust, which may be owned privately or publicly.

If the US government has approved a petition by a foreign applicant under EB-5 program, the investor and his/her dependents would be approved for a permanent residence that is eligible for a period of 2 years. Documentary evidence has to be provided by the investor that complete requirements were met and 10 jobs have been created or that the enterprise would be creating those 10 jobs within a reasonable time span. This evidence has to be provided within a period of 90 days prior to the completion of the valid period of two years.