EB-5 Program: Obtain a U.S. Green Card in as Little as One Year

炒年糕的貓貓
Sep 23, 2024
2 min read

Updated: Feb 5

The United States has always been one of the most popular countries for immigrants. Its strong and complete economic system attracts investors from all over the world. The simplified requirements of the EB-5 investment immigrant visa & its ability to quickly obtain permanent residence have become a favored approach for investors.

1. What is the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program

The EB-5 was created by the U.S. government in 1990, which is a fifth-priority employment-based immigrant visa under U.S. immigration law. Applicants must make a compliant investment in America, meet certain financial requirements, and create jobs to qualify for permanent residency.

1.1 Investment Requirements:

Invest US$800,000 in a "Target Employment Area" designated by the U.S. government (rural areas, areas with an unemployment rate higher than 50% of the national average) or US$1.05 million in any area in the United States.

1.2 Job Creation:

Start a for-profit business create 10 full-time jobs & maintain it for 2 years.

After meeting the above conditions, foreign investors can entrust a lawyer to apply for immigration & obtain a conditional green card (valid for 2 years). After two years, investors can apply for conversion to a 10-year unconditional green card.

2. Reserved Visa Categories

The total annual global visa quota for EB-5 is 10,000, among which the special visa quota is distributed as follows:

Rural Projects: 2,000, processed with priority by the immigration service.
High Unemployment Urban Area Projects: 1,000
National Infrastructure Projects: 200 visas

3. Advantages of the EB-5

No restrictions on education, language, or business background.
Spouses & children under 21 years old can apply for immigration at the same time
After obtaining a green card, allowing freely enter & exit the U.S. without immigration supervision.
After receiving a conditional green card, applicants can convert it to a 10-year unconditional green card after 2 years.
Access to the same benefits as U.S. citizens.
Children can receive free public education in the U.S.
International students who graduate in the U.S. do not need to go through complex procedures to apply for a green card.

4. Optimization & Adjustments to the EB-5 Policy

In recent years, the EB-5 visa has undergone many optimizations and adjustments to improve application efficiency, reduce backlog & speed up the status conversion process.

Under the new law, applicants who are already in the U.S. can submit both the I-485 and EB-5 forms at the same time. Approved for EAD cards, Re-entry permits & continue living, studying, and working in the U.S. during the processing period.

5. Conclusion

For individuals with certain financial resources seeking immigration opportunities to the United States, the EB-5 Investment Immigration Program is the fastest pathway to permanent residency. As the U.S. economy continues to grow and policies continue to improve, more and more people are looking to realize their dreams of development in the U.S. through investment.

If you are considering obtaining a U.S. green card through investment or want to know about other immigration methods, please contact Oceanus Strategic. We will launch exciting content regularly in the future, so stay tuned.