One of the most popular reasons EB-5 investors choose to participate in the EB-5 visa program is to ensure a better future for their children in the United States. As long as their children are unmarried and below the age of 21 at the time the family’s I-526 petition is received by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), investors can secure green cards not only for themselves and their spouse but also for their children. One of the most distinct advantages the EB-5 program offers to the children of investors is a chance to attend the U.S. public education system.
The U.S. education system is renowned around the world, coming in as one of the top education systems in the world. While Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) scores, particularly the mathematics scores, are famously dominated by East Asian nations, PISA only takes into account test scores, giving a natural advantage to countries like China and Korea, which overemphasize education to the extent that the intense pressure has led to a wide-scale suicide problem among youth. When considered from a more holistic view, the US education system easily overtakes its East Asian counterparts.
Why a U.S. Public School Education is Valuable
If you are only concerned about superficial test scores and do not care about your child’s mental wellbeing, the high-pressure Chinese or Korean school systems may be suitable. However, for a well-rounded education that not only equips your child with the academic tools they need for success but also helps them explore the world, discover their interests and talents, develop valuable friendships, and thrive as a person, the U.S. system is distinctly superior. The environment at U.S. schools is more relaxed than in China and Korea, which helps prepare students not only for future success but also happiness.
Green Card Holders Can Attend U.S. Public School for Free
U.S. citizens and residents reap the benefits of free public education, but the situation is dramatically different for the families of international high school students. From around the world, and particularly in high-pressure countries like China and Korea, parents send their children to U.S. high schools to prepare them for a brighter future. However, international students are only permitted to attend a U.S. high school for one year as an exchange student, so parents looking to secure their child a U.S. high school diploma must opt for a private school. Either option is costly, with public school tuition for one year costing between $3,000 and $10,000 and private-school education for high school students costing an average of roughly $15,000 per year.
The EB-5 visa program paves a much more affordable path for international children to attain a U.S. public education. With a green card, investors’ children can attend U.S. public high school for free, enjoying all the same benefits as their U.S. peers. A green card entitles them to the high-quality education that the United States is known for.
A U.S. Public Education Better Prepares Your Child for U.S. College
One of the key reasons international parents like to send their children to U.S. high schools is to prepare them for U.S. university. The United States is the most popular country for international students by a large margin, and it’s no surprise, given that U.S. schools are routinely rated among the best in the world. The EB-5 program increases students’ chances of admission to selective U.S. colleges by placing them in the same applicant pool as U.S. citizens, and a U.S. high school education provides students with valuable tools and resources to aid them in the selection and application process.
Students at U.S. high schools can go to their teachers or school guidance counselors for invaluable advice regarding their post-secondary options and assistance navigating the dizzying application process. An additional bonus in terms of college applications is the ability to include a U.S. high school transcript, which makes it much easier for college admissions teams to evaluate a student’s academic prowess.
The advantages extend even beyond help with the application process, however. Prior immersion in the U.S. education system means EB-5 green card holder students are accustomed to how U.S. schools work and are familiar with the terminology instructors use. A U.S. public school education also familiarizes students with plagiarism rules in the United States, which differ dramatically in some other countries. East Asian countries, including China and South Korea, tend to view plagiarism differently from their U.S. counterparts, leading to high rates of plagiarism in U.S. universities by Chinese students unfamiliar with the U.S. conventions.
A U.S. Public Education Gives Your Child a Firm Grasp on English
One thing that most immigrants to the U.S. struggle with is the language barrier, but if their children are young enough, they can immerse themselves in English at school. Learning English in a full-immersion environment with English-speaking teachers and classmates helps the children of EB-5 investors perfect their English to a level otherwise extremely difficult to attain. Native-like proficiency in English opens up doors for EB-5 children as they grow older, including more job opportunities and deeper friendships, and speaking fluent English in the US will give your child new levels of confidence to reach for their dreams.
Improving your child’s future starts when they are young. The longer your child is enrolled in the U.S. public education system, the better their English proficiency and cultural knowledge of the U.S. will be, and the more time they’ll have to prepare for life at a U.S. university. The EB-5 program is one of the best ways to secure a brighter future for your child starting from a young age. Investors in popular EB-5 countries, such as China, India, South Korea, and Vietnam, should apply as soon as possible to take advantage of the benefits of U.S. public education for their children, as the current backlogs can spell wait times that are years long.
