The Benefits of Living in the United States as an EB-5 Green Card Holder

In search of political stability, a higher standard of living, economic success, academic and professional opportunities, and similar benefits, millions of residents around the world leave their home countries and move abroad. And no country has a higher demand for immigration—or a larger volume of immigrants—than the United States; United Nations data for 2020 shows that the country housed 50.6 million foreign residents. This represents by far the largest number of immigrants in any nation (Germany, with the second-highest number of immigrants, had only 15.8 million foreign residents in 2020.)

With perennially robust demand for immigration to the United States, foreign nationals may wonder why so many invest their time and resources in relocating to this country. As millions of immigrants can attest to, the United States offers a variety of unique benefits that appeal to immigrants of all different backgrounds, age groups, and nationalities. The advantages of moving to the United States, despite the costs that doing so may involve, are numerous.

In addition, many immigrants have experienced that the best way to move to the United States is with a permanent resident visa—commonly known as a Green Card. An immigrant and their family members can enjoy numerous freedoms and opportunities upon receiving U.S. Green Cards, the foremost of which relate to education and career prospects, safety and diversity, healthcare, economic and political stability, and the sheer variety of experiences the United States has to offer.

Foreign nationals considering immigrating to the United States, especially through the EB-5 visa program, would do well to consider the following incentives.

Academic Opportunities

Permanent residents of the United States—that is, Green Card holders—can enroll more easily in several of the top universities in the world. This incentive is particularly important for families with children. In fact, in Top University’s ranking for 2023, five of the top ten universities in the world are located in the United States: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, Harvard University, California Institute of Technology (Caltech), and University of Chicago.

Leading U.S. universities often favor applicants who are permanent residents as opposed to international students, and these schools typically set limits on the number of international students who can enroll each year. Green Card holders can be 9% more likely to be accepted to U.S. universities than international students.

The cost of higher education can also be significantly lower for permanent residents thanks to in-state tuition rates, and some students can save over $22,000 yearly. Grants, scholarship opportunities, or other financial aid such as the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) are also more likely to be available for U.S. permanent residents.

The benefits for students who hold Green Cards are not limited to their chances of enrollment in top universities or the cost of higher education; during their studies, Green Card holders can also work freely in any business of their choosing. This includes internships and off-campus jobs. And after graduation, permanent residents can find a variety of promising career opportunities waiting for them in the United States, possibly in the same companies in which they interned during their studies.

In contrast, student visa holders are subject to an expiration date and can rarely work off-campus. Non-immigrant students often find that renewing their visas can be a lengthy process, and in many cases, they must leave the United States after graduation.

Immigrant families with younger children will also benefit from the United States’ high standards for K-12 education. Unlike many developing countries, both public and private schools in the United States offer a quality education, and high school graduates from both public and private institutions often attend top universities.

Career Opportunities

Non-immigrant visas for workers are often temporary and impose significant employment limitations on their holders. The H-1B visa, for example, only allows holders to work for a specific employer, and the number of H-1B visas made available each year is not nearly enough to cover the high demand.

Green Card holders, on the other hand, can work for any employer, regardless of where they live in the United States. Permanent residency offers immigrants limitless career opportunities, including working at several of the world’s leading companies based in the United States.

In addition, the United States is a meritocracy—professional advancement is determined, not by an individual’s social status or wealth, but by their skill and work ethic. The United States abounds with success stories by individuals from low-income backgrounds who forged impressive careers by virtue of their achievements and talent.

This potential for growth can be a major incentive for immigrants, who often come from countries where success is inextricably linked to one’s social standing or family wealth. Indeed, American ingenuity in the face of adversity has often resulted in tremendous professional success and innovative solutions to social issues.

Many members of EB5AN’s) team have personally benefitted from the U.S. meritocracy. Founder and managing partner Sam Silverman, originally from Florida, completed his undergraduate studies at Yale, earning a B.A. in Economics with a concentration in Mandarin Chinese. He later went on to earn an M.B.A. from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and worked at the Boston Consulting Group, one of the top management consulting and business strategy firms in the world with a revenue of $11 billion.

Co-founder and managing partner Mike Schoenfeld, who attended public schools, earned a B.A. in Economics and a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He went on to work at the Boston Consulting Group and in private equity.

Jake Hoyle, EB5AN’s vice president, attended Columbia University, one of the leading higher learning institutions worldwide, and is also a successful épée fencer who represented the United States in the 2020 Summer Olympics. Many other members of our team have also found professional success after attending leading universities, including Princeton, John Hopkins, and Stanford.

Safety and Diversity

The United States government provides various social assistance programs to its citizens and permanent residents, allowing beneficiaries to receive cash assistance or similar aid. Local, state, and federal aid programs can help Green Card holders surmount financial difficulties. These include Social Security, Medicaid—which helps low-income individuals cover healthcare expenses—unemployment aid, disability assistance such as Supplemental Security Income, and aid for first-time homebuyers such as the First-Time Homebuyer Act of 2021. In the event of an economic downturn, unexpected health issues, or other difficulties, Green Card holders can rest assured that they will not have to face these challenges alone.

Moreover, the racial and ethnic diversity of the United States makes for a truly inclusive society made up of Americans as well as immigrants from all over the world. Green Card holders will be able to associate with a wide variety of friends and colleagues in professional, academic, and social settings.

Health

Immigrating to the United States as a permanent resident also makes a healthy lifestyle more easily accessible. An important factor in the success of the American healthcare system is its world-leading hospitals, some of the best-funded and most advanced medical institutions in the globe. The prevalence of leading medical schools in the United States has also created a large workforce of highly skilled physicians and other medical practitioners.

The high standard for healthcare in the United States is reflected in Newsweek’s “The World’s Best Hospitals” list for 2022. Five of the top ten institutions are located in America: Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Massachusetts General Hospital, the John Hopkins Hospital, and UCLA Health Ronald Reagan Medical Center. Of the 100 total hospitals on the list, 25 are American. And since 1975, 90% of all medical innovations can be credited to the United States.

Green Card holders will also find that food prices in the United States remain inexpensive, particularly when compared to other developing countries. Moreover, the entire country has free access to clean drinking water—which, in other parts of the world, is still considered a luxury.

Economic and Political Stability

The United States has consistently been ranked as the world’s richest country. Despite occasional economic downturns, health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and other factors detrimental to the global economy, the United States has continually shown its resilience. The World Bank ranks the United States as the world’s largest economy with a GDP of $20.89 trillion and a disposable income per capita measure of $54,854—both the highest in the world.

Moreover, the U.S. dollar is one of the world’s strongest currencies and holds a preeminent position in global markets. It is the world’s reserve currency; the International Monetary Fund reports that central banks hold 59% of their reserves in U.S. dollars. While currencies in other countries can be extremely volatile and lose value quickly, holding funds in U.S. dollars offers an unparalleled level of financial stability for Green Card holders.

Many foreign nationals live in countries with dysfunctional or corrupt judicial systems. The Untied States offers a far better alternative, with a sophisticated judicial system that ensures that each citizen receives justice.

A Massive Country

The United States is the third-largest country in the world, with a massive size of 3,796,742 square miles (or 9,833,517 square kilometers). This makes the United States approximately 18 times larger than France, three times bigger than India, and 30 times bigger than Vietnam. The geographical diversity found across the United States and its abundant rural areas make rural property and land highly affordable. Immigrants who would prefer to live in an urban area can choose from several densely populated cities, many of which constitute major financial, tech, or cultural hubs.

The sheer size of the United States gives immigrants a variety of climates, regions, and lifestyles to choose from. Opportunities to enjoy nature are also abundant, with numerous national parks. These include the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, Yosemite National Park in California, and Denali National Park in Alaska. Other pristine natural attractions include Niagara Falls, Crater Lake, and the Great Sand Dunes in Colorado.

The wealth of nature and entertainment opportunities available in the United States mean that Green Card holders could take all their vacations within the country and still have plenty of new experiences to choose from.

Immigrating to the United States through the EB-5 Program

These are a select few of the many incentives that propel immigration to the United States from all over the world. Foreign nationals interested in relocating, however, are often faced with highly uncertain or extremely lengthy immigration options. The EB-5 program stands out as a straightforward way to obtain, not a temporary non-immigrant visa, but a permanent Green Card that can eventually lead to citizenship.

EB5AN’s investment opportunities have helped thousands of investors from various nationalities to get started on the EB-5 visa process, and several already enjoy U.S. Green Cards. Schedule a free meeting with our team to find out how the EB-5 visa can provide you with a low-risk path to a Green Card and a new life in the United States.