We are pleased to announce that an investor in EB5AN’s Twin Lakes Georgia rural project has received his physical U.S. Green Card.
Rahul, an Indian national, received his Green Card about 16 months after filing his Form I-526E.
After a short wait time, Rahul and his dependent family members now enjoy the benefits of permanent residency in the United States. Rahul and his family can live, work, study, travel internationally, and enjoy other freedoms granted by their Green Cards.
“We were looking for an immigration option that would allow us to live and work in the U.S. permanently, with few restrictions,” says Rahul. “Only months after filing our I-526E petition, our EB-5 investment has granted us just that. Now, we can confidently plan our long-term future in the United States.”
Rahul’s short wait time for his U.S. Green Card was possible thanks to a new benefit for investors in rural EB-5 projects: priority processing.
Under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (the RIA), EB-5 investors in rural EB-5 projects like Twin Lakes qualify for priority processing of their USCIS petitions.
Across the EB-5 industry, it has already become standard for investors in rural projects to have their I-526E petitions processed in about 12 months—or even faster. Investors typically receive their Green Cards a few months after their I-526E approval.
In this post, we explain how EB-5 investors can potentially receive their U.S. Green Cards in a matter of months, not years, by investing in a rural project.
“Priority processing,” explains EB5AN managing partner Sam Silverman, “can be a game-changer for EB-5 investors in rural projects. This kind of immigration benefit is unprecedented in the EB-5 program.”
Silverman adds that “if you would like to get U.S. Green Cards quickly, investing in a rural EB-5 project may be the fastest way to do so.”
A Green Card in Hand in Only 16 Months
Rahul filed his I-526E petition on March 15, 2023. USCIS approved the submission on March 7, 2024, and notified Rahul of his Green Card approval on July 10, 2024.
Rahul and his dependents already hold their physical Green Cards and enjoy the benefits of permanent resident status.
After receiving an I-526E approval, the process for obtaining U.S. Green Cards depends on where an EB-5 investor lives.
EB-5 investors who live in the United States on a non-immigrant visa can have their status adjusted through Form I-485, which is filed along with the I-526E petition.
On the other hand, investors who live abroad have to schedule a consular interview to receive their Green Cards and relocate to the United States.
Following their I-526E approval, EB-5 investors receive conditional Green Cards that are initially valid for two years. Toward the end of the two-year period, investors file Form I-829 to remove the conditions on their Green Cards.
However, an EB-5 investor’s Green Card can be renewed continuously until USCIS processes Form I-829.
This means that, once they receive their initial U.S. Green Cards, EB-5 investors can remain in the United States and continue to enjoy the benefits of permanent residency—without having to leave the country or reapply for a different visa.
EB5AN previously interviewed Rahul about his decision to pursue the EB-5 program and why he decided to invest in the Twin Lakes project.
Watch Rahul’s Interview
Benefits of U.S. Green Cards Through the EB-5 Program
Many foreign nationals choose to make an EB-5 investment after moving to the U.S. on a non-immigrant visa such as the H-1B, F-1, E-2, or TN categories.
Most of these visas are temporary and require applicants to fulfill highly specific criteria related to their careers or studies. If visa holders cease to qualify, they and their family may have to leave the United States on short notice.
For example, H-1B workers who have been laid off may have only 60 days to find another H-1B position or leave the United States—regardless of how long they have lived in the country.
In contrast, the EB-5 program offers a permanent immigration solution. With U.S. Green Cards, EB-5 investors can live, work, and travel internationally in and out of the United States with few restrictions.
Instead of having to work in one particular field or for only one employer, Green Card holders can work for any employer, start a business, or not work at all. They can also pursue any studies they choose and live anywhere in the United States.
“Holding U.S. Green Cards,” says EB5AN managing partner Mike Schoenfeld, “can give EB-5 investors peace of mind. They won’t have to leave the country on short notice if their situation changes, and they can pursue their career, academic, and personal goals with few restrictions.”
Faster Immigration for EB-5 Investors in Rural EB-5 Projects
Since the RIA was signed into law in March 2022, the EB-5 industry has largely shifted its focus toward rural EB-5 projects. With priority processing, I-526E approval times of approximately 12 months have become standard for investors in rural projects.
EB-5 investors of any nationality can qualify for priority processing.
Still, priority processing is not the only incentive to invest in a rural EB-5 project. The rural set-aside visa category is another major benefit for Chinese and Indian investors—a benefit that can potentially accelerate their immigration timeline by several months or even years.
Both India and China are experiencing a backlog of EB-5 applications. Ordinarily, Indian and Chinese applicants would be subject to months or years of additional delays before receiving their Green Cards.
But investing in the rural project category entitles investors to a set-aside visa. As a result, investors in this special category will not be subject to delays caused by their country’s visa backlog.
While USCIS also created a set-aside visa category for urban projects, this category is likely to enter a backlog soon, as reflected in recent USCIS processing data.
Therefore, investing in a rural project may be the only reliable way for Indian and Chinese investors to avoid the backlog and get their Green Cards faster.
Work and Travel Documents in Only Days
Under the RIA, EB-5 investors can also get employment authorization documents (EADs) and advance parole (AP) travel documents, potentially in a matter of days.
EB-5 investors who hold non-immigrant visas like an H-1B can file Form I-485 concurrently with Form I-526E and their applications for an EAD and an AP.
Many investors have been approved for their EADs and APs in only days. One investor in the Twin Lakes project was approved in only 33 days.
Holding an EAD and an AP allows investors to work for any employer, with few restrictions, and travel internationally in and out of the United States.
Through an EAD and an AP, EB-5 investors can gain some of the core benefits of a U.S. Green Card in only days.
Learn More About EB5AN’s Rural Projects
EB5AN is currently sponsoring two best-in-class rural EB-5 projects: Twin Lakes Georgia and Snake River Sporting Club.
Both the Twin Lakes and Sporting Club projects are fully funded, with significant job creation and strong sales. In addition to the immigration benefits from their rural status, both projects offer multiple safety features for EB-5 investors.
“We’re thrilled,” concludes Silverman, “that many investors in our rural projects have quickly received work and travel documents, I-526E approvals, and now Green Cards. Our goal is to help as many EB-5 investors as possible secure their future in the U.S. and take advantage of these unprecedented immigration benefits.”
