8 Reasons to Invest in U.S. Permanent Residency through the EB-5 Program
For foreign nationals striving to secure their future in the U.S., the Green Card application process can be daunting and challenging. The process requires detailed documentation and interviews. This is where the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program comes in, helping foreign nationals achieve Green Card status while positively contributing to the economy and local communities.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the EB-5 program and why you should consider investing in it to ensure residency in the U.S.
What Is The EB-5 Investor Program?
The EB-5 visa program was created in 1990 to allow foreign investors to become permanent residents of the U.S. These investors are required to invest an amount of money towards a qualifying new commercial enterprise (NCE) that will create at least 10 full-time jobs for American workers.
To be eligible for a permanent resident card, investors must meet specific requirements, including:
- Proving that their investment funds were obtained lawfully.
- Showing that their investments were successful in creating full-time jobs.
There are many benefits to holding a U.S. Green Card. Watch the video below for more information.
Becoming a U.S. Green Card holder can benefit investors and their families in many ways. From profitable business opportunities, to easier college admissions, to residing anywhere in the United States, an EB-5 visa can be a foreign national’s ticket to a brighter life.
To read more about how you and your family can achieve a better life in the United States with an EB-5 visa, download the EB5AN summary of the benefits of
Download Summary of 8 Green Card Benefits for EB-5 Investors
Available in English, Russian, Korean, Chinese, Spanish, Vietnamese, Arabic, Turkish, and Portuguese.
8 Reasons To Invest In Permanent Residency
Now that you know a bit more about the EB-5 program, let’s take a closer look at the Green Card benefits you can have with permanent residency.
1. A U.S. Green Card holder can enjoy unlimited employment opportunities
A foreign national with lawful permanent resident status in the United States can work almost anywhere and for anyone in the country.
Green Card holders can seek employment at startups, small businesses, and other organizations unlikely to sponsor foreign nationals for a work visa. Lawful permanent residents may also switch jobs as freely as U.S. citizens and can take on additional work if needed—a benefit that is currently inaccessible to non-Green Card holders.
You can also use your Green Card as proof of employment if you need to apply for Social Security benefits and loans or when you file income tax returns.
If an EB-5 investor applies for U.S. permanent resident status for their children, they may also work freely in the United States if they are old enough to take on employment.
The employment advantages of a U.S. Green Card make the EB-5 visa program a particularly beneficial option for holders of an H-1B or L1 visa.
- An H-1B visa is a nonimmigrant visa for highly-educated foreign workers in specialty occupations to work for a single employer in the United States temporarily.
- An L1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa for foreign executives or managers who want to temporarily work in the United States branch of their same international company.
Individuals with these employment visas are restricted to a single employer and are forbidden from engaging in additional work activities, even freelance ones.
Foreign nationals may be restricted to a particular area and are only authorized for a temporary stay in the United States, meaning they must look for alternative ways to remain in the country.
Holders of an H-1B or L1 visa may invest in programs like EB-5 to help them expand their employment opportunities and extend their stay in the country. Investing may also make the Green Card application easier.
2. U.S. Green Card holders’ children may enroll in U.S. public schools
One of the key benefits of the EB-5 program is the opportunity for investors to apply for permanent residency for their spouses and qualifying children.
As long as an investor’s child is unmarried and below the age of 21, they qualify for an EB-5 visa.
If an investor’s children are young enough, they may take advantage of the high-quality U.S. public education system—which will prepare them for a life of success in the United States—at no extra cost.
Children who enroll in the U.S. public school system gain a high-quality education that helps them refine their strengths and succeed in various areas of life. The U.S. education system doesn’t just focus only on academic achievement—it also helps children foster their social skills and encourages participating in extracurricular activities. EB-5 investors can ensure their children are immersed in English and U.S. culture, setting them up to succeed in U.S. universities and beyond.
3. Green card holders have a higher likelihood of being admitted to U.S. universities
Around the world, international students complete the chance to study at a world-renowned U.S. university. Unfortunately, competition is fierce, and with most U.S. schools placing an unofficial cap on the number of international students they accept, those without citizenship or permanent resident status are at a disadvantage.
That’s why an EB-5 visa can be beneficial to students.
With U.S. permanent resident status, an applicant is more likely to be admitted, representing a major benefit for EB-5 investors and their children.
Additionally, U.S. Green Card holders may be eligible for government-sponsored financial aid, scholarships, and in-state tuition savings that are often unavailable to international applicants.
4. U.S. Green Card holders can access high-quality healthcare services
EB-5 investors can take advantage of the many state-of-the-art health facilities in the United States because they have the means to pay for health insurance and medical care.
Access to health insurance also gives foreign nationals the same benefits as U.S citizens when it comes to medical care.
The United States places a large focus on medical research and innovation, allowing most foreign investors to access high-quality healthcare that may be unavailable elsewhere.
5. Valid Green Card holders are free to live and travel anywhere in the country
The U.S. is a popular immigration destination because of its variety of natural and man-made attractions—perfect to suit any lifestyle.
With an EB-5 visa, foreign investors can freely choose where they want to live while retaining the right to travel around the country at will.
U.S. Green Card holders can also travel abroad easily without facing issues upon re-entering the country, such as deportation concerns.
Permanent residents are granted re-entry almost as easily as citizens. However, it’s recommended that they don’t spend too much time abroad, or they could risk having their resident status revoked by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
The ability to travel to some countries visa-free is also a major benefit to EB-5 investors from countries with weak passports.
6. U.S. Green Card holders qualify for support after retirement
Just like U.S. citizens, EB-5 visa holders may receive pension support following retirement. They are eligible to receive the pension funds they worked toward in their country of origin and the United States.
U.S. permanent residents may also take advantage of Medicare and other social welfare programs in the country if necessary.
7. Green card holders can easily set up a life and future in the U.S. with their family
EB-5 investors only need to invest $1.05 million—or a minimum investment of $800,000 in a targeted employment area (TEA) commercial enterprise—to apply for visas for their families.
With the U.S. permanent resident status granted by the EB5 regional center program, investors can more easily secure a mortgage, health insurance, and life insurance in the country.
This makes it significantly easier to start a life for their families in the U.S. too.
8. Green card holders can enjoy the political and economic security of the United States
Across the world, people face government corruption, inflation, crumbling infrastructure, and a lack of access to healthcare and education.
Fortunately for U.S. Green Card holders, the United States is a safe haven, offering high-quality education and healthcare services alongside a democratic political system that ensures justice and fairness.
The U.S. also has one of the strongest economies in the world, offering security to EB-5 Green Card holders and their hard-earned money.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program?
The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program is a lawful means of immigration into the U.S. for foreign nationals in exchange for one investment in an NCE in the country.
The program is administered by USCIS, an office of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
How do you apply for an EB-5 visa?
You can apply for an EB-5 visa through USCIS.
Before submitting an application to USCIS, foreign investors must first invest the required minimum investment in a qualifying NCE. This investment can be made directly or through an EB-5 regional center. When the investment is made, foreign investors fill out Form I-526 or I-526E to prove their eligibility for an EB-5 visa.
Once approved, investors and their eligible family members will be granted two-year conditional permanent residency in the United States. In the final three months of the two-year conditional residency, investors file Form I-829 to prove they have satisfied all of the EB-5 visa program requirements.
If this application is approved, foreign investors and other family members will be given Green Cards that grant them full permanent resident status in the United States.
What is the regional center program?
EB-5 regional centers are commercial businesses that act as agencies, pooling investor capital to fund larger projects at a lower risk.
Regional centers must be approved by USCIS to participate in the EB-5 visa program, with geographic coverage granted over specific U.S. states or areas.
Investing through an EB-5 regional center allows investors to include indirect jobs toward the job creation requirement. They may also direct employees of the NCE, making it much easier to meet the EB-5 visa program’s job creation requirement.
This is why nearly all foreign investors invest through the regional center program. In fact, according to a 2021 study, regional center investors accounted for 93% of all EB-5 visas awarded.
What is a qualifying EB-5 project?
An EB-5 project is the actual real estate development being managed by the investor’s chosen NCE or regional center.
For example, a foreign investor invests their EB-5 capital in a limited liability company (LLC)—known as the NCE—specializing in property development. The LLC then uses the investor’s funds to construct a new hotel, which will be known as the EB-5 project.
An NCE must be a legal, for-profit domestic business formed in the United States after November 29th, 1990. The NCE must also be able to clearly demonstrate through their own business plan and other supporting evidence that the foreign investor’s EB-5 capital will create or preserve 10 full-time U.S. jobs.
How can I get started?
Regardless of their goals for life in the United States, foreign investors and their families will likely benefit from an EB-5 visa.
With the most advanced healthcare in the world, the largest and safest economy, world-renowned education, and opportunities everywhere, permanent residence in the United States offers remarkable benefits.
Reach out to EB5AN today to learn more about the process and determine your best path forward.
