For many Indian families, the EB-5 investor visa is a highly sought-after gateway to unlimited opportunities and a promising life in the United States. The popularity of the EB-5 program, which offers a Green Card in exchange for a substantial investment in a U.S. business, has grown steadily among well-to-do Indians seeking permanent residency in the United States.
Due to the increasing interest of investors over the years, India has become a key player in the EB-5 market, along with other high-demand countries like China. This upward trend has gained further momentum after the enactment of the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (RIA), which introduced comprehensive reforms and legislative changes in the EB-5 program, making it more secure and attractive for foreign investors.
In this article, we will look into the reasons driving the demand for EB-5 visas among Indian nationals. We will also explore how the RIA has now made it possible for Indians to obtain a U.S. Green Card quickly without waiting years for visa availability.
Direct Route to a U.S. Green Card and Citizenship
Unlimited Educational Opportunities
High Living Standards and Security
Ease of Assimilation in the American Society
Faster Immigration Through EB-5
Get Your Fast-Track Green Card With EB5AN
Direct Route to a U.S. Green Card and Citizenship
The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, administered by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), was created in 1990 to stimulate economic growth through job creation and capital investment by foreign investors. It enables investors and their eligible dependent family members (the spouse and unmarried children under 21) to obtain lawful permanent residency in the United States by investing a minimum amount in a new commercial enterprise and creating 10 permanent full-time jobs for qualified U.S. workers.
While other visa options are available for Indians to reside and work in the United States, most come with certain limitations and challenges. In comparison, the EB-5 visa has far fewer restrictions and offers the most viable and quick pathway to permanent residency and U.S. citizenship.
The EB-5 program primarily focuses on investment and job creation, with less stringent requirements for education and employment. Unlike other visa options, the EB-5 visa does not require a U.S. sponsor or any specialized knowledge, skills, or experience for eligibility.
After receiving the EB-5 visa, investors and their families can live and work anywhere in the United States and travel abroad without the need for additional permits.
Also, within just five years of obtaining their initial conditional Green Card, investors become eligible to apply for naturalization and become U.S. citizens, enjoying all the associated rights and privileges. This is perhaps one of the most compelling reasons for Indian investors pursuing the EB-5 visa.
Unlimited Educational Opportunities
Indians view education as the pathway to success and prosperity. Unsurprisingly, access to world-class education has long been a driving force behind Indian families moving to America. Reports suggest that Indian students constitute more than 25% of the over one million international students studying in the United States.
The EB-5 visa offers multiple educational benefits to investors’ families. It opens doors to prestigious universities and institutions across the United States, offering Indian students the opportunity to receive a globally recognized education at significantly reduced tuition rates.
The prospect of securing subsidized good quality education, scholarships, financial aid, and ultimately, easier access to employment in a thriving job market is a huge motivation for Indians seeking the EB-5 visa, which entitles their children to receive all these benefits and build successful careers.
High Living Standards and Security
India is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, with a steadily rising upper middle class. Many affluent Indians are attracted by the superior infrastructure and high standard of living in developed countries and look for avenues to settle abroad.
The United States offers a great all-around lifestyle, global mobility, and economic stability to Indians willing to invest in the U.S. economy through the EB-5 program. With an EB-5 visa, investors can take loans easily, expand their businesses, and capitalize on opportunities exclusively available to U.S. residents.
They also get access to excellent healthcare facilities, insurance coverage, retirement support, and many other social benefits, which gives them a sense of security for their future.
With so many benefits for investors and their families, the EB-5 visa has a consistently growing demand from Indian nationals.
Ease of Assimilation in the American Society
India is known for its rich cultural diversity, fostering a natural appreciation for differences in its people. For this reason, Indians get accustomed to the multicultural U.S. society without much difficulty.
Most Indians in the United States are well-educated and familiar with the English language. This is an important factor that makes it easy for them to relocate, as they can easily understand the immigration laws and regulations, besides preventing any communication barrier with the local population.
Due to their education and adaptability, Indians tend to be open to exploring new opportunities for a better future and, therefore, find the EB-5 program appealing.
Faster Immigration Through EB-5
Green Card applicants from India have long grappled with the challenges posed by the stringent U.S. immigration policies and extensive backlogs for immigrant visas. The employment-based Green Card categories, such as EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3, have faced overwhelming demand, resulting in inconceivably long waiting periods spanning decades.
In contrast, the EB-5 program presents a feasible solution as a faster and more reliable path to permanent residency.
After the RIA was enacted into law in March 2022, there was a notable surge in EB-5 visa applications from Indian nationals. The new legislation implemented several reforms to protect EB-5 investors and make it more transparent for all stakeholders. It also introduced excellent measures like concurrent filing and reserved visas that have cut down the EB-5 application processing time by many years.
Concurrent Filing
Many Indians in the United States are on non-immigrant visas, such as the H-1B work visa and the F-1 student visa. These visas come with employment and travel restrictions and very few benefits. As these visas are temporary, individuals must leave the United States if they are unable to maintain their visa status.
Under EB-5 concurrent filing, if such Indian nationals choose to apply for an EB-5 visa, they can file Form I-485 for adjustment of status (AOS) concurrently with their EB-5 petition (Form I-526E).
After filing both petitions, they can continue to stay in the United States while their EB-5 petition is under adjudication. They are also eligible to apply for a work authorization and travel permit, which can be approved in a few weeks.
A substantial number of Indian immigrants in the United States are taking advantage of the concurrent filing option and availing the benefits of a Green Card while their EB-5 petition is being processed. Particularly, in the backdrop of mass tech sector layoffs, Indian H-1B professionals are finding freedom from employment-tied visa status by making an EB-5 investment and filing for AOS.
Set-Aside Visas
The RIA allocated 32% of the total EB-5 visa quota as set-aside visas, reserving 20% for rural area projects, 10% for high-unemployment area projects, and 2% for developmental infrastructure projects.
By investing in an EB-5 project that qualifies for the set-aside category, Indian applicants can receive their EB-5 visa in a very short time, as there is no extra waiting time in these categories.
Furthermore, as per the RIA, EB-5 petitions for rural projects also qualify for priority processing. Thus, investing in a rural EB-5 project is a great opportunity for Indian nationals to obtain a Green Card in a few months, which could otherwise take years or even decades to materialize.
Realizing the prospect of a fast-track Green Card, many Indians are applying for the reserved category EB-5 visas, which has led to a sudden surge in applications in the last two years.
Get Your Fast-Track Green Card with EB5AN
If you are an Indian investor considering an EB-5 investment, EB5AN can help you navigate your immigration journey with ease.
Selecting a suitable EB-5 project to invest in requires careful due diligence, as it is a crucial starting point that can significantly impact the approval process of your Green Card. EB5AN can provide you with expert guidance to ensure successful immigration for you and your family.
EB5AN has helped more than 2,300 families from 60 countries relocate to the United States as lawful permanent residents. Our expert team has more than a decade of experience and offers clients first-rate, low-risk EB-5 regional center projects with a 100% USCIS project approval rate.
To hear about the real-life success stories of Indian EB-5 investors, check out our testimonials.
If you would like to know more about rural investment options or have any other questions, book a free call with our expert team today.
