Educational Advantages of an EB-5 Green Card

One of the many reasons EB-5 investors choose to participate in the EB-5 program is the educational and career opportunities it offers. An EB-5 Green Card grants foreign investors and their dependent family members more access to the U.S. education system. It is especially beneficial for investors who want to further their own education and/or the education of their children.

This article explores some of the educational advantages of an EB-5 Green Card.

Educational Benefits of an EB-5 Green Card

An EB-5 Green Card offers numerous educational advantages to EB-5 investors and their dependent family members. Below are some of these advantages.

Domestic Student Status

Green Card holders enjoy improved access to educational opportunities in the U.S. Most U.S. public higher institutions have admission caps for international students, restricting the number of annual international admissions. This creates fierce competition among international applicants, as most top schools will only accept a small percentage of the international students who apply.

Meanwhile, an EB-5 Green Card grants you domestic student status. This status helps you avoid the competitive international admission quotas and other restrictions international students face, improving your chances (or the chances of your child) of gaining acceptance at top schools with lower international admission rates.

In-State Tuition

The tuition rates in U.S. colleges are different for domestic and international students. Most public schools charge a lower tuition rate for in-state students, or students who are legal residents of the state. The in-state tuition rate is sometimes three to five times lower than the out-of-state and international student tuition rate.

At the University of Florida, for example, in-state tuition, excluding books, room, and board, costs $6,380, while out-of-state tuition costs $28,658.

EB-5 Green Card holders can benefit from this lower in-state tuition when studying in schools within their states of residence, enabling them to save costs on education.

Eligibility for Federal Financial Aid

Green Card holders enjoy access to a broader range of financial aid options than international students, who have access to very limited educational funding.

EB-5 Green Card holders are eligible for federal student aid, giving them access to grants, scholarships, low-interest loans, and work-study opportunities for financing their education. Obtaining such aid while benefiting from lower in-state tuition significantly reduces educational costs.

These benefits are typically not available for international students. They must compete for limited institutional and private scholarship programs or fund their education out of pocket while paying higher fees.

More Freedom in Choosing Programs

Most top universities and colleges offer limited spots to international students in specific competitive or restrictive programs, such as law programs and medical school. These schools often have stringent requirements for international applicants, and prospective foreign students will have to compete with a large pool of applicants for limited spots. Some universities do not even admit international students into these programs at all.

You can avoid these limitations by obtaining an EB-5 Green Card. As a Green Card holder, you can participate in any program so long as you meet the entry requirements.

Employment Flexibility

Green Card holders enjoy unrestricted employment authorization even while studying. With an EB-5 Green Card, you can work off campus part time or full time and earn income to support your education. Conversely, international students can work only on campus in their first year and in restricted roles in subsequent years.

An EB-5 Green Card also improves access to internships and summer positions necessary for gaining professional experience and building your CV. The experiences gained from these internships improve your employment and career prospects, as certain organizations only employ fresh graduates who have interned with them as students.

Furthermore, a Green Card offers greater employment flexibility post-graduation. You can work for any organization and even switch careers without worrying about employer sponsorship.

International students, meanwhile, must find an employer willing to sponsor them on an H-1B or other work visa route. This limits their employment prospects to specific types of organizations, and only a few companies are willing to go through the hassles of sponsoring a foreign employee.

No CPT/OPT Restrictions

International students with F-1 visas face restrictions on the duration and type of employment they can undertake, as these jobs must meet the criteria of being curricular practical training (CPT) and optional practical training (OPT). The CPT/OPT employment must be directly related to their fields of study, and they can only work part time except under specific circumstances.

Furthermore, CPT and OPT employment lasts a maximum of one year. Those with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees can extend their post-completion OPT for an additional 24 months.

Green Card holders are not subject to these restrictions and can pursue work experience freely while studying. Before receiving their Green Cards, EB-5 investors and their family members can also obtain an employment authorization documentation (EAD), which is an open work permit allowing them to work for any employer.

Ease of Travel and Reentry

EB-5 Green Card holders do not need additional visas and permits to travel in and out of the U.S. They can leave and reenter the U.S. more easily than international students on F-1 or J-1 visas, who must follow strict visa rules to maintain their status. An EB-5 Green Card allows you to travel abroad during breaks or for overseas internships without worrying about visa issues, as long as you avoid extended absences that could suggest abandonment of your U.S. residency.

The travel benefits of an EB-5 Green Card can even start before you obtain permanent resident status. If you make an EB-5 investment as an F-1 student or under any other valid nonimmigrant status in the U.S., you can concurrently file for advance parole (travel authorization) and obtain travel flexibility within weeks, even before getting your EB-5 Green Card.

Path to Citizenship

An EB-5 Green Card provides a direct pathway to U.S. citizenship once you meet the residency requirement. This is beneficial for students who intend to remain in the U.S. to pursue their careers and build their lives after completing their education.

EB-5 Green Card holders can apply for citizenship by naturalization after five years of continuous residency in the U.S. The two years of initial conditional permanent residency count toward meeting the five-year requirement, so in most cases, they’d have almost completed the requirement by the time they graduate.

Increase Your Access to Educational Opportunities With an EB-5 Green Card

An EB-5 Green Card opens you to numerous educational opportunities available in the U.S. From access to restricted programs to education funding opportunities to improved career prospects, your educational possibilities are endless with an EB-5 Green Card.

Choosing the right EB-5 investment is the key to successfully obtaining an EB-5 Green Card and enjoying these benefits. And EB5AN can guide you through this process.

For more information about the educational advantages of becoming an EB-5 investor, book a free one-on-one call with our EB-5 experts today.